Anthropology alum Jordan Thomas ’16 is 2025 National Book Award Finalist
Jordan Thomas, a 2016 anthropology graduate, has been named a 2025 National Book Award finalist in nonfiction for his book, When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World. Thomas is an anthropologist and former Los Padres “Hotshot” wildland firefighter. His book traces the historical, ecological and sociological factors fueling California’s increasingly catastrophic wildfires, woven through the story of one brutal fire season on the crew. He is currently a Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Biochemistry and microbiology alum Vaithish Velazhahan ’18 receives Soros Fellowship for medical school
Vaithish Velazhahan, a 2018 graduate in medical biochemistry and microbiology, recently received a 2025 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for outstanding immigrants and children of immigrants who are pursuing graduate school in the U.S. The recipients were selected from among 2,600 applicants for their potential to make significant contributions to the U.S. and will receive up to $90,000 in funding over two years.
After graduating from K-State, Velazhahan earned a Ph.D. in biological science (structural biology) as a Gates Cambridge Scholar at the University of Cambridge. He is currently pursuing an M.D. at Stanford University with aspirations to practice as a physician-scientist and develop novel therapies for intractable fungal diseases.
While at K-State, Velazhahan did research with Kathrin Schrick, biology, on how dietary flavonoids could help prevent cancer, which led to a first-authored manuscript.
Passionate about global health access, Velazhahan has worked with MEDLIFE in Peru and Ecuador and founded the nonprofit We Save in India, which develops technology to connect doctors with underserved patients.
Fine art alum Allison Bowman ’17 connects nature and community around Kansas City
Allison Bowman ’17 is a prairie-loving, multidisciplinary artist who is active in public art and works for the nonprofit organization, Mid-America Arts Alliance. One of her recent projects, “Prairie in the Parks: Sticker Vending Machine,” highlights four Johnson County parks that focus on natural prairie conservation and restoration. Bowman and other artists designed stickers inspired by the parks that are sold in vending machines that pop up at different libraries and community centers in the area. Read more.
Mass communications alum Erica Short ’07 uses her talents to inspire change
Erica Short ’07 is the creative director for Overflow, in Kansas City. The public relations company specializes in cause-oriented work, storytelling through multi-disciplinary creative production and experience design through live events. It was recently nominated for a 2024 Mid-America EMMY Award for the “You Never Know” campaign, which raises awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and fake pills and how just one can tragically end a life. Read more.
Journalism and math alums Danielle Cornejo Calhoun ’08 and Eric Farmer ’97 are college’s 2025 Alumni Fellows
The Alumni Fellows program recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in their careers. Fellows visit campus to discuss current industry trends and meet with students and faculty. Two of the twelve selected in 2025 are from Arts and Sciences: Danelle Cornejo Calhoun ’08, journalism and Spanish, and Eric Farmer ’97, mathematics and computer science.
Calhoun is vice president for DEI at Weber Shandwick, where she develops innovative partnerships and programs and uses social, digital and purpose-driven narratives to create positive impact. In 2023, she was named to PRovoke Media’s Innovator 25 list for the Americas.
Farmer is principal staff mathematician at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory, where he designs advanced military defense capabilities. He is an expert in distributed simulation and algorithm analysis and design. He also has taught graduate computer science courses for Johns Hopkins University and programming at local middle schools.
Journalism and mass communications alum Sheila Ellis-Glasper ’10 impacts her community through entrepreneurialism and advocacy
Sheila Ellis-Glasper is the founding owner of SEG Media Collective, a social media and branding agency in Manhattan, Kan. She is also the executive director of Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills, a nonprofit she founded to advocate for underrepresented business owners and help them access resources to thrive. In December 2024, she delivered a moving speech for the college’s commencement ceremony. Read a profile by A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication.
Mass communication master’s graduate Ryan Urban ’21 selected as a 2025 Distinguished Young Alum
The Distinguished Young Alumni (DYA) program recognizes K-State graduates who are excelling in their professions and contributing to their communities. Ryan Urban ’21 was one of two selected for 2025. He is the marketing manager for Naturion, a company that restores degraded ecosystems. After earning his bachelor’s in communication at Pittsburg State University, Urban earned his master’s in mass communications from K-State. Born into a purple-bleeding family, Urban said in his DYA speech (YouTube) that he was “destined to go to K-State—there was no way out of it—it was purple or bust.”
Microbiology alum Heather Wilkins ’08 studies Alzheimer’s and other diseases at KU Med
Heather Wilkins ’08 became interested in biomedical research while attending pre-veterinary club meetings at K-State. That led her to pursue a microbiology major and chemistry minor. After graduating from K-State in 2008, she earned her Ph.D. in biology at the University of Denver in 2013. After that, she joined the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center as a postdoctoral fellow and then transitioned to the KU Medical Center faculty in 2019. She is now an associate professor of neurology at KU Med, where she researches how brain energy influences Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Read more.
