Fall 2024

Moreover, “Next-Gen K-State” emphasizes the importance of operating as One K-State. This means adopting new structures and coordination methods that enable us to work collectively toward these shared goals.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES STRATEGIC PLAN (pdf)

Rooted in the university’s founding, since 1873 HHS has served as a cornerstone for collaboration in health and human sciences, fostering a vibrant interdisciplinary environment dedicated to promoting well-being. We are proud of how we have evolved over the past 150 years and risen to face challenges over time, consistently working together to provide access to high-quality education for our learners, innovate and discover new knowledge and disseminate such knowledge to bolster and transform individuals and communities across our state.

This strategic plan is the next chapter for our college. It outlines innovative ways to work together, fostering collaboration unlike ever before. The plan details how we will coordinate, seamlessly, across all aspects of our work, staying true to our land-grant heritage – a heritage that positions people at the very core. As Kansas State University redefines the 21st century land-grant university through its Next-Gen K-State plan, HHS embraces this call to lead the way.

To realize this vision, our work is strategically organized into five key areas: Operational Excellence, External Engagement, Research, Learner Success and Support, and Infrastructure. Each area was intentionally chosen to focus our efforts for maximum impact in the years to come. These priorities represent the greatest opportunities for us to reimagine our work and make a transformative difference through that work.

As the needs of our learners, the world, and the communities we serve evolve – the challenges we face today are different from the past and those on the horizon – our college will continue to evolve and innovate, changing with the times to rise to these challenges and needs, and fulfill its mission. Through the collaborative efforts outlined here, the College of Health and Human Sciences remains poised to build upon its rich history. We will forge an even brighter future, solidifying our legacy of excellence for generations to come.

Currently, the academic programs within the college are structured into six departments: Applied Human Sciences; Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health; Hospitality Management; Interior Design and Fashion Studies; Kinesiology and Personal Financial Planning and the K-State Center on Aging.

Last August, the college formed a steering committee and hired Emergent Methods, a nationally recognized management consulting firm, to lead a reorganization plan that would allow us to optimize our spaces, finances, people and talents. After an extensive process, which included market research, listening sessions with past and present students, committee retreats, all-college meetings, and more, we are excited to share that the Kansas Board of Regents has approved a new reorganization structure that will take effect July 1, 2025.

Beginning July 1, the college will be comprised of the School of Human Sciences, the School of Health Sciences and the School of Consumer Sciences. Below is a chart to show where each academic program will live.

Full-sized PDF of chart (pdf)

As we begin this transition into a new structure, we are excited to have three strong, proven leaders at the helm of each school.

Martin Seay, Ph.D., will serve as the interim director of the School of Consumer Sciences. Seay has been a part of K-State since 2012, after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. He served as the department head for Personal Financial Planning after helping successfully launch the program. He has a proven track record of collaborating across units and colleges, with expertise in fundraising and budget allocation. Previously, Seay was appointed interim department head of Interior Design and Fashion Studies, where he successfully restructured the unit—leading to Interior Design moving to the College of Architecture, Planning and Design and Fashion Studies gaining stability and a strategic vision. He has wide support from the members of this school and a clear vision to grow and strengthen industry partnerships. Having worked closely with Ben Wolfe, Dean of K-State Olathe, Seay is well-positioned to guide these programs and develop a school mission that reflects the strengths of each area.

Craig Harms, Ph.D., will serve as the interim director of the School of Health Sciences. Harms has been a valued member of K-State since 1997 and a key leader in our college. He previously served as interim dean of the college and had a significant role in transitioning the Kinesiology department from the College of Arts & Sciences to our college in 2012. He brings extensive experience in leadership, having held roles in national organizations, including the American College of Sports Medicine. His academic background includes a master’s degree from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. from Indiana University. After earning his doctoral degree, Harms held positions at the Indiana University Medical School and a prestigious postdoctoral appointment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His excellence in leadership has been widely recognized, earning him the University Department Head of the Year award in 2019 and the National Department Head of the Year award from the American Kinesiology Association in 2020. He was also instrumental in developing the strategic plan for the college. In his new role, Harms will collaborate closely with all Health Sciences programs to ensure all voices are included in key decisions. His ability to bring people together, along with his deep understanding of curriculum, budgeting and leadership will be essential in stabilizing and advancing this school. With the largest school/department on campus by student enrollment, he will focus on integrating programs, developing synergies and managing the human-health-accredited programs.

