8/26/22 

By FHSU University Communications

Hays, Kan. - The Fort Hays State University Robbins Banking Institute and The Kansas Bankers Association recently announced the hiring of FHSU alum Tommy Powell as its director. 

With more than a decade of sales and support experience in the banking industry, Powell completed his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in finance in 2020; in addition, Powell has completed classes in the Robbins Banking Institute program. Powell was a commercial lender in the Hays regional office of Commerce Bank. His office will be in the Robbins Banking Institute Center on the FHSU campus. Powell resides in Hays with his wife and young son.

 “We are excited to have Tommy lead the initiatives of the Robbins Banking Institute,” said Dr. Dosse Toulaboe, FHSU Chair of the Department of Economics, Finance, and Accounting. “He is already familiar with our banking program and has the banking industry experience and connections to help the Robbins Banking Institute achieve its goals.”

The Robbins Banking Institute is part of FHSU’s Department of Economics, Finance, and Accounting within the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Its purpose is to prepare students for banking industry careers to help alleviate the shortage of banking professionals in Kansas.

Management of the Robbins Banking Institute is being assumed by the Kansas Bankers Association. In this role, the KBA plans to fulfill the Robbins Banking Institute’s goals of attracting the next generation of Kansas bankers by showing prospective students the benefits of a career in banking and teaching them the principles of community banking.

Powell will also manage and promote the activities of the Kansas Bankers Educational Foundation. KBEF is a 501(c)3 non-profit subsidiary of the Kansas Bankers Association.

“We are very pleased to announce the addition of Tommy Powell to our Kansas Bankers Association staff team, and we are equally confident Tommy will enhance the important strategic partnership between Fort Hays State University’s Robbins Banking Institute and the Kansas Bankers Association,” said Doug Wareham, KBA President & CEO. “Tommy’s professional banking experience coupled with his direct ties to Fort Hays State University’s Business School and Robbins Banking Institute brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to this partnership and this position.”

Offering a stand-alone certificate program, a minor program (to complement another major), and an undergraduate degree program, the Robbins Banking Institute courses are offered both on campus and online.