Welcome Address
April Mason
April Mason joined K-State in January 2010 as provost and senior vice president. She came to K-State from Colorado State University, where she had been dean of the College of Applied Human Sciences.
Mason had been dean at Colorado State since August 2004. She supervised the operations of six departments and three schools with about 100 tenure track faculty, many special appointment and adjunct faculty, 4,000 undergraduates and 850 graduate students. She also was a professor in the department of food science and human nutrition. Before joining Colorado State, Mason was associate dean for extension and associate dean for discovery and engagement in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences at Purdue University. As a faculty member in foods and nutrition at Purdue, she conducted research in the area of trace mineral availability from plant foods. She also taught in the cooperative extension program at Purdue for 20 years.
She was Colorado State's representative to the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities' Board on Human Sciences, where she has been on the executive committee since 2005 and board chair beginning in 2009.
Mason is author or co-author of 24 refereed publications, 40 published research abstracts and seven book chapters and proceedings. Her research has been supported by more than $12 million in grants in the past 10 years, and includes numerous grants from agencies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Her research focuses on the availability of key nutrients from plant based food products, which provide critical calories and essential nutrients to a large proportion of the world's population. She also presents lectures on food safety and food security.
She is a member of numerous academic, professional and scholarly societies including Sigma Xi; American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences; Institute of Food Technologists; American Society for Nutritional Sciences; Epsilon Sigma Phi extension fraternity; and Gamma Sigma Delta.
She attended the Overseas School of Rome in Italy before going on to earn her bachelor's degree in biology from Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio. She holds a master's degree in plant physiology and a Ph.D. in foods and nutrition from Purdue University.
Luncheon Speaker
Suzie Fritz
After 10 seasons at the helm of the Kansas State volleyball program, Suzie Fritz has
quickly established herself as not only one of the most successful coaches in K-State
history, but also the nation. Fritz has led the Wildcats to seven NCAA Tournament
appearances as head coach, 11 dating back to her days as an assistant coach, the school's
first-ever conference title in 2003 and two Sweet 16 appearances. She currently holds
the highest winning percentage among all of K-State's volleyball coaches after compiling
a 195-116 (.627) mark in 10 years. In 11 seasons total on staff, Fritz has seen nine
All-Americans, 16 All-Region performers and 36 all-conference players come play as
Wildcats. Since taking over the program, Fritz has taken the Wildcats to new heights.
She has no doubt earned the respect of her peers and established herself as one of the leaders in her field.
In just her first year at the helm, Fritz led the Wildcats to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and a 20-8 record. It was the highest winning percentage in school history by a first-year coach at .714.
Success for the Wildcats has come more than just on the court under Fritz as she and her players have taken the term student-athlete to heart. The Wildcats have established themselves as one of the top performing teams in the classroom in the nation.
Along with the academic awards and nine All-American performances on the court, eight players have been selected as All-District. A total of 15 have been named All-Region VI with 36 All-Big 12 nods and 23 Big 12 players of the week.
Fritz began her head coaching career at K-State as the interim head coach after Jim McLaughlin left the program shortly before the start of the 2001 season. After a 9-5 start her first year, Fritz was named the program's permanent head coach. She took the reins from McLaughlin after serving as his top assistant four years.
Prior to coming to Kansas State in 1997, Fritz spent two years as an assistant coach at NJCAA power Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kan.
Fritz also played two years at Barton County from 1990-91, helping lead the Cougars to a 107-10 (.915) overall record and back-to-back final four finishes at the NJCAA Tournament as the team's starting setter.
After two years at Barton, Fritz transferred to Northeast Louisiana (now Louisiana-Monroe) for her junior season before transferring to Florida Atlantic for her senior campaign, finishing her playing career in 1994. She was named the team's Most Inspirational Player and was an All-Tournament selection.
Upon earning a bachelor's degree in exercise science and wellness education from Florida Atlantic in 1994, she spent a year as an assistant coach at her alma mater before returning to coach at Barton County in 1995. During her one-year stint at FAU, Fritz helped the Owls to a 6-21 overall record in just their first season in NCAA Division I.
Fritz earned a master's degree in educational administration and leadership from Kansas State in August 2002.
A native of Clay Center, Kan., the former Suzie Wiemers, was married to Steve Fritz on June 17, 2000. Steve Fritz, a member of the Kansas State Sports Hall of Fame, was a decathlete who placed fourth in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. The couple has two children, Thomas Jon (T.J.), 9, and Jake, who is 6.
Breakout Speakers
Heather Reed
Heather M. Reed is the associate dean and director of student life at Kansas State
University. Her career has focused on teaching and counseling with an emphasis on
managing student crises and problems.
Reed, a native Kansan from a family of K-Staters, spent many years teaching in western Kansas. She completed her masters in counseling and went on to serve as head ofthe counseling department at Garden City High School and to participate on the USD 457 Crisis Response Team. These experiences have provided a foundation that has enhanced her work in student life.
At K-State she is chair of the Crisis Management Team, the Critical Incident Response Team and assists with parent, student and faculty orientations. Reed is an adjunct instructor for the School of Leadership Studies and enjoys interacting with students in and out of the classroom.
Her professional interests include crisis management, campus safety and the coordination of campus support services.
Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli
Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli is the adjutant general of Kansas. He was sworn in as adjutant
general on Jan. 28, 2011, and promoted to major general in the Kansas National Guard.
As the adjutant general, Tafanelli oversees the activities of the Adjutant General’s Department. This includes providing command and control for more than 7,700 soldiers and airmen in the Kansas Army and Air National Guard. As the director of Kansas Emergency Management, a division of the department, he guides a professional core of personnel who prepare for, respond to and mitigate disasters. In addition to the part-time soldiers and airmen, the department he leads includes about 2,300 full-time state and federal employees. Additionally, 105 county emergency managers and their staffs receive guidance and training through the department. Tafanelli is also the director of Homeland Security for Kansas, where he works to ensure security in the state is a top priority.
