Shirley Baker
Phone: 316.866.3383
E-mail: shirley.baker@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3383
Role: Academic Success Coach
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
Hobbies: Traveling.
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: I was a returning, adult student and completed both my bachelor and master degrees.
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: I’ve done some International travel but would love to visit Germany.
Someone who inspires me: Mother Teresa. She worked tirelessly before anyone even noticed her.
My hidden talent: I can tie a menagerie of balloon animals.
Three things that remain on my bucket list: Volunteer, travel and visit my grandkids more.
If I could have one superpower, it would be: To grant wishes.
Guilty Pleasure: Watching crime investigation TV shows.
Degree: BS in Business and MS in Communication
What made you want to come work for SC? A friend encouraged me to come to PS and this position is a good fit for my personality.
What do you like most about your position here? Helping students get to graduation.
What are your career/school aspirations for yourself? I love what I do at Southwestern so I plan to continue working here with students.
Adam Gunnels
Phone: 316.866.3384
E-mail: adam.gunnels@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3384
Role: Academic Success Coach
Hometown: Goddard, KS
Hobbies: I like traveling to places I’ve never been, volunteer, and work on bicycles.
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: The Shetland Islands.
If I could have one superpower, it would be: Teleportation.
Three things that remain on my bucket list: Swim in the devil’s pool at Angel Falls, attend Hogmanay in Edinburgh, and visit Egypt.
Guilty Pleasure: Hawaiian shaved ice.
Degree: Juris Doctor
Jobs since college: I worked for a nonprofit in Nashville, TN called the Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts.
What do you like most about your position here? Helping our students work towards a better future. Coming from a single parent household, I have always had a deep appreciation of exactly what a good education can do for a person.
Miranda Kober
Phone: 316.866.3381
E-mail: miranda.kober@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3381
Role: Admissions Counselor/RN to BSN Academic Success Coach – and SC Graduate!
Hometown: Hutchinson, Kansas
Hobbies: Being outside, going on walks, crafting, cooking, and decorating.
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Being the first in my family to graduate from high school.
Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management – from Southwestern College Professional Studies!
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: I love the water, so I would have to say the Maldives or Bora Bora.
Someone who inspires me: Rachel Hollis.
Guilty Pleasure: Sweets.
Family life: Wife for almost nine years to my husband Tony and mother to our four children (three boys and one girl) who range in ages eight to 18 months.
Read more about Miranda
Brady Marzolf
Phone: 316.866.3382
E-mail: brady.marzolf@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3382
Role: Academic Success Coach
Hometown: Glen Elder, Kansas
Hobbies: Going to football games and concerts, reading, traveling
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Completing my thesis for my master’s degree and presenting the research in Chicago and San Antonio.
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Norway.
My first job was: Hanging guttering on houses.
My hidden talent: Playing drums for local soccer supporters group Air Capital Firm.
Three things that remain on my bucket list: Opening a barbecue restaurant, raising a pet bear, travel to the Northwest.
My favorite quote: Information and knowledge: two currencies that have never gone out of style” – from the book American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Guilty Pleasure: Visiting memorials of famous musicians
Family life: Wife, Jill. Three dogs, Molly, Lemmy, and Luna
*Degree: * A.A. in Graphic Design, B.A. in psychology, M.Ed of Education.
What makes you passionate about helping learners? I was given great opportunities and guidance by my master’s degree advisor and I’d like to pass on the experience I received to others.
What are your career/school aspirations for yourself? Academic advising for a university athletic department.
Ashley M. Ortega
Phone: 316.866.3307
E-mail: ashley.ortega@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3307
Role: Fort Riley Site Coordinator
Hometown: Hubbard, IA
Hobbies: CrossFit and Backpacking.
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Recently Backpacking the John Muir Trail with my father.
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Germany with my husband.
My first job was: At Pizza Hut to buy a plane ticket to Venezuela.
My hidden talent: Hand stand push-ups.
Three things that remain on my bucket list: Germany, bungee jump, and extended backpacking trip with my husband.
If I could have one superpower, it would be: Time Travel.
My favorite quote: “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” -Ernest Hemingway
Guilty Pleasure: Chocolate, but I do not feel guilty about it. It is just a pleasure of mine!
Degree: Double Major Bachelor of Science Environmental Studies and Sociology
What do you like most about your position at Professional Studies? Working with veterans/active duty students.
What makes you passionate about helping learners? Knowing what an education can do for a person professionally and personally. It can be life changing on so many levels.
Mary Passmore
Phone: 316.866.3327
E-mail: mary.passmore@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3327
Role: Senior Academic Success Coach
My favorite quote: “You don’t know what you don’t know.”
Degree: MBA
What I like most about my position at SC: Assisting military learners make a strategic plan to enter the civilian world.
What makes you passionate about helping learners: Since my husband served, I have a passion to help my military family.
Hannah Vanorsby
Phone: 316.866.3386
E-mail:hannah.vanorsby@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3386
Role: Academic Success Coach
Hometown: Newton, Kansas
Hobbies: Pinterest – DIY Decor, Running, Soccer
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Italy.
Someone who inspires me: Rosa Parks
My hidden talent: Singing, but please don’t ask me to.
If I could have one superpower, it would be: Time manipulation – maybe I could finally get everything done each day.
Degree and where earned (also any degrees you are currently working on and expected graduation date): B.S. in Kinesiology and M.S.E. (Masters of Science in Education)
What do you like most about your position at SC? The fact that we try to get to know all learners both academically and personally.
What are your career/school aspirations for yourself? Eventually I plan to go back to school to get my doctorate degree so that I can become a full-time professor.
Family life: I am the proud wife of a man named Brian and mother to our two Australian Shepherds, Dax and Atlas.
Trina Williams
Phone: 316.866.3374
E-mail:* *trina.williams@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3374
Role: Admissions Counselor
Hometown: Wichita, KS
Hobbies: Listening to music, writing, drawing, volunteer work, dancing, reading, baking, and exploring nature trails.
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Obtaining two degrees as a single mother and currently pursuing my third while taking on my newest child that has been recently gifted into my care.
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Cairo
My favorite quote: “The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or sect, a party or a class – it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity.” (Anna Julia Cooper -Retrieved 2018)
Guilty Pleasure: Finishing a crime series over the weekend.
Degree: I am currently working on my Higher Education Leadership Ed.D from Southwestern College at our main campus.
What made you want to come work for SC? Being a first generation college student, I had no idea how to navigate the academic world. Had I known what I know now, I would have made much better decisions. I want to offer my knowledge to those in my previous position, this is a huge decision that can really change your life in many wonderful ways.
What makes you passionate about helping learners? I know the different opportunities that open to you when you receive an education. It is exciting to watch students begin their journeys and amazing to hear their success stories.
What are your career/school aspirations for yourself? I plan to move into a position of leadership. I enjoy academia very much and intend to stay in this field. My current program has already given me such an amazing amount of knowledge, I am excited about my future possibilities. After finishing my Ed.D, I may possibly go back for a second master’s degree, I love the academic world, I am quite interested in Psychology.