Dr. Mildred Edwards
Dr. Mildred Edwards is a passionate community leader, mobilizer and equity advocate. After five years of service in state government, Mildred now serves as the Westar Energy Manager for Training and Development, working to improve and sustain leadership capacity throughout the organization. Additionally, she is adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at Washburn University.
Formerly, Mildred launched the Kansas African American Affairs Commission - State of African Americans in Kansas project in 2010 seeking a data driven understanding of equity; a process of mobilizing and training communities to act, and the dissemination of recommendations designed to improve inequities identified. Through her leadership and the State of African Americans in Kansas document, the Commission later crafted a statewide plan to address African American inequity, established equity advisory boards in each congressional district, and secured funds to support impact initiatives defined by each. Concurrently, she also served on the Kansas Board of Regents. Prior to her appointment as a member of the Kansas Board of Regents and serving Executive Director for the Kansas African American Affairs Commission in the Office of the Governor, she served as a consultant who provided staff development training, non-profit grant writing, and federal grant evaluation for various agencies and organizations.
Prior to her service to the State of Kansas, Dr. Edwards consistently exhibited characteristics of a true servant leader. Mildred is a Past President of two Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. chapters, the Urban League of Wichita Guild, the Air Capital Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, and the Junior League of Wichita. She has served as the Immediate Past-President of the Links, Inc. Wichita (KS) Chapter, is a former Links, Inc. Associate Dean of the Scott Hawkins Institute (SHLI) and graduate, and served on the national Health and Human Services Mental Health committee. Dr. Edwards is a Kansas delegate to the Vision 2020 Equality project of Drexel University, Leadership Wichita and Kansas Leadership Center alumnus, and subscribing life member of the NAACP of Kansas. Most notably Mildred was named a 2013 National Trio Achiever by the Council for Opportunity in Education.
A proud Wichita State University alumnus, Mildred is a former Senior Honor Woman, and served as Chairperson for the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She obtained a B.S. in Health Care Administration/Public Relations, Master of Public Health, and Doctorate of Philosophy in Community Psychology from her alma mater. In addition to her career and volunteerism, Mildred enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. She is the proud mother of one daughter Leah.