Prior to his appointment as adjutant general, Tafanelli assumed the position of assistant adjutant general - Army, Kansas Army National Guard, and commander of the Land Component for the Joint Force Headquarters-Kansas on July 19, 2010.
Tafanelli joined the Kansas Army National Guard in 1980 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers through Pittsburg State University’s ROTC program in 1982.
Tafanelli has served in a wide variety of command and staff positions as a traditional Guardsman, Active Guard and Reserve and Active Duty soldier at the company, battalion, brigade, state headquarters and Department of the Army level. His battalion and brigade level assignments include reconnaissance officer; equipment platoon leader; supply officer; company commander; and training officer in the 891st Engineer Battalion. He also served as the personnel officer and training officer of the 69th Infantry Brigade, 35th Infantry Division. In 2005, as commander of the 891st Engineer Battalion, he led the battalion during a deployment to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. He later served as commander of 69th Troop Command and as director of operations for the Kansas National Guard.
Tafanelli served as the executive assistant to the adjutant general of Kansas, state recruiting and retention manager, mobilization planner; force integration and readiness officer; education services officer; and surface maintenance manager at state headquarters. At the Department of the Army level, he served as military assistant to the assistant secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs at the Pentagon in support of Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom.
In 1999, Tafanelli received a master’s degree in environmental planning and management from Kansas State University. He is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer Course, Army Force Development and Modernization Course, Army Mobilization and Deployment Course and the Air Command and Staff Officer Course. He is also a graduate of the Army's Airborne and Air Assault Courses.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge
Col. William J. Clark
Col. William J. Clark enlisted in the United States Army in March 1984. Upon completing
advanced individual training from the Defense Foreign Language Institute, Clark served
the next four years with the 751st Military Intelligence Battalion in the Republic
of Korea. In March 1990, Clark received his commission from Officer Candidate School
at Fort Benning, Georgia, which was followed by an assignment to Fort Knox, Kentucky,
to complete the Armor Officer Basic Course and the Junior Officer Maintenance Course.
In September of 1990, Clark reported to the 1st Battalion, 34th Armor, 1st Infantry
Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. While assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, Clark
served in numerous positions to include: tank platoon leader during the Persian Gulf
War, Headquarters and Headquarters Company executive officer, Battalion S1, and commander
of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade.
In July 1995, Clark returned to Fort Knox to attend the Combined Maneuver Officer Advance Course. Upon graduation, he was assigned to U.S. Army Europe Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany where he served as the assistant secretary of the General Staff until being reassigned to 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, in Vilseck, Germany. While a member of 3BDE, 1ID from December 1996 to July 1999, Clark served as the Brigade S1 during the “Iron” Brigade’s deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina for Operation Joint Guard, the commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-2 Infantry, and the S3 Air for 2-2 Infantry.
In July 1999, Clark returned to the United States where he served as a contract administrator for the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth until he subsequently attended the Command and General Officer Staff Course. He then returned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division in Vilseck, Germany.
Upon returning to Germany, Clark assumed the duties as the S3 for 1-63 AR, which included a deployment to the Czech Republic. Clark was subsequently assigned as the S3 for the 3rd Brigade, where he served as both the Brigade Operations Officer and the Deputy G3 for Task Force Falcon during the Brigade’s deployment to Kosovo. Upon his return in July 2003, Clark assumed the duties of the secretary of the General Staff for the 7th Army Training Command in Grafenwoehr, Germany. In October 2004, Clark returned to the U.S. to serve as the armor colonels assignment officer for HRC and subsequently, the Senior Leader Development Office.
In August 2006, Clark transitioned to Fort Lewis, Washington, to assume the duties of deputy brigade commander, where he was responsible for the initial generation of the Army’s seventh Stryker Brigade Combat Team – 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. In March 2007, Clark became the first commander of the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, leading the unit for 42 months, to include their deployment as the first Stryker Brigade Combat Team Cavalry Squadron to Afghanistan from July 2009 – July 2010. Clark served as the deputy garrison commander – transformation for Joint Base Lewis-McChord, October 2010-June 2011. He took over garrison command at Fort Riley on July 15, 2011.
Clark holds a bachelor of arts degree in business management from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University. He is married; he and his wife have four children and two grandchildren.
Tom C. Roberts
Tom C. Roberts began his engineering career as a U.S. Army Chemical officer helping
develop laser guided weapons systems in the early 1970’s. He became a licensed professional
engineer in 1976 while employed by Black & Veatch as a nuclear systems engineer and
director of human resources development. Roberts served as sales manager for an electrical
distribution company and formed Upward Consulting in 1989. He was appointed assistant
dean and associate professor for the College of Engineering at Kansas State University
in 1993. He is currently responsible for recruitment & leadership development programs
and processes. He is a member of the Coffman Leadership Institute and K-State Leadership
Seminar planning committees.
Roberts is past-president of the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers (KSPE) and served nationally as first vice president of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). He currently chairs the KSPE Government Relations Committee and serves on the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Professional Engineers in Higher Education (PEHE) Committee. He recently served four years as chair of the City of Manhattan’s Historic Resources Board and three years as council commissioner for the Boy Scouts of America Coronado Area Council. Tom was named Fellow in both ASEE and NSPE in 2010.
Roberts has more than 30 years experience in planning, organizational development, and leadership training. He has served as a continuous quality improvement consultant for a number of manufacturing & service companies and educational institutions. Roberts has presented information on systems thinking, professional development and our changing society to a wide variety of national audiences. He has been married to his partner and best friend Karen for 41 years. They have two sons, Greg and Chad.