A group of 13 alumni with a diverse array of professional experiences spanning higher education, business, medicine and the military has joined the Emporia State University Foundation Board of Trustees.
Trustees volunteer their time, talents and professional expertise to raise and steward resources to support Emporia State University and its students. Trustees are actively involved in university events and programs and serve to advance ESU’s mission.
Joining the ESU Foundation board are:
Scott Bender
Scott Bender of Wichita, Kansas, is controller for Berry Companies, Inc. He has more than three decades of experience in corporate finance, accounting and technology. In addition to being an ESU alumnus, he enjoys a familial connection to ESU that began with his father, alumnus Clifford C. Bender. His mother, sister and brother earned degrees from ESU or attended the university, as well as his children.
“I feel I can bring my 30 years of finance and technology professional experience to help the school continue to make a difference in the lives of Kansas families for the years to come,” Bender said.
Dr. Gregory Burger
Dr. Gregory Burger of Lecompton, Kansas, is pharmacy quality and safety manager for the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System in Topeka and the past president of the Kansas Council of Health-Systems Pharmacists. Throughout his career, he has focused on medication safety and is one of the few Kansas pharmacists to be credentialed as a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS).
“As someone that grew up as a farm kid in rural Kansas, I want to ensure that rural high school students have the same opportunities that I had over 30 years ago,” Burger said. “I was severely allergic to everything outdoors, so farming wasn’t a career option – I knew I needed higher education. ESU’s pre-pharmacy program fit my academic goals while the smaller setting fit my needs as a first-generation college student. My hope is that rural Kansas high school students can find an affordable path to a STEM career with Emporia State University.”
Terry Crawford
Terry Crawford of Shawnee, Kansas, has enjoyed a lengthy career in finance and retired as senior vice president and treasurer of AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. after 26 years with the company. Crawford’s parents, the late Eugene and Roberta Crawford, and both of his siblings are ESU graduates.
“I believe I have the talents or experience to be a very good trustee, with a strong finance background, as well as a strong governance background,” Crawford said. “I strongly believe in the future of ESU, thus my willingness to give back through my time, talents and treasures.”
Corie Forbes
Corie Forbes of Wichita, Kansas, is assistant chief nursing officer at Wesley Healthcare in Wichita. A member of the 2024 Board of Directors of the American Red Cross for South Central and Southeast Kansas, Forbes was named a 2021 Wichita Business Journal Women Who Lead Major Companies honoree.
“Emporia State University gave me the chance to follow my passion, and that has shaped my career,” Forbes said. “I’m proud to join the Foundation’s Board of Trustees because I will have the ability to give back and ensure other students have the same opportunities.”
Steve Harmon
Command Sgt. Maj. Steve Harmon of Emporia is a three-time graduate of ESU and is the Command Senior Enlisted Leader and Education Services Officer for the Kansas National Guard. Harmon has served in the U.S. Army for more than 37 years in the 5th Infantry Division, 35th Infantry Division, 40th Infantry Division, 1st Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne and Army Central Command. He has deployed to Kosovo, Afghanistan and Kuwait.
"I am honored to serve our students, faculty, staff and alumni as a member of the ESU Foundation Board,” Harmon said. “ESU has been and continues to be an important part of my personal and professional life. I am excited to see how I can help as ESU enters an exciting new era of change and growth."
Darcy Meier
Darcy Meier of Redmond, Washington, is senior director of club and e-commerce for Jack Link’s Protein Snacks. An ESU alumna, Emporia native and retail executive with leadership experience at Walmart and Amazon, Meier was highly involved in numerous student organizations while a student at ESU.
“I look forward to serving on the board and having the opportunity to give back to Emporia State,” Meier said. “I am fortunate for all I experienced as a student and want to positively impact the students, community and university for the years to come.”
Susan Michalski
Susan Michalski of Olathe, Kansas, has worked in the accounting field for over two decades, in both private and public accounting. She currently operates Michalski Bookkeeping, LLC, providing accounting services to small businesses. Susan’s husband, Richard Michalski, and their three children are also ESU graduates.
“This is a way to be more involved with ESU, a school that has been important to our family,” Michalski said. “I am honored to have the opportunity to help the foundation move forward in these challenging times for higher education.”
Mark Ohm
Mark Ohm of Wichita, Kansas, has worked for Metal-Fab Inc. for 28 years and today serves as its president. He also has experience in public accounting and extensive experience with several manufacturing companies. The ESU alum has remained active with his alma mater through the School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council.
“As a student at ESU, I received a great foundational education that set me up for success,” Ohm said. “I hope my involvement on the ESU Foundation makes it possible for future students to also receive a great foundational education and launch them on a successful career.”
Dr. Thomas ‘TJ’ Rains
Dr. Thomas “TJ” Rains, of Lake Saint Louis, Missouri, recently established RelevED, a consulting firm focused on organizational development, technology deployment planning and management and strategic consulting in the education market. He has over two decades of experience in higher education leadership, having served in executive roles at multiple institutions, including Lindenwood University, Cardinal Stritch University and ESU.
"Emporia State University has been instrumental in shaping my life and career,” Rains said. “After nearly 25 years of professional service in higher education, I'm honored to join the ESU Foundation Board of Trustees. I'm excited to apply my industry knowledge to support ESU's next growth cycle, giving back to the institution that has given me so much."
Robert Swanson
Robert Swanson of Emporia is president and CEO of Swanson House Inc., a full-service fundraising consulting firm that partners with organizations focused on health and human services, higher education, healthcare, youth development, museums, and art and culture. He and his fellow consultants have served hundreds of organizations across the country raising more than $1 billion. He is also a former president and CEO of the ESU Foundation.
“For 72 years, the ESU Foundation has worked to provide opportunities for students and faculty and provide capital and program support. I am proud to be part of it,” Swanson said. “Emporia State provided me with amazing opportunities — newspaper, radio and student government, to name a few. I had faculty and administrators who took a personal interest in me. They became mentors. The businesses of Emporia were great employers as I worked my way through college, and we have friends made 40 years ago that we still spend time with.”
Dr. Charisse Symmonds Arndt
Dr. Charisse Symmonds Arndt of Reading, Kansas, is an ESU alumna and board-certified internal medicine physician specializing in primary care and diabetes management. She is a primary care physician at Newman Regional Health and is the owner and medical director of High Plains Wellness in Emporia.
“I chose to serve on the board because I am proud of my education and how it helped me fulfill my dreams,” she said. “I am excited to be back in the Emporia community and support Emporia State University for current and future students.”
Lauren Tanner-Leif
Lauren Tanner-Leif of Omaha, Nebraska, is the senior director of education for the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. She has more than a decade of professional experience in higher education, including previous administrative roles at the University of Arizona.
“I accepted this role with the ESU Foundation to give back to the institution that profoundly influenced my life,” Tanner-Leif said. “Emporia State provided the foundation for my success, and as a trustee, I’m dedicated to ensuring that others can benefit from those same strong educational, professional and interpersonal experiences.”
Wendy Wheat
Wendy Wheat of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, is senior director of systems architecture for T-Mobile, a vital role in which she oversees systems stability and operations. She’s held positions across all of technology including information technology, networking and partnerships with cyber security since earning her ESU degree in 2000. She has been active at ESU with the School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council and the Women for ESU organization.
“I choose to serve because I want to give back and help the students at ESU achieve their personal and professional goals,” Wheat said. “I also want to help shape the future of education, especially since I understand what it takes to thrive and adapt to such a high-paced industry (telecom) and profession (information technology).”