- Name: Janel Harder
- Office: Center for Student and Professional Services - College of Education
- Address: 13 Bluemont Hall
- Phone: 785-532-5524
- E-Mail: janelh@ksu.edu
- Senate Position: Vice-President
Classified Senate Profiles
Janel Harder
Short Biography:
I was born in Decatur, Georgia. Since my father was a military police colonel, we moved around quite a bit. We lived in Georgia, Mississippi, New Jersey (right outside Philadelphia), Virginia (right outside Washington, D.C.), as well as Europe. I am the youngest of five. I have 3 sisters and one brother. My parents retired to Georgia and then one-by-one, my three sisters followed them there from Virginia. My three sisters work as a corporate trainer, a nurse and an insurance field claims adjustor. My Dad couldn't stay retired long so he now owns a private detective agency in Georgia. My brother is a Washington, D.C. police officer in the Internal Affairs Department. I graduated from Garfield Senior High School in Dale City, Virginia. Then I attended Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.
My husband, Kelcey Harder, was born in Texas and raised in Kansas. We have been married since 1993 and have a daughter named Jordan, born January, 2004. We live on a 3,000 acre horse and cattle ranch, Sun Rock Ranch (7 miles south of Junction City). We opened it as a bed & breakfast in 2002 and offer horseback riding, as well as bonfire roasts and hayrack rides. We have been working with the State of Kansas in agritourism since before the term was coined. The ranch is featured in numerous international travel catalogs for ranch vacations. Kelcey manages the ranch and its activities full-time while I handle my part of the business part-time, such as being the liaison to the international travel operators, State of Kansas Travel, Tourism and Recreation, news and media outlets, and local, state and worldwide business affiliations.
Brief Work History:
I came to K-State in August of 2000 after working for Cox Communications, Inc. for 6 years. I began working as an Administrative Specialist in the Center for Student and Professional Services in the College of Education. Since I have enjoyed working in that office, I have stayed there my whole K-State career.
Personal Interests:
I love to travel! I love to show my daughter and husband places I have been to and discover new ones with them. My whole family, including my parents and siblings, enjoys traveling and fortunately we go places together often.
If I am not on a trip somewhere, I am planning one or daydreaming about it. My daughter is only 3 years old and is already a seasoned traveler and frequent flyer. My husband had not traveled much before he met me, but now he also has the travel bug.
My ideal job would be a travel writer. To be able to fly to exotic locations with my family and get paid for it would be a dream!
My other passion is animals and their rights. I am a strong, active advocate for all animals, big and small.
Additional Comments:
This is such an important time for classified employees in Kansas. I am very excited to be on the Classified Senate during the possibilities for positive change being explored by the State of Kansas, Board of Regents, Alternative Service Committee and Classified Senate committees.