Damien Akao
Phone: 316.866.3375
E-mail: damien.akao@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3375
Role: Academic Success Coach
Hometown: Wichita, KS
Hobbies: Staying active & watching NBA basketball
Degree: Associate’s in Liberal Arts, Bachelor’s in Sports Communications, and Master’s in Organizational Leadership
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Hawaii
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Completing my master’s degree
Someone who inspires me: My mom
My first job was: Sandwich maker at Planet Sub
Guilty pleasure: Ben & Jerry’s ice cream
Family life: One younger brother, one older sister
If I could have one superpower, it would be: Being able to fly
Three things that remain on my bucket list: Run a half marathon, attend an NBA Finals game, visit the Grand Canyon
What do you like most about your position at Professional Studies? Having the ability to help others achieve their goals.
What makes you passionate about helping adult learners? Knowing that you can help make an impact on another person.
Sam Clark
Phone: 316.866.3373
E-mail: sam.clark@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3373
Role: Admissions Counselor
Hometown: McPherson, KS
Hobbies: Traveling, finding new Wichita restaurants, being together with family
Degree: BS in Sports Management from the University of Kansas. MA in Higher Education Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Ireland
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: I’m the first in my family to earn a Master’s degree.
Someone who inspires me: My wife, Kelli
My first job was: Concession stand at the McPherson Water Park
Three things that remain on my bucket list: Attending a game at every NFL stadium. Traveling to every continent. Live in San Diego, CA.
If I could have one superpower, it would be: Flight so that I could travel places easier and cheaper.
My favorite quote: “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” – John Wooden
What do you like most about your position at Professional Studies?: I really enjoy the staff that I get to work with. I also enjoy meeting and interacting with the students to find out what they want to do with their education.
Sadie Coffey
Phone: 316.866.3381
E-mail: sadie.coffey@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3381
Role: Admissions Counselor
Hometown: Mulvane, KS
Hobbies: I love crafting and doing Pinterest projects
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Communication
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Ireland
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: First generation college student
Someone who inspires me: My Granny
My first job was: My first full-time job is this position!
Family life: I am not married and do not have any kids, but I cannot wait until I can get a beagle. I am very close to my family.
If I could have one superpower, it would be: Invisibility
Three things that remain on my bucket list: Travel to different countries, meet Braid Paisley, and scuba dive
My favorite quote: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa
What do you like most about your position at Professional Studies? I like that I get to help those pursue their dream of going back to school.
What makes you passionate about helping adult learners? I believe that everybody has the ability to earn a degree as long as they truly want it and work for it, and I want them to see that they are capable.
Daniel George
Phone: 316.866.3384
E-mail: daniel.george@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3384
Role: Academic Success Coach
Hometown: Conway Spring, KS
Hobbies: Disc Golf, Fishing, Football, Photography
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Becoming a Father
Degree: Bachelor’s of Science in Communication
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Nokia, Finland
Guilty Pleasure: Listening to catchy 80’s pop music.
Family life: Married to my wife Ali and we have a son, Adam.
My first job was: Painting high school tracks
My hidden talent: I’m almost a good singer
Three things that remain on my bucket list: Creating a photo book, Traveling to Europe, Owning my own business
If I could have one superpower, it would be: To control time
What do you like most about your position at Professional Studies? It allows me to work with people who care about their education and who want to get a degree. Seeing them succeed is incredibly rewarding.
What makes you passionate about helping learners? Knowing that at the end of our time together they will have accomplished something great and I had a small part in that process.
Derek Lawrence
Phone: 316.866.3371
E-mail: derek.lawrence@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3371
Role: Assistant Director of Admissions
Hometown: Wichita
Hobbies: Carpentry, reading, video games
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Earning a bachelor’s degree
Degree: Business Administration with a major of Management
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Austria
My first job was: Movie Theater
My favorite quote: “I don’t stop when I’m tired. I stop when I’m done.” – David Goggins
What makes you passionate about helping learners? No one assisted me when I enrolled in college, so I had no idea what I was doing or if I was making the right choices. It also hurt my chances at succeeding early in my degree. Being that person who makes the transition easier and simplifies the process is, in my view, a very important role.
Katrina Schneweis
Phone: 316.866.3326
E-mail: katrina.schneweis@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3326
Role: Academic Success Coach
Hometown: El Dorado, KS
Hobbies: Cooking & Baking, taking long walks, and shopping
Degree: AS in Liberal Arts from Butler Community College, BA in Psychology from Wichita State University
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Cancun, Mexico
Someone who inspires me: My mother and Vincent Van Gogh
My first job was: I was a hostess at Beijing Bistro in El Dorado, KS, and later moved on to be a waitress at the same restaurant.
Three things that remain on my bucket list: Visit all 50 states, travel internationally and see the Northern Lights in person.
My favorite quote: “But no matter how much evil I see, I think it’s important for everyone to understand that there is much more light than darkness.” ― Robert Uttaro
My guilty pleasure: I can re-watch “The Office” over and over and never get tired of it. Last I checked, I’ve seen every episode at least 7 times, but I honestly stopped keeping track a while ago!
If I could have one superpower, it would be: Pausing or controlling time.
What makes you passionate about helping learners? I’m passionate about helping learners because in my own undergraduate program there were times that I did not feel cared for or looked out for. I’ve always wanted to be the person that makes students feel heard and validated while also helping them achieve their goals, and I feel so grateful that I am in a position where that is possible!
Rachael Warwick
Phone: 785-784-9930
E-mail: rachael.warwick@sckans.edu
Role: Admissions Counselor, Fort Riley Office
Hometown: Newton Kansas
Hobbies: Softball, weight training, cooking, traveling
Degree: B.S. Sociology
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Everywhere
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Raising three healthy, happy children as a single mother
Someone who inspires me: My oldest child Mia Warwick, is resilient, strong, humble, and kind.
My first job was: Hostess in a family restaurant at 14 years old
Guilty pleasure: Nora Roberts
Family life: I am the youngest and the only girl of nine children.
Favorite quote: “Education and hard work are the levers to uplift a people.” – W.E.B. Du Bois
If I could have one superpower, it would be: Super strength
Three things that remain on my bucket list: I would like to fish for Salmon in the North Pacific, I would like to learn how to make cheese, and I would like to become a published author.
What makes you passionate about helping adult learners? I believe that higher education is the bridge to access information that aids individual success. Professional success of an individual fuels the workforce of a community. A strong community workforce drives the economy of a nation. Contributing to the student success of this country is how I choose to effect global change or simply put, how I choose to save the world.