Have you tried ‘Cats Connect? With two opportunities each semester, it’s possible to find time to make it work for you.
‘Cats Connect is a peer-to-peer facilitated program designed to help groups of 4-7 Wildcats meet and develop friendships outside of their regular social circles. Groups meet for one hour for five consecutive weeks. During each meeting, everyone will have the opportunity to respond to a series of fun and thought-provoking questions and engage in a small connection project.
Students, faculty, and staff are all invited to participate. Groups are built based on availability. Participants can select in-person (on the Manhattan campus) or virtual meetings (via Zoom).
As a Health Promoting University, K-State supports the holistic well-being of students, faculty, and staff. Social well-being—the ability to form meaningful, supportive relationships—is a key aspect of health. Over the past two years, ‘Cats Connect has strengthened mental and social well-being by connecting over 1,000 K-Staters. These relationships help protect against stress, anxiety, and depression while also boosting student satisfaction, retention, and faculty/staff engagement.
K-State students are invited to nominate a member of the Staley School of Leadership faculty or staff for the 2025 Rost award.
All Staley School of Leadership faculty and staff are eligible, and includes:
The University Honors Program
Applied Learning
Leadership and service programs
Leadership studies academics
Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research
Nominations are due by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 2.
Established by the Staley School of Leadership student ambassadors, the Rost award recognizes a member of the Staley School faculty or staff who exemplifies the mission statement of the Staley School:
Developing bold, curious, and connected learners to address our world’s most complex challenges
The recipient of this award should not only demonstrate these characteristics in their own lives, but should also inspire others to become better leaders.
Submitted nominations are shared with anyone who is nominated, making this an opportunity to share a message of thanks, support, or kindness with someone who has made an impact demonstrating the Staley School mission statement.
The Staley School Ambassadors will form a committee, review nominations and carefully select the 2025 recipient. The award is presented at Celebrating Service and Leadership, the Staley School spring awards event.
The Staley School of Leadership at Kansas State University includes undergraduate and graduate leadership studies academic programs, leadership and service co-curricular programs, the University Honors Program, Applied Learning, and Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research. The Staley School develops bold, curious, and connected learners to address our world’s most complex challenges. To learn more, visit k-state.edu/leadership.
On Friday, April 4, college students from about six Universities across the Midwest will gather for the second K-State Strengths for Students Conference. The first and only conference of its kind, the event is developed with students, by students and for students. Workshops throughout the day are led by students and are designed to help attendees develop and apply their CliftonStrengths and exchange ideas for Strengths integration in classes and student organizations.
The energy, passion, and motivation to collaborate at such a unique event aren’t the only thing the students – some from rival universities, even! – have in common. Their goals include deepening their understanding of their own Strengths to increase well-being, polishing their resumes, and learning how to advocate for themselves personally and professionally. Attendees also will exchange strategies and take new ideas back to their own campus communities to increase student engagement. The opportunities for growth and development, in their selves and for the greater good, are endless.
The K-State Strengths team invites students to attend the 2025 K-State Strengths for Students Conference: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Friday, April 4 Leadership Studies building
The Leadership Communication doctoral program at Kansas State University celebrated the fall 2024 graduates in December. Chibuzor Azubuike, Ph.D., Shukeyla Harrison, Ph.D., Ania Payne, Ph.D., and Jurdene Coleman, Ph.D., have completed their doctorates in Leadership Communication, an interdisciplinary program between the Department of Communications and Agricultural Education, the Staley School of Leadership, and the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication.
From left: Drs. Kerry Priest, Ania Payne, Brandon Kliewer, Chibuzor Azubuike, Andrew Wefald, Keyla Harrison, and Samuel Mwangi. T
Chibuzor Azubuike, Ph.D., has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, a Master of Arts in Diaspora and Transnational Studies, and certificates in Conflict Resolution and Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies.
Azubuike’s dissertation, titled, Narratives of Resilience from Indigenous Women in North America and Africa, examines the lasting consequences of colonialism on Native American and African societies, particularly the disruption of Indigenous leadership and land displacement.
Her work points out that while much scholarship focuses on the injustices caused by colonization, the lesser-explored perspective of the resilience of Indigenous women in North America and Africa reveals that mentorship and skill-building play a crucial role in fostering resilience, empowering Indigenous women to navigate and challenge the enduring effects of colonialism in their communities.
Currently an outreach and communications coordinator at the Kansas African Studies Center at the University of Kansas, Azubuike said the robust curriculum and helpful peer mentors greatly impacted her success as a graduate of the Leadership Communication doctoral program.
Ania Payne, Ph.D., has a bachelor’s degree in English, and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing.
Payne’s dissertation is titled, Empowering Communities: Asset-Based Approaches to Community Writing Partnerships. Her research finds that English instructors often use inconsistent and deficit-based language when describing community partnerships. To improve community writing practices, it offers recommendations for designing syllabi and classroom experiences that emphasize community strengths and foster true collaboration.
Payne is an assistant professor of English at K-State. She gained a deep understanding of the scholarship of engagement during the Lead Comm program and appreciated the close relationships and support from faculty who motivated her throughout her time in the program.
Shukeyla Harrison, Ph.D., has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminology, a Master of Business Administration, and a certificate in organizational leadership. She is a program director in the Office for the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering at Kansas State University. Harrison enjoyed the supportive environment of the Leadership Communication team and met lifelong friends.
