As I prepare for retirement on January 9th, I want to highlight a few accomplishments while serving as Dean of the Graduate School since 2007. The focus of my work has been on enhancing the graduate student experience and advocating for our graduate students, one of the themes of 2025 Strategic Plan. I have had the opportunity to work with an excellent team and many dynamic Graduate Student Council leaders and to partner with student services offices to promote more and new opportunities for our graduate students.
Some of the major accomplishments include the following:
- Implementation of Electronic Thesis, Dissertations, and Reports
- Enhancement of graduate student orientation and professional development opportunities
- Relocation of Graduate School from Fairchild to Eisenhower that provided enhanced office space for Graduate School staff, an office for the Graduate Student Council, and over a dozen spaces specifically for graduate students to provide quiet workspace and enhance collaboration among graduate students
- Increased the number of graduate student awards including Alumni Association Graduate Student Awards; University Distinguished Professors Graduate Student Award; Graduate Teaching Awards; travel awards; and Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Small Grant Program
- Implementation of CollegeNet, an electronic application and admission system
- Transition to electronic student forms and ballots
- Implementation of graduate student parental accommodation policy for academic and paid employment leave
- Enhanced alumni relations
Many individuals have contributed to the accomplishments above and supported me throughout my career. I would like to extend a special thank you to all the Graduate School team, both current team members and those who have served in the past, for their commitment to graduate education and the success of our students. I would like to acknowledge Dr. James (Jim) Guikema and Dr. Ron Trewyn for mentoring me, as well as the administrators who have supported many of my ideas and initiatives. Thank you to all the graduate faculty who have served on the Graduate Council and have served as mentors to our graduate students. Thank you to my graduate dean colleagues in the Big 12, the Kansas Graduate Deans, Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools, and the Council of Graduate Schools for sharing their ideas and for their encouragement and support.
I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to meet many successful K-State alumni during my travels and learn about their memories of their K-State experience. Other fond memories include alumni reunions both on campus and in Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
Some of my plans during retirement include enjoying more time with my supportive husband, Larry, and Chris, Jenny, and our four grandchildren at our family lake house and other travel adventures together; traveling both in the U.S. and internationally; volunteering in community agencies providing support for those experiencing food insecurity, including Cats’ Cupboard; staying in touch with my former students;and enjoying life. I will explore ways I can continue to support graduate student success and stay engaged with the K-State Alumni Association. Most of all, I plan to enjoy the beautiful sunrises and sunsets from our porch and take advantage of new adventures and opportunities.
I know that graduate education will continue to be integral to K-State’s continued success and look forward to Dr. Claudia Petrescu’s leadership as the inaugural Vice Provost of Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School.