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2013 Washburn Alumni Fellows

 

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Thomas S. Bartlett, aa ’81, ba ’81, ma ’85, Topeka

Thomas BartlettBartlett was among the first students to receive a master of arts degree in psychology at Washburn and has enjoyed a distinguished career as a psychologist in private practice and at several facilities. The Topeka resident currently has a private practice and previously worked as director of training and education and as a staff psychologist at Family Service and Guidance Center of Topeka. A longtime adjunct instructor at Washburn, Bartlett also worked at Topeka State Hospital, had a two-year fellowship at the Menninger Clinic and worked in several roles at hospitals, clinics and centers in Colorado, where he received his doctorate of psychology in 1993 at the University of Denver. His service endeavors include serving as president of the Historic Holliday Park Neighborhood Improvement Association and as a volunteer for the Col. Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue Network.

 

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Michael W. Falk, bba ’84, Overland Park, Kan.

Michael FalkFalk is a certified public accountant and client service partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). He received a bachelor of business administration in accounting from Washburn in 1984 and a master of accounting from Kansas State, where he served as a graduate teaching assistant and instructor. After receiving the master of accounting degree, Falk worked at the professional services firm Deloitte before joining PwC in Kansas City, Mo. He is the lead partner with responsibility for all PwC service delivery to several of the firm’s clients and serves as the lead tax partner to a number of other clients, including Fortune 500 companies.  Falk’s clients work in an array of industries, including telecommunications, construction, engineering, food processing, financial services and manufacturing. He has been a board member for the Kansas City Zoo, Hope House and Camps for Kids, and has served on the accounting advisory council for Kansas State.

 

WASHBURN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Pamela (Schmidt) Farrell, certificate, data processing and bookkeeping ’72, Seattle, Wash.

Pamela FarrellFarrell, a longtime Topekan and current Seattle, Wash., resident, retired in 2010 after working at The Boeing Company for 31 years, including several years as a lead operator. The Topeka West High School alumna began her career at Boeing in 1979 as a data entry operator and was promoted to data processor B within two years. By 1990, she was a data processor A and moved up to distributed systems operator analyst 4 by 1995. From 2001 to 2010, Farrell was a computer operator D, managing tape silos, job recovery, mainframe and distributed server applications and service ticket work load functions. She received a plethora of recognitions from Boeing, including 2003 Virtual Office Initiative for DCAC/MRM Support, 2002 Server Center Consolidation Initiative program, 2002 Computing Disaster Preparedness program, 2000 CNO SSG/CO Y2K Readiness project and 1995 Puget Sound Print Process team. Farrell also earned the distinction of having the highest federal security clearance.

 

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Jeff Jacobsen, ba ’76, Topeka

Jeff JacobsenJacobsen is the staff photographer for University of Kansas athletics, a position he has held since 1997. The Lincoln, Neb., native and longtime Topeka resident has enjoyed a long career in photography that has included stops at the Arizona Republic and Topeka Capital-Journal. A Topeka High alumnus, Jacobsen was a staff photographer at the Capital-Journal from 1969 to 1979 and the Republic from 1979 to 1983. He returned to Topeka in 1983 and was the director of photography and managing editor of the Capital-Journal until 1996. Jacobsen has won several national awards for his work, including honors from the National Press Photographers Association, Inland Press Association and The Associated Press. His service to the community includes volunteer work for the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Topeka, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Topeka and Habitat for Humanity. He also volunteers as a photographer for Washburn sporting events and speaks to classes on campus.

 

SCHOOL OF LAW

C. Michael Lennen, jd ’74, Topeka

Michael LennenLennen is of counsel with the Law Offices of Morris, Laing, Evans, Brock and Kennedy, Chtd. The Syracuse, Kan., native and Topeka resident has had a successful career in law spanning nearly 40 years, including more than 20 years with his current firm. Lennen has served in his current capacity since 2012, and previously was a shareholder and director with the firm’s Wichita office from 1987 to 2007. He worked for five years as vice president of regulatory affairs at Westar Energy before returning to the firm. His positions prior to Morris, Laing, Evans, Brock and Kennedy include chairman of the Kansas Corporation Commission from 1983 to 1987, secretary of the Kansas Department of Revenue from 1979 to 1983, administrative assistant to congresswoman Martha Keyes from 1976 to 1979 and law clerk for the Hon. Frank G. Theis from 1974 to 1976. Lennen is the president of the Topeka Symphony, a position he has held since 2010, and vice chairman of the Kansas Health Foundation, among several service endeavors.

 

SCHOOL OF APPLIED STUDIES

Sue Parks, certificate, radiation therapy ’91, Grand Junction, Colo.

Sue ParksA Lamar, Colo., native and Grand Junction, Colo., resident, Parks retired after a 23-year career at Nevada Radiation Oncology Center in Las Vegas. As office administrator and technical director, Parks was responsible for treatment planning, supervising daily charting and multiple other duties for 80 to 100 radiotherapy patients on a daily basis. She also managed all administrative activities for five radiation therapy centers. Before becoming technical director, she was a chief radiation therapy technologist at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. Parks has been heavily involved in the community, including 16 years as a Sunday school teacher. Also, she is a member of the Christian Women’s Club, bible study fellowship and Women’s Service Organization. In addition, she is the secretary and office manager at Southeast Christian Church, a volunteer for the Peace Corps and Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, and has served as a troop leader for the Girl Scouts.

 

SCHOOL OF NURSING

Beth Williams, bsn ’87, Topeka

Beth WilliamsWilliams has worked at St. Francis Health Center for more than 26 years, including nearly eight years in her current position as director of medical surgical nursing. As director, her duties include supervising the nursing staff in patient care areas and administering fiscal operations. The St. Louis, Mo., native and Topeka resident previously worked as clinical coordinator from 1999 to 2005, special projects coordinator from 1996 to 1999, charge nurse from 1991 to 1996, utilization reviewer from 1990 to 1991 and staff nurse from 1987 to 1990 at St. Francis. Williams is a member of the boards of the practical nursing program at Washburn Institute of Technology and Kansas State Nurses Association, and a former board member of the Eta Kappa chapter at large of Sigma Theta Tau. She has volunteered at Findables for Midland Hospice, served as a board member at God’s Store House in Jefferson County and has been a CCD teacher at St. Aloysius Catholic Church.

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Topeka, KS 66604 Phone: 785.670.4483
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