Harrison’s dissertation is titled, Illuminating black students’ experiences in higher education: A critical narrative inquiry. Her research examines the gap in Authentic Leadership Theory (ALT) by exploring how authenticity is shaped in academic settings, particularly between Black students and white faculty at predominantly white institutions. It investigates the impact of white fragility on Black students’ self-authenticity, both in college and beyond. The research highlights how these challenges affect academic success and post-graduation opportunities, emphasizing the need for more equitable educational environments.
Jurdene Coleman, Ph.D., has a bachelor of arts in psychology, a masters in family studies and human services, and a graduate certificate in qualitative research.
Her dissertation is titled, Black leadership in education governance: A critical autoethnographic study of school board service. Using autoethnography, Coleman’s dissertation explores the experiences of being a Black school board member in a predominantly white Kansas district, highlighting the impact of white supremacist organizational values on school board processes. The study examines the challenges of representation, the necessity of navigating double consciousness, and the barriers to Black participation in governance. Coleman expands on leadership-as-practice theory, offering concrete strategies to increase Black school board member engagement and advocating for more just and inclusive school boards.
Jurdene Coleman is a trainer for the Kansas Department of Education’s School Mental Health Initiative. She said the Leadership Communication doctoral program opened doors to collaborating with many organizations throughout the state, creating opportunities to build skills in civic facilitation, professional development and leadership coaching.
“Most importantly, the program taught me that leading change in communities/organizations starts with the people in those communities, and that is a lesson I will continue to exude in my professional experiences.”
Applications for the Leadership Communication doctoral program for the fall 2026 academic year are currently being accepted. Learn more.
Now, we’re looking for students to join us on Alternative Breaks during Spring Break in Dallas, Texas, and Tahlequah, Oklahoma!
Alternative Breaks provide undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to participate in immersive service experiences over winter, spring, and weekend breaks. By traveling to various Midwest communities, Wildcats engage in hands-on service while learning about local opportunities and challenges alongside community members.
On a crisp weekend in November, six Kansas State University students, including Eugene Oku, a first-year Ph.D. student studying Agricultural Economics, set out on an Alternative Break to La Harpe, Kansas. These service trips, offered through the Staley School of Leadership’s Service Teams program, provide K-State students with opportunities to participate in immersive service experiences over winter, spring, and weekend breaks. By traveling to various Midwest communities, Wildcats engage in hands-on service while learning about local opportunities and challenges alongside community members.
A partnership for change
Nestled in southeast Kansas, La Harpe is a small town with a big heart. The weekend alternative break was organized in collaboration with local leaders working to revitalize public spaces and foster community pride. Through a partnership with Thrive Allen County and Marcia Davis, director of community engagement, students teamed up with town residents for a community clean-up, clearing debris, restoring shared spaces, and engaging in meaningful conversations about the town’s history and future.
For many students, this trip was more than just a weekend of service—it was an opportunity to witness the impact that small, collective efforts can have on a community.
“I decided to sign up for this experience because I wanted a way to give back and also gain a deeper understanding of U.S. culture, embrace new opportunities, and develop leadership and teamwork skills,” said Oku.
HandsOn Kansas State, in conjunction with Harvesters Community Food Network of Topeka, will host a mobile food distribution Friday, Feb. 14.
The Mobile Food Distribution will take place in the parking lot of the Chester E. Peters Recreation Complex, beginning at 4 p.m. until supplies run out.
The distribution is open to all members of the K-State and Manhattan community with food offered at no cost.
Individuals who plan to walk up are encouraged to bring reusable bags to make it easier to carry food.
Volunteers are needed to assist at the event. To sign up to volunteer, email handson@ksu.edu.
Due to construction on Denison Avenue, please read the following arrival procedures for drivers and review the map below:
All vehicles must enter Gate 8 and stage in the H-3 parking lot from the eastbound lane of Kimball Avenue.
All vehicles must exit through Gate 9.
Participants should plan to help open vehicle doors as needed.
HandsOn Kansas State is a program housed within the Staley School of Leadership that promotes civic learning and leadership through meaningful volunteer and service opportunities between campus and community. HandsOn strives to develop socially-responsible citizens, knowledgeably equipped for active participation. For more information, volunteer opportunities, or questions about mobile food distributions, contact HandsOn Kansas State at handson@k-state.edu.
K-State students interested in going abroad have just a few days left to apply for summer 2025 International Service Teams, a program hosted by the Staley School of Leadership. Service sites include Guatemala and South Africa. Applications are due Sunday, Feb. 2.
All students are invited to apply – undergraduate or graduate, domestic or international, and from any major or area of study.
Student teams will travel to the following locations to serve within communities, May 22-June 22, 2025:
Guatemala
In Panajachel, Guatemala, students partner with an organization called Tejiendo Futuros.
Tejiendo Futuros leads in the development of conscious change agents by focusing on co-creating resilient, sustainable communities with a focus on peace.
Students could be working with children, family services, or the local sustainable agricultural system. Basic conversational Spanish is highly encouraged for participants.
South Africa
In Ocean View, South Africa, students partner with an organization called Volunteer Mzansi.
Volunteer Mzansi facilitates an international volunteer program to support the sustainability of various projects in under-resourced communities in Cape Town to benefit communities within South Africa. Each team member is placed on a different project based on their personal interest and experience in Ocean View and lives with a host family in the community.
Service ranges from assisting in classrooms to working alongside health professionals and community centers.
