Latest Stories of the People of PSU
Pittsburg State University is made up of a diverse and highly successful combination of students, faculty, and alumni. These spirited individuals are what make PSU a unique place to study and grow. Each one faces different challenges, and find special success as a result of being part of the Pitt State family. Below, you can read some of these stories and see just why Pittsburg State is the right place for you!
Brittney Squire, Ransom, Kan., Senior
Pitt State’s campus icons include the columns at the entrance to Russ Hall, the Oval, the rock wall around Brandenburg Field and Jack Overman.
Caleb Farabi, College of Business Alum
This past summer, Farabi and Lee were recognized as the top student athletes in the MIAA. It was the first time in the 16-year history of the award that two students from the same university were selected. Now graduates of PSU, Farabi and Lee recognize that their experiences and hard work at PSU put them on a path that forever changed their lives.
Bob Herrmann, College of Business Alum
The success of Pitt State graduates is evident when alumni like Bob Herrmann make a stop at their alma mater to share with students the important lessons they’ve learned in their careers.
Craig Fuchs, Chair, Department of Music
Football game days are big at Pittsburg State University, in part because of a group of students whose talent makes the experience much more than the contest on the field.
Campus, community honor veterans
Hundreds gather to honor veterans at a ceremony at the PSU Veterans Memorial.
Alex Konopelko
Dr. Alexander Konopelko’s fascination with outer space may have been influenced by pop culture, but his scientific research in astrophysics these days is without a doubt far beyond the average star gazer – both intellectually and in proximity.
Brooksher named general counsel
President Steve Scott recently announced the selection of Jamie Brooksher as the university's new general counsel. Brooksher replaces Darron Farha, who has taken a position with Valparaiso University.
Dallas Cross
Communication (Broadcasting) program
Not everyone has their work displayed on a 40-foot by 70-foot screen – and no one knows that better than junior communication major Dallas Cross, who is getting ready for her work to soon be up in lights.
Kevin Bowman, Wood Tech program senior
For Pittsburg State University students, the skills learned in the national 4-H organization have reached far beyond the county fair.
Stella Hastings, Associate Professor of Music
If you’d asked Stella Hastings 15 years ago if she envisioned settling in Southeast Kansas to live, teach, and conduct music, the odds would have been good that she still had larger venues in mind.
Grant Gabel, Ness City, Kan., senior
Ness City, Senior
A self-professed “gearhead” in high school, senior Grant Gabel grew up knowing his way around an engine.
New policy in effect for weather
Long before the leaves began to change and thoughts of winter returned, PSU administrators were thinking about a new inclement weather policy. The policy, which includes the provision for closing the campus, will go into effect this fall.
White to serve as PSU’s legislative liaison
Pittsburg State University President Steve Scott has announced the appointment of Victoria White as the university’s legislative liaison. White is the director of the PSU Kansas City Metro Center in Lenexa, Kan.
Dr. Cynthia Woodburn
Mathematics Professor
As a professor at Pitt State, Dr. Cynthia Woodburn practices one of the oldest scholarly disciplines in existence: the study of mathematics.
Christy Perez
University Counseling Services
With mental health a key part of student safety and success, it’s an issue that will soon be even more visual on the PSU campus. This summer, University Counseling is moving into the new Student Health Center, which opens to students this fall. The center will also house Student Health Services, which focuses on the physical health of students.
Allison Keegan, Graduate student
A year ago, Psychology and Counseling graduate student Allison Keegan had an epiphany after a professor assigned her to participate in an activity that would place her in an environment of diversity, giving her an understanding of what it’s like to walk in another person’s shoes.
Emily Wingert Brown, B.S. Technology, Construction Management
It is clear from the smile on her face that Emily Wingert Brown, a project manager for McCownGordon Construction, loves what she does for a living.
Cortney Prezel
Department of Nursing graduate
Nursing department alum Cortney Prezel knows the value of having professors who really want their students to succeed – even if it means putting in extra work to make it happen.
Crystal Pihl
Recent graduate Crystal Pihl has always had educational interests that reached far beyond her Midwest home. But it wasn’t until she began her education at PSU that the windows of the world truly opened.
Dr. C.J. Huff
Surrounded by high school seniors who are counting the days until they set off for college, Dr. C.J. Huff can recall his own younger years, when college was the highlight of his life, as well.
Dr. Judith Shaw
Department of History
With an unrivaled 50 years of service to the university, doing things her own way certainly seems to have worked for Dr. Judith Shaw.
Russ Rosmait
Metal Casting Program
The College of Technology at PSU is full of unique programs that prepare students for successful careers in construction, automotive technology, graphics and imaging, and more. But one exceptional program focusing on the art of metal casting is making a big splash across the U.S. and overseas.
