Kansas State University

search

College of Health and Human Sciences Professional Mentoring Program

Category: Mentor Monday

Mentor Monday – January 28, 2019

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Throughout the year, we will feature our professional mentors through a series of #MentorMonday blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about these alumni and friends of Kansas State University and the College of Human Ecology!

This week’s featured mentor is P.J. Wyand, a 30-year veteran of the Hotel Management industry.

Degree/Year/College or University:
B.S. Speech and Theatre / 1973 / K-State

Current Job Title and Location:
Retired, 30 years in the Hotel Management industry
 

Touch on the benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship and the big takeaway(s) you’ve had through the program.

I am involved with my fourth mentee in the mentoring program. The program is a great resource. My second mentee is currently in restaurant management in the Kansas City area and my third mentee is now employed with a catering company in Colorado.


If you could give college students once piece of professional advice, what would it be?

Be involved in the area of your degree program. Use resources like the mentoring program, intern within the industry related to your degree, stay active with LinkedIn and read industry related journals.

 

 

 

Mentor Monday – March 19, 2018

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Throughout the academic year, we will feature our professional mentors through a series of #MentorMonday blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about these alumni and friends of Kansas State University and the College of Human Ecology!

This week’s featured mentor is Jeanne Copeland, Regional Clinical Director and Speech Language Pathologist at Genesis Rehabilitation Services.

 


Jeanne Copeland – M.S., CCC-SLP

Degree/Year/College or University:
B.S. in Communication Sciences & Disorders / 1998 / Kansas State University
M.S. in Speech Language Pathology / 2000 / Kansas State University

Current Job Title and Location:
Regional Clinical Director and Speech Language Pathologist at Genesis Rehabilitation Services


Talk briefly about your experiences in the College of Human Ecology at K-State. Specific major, any clubs you were involved in, memories that stick out to you and how your degree prepared you for your career:

I loved my time as both an undergraduate and a graduate student in the College of Human Ecology at Kansas State University.  As an undergraduate, I became involved in the Kansas State Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (KSSSLHA) and volunteered to help with K-State Open House, which was always such a fun experience. As a graduate student, I worked closely with all of my professors as they provided mentorship and guidance when working with a variety of clients in the Speech and Hearing Clinic.  Prior to graduation, speech-language pathology graduate students complete two, twelve-week practicums in the school and medical settings with clinical instructors in the field.  Thanks to my learning experiences at K-State, I was well-prepared to accept the challenges I encountered during my practicum placements.  Since my graduation, I have served as a clinical instructor for more than ten graduate students from KSU, and have found them to be exceptional students and clinicians.

 

Please explain your current job position and how long you have been in that role/with the company?

After 15 years of being a staff speech-language pathologist and Assistant Director of Rehab in various settings, I transitioned into my current role as a Regional Clinical Director for Genesis Rehabilitation Services.  I am one of four SLPs with this title in Genesis’ West Territory, which spans from Ohio and Michigan west through Hawaii. Together with a team of ten other Physical and Occupational Therapists who are also Regional Clinical Directors, we provide leadership and guidance for clinicians throughout the geography to deliver high-quality and compassionate therapy services.  My areas of clinical expertise include cognitive-communication disorders and dementia, as well as interprofessional collaboration for the treatment of individuals with medical complexities.

 

Touch on the benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship and the big takeaway(s) you’ve had through the program.

This relationship is very valuable to me as a mentor because it helps me understand and remember what young professionals just getting ready to enter the field are concerned about and need to know prior to their transition into their first job as a speech-language pathologist.  As a mentor, I am striving to develop the student’s understanding of the importance of advocacy for our patients and our professions very early on in their career path.  I consider this part of our job to be priority #1 as we move forward in the current health care environment.


If you could give college students once piece of professional advice, what would it be?

As you move forward in your career, continue to seek out opportunities for professional growth similar to the K-State Professional Mentoring program.  During job interviews, ask what opportunities are available through that company and use the information to help you make decisions about where you choose to work.  As the opportunities evolve, say “yes” more than “no” and you’ll be surprised at where life will take you!

 

 

 

Mentor Monday – March 5, 2018

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Throughout the academic year, we will feature our professional mentors through a series of #MentorMonday blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about these alumni and friends of Kansas State University and the College of Human Ecology!

This week’s featured mentor is Kristi Thaete, Director of Nutrition Services at Children’s Mercy Kansas City.

