Alumni News
Comeauy earns promotion
Dawn Comeauy, a 2014 graduate with a bachelor's in food science, has been promoted to regional quality manager at Niagaro Bottling, LLC.
Wilkinson joins Leggett & Platt
Galen Wilkinson, a current student in the Professional Master of Business Administration, recently became director of mechanical engineering at Leggett & Platt.Prior to joining Leggett & Platt, Wilkinson held several positions with John Deere.
McDonald selected for leadership program
Jennifer McDonald, a 2016 graduate with a master's in agribusiness, and CEO and founder of Jenny Dawn Cellars in Wichita, has been selected for the 2021 Leadership Kansas Class, an affiliate program of the Kansas Chamber. McDonald's Jenny Dawn Cellars Kansas Chardonnay also received a silver medal in the 2021 San Francisco Chronicle wine competition.
Lucas featured in K-State Alumni Association e-newsletter
Kelli Lucas, a 2016 graduate with a master's in youth development, was recently featured in At K-State, the monthly e-newsletter produced by the K-State Alumni Association. The article, titled "Building robots and life skills: Kelli Lucas mentors youth as robotics volunteer," details Lucas' work with youth alongside the global nonprofit For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST). Lucas is currently enrolled in the data analytics program through Global Campus.
Schwenneker earns promotion
Brent Schwenneker, a 2008 graduate with a master's in agribusiness, has been promoted to Customer Business Advisor with Bayer Crop Science.
Hines Bonnett begins career as RDN
Amanda Hines Bonnett, a 2019 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, completed her internship and began work in a registered dietitian position as Ideal Protein Coach and Director of Food and Nutrition Services at Cypress Pointe Hospital in Hammond, Louisiana.
Carey starts new position
Patrice Carey, a 2016 online graduate from K-State with a master's in academic advising, has started a new position as admissions coordinator at Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine in Provo, Utah. Carey previously served as a pre-health counselor at Utah Valley University.
Jarry authors article, starts new position
Lucile Jarry, a 2016 graduate from K-State with a master’s degree in food science, started a new position as research and development manager for The Hain Celestial Group. Jarry also authored an article in the June 2020 issue of Prepared Foods - R&D Insights and Innovations entitled “Bar Market Continues to Expand, Evolve, with Added Functional Benefits” an article about the protein bar market which continues to expand, evolve and grow.
Reiter participates in Junior Scholars Intensive Training program
Miranda Reiter, a doctoral student in the personal financial planning program online at K-State, was one of 12 individuals to participate in the second annual Junior Scholars Intensive Training program this past summer, held virtually because of COVID-19. The week-long program is a collaborative project between Howard University’s Center on Race and Wealth and the Center for Financial Security Retirement and Disability Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Human Ecology. The program is designed to foster the skills and relationships of early-career and underrepresented retirement and disability researchers.
Smit promoted at Hormel Foods
Nathan Smit, a 2008 online graduate from K-State with a bachelor’s degree in food science, has been promoted to Supervising Insights and Innovation Manager at Hormel Foods. Smit has been with Hormel for 19 years working in research and development, marketing and innovation. In his new role, Smit will focus on driving growth through innovation. In addition to his K-State education, Smit is certified in Design Thinking from Stanford University.
Comer begins new advising position
Sara Comer, a 2017 graduate with a master’s in academic advising, has started a new position as the Veteran Certifying Specialist for the Veterans Center with Kansas City Kansas Community College. Previously, Comer worked in a similar role at Labette Community College in Parsons, Kansas.
In addition to her academic advising degree, Comer earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from K-State in 2013, and her Master of Social Work from Wichita State University in 2015.
In her new role, Comer works with military affiliated students, active-duty, reservist, national guardsmen/women, veterans, dependents and spouses in the Kansas City metro area, online and at all KCKCC locations.
“The traits that are fostered through military service are valuable assets in college,” Comer said. “My goal is to foster these characteristics so that they can be transformative in creating a supportive environment for military affiliated students to transition from the military to civilian life while earning a college degree.
“The (academic advising) degree has provided me more in-depth knowledge of academic development and has helped me to get a more holistic perspective to help my students.”
McDonald featured in Wine Enthusiast
Jennifer McDonald, a 2016 graduate from Kansas State University’s online agribusiness program, had her Jenny Dawn Cellars urban winery in Wichita, Kansas, featured in Wine Enthusiast’s Global Guide to Black-Owned Wine Labels.
DiGirolamo recently published twice in coaching journals
Joel DiGirolamo, a K-State 2006 graduate with a master's in psychology with an emphasis in industrial and organizational psychology, recently published articles in a pair of coaching journals. “Reflective Practice for Coaches and Clients: An integrated Model for Learning” was published in the November 2019 issue of Philosophy of Coaching: An International Journal. “A professional development study: The lifelong journeys of coaches” was published in the spring 2020 issue of the International Coaching Psychology Review. DiGirolamo is Director of Coaching Science with the International Coach Federation. He also served as the 2016 Global Campus alumni fellow.
