06/27/2014 rmc

The Fort Hays State University Alumni Association Board of Directors has announced the addition of seven new board members.

They were introduced June 6 at the board's summer meeting in Hays. New to the board are Sandy Billinger, Ph.D., Roeland Park; LeAnn (Dreher) Brown, Ph.D., WaKeeney; Angela (Leggett) Gaughan, Wichita; Emily Griffin-Overocker, Ph.D., Edmond, Okla.; Ethan Harder, Elkhart; Leo Lake, Salina; and Rich Sieker, Hays.

Billinger, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the KU Medical Center, received a Bachelor of Science in physical education/gerontology in 2002 from FHSU. She was appointed to a four-year term and will serve on the Membership and Marketing Committee.

Brown, Ph.D., graduated from FHSU with a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership in 2002. She is an assistant professor of management and human resources at Fort Hays State University. She will serve a three-year board term as a faculty representative and be a member of the Awards and Recognition Committee.

Gaughan, project specialist at Wichita State University Center for Community Support & Research, graduated from FHSU in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in communication. She was appointed to a four-year term and will serve on the Chapter Development Committee.

Griffin Overocker, Ph.D., received a Bachelor of General Studies from FHSU in 2000. She is the director of the student success program at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. She was appointed to a four-year term and will serve on the Membership and Marketing Committee.

Harder, field technician/safety coordinator with Harder & Associates LLC, received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from FHSU in 2005. He was appointed to a four-year term and will serve on the Finance and Operations Committee.

Lake, a retired educator and volunteer, graduated from FHSU in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education and 1961 with a Master of Science in education administration. He was appointed to serve a four-year term and will serve as a member of the Awards and Recognition Committee.

Sieker graduated in 1977 and 1981 with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in physical education, both from FHSU. He is a sales representative with Eagle Communications and will serve a four-year term as a member of the Chapter Development Committee.

"These highly talented Fort Hays State alumni bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the FHSU Alumni Board of Directors," said Debra Prideaux, FHSU executive director of alumni and governmental relations. "We are fortunate to have seven of our most talented graduates assist us in furthering the overall success of the association."

The Executive Council of 2014-15 is composed of Diane (Pfeifer) Scott, Ph.D., Broomfield, Colo., Marcella "Marcy" (Johnson) Aycock, Ph.D., Sedgwick; Chuck Sexson, Topeka; Monte Broeckelman, Beloit; Rich Dreiling, Wichita; Eric Grospitch, Ed.D., Overland Park; Dave Voss, Colby; Molly (Bircher) Aspan, Tulsa, Okla., and Mitchell Hall, Anthony.

Scott, Ph.D., will serve as president of the board. She graduated from FHSU in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and in 1990 with a Master of Science in counseling and guidance. She is a self-employed consultant and life coach.

Sexson is the director of the Concealed Carry Licensing Unit in the office of the Kansas Attorney General. He received a Bachelor of Arts in sociology in 1972. He will serve on the board as vice president and is a member of the Awards and Recognition Committee.

Aycock, Ph.D., is a 1984 FHSU graduate with a bachelor's degree in art education. She is the academy development manager at the National Academy Foundation, New York, N.Y. She holds past president board status and is a member of the Awards and Recognition Committee.

Broeckelman, a CFO with Farmway Coop Inc., serves as the chair of the Finance and Operations Committee. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from FHSU in 1992.

Dreiling graduated from FHSU in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He is an account sales manager with CD Custom Enterprises LLC, in Newton. He will serve as chair of the Chapter Development Committee.

Grospitch, Ed.D., serves as chair of the Membership and Marketing Committee. He graduated from FHSU in 1993 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and 1997 with a Master of Science in counseling and guidance. He is the dean of students at UMKC, Kansas City, Mo.

Voss serves as chair of the Awards and Recognition committee. He works as a network development manager, Centene Corp. Sunflower State Health Plan. He received a bachelor's degree in communication from FHSU in 1992.

Aspan, attorney with Hall Estill, Tulsa, Okla., graduated from FHSU in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. She will serve in an at-large position and is a member of the Chapter Development Committee.

Hall, a 2005 FHSU graduate, received a bachelor's degree in political science. He is the owner of H2O Drilling LLC, and Hall Family Land & Cattle, LLC. He will serve in an at-large position and is a member of the Finance and Operations Committee.

Other members of the board are Jon Armstrong, '96, '08, Hays, assistant director of admissions and transfer coordinator, FHSU Office of Admissions; Josh Biera, '92, Garden City, lieutenant, Kansas Highway Patrol; Lea Ann (Scott) Curtis, '76, '82, Topeka, Testing and ADA coordinator, Washburn Institute of Technology; Chad Fowler, '99, Andale, compliance manager/vice president, Wells Fargo; Mike Koerner, '00, '05, Hays, operations/systems manager, Eagle Communications; Denise (Stegman) Riedel, '86, Overland Park, owner, Riedel Communications, freelance consultant and writer; Kenneth Ruder, Ph.D., '62, Petersburg, Ky., professor emeritus, Southern Illinois University; and Twilla (Brown) Wanker, '57, Holly Lake Ranch, Texas, retired.

Retiring board members Stephanie (Groninga) Bannister, Ph.D., '92; Daron Jamison, '03; Mary (Johansen) Martin, Ph.D., '91; Tracy Metzger, '96; Kevin Moeder, '82; and Dennis Spratt, '71 were recognized for their 33 years of cumulative service.

Established in 1916, the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association serves the population of FHSU graduates by identifying needs and providing solutions. More than 56,000 graduates live throughout the United States and approximately 74 foreign countries.

The board is a 24-member governing board that sets the policy and direction of the association in developing life-long relationships between the university and alumni.

Board nominations are accepted as positions become available. For more information, visit www.goforthaysstate.com, email alumni@fhsu.edu or call 785-628-4430 or toll free 1-888-351-3591.

For a complete listing of FHSU Alumni Board of Directors, visit http://goforthaysstate.com/abod.