Focus Summer 2023

Dean's Message

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Dr. Behnke As interim Dean, it is my privilege to introduce myself, give an update on our plans to address the rapidly changing landscape of higher education and provide college updates. Firstly, I would like to thank our outgoing Interim Dean, Craig Harms, for his leadership and support of the college.

I am a native Kansan, a K-State graduate and a professor in Kinesiology. I have been involved with college and university leadership at K-State, West Virginia University, Texas A&M University and the University of Florida. I moved back to Manhattan in the late fall of 2014 with my wife, a veterinarian from the University of Florida, to contribute to the excellence of K-State and raise our children in Kansas.

Dean's Message (cont'd)

I understand the concern regarding not having a permanent Dean in our college, but please remember over the past few years, the university was changing leadership (new president) and generating a new strategic plan; unknowns that likely dissuaded some from taking this role. However, we are in a very good spot now, with a new president of the university, and a forthcoming strategic plan.

Specifically, this is a very exciting time for K-State and our college. Over the next year, a new university-wide “NEXT-GEN K-State” strategic plan will be released and implemented. Given the mission of the College of Health and Human Sciences, “to promote the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through research, education, and outreach”, our college will be integral to the success of this new strategic plan. Thus, my immediate goal is to work with university and college leadership, as well as other stakeholders (faculty/staff, alumni, and industry partners) in moving the college forward to continue to build upon our successes. Implementing the strategic plan will create multiple opportunities as well as challenges and will require significant change to be made at the university, college and individual program level. However, our college has a rich history of leading transformational change to meet societal challenges. Thus, aligning our college with the new strategic plan will include balancing our history as a college with current workforce market demands to ensure the success of our students.

Updates:

Enrollment –
Like most other universities, K-State has experienced a decline in enrollment. Conversely, our college is very strong, evinced through our 2024 incoming college enrollment is back to pre-Covid levels with a record high of incoming freshman students. Within the college, however, there are some programs struggling with enrollment and are undergoing program review.

Research and Scholarship –
K-State is an “R1” Institute, a designation given to ~3.7% of universities, reflecting the highest levels of research activity. Whereas the extramural research funding for K-State has been increasing to record highs over the past few decades, HHS grant activity has declined substantially. Our plan is to reinvest in our research infrastructure, forge intra- and interdisciplinary collaborations, and enhance this funding stream to help support our faculty, staff and students and contribute to our land-grant mission.

The voices and support of our alumni and friends are invaluable to the success of our college and the university, and for this, I thank you. I am proud to lead our college during this period.

Yours sincerely,
Brad Behnke
Betty L. Tointon Interim Dean

Melinda Markham selected to permanently lead Applied Human Sciences

Dr. Markham Melinda (Mindy) Markham has been appointed permanent department head for the Department of Applied Human Sciences. Markham was the interim department head for a year and a half before this appointment.

Markham joined K-State in 2008 as the coordinator for the undergraduate Family Studies and Human Services program on the Polytechnic campus. In 2016, she moved to the Manhattan campus as an associate professor to join department where she was appointed as graduate program coordinator for the applied family science program. From 2018 to 2021, she served as the associate department head for academic affairs.

Markham (cont'd)

Her primary research interest is post-divorce relationships, principally co-parenting relationships between former partners. Additional research interests include gender issues within families, particularly mothering within the context of divorce or separation.

Markham currently serves on the editorial boards for Family Relations and the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. In 2020, she was selected as an EAB Rising Higher Education Leaders Fellow and served as president of the Kansas State University Faculty Senate during the 2020 – 2021 academic year.

The Department of Applied Human Sciences is largest department in the College of Health and Human Sciences and is home to the communication sciences and disorders; conflict resolution; couple and family therapy; early childhood education; family and consumer sciences education; human development and family science; integrative human sciences; and prevention science programs. Along with their academic programs, the department strives to enhance the lives of individuals and families through the Family Center, Speech and Hearing Center and Center for Child Development.

Cornelison to lead K-State Center on Aging through interim position

Laci Cornelison has been named interim director for the K-State Center on Aging, effective June 1.