 


Kristi Thaete – MS, RD, LD, CNSC

Degree/Year/College or University:
B.S. in Dietetics / 2002 / Kansas State University
M.S. in Dietetics / 2007 / University of Kansas Medical Center

Current Job Title and Location:
Director of Nutrition Services, Children’s Mercy Kansas City


Talk briefly about your experiences in the College of Human Ecology at K-State. Specific major, any clubs you were involved in, memories that stick out to you and how your degree prepared you for your career:

I had a great experience in the College of Human Ecology!  I have very fond memories of my time at K-State. I was involved in the Student Dietetic Association and Alpha Xi Delta. Dr. Deb Canter was my advisor and she always provided supportive guidance to any question or need that I had. I completed my internship requirements through the coordinated program in Dietetics which was such a blessing for me at the time because it allowed me to complete my requirements while also staying close to home. I was able to complete the internship with the guidance and support of the program.

 

Please explain your current job position and how long you have been in that role/with the company?

I am the Director of Nutrition Services at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. I oversee all of the Clinical Dietitians in our hospital system. We are fortunate to have a robust staff of over 45 Dietitians working at eight different locations each day. I have been in the Director position for three years now and have worked at CMH for almost 10 years. I feel extremely proud to work for an organization that values Dietitians in the way Children’s Mercy does. Clinical Dietitians are an equal part of the multidisciplinary care team which help improve the care of children each day. Our Dietitians are passionate about children and helping them grow to be the best they can be.

 

Touch on the benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship and the big takeaway(s) you’ve had through the program.

I am just getting started with the mentoring program and l look forward to learning more and more as the months go on. I see a few of the big takeaways as an opportunity to connect with students as they are the future of the workforce so developing a strong relationship can help our business stay current with students and their needs as they are finishing their program. I also see an opportunity to provide guidance to someone who I may be working with someday.


If you could give college students once piece of professional advice, what would it be?

Be confident and share your experience. Employers want to know why you are the best candidate and past experiences are a good indicator of your best skills.

 

 

 

Mentor Monday – November 13, 2017

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, we will feature our professional mentors through a series of #MentorMonday blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about these alumni and friends of Kansas State University and the College of Human Ecology!

This week’s featured mentor is Lana Hock, Senior Investment Consultant and Vice President with the Hock Group in Phoenix, Arizona.

Degree/Year/College or University:
BS / 1999 / Kansas State University, College of Business

Current Job Title and Location:
Senior Investment Consultant/Vice President, The Hock Group

Experience and Expertise:

Lana is a graduate of Kansas State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional, a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), and a Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC). She is a member of the Institute of Divorce Financial Analysts, the National Association of Plan Advisors, and the American Mensa Society.

In 2007, Institutional Investor News cited Lana as one of 20 “Rising Stars of Wealth Management.” After spending the majority of her career as a partner with a nationally recognized independent investment advisory firm, Lana joined Baird, an affiliation that more closely aligned the team with the sophisticated resources her clients have come to expect. In 2014, Lana formed her own team at Baird, The Hock Group, with a focus on comprehensive wealth management for the modern family, small business retirement plans services, and divorce financial planning.

http://www.thehockgroup.com/ecard.cfm?ID=633663

Touch on the benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship and the big takeaway(s) you’ve had through the program.

I enjoy the opportunity to share my insight with students interested in my profession. I feel it is one of the more stressful yet rewarding careers available, specifically for me to encourage young women to pursue.

 

If you could give college students once piece of professional advice, what would it be?

Be diligent and relentless in your pursuit of what you want.

 

 

 

Mentor Monday – September 25, 2017

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, we will feature our professional mentors through a series of #MentorMonday blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about these alumni and friends of the College of Human Ecology!

This week’s featured mentor is Katie Kage, an Assistant Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Northern Colorado.

Degree/Year/College or University:
BS/2008/Kansas State University
MS/2010/University of Nebraska-Lincoln
PhD/2012/University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Current Job Title and Location:
Assistant Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Northern Colorado

Talk briefly about your experiences in the College of Human Ecology at K-State. Specific major, any clubs you were involved in, memories that stick out to you and how your degree prepared you for your career.

While at Kansas-State I triple majored in Human Nutrition, Dietetics, and Kinesiology and found the courses to be challenging and thought-provoking. The professors in the College of Human Ecology pushed me to think outside the box and helped to develop big picture thinking which has led me to be successful in the health field. I quickly got involved on campus through the student organization Sensible Nutrition And body image Choices (S.N.A.C.) by becoming a peer educator and felt empowered knowing I was making a difference on campus. The innovative lectures and interactive labs gave me a strong knowledge on the anatomy and physiology of the human body and how nutrition and exercise impacts an individuals’ overall wellness. After graduation, I landed my first jobs as a clinical dietitian at a rehabilitation hospital and a group fitness instructor and personal training at a campus recreation center.

 

 

Please explain your current job position and how long you have been in that role/with the company?

I worked for 3 years as a Coordinator of Fitness and Wellness at the Campus Recreation Center for the University of Northern Colorado where I oversaw Personal Training, Group Fitness, Massage Therapy, Nutritional Services, and Wellness Events. I then switched to become full-time faculty at UNC and I currently am an Assistant Professor in the Nutrition and Dietetics Program. I have been in this role for three years and teach courses for our on-campus, distance, and graduate programs. I teach courses in the areas of nutrition education and counseling, clinical nutrition, and nutrition and athletic performance. I also conduct research in the areas of body image, weight bias, and nutrition education.