Mindy Markham, Ph.D., will serve as the director of r the School of Human Sciences. Markham served as the head of the Department of Applied Human Sciences for the past 1.5 years, following a successful term as interim head, during which she gained overwhelming support from her department. She has been a dedicated member of K-State since 2008, joining after earning her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Throughout her tenure, Markham has consistently stepped up during pivotal moments, notably leading as chair of the University Faculty Senate through the challenges of COVID-19. Her leadership has driven significant progress within her programs, with positive outcomes in proposals, expenditures, and outreach efforts that impact students, the state and the community. These programs are especially influential in delivering clinical hours and improving patient outcomes across several accredited fields. Markham’s exceptional communication and organizational skills, coupled with her commitment to incorporating the voices of her faculty and staff, position her as a proven leader. In her new role, she will collaborate with other school directors to strengthen cross-school partnerships in instruction and research, bringing the School of Human Sciences into a new era aligned with the next-generation strategic plan.

We are very fortunate and excited to have welcomed one of our largest freshmen classes this fall. Our programs are seeing great growth here in Manhattan, in Olathe and online. The College of Health and Human Sciences is now one of the top 3 largest colleges on campus!

Our focus here in HHS continues to be on providing our students with a top-notch education and putting their needs first. With our recent growth, we are excited to announce the hiring of four new academic advisors. These new hires support the new University Strategic Plan and allow us to provide that in-depth advising we are so proud of for all our students.

"Bringing the interior design program into APDesign creates a cohesive educational environment that mirrors the collaborative nature of the design profession," said Michael McClure, dean of the College of Architecture, Planning & Design. "This transition strengthens the academic offerings and prepare our students for the complexities of the design world."

As the efforts continue to fully integrate the program into its new academic home, interior design students will be poised to enjoy a broadened curriculum, opportunities for cross-disciplinary engagement within the built environment and the chance to work alongside architecture, landscape architecture, regional and community planning, and industrial design students.

Carol earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics at Kansas State University in 1969. Her master’s and doctoral degrees in home economics education were awarded by the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Carol began her career as a home economics teacher in Blue Springs, Missouri before moving to the University of Missouri as an instructor. She served as Assistant Director of the Youth Employment Project, a project of the National Collaboration for Youth, and continued her career as a professor at Central Missouri State University, where she chaired the Home Economics Department for four years.

Carol was a professor at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), for 11 years and chaired the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences for four years. As Founder and Director of the Urban Families Initiative, she authored grants funded with almost $5 million to address issues of immigrant families living in neighborhoods with prevalent poverty. During 1996-1997 she was selected for the prestigious American Council on Education Fellowship, which she served at Ohio University, Athens. Following the fellowship, Carol returned to CSULB as Special Assistant to the University Provost.

In 1998, she returned to Kansas State University, Manhattan, to serve as dean and professor of the College of Human Ecology, a position she held through 2006. As dean, Carol provided leadership for strategic planning, faculty development, scholarship, extension, outreach and service missions in the college’s four units: School of Family Studies and Human Services; Department of Apparel, Textiles and Interior Design; Department of Human Nutrition, and Department of Hotel, Restaurant, Institution Management and Dietetics. In 2006-2007, Carol accepted the invitation to serve as a faculty scholar in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Following that appointment, she returned to K-State as professor of family studies and human services.

During her tenure as dean, Carol led efforts to establish a facilities master plan for the college and oversaw the completion of an early childhood education center and a speech and hearing clinic. Her leadership led to significant increases in research grants and philanthropic giving to the college. She retired as a professor of family studies and human services in 2015.