Cornelison has served in multiple roles within the center since joining the staff in 2007. She is currently the program coordinator for PEAK 2.0, where she is able to lend her voice as both a researcher and advocate. PEAK, Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas, is a Medicaid pay-for-performance incentive program housed in the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and administered by the K-State Center on Aging. The program is a one-of-a-kind, aggressive pay-for-performance program that financially rewards homes that demonstrate implementation of person-centered care. The program focused on five domains essential to person-centered care including the foundation, resident choice, staff empowerment, home environment and meaningful life. Cornelison has coordinated the program since 2013.

Cornelison (cont'd)

In 2023, Cornelison was selected as a member of the Moving Forward: Nursing Home Quality Coalition, or the Moving Forward Coalition. The two-year initiative, funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation, is working to advance the vision of the 2022 National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s, NASEM, nursing home quality report. The Moving Forward Coalition will work from a blueprint of recommendations prepared by a recent panel of experts for the NASEM. Seven committees, made up of caregivers, providers, operators, advocates, policymakers, nursing home residents, researchers and experts, will develop action plans to advance the NASEM report’s goals during the next two years and beyond. The committees, alongside other coalition members, will engage federal and state policymakers, regulators and nursing home leaders in reviewing and implementing these action plans. Cornelison will serve as a committee member on the Person-Centeredness, Culture Change, Care Planning & Quality of Life Committee. This group will look to deliver comprehensive, person-centered, equitable care that ensures residents’ health, quality of life and safety; promotes autonomy; and manages risk.

Cornelison is a two-time graduate of K-State with a bachelor’s degree in social work with a secondary major in gerontology and a master’s degree in gerontology.

Celebrate the college’s 150-year anniversary by becoming a mentor

Student and mentor In celebration of the college’s 150-year anniversary, the College of Health and Human Sciences is looking to add 150 new mentors to our professional mentor database.

Started in 2014, the professional mentoring program links current Health and Human Sciences students with successful alumni and friends of the college. Current students enroll in the program and are then matched with a mentor by our career development coordinator. Matches are based on career field, location, major and interests.

Mentoring (cont'd)

To become a mentor, professionals need to have been in their career field for at least one year and be able to commit one hour per month to visit with their mentee.

Chelsi Navarro We spoke with Chelsea Navarro, senior in dietetics, who is currently a mentee in the program. Here is what she had to say on her experience in the program and being matched with her mentor, Patti.

How has the mentoring program assisted in preparing you for your future career as a dietitian?
Many registered dietitians suggest exploring the multiple pathways we can take in our career, and this program has given me insight into areas of dietetics I wouldn't have normally explored on my own.

What kind of impact has your mentor had on your career path?
I have made valuable connections because Patti has introduced me to other registered dietitians who are active in making a difference in our field.

What benefits have you gained from being part of the program?
My mentor, Patti, is the current Board President of the Kansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and invited me to join as a student member. Since joining KSAND I was able to participate in their virtual annual conference and become a part of their leadership team. I enjoy having an experienced professional as a mentor and someone I that I can refer to if I have questions.

Anything else that you’d like to include about your mentoring program experience?
As a distance student I am very excited to take advantage of the travel grant awarded to the mentees, so that I can meet my mentor Patti in person!

Manny Serrano, a 2020 graduate from the athletic training program, currently serves as a mentor. We asked him about being a mentor and why he continues to give back through the program.

What interested you in joining the mentoring program?
I have had many mentors in different areas in life and I just want to give back in some way to future health care professionals and possible colleagues. K-State is a special place to me and hearing about this program had me very excited on how my experiences and skills can benefit other students!

What have you enjoyed about being a mentor?
Seeing the growth of the mentee in regard to prioritizing their passions, hearing about their opportunities and just being a friend that can support them in their journey!

What would you say to someone who is thinking about joining the mentoring program?
It's a great way to invest into the next generation of students. A mentor can be a very needed guide to a possibly confusing time in life when trying to find direction in their studies and career.

How have mentors impacted your career journey?
Being a first-generation college student, it was a lot of figuring things out on my own. I had different mentors throughout life and I saw them as coaches to encourage or help me find perspective on areas I can improve. 

Help us celebrate our 150-year anniversary by signing up to be a mentor today! More information on the program, along with registration information can be found on the college website.