 

Touch on the benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship and the big takeaway(s) you’ve had through the program.

The mentor/mentee program allows you to learn from the experience of someone who has traveled a similar path that you are currently on so you can gain guidance and feedback on ways to be successful. Most of the opportunities I have had throughout my academic career has been because of mentors I’ve built relationships with so it is rewarding to give back and help others in the same way.

 

If you could give college students once piece of professional advice, what would it be?

Take advantage of the resources available to you as a student! There are always people and events at your fingertips that are there to help you grow and develop both personally and professionally so jump outside your comfort zone and learn as much as you can.

 

 

 

Mentor Monday – August 28, 2017

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, we will feature our professional mentors through a series of #MentorMonday blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about these alumni and friends of the College of Human Ecology!

This week’s featured mentor is Chelsey Frihart, a 2012 graduate of K-State.

Talk briefly about your experiences in the College of Human Ecology at K-State. Specific major, any clubs you were involved in, memories that stick out to you and how your degree prepared you for your career.

I was a Business Management major with the goal of becoming an event planner after college. While I wasn’t in the College of Human Ecology, I tried to get in as many classes and clubs in the College as I could to help further my event planning dreams. I was involved in CMAA – Club Management Association of America for a few years. Some of my best memories in the college include going to CMAA conferences. I feel that through the College of Business and College of Human Ecology, I was able to get a diverse training that helped me with my current career.

 

Please explain your current job position and how long you have been in that role/with the company?

I am the Assistant Director of Hospitality and Special Events in the Ahearn Fund at K-State Athletics. I manage a staff of 40 hospitality students that work in the premium seating areas on game day for football, men’s & women’s basketball and baseball. Our department manages all of the sport banquets for K-State Athletics, all Ahearn Fund events and any department events. We also provide tours of our facilities and rent out the West Stadium Center for external events. I have been with K-State Athletics for just a little over four years now.

 

Touch on the benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship and the big takeaway(s) you’ve had through the program.

I think this is a great program and I wish I would have gotten involved in something like this while going to K-State. I have enjoyed getting to know the students that I have mentored and I hope that this program helps these students find jobs after college and continue to network with others in the industry.

 

If you could give college students once piece of professional advice, what would it be?

My advice would be that as an event planner you have to continue to learn after school. This industry is always changing and in order to keep up, you have to stay on top of the new trends and continue to do research throughout your time in the industry. This is a very unique profession and it will always be changing so it is crucial to never stop learning.

 

 

 

Mentor Monday – August 21, 2017

Posted on by Austin Anderson

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, we will feature our professional mentors through a series of #MentorMonday blog posts. Stay tuned to learn more about these alumni and friends of the College of Human Ecology!

This week’s featured mentor is Kyra Dreiling, a 2005 graduate of K-State.

Talk briefly about your experiences in the College of Human Ecology at K-State. Specific major, any clubs you were involved in, memories that stick out to you and how your degree prepared you for your career.
I’m a 2005 graduate of the Apparel & Textiles department with a B.S. in Apparel Marketing. I was an active member of the Apparel, Textiles and Interior Design Alliance (ATID) while at K-State, which helped prepare me with industry experience by facilitating company tours, guest speakers, and helping in the Spring student exhibition and fashion show. My degree helped me learn about many specializations of the apparel industry such as sourcing and globalization, textiles, marketing and, of course, retailing. This made me an overall well rounded candidate when entering the job market!

 

Please explain your current job position and how long you have been in that role/with the company?
I am currently the Director of Retail at GTM Sportswear in Manhattan, KS. I actually started with the company one week after graduation and the rest is history! My career with GTM began in Customer Service and then Sales. A few years into my GTM career, I found myself with the opportunity to move into an Associate Buyer role in our Retail department leading the K-State Super Stores and a few other existing brands. I’ve worked my way through the Retail division to my current role of Director which I’ve held for the past 5 years.

 

Touch on the benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship and the big takeaway(s) you’ve had through the program.
I see the major benefits of a mentor/mentee relationship being that the mentee gets to network regularly with an industry professional who can share knowledge that you just won’t receive in the classroom; from detailed specific job assignments, to professional conduct, and all the way to work life balance. The mentor of course receives a fresh look at their industry through a student’s eyes and quality time sharing knowledge and reflection! I know I always enjoy sharing stories and experiences as doing so helps me stay humble and reminds me how much I’ve accomplished since graduation!

 

If you could give college students one piece of professional advice, what would it be?
Feedback is a gift! Truly listen and absorb any feedback given to you and learn from it. It will only make you better!