Throughout her 46-year career in human sciences education, she authored numerous scholarly articles, chapters and curriculum guides. She served as chair of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Council (AAFCS) for Accreditation and as president of the AAFCS state affiliates in Missouri, California and Kansas. She was executive director of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and executive director of the APL Board of Human Sciences. Her numerous awards include K-State Distinguished Service Award, Board on Human Sciences Distinguished Service Award, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Commemorative Lecture award and that organization’s prestigious Distinguished Service Award.

Carol was an active member of the Manhattan community, with memberships in Domestic Science Club, Rotary International, and the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Carol E. Kellett Education Fund for Medical Service Providers at the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. In establishing this fund, Carol was inspired by the dedicated home health providers who assisted her in sustaining an independent lifestyle as she lived with dementia.

A celebration of Carol Kellett’s life will be held in November. For more information, please contact Theresa at 785-564-1060.

Articulation Agreements are formal agreements developed in partnership between community colleges and K-State to facilitate a smooth transition of students from one school to another while ensuring that their prior coursework is recognized and applied toward their degree or program requirements at the receiving institution.

Currently, the college has agreements for multiple programs at Barton County Community College, Butler Community College, Hutchinson Community College, Johnson County Community College and Highland Community College.

A full list of agreements can be found on the articulation agreement website.

This fall, HHS partnered with the College of Arts and Sciences for two networking events targeting both groups of students:

• The Health Networking Night was held in September where students were able to visit with about 40 employers to learn about job shadowing, volunteer opportunities, full-time and part-time positions and general industry networking. Employers from across the region and representing a variety of healthcare professions were in attendance. We saw 190 students in attendance at the event.
• The Helping Professions Networking Night was hosted in October where it saw its largest number of employers in the event's history participating in the event with 40 in attendance. This event saw employers from across professions including mental health, criminal justice, family advocacy organizations, youth programing, non-profit groups and many others. 54 students attended the event.

Employers have also had the opportunity to explore new ways to engage with our students. While we have had employers table in Justin Hall, we have also added office hours and social media takeovers as additional opportunities to connect with our students. Both have been well received and have allowed us to engage our distance learners with employers.

In addition to these opportunities, the college hosts a variety of events to specifically work on career-readiness skills with the students. Once a month, students are invited to participate in resume review days and mock interviews where they can get instant feedback on how they improve their resumes and interviewing skills. Both opportunities have been heavily utilized by our students as they are getting ready for various networking events and career fairs. The college will wrap up the semester with its Etiquette Dinner. This event includes a meal and presentation by our hospitality faculty where they walk through dining etiquette allowing our students to learn about ways to make a great impression in a meal setting.

Mentoring Program

The mentoring program also saw significant growth over the past year. At the end of the 2023-24 academic year, the program was closing in on 160 students participating in the mentoring program along with 400 mentors, which is the highest numbers the program has seen in several years. Starting this school year, we saw about a third of the program graduate and students have been eagerly signing up for mentors since the beginning of the semester.

“I joined the mentoring program because I wanted to get guidance from a graduate on how to navigate applying for graduate school,” said Audrey Hansen, senior in human development and family science, currently paired with mentor Grace Scott, K-State 2021, mental health therapist for The Counseling Collaborative. “I wanted advice from someone who is out in the field I want to go into. She provides me with excellent guidance and information about things to consider when applying to graduate school, as well as insight of what being a therapist is like. Having a relationship with someone who has experienced the same thing as you is really beneficial. Learning about post-grad life also eases my anxieties about starting a job!”

Students have benefited tremendously from being paired with their mentors. One of the unique aspects of the program is the college provides a travel grant to help cover the costs to visit their mentor who lives further away. Natalie Peterson, senior in fashion business, will be utilizing the travel grant this month to visit her mentor Dora Maddux, K-State 2011, who is the marketing director for Windsor Jewelers in New York City. During this trip, Natalie will learn about digital marketing, product filming, tradeshow planning, photoshoot planning and many other aspects of the fashion industry.

If you have an interest in getting involved with our career development opportunities or the professional mentoring program, please e-mail Dana Parker, career development coordinator, at dlaparker@k-state.edu.