Dusty Peterson
Actuarial science, or the use of statistics to assess risk for the insurance and finance industries, was not part of his plan when he first came to Pitt State. But after hearing about the new program and being persuaded by mathematics professor Ananda Jayawardhana, Peterson was in.
Jasmine Ramirez
PSU in Paraguay
Four years ago, life couldn't have been more different than it is today for Analia Saldivar, Maria Ferreira, and Jasmine Ramirez.
Dr. Shirley Drew
Hiking
Drew, a lover of the great outdoors, often spends her summer breaks quietly hiking along some of the most beautiful horizons in the country with her group “hikrbabes”.
Rachel Friedman
ROTC
Freshman nursing major Rachel Friedman was a high school student in the small town of Lindsborg, Kan., when she began looking into opportunities offered by college ROTC programs across the country.
Dr. Mark Peterson
Outstanding Faculty 2009
Students and alumni often credit their professors for preparing them for success. But sometimes, those educators get a chance to return the favor.
John-Michael Watson
Biology Major
Pittsburg State University students come in all sorts, making their mark with a variety of dreams and plans for their futures. But one who stands out from the crowd in a way that impresses even his fellow students is John-Michael Watson, a pre-med major who is part leader, part adventurer – and all Gorilla.
Dr. Rick Lindskog
University Professor, Psychology and Counseling
With a willingness to help and a genuine desire to see his students learn, Lindskog is an approachable everyman, only better. He has a passion for motorcycles and a free spirit suited for enjoying the ride, which has taken him across the country and has no doubt attributed to his contagious calm.
Sunny Pierce
Title IX Memories
One day in middle school my PE teacher told us about legislation called Title IX that would provide opportunities for girls in sports. It seemed like she looked right at me and said that this could change your life forever. My senior year of high school, we had our first girls basketball team. I came to PSU and continued to play.
Katherine Baldwin
It took Kathryn Baldwin a long time to begin studying at Pittsburg State University, but her ties to the school reach back to its founding in 1903.
Nate Stahl and Bart Arnett
The weather is frigid, the terrain muddy, and the work demanding, but Nate Stahl and Bart Arnett, graduates of Pittsburg State University and superintendents for Crossland Construction, couldn’t be happier.
Brian and Laura Sullivan
2009 Community Campaign Co-Chairs
When it comes to those who credit their college experience for their current success, there are few alumni more enthusiastic than Brian and Laura Sullivan. When the two attended in pursuit of science degrees in the mid-90s, they not only found a great education and preparation for professional school, but they also stumbled into love – and the path that would lead them to becoming successful business owners.
Alex Phillips
Many of the students who volunteer for Up 'til Dawn do it because they simply want to help a good cause. For Alex Phillips, it's personal.
Linden Dalecki
His experiences in film, publishing, and advertising have taken PSU Marketing Professor Linden Dalecki to a lot of places.Chris Jacquinot
For Dr. Chris Jacquinot, seeing things clearly, both literally and figuratively, can make all the difference in the world – especially when it comes to deciding where to get your college education.
Marjorie Schick
Over the past 41 years, Marjorie Schick has been right at home in the Department of Art at Pittsburg State University, creating and teaching art forms that have captivated her throughout her career.
Venessa Lee
Runner makes strides toward medical career
When coaches recruit potential collegiate athletes, they ask several questions in their search for students who are talented both athletically and academically.
Brandan Meister
When senior business administration major Brandan Meister was paralyzed in a car accident four years ago, the odds of standing his 6-foot frame again didn't look good. For several months, he slowly recuperated from a broken back, head lacerations, and broken ribs after being thrown from a rolling vehicle.
Heather Horton
It's been years since Heather Horton was challenged by an art professor to create a logo and font for a mock business. But when she worked this year to turn that idea for a bakery into an actual business, this PSU graduate knew those hours spent in class were well worth it.
Skannd Tyagi
Skannd Tyagi has grown up knowing he is meant for great things.
Toby Cook
A Perfect Job for a Devoted Fan
Toby Cook (BA ‘90) was seven years old when his dad took him to his first Kansas City Royals baseball game. Through twice-a-year excursions to see the Royals from their home in Independence, Kan., and summer nights listening to games on the radio, Cook became a devoted fan. It's understandable, then, why he finds it almost unbelievable luck that today he works for them.
Ken Gordon
Professor supports students in class and life
When Ken Gordon traveled recently to the Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, Mich., what he thought would be a typical Gorilla Gathering with alumni from the area turned into something much more personal.
Virginia Rider
When Dr. Virginia Rider came to Pittsburg State University eight years ago, she brought with her a resume of awards and recognitions reflecting her exemplary career in science education.