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.
Melanie Chaussey
Phone: 316.866.3383
E-mail: mel.chaussee@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3383
Role: Academic Success Coach
Hometown: Lawrence, KS
Hobbies: Volleyball, paddle boarding, fishing
Degree: MS Sport Management
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Anywhere with a beach
Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Playing college volleyball, winning a conference championship and earning NCAA DII honors
Someone who inspires me: Chris Del Conte, Athletic Director for Texas
My first job was: The Buckle when I was 16 years old
Guilty pleasure: Coca-Cola and Mexican food
Family life: Proud aunt and future dog mom
My hidden talent: Cannon ball queen
If I could have one superpower, it would be: Teleportation
Three things that remain on my bucket list: Earning my doctorate, travel through Europe, go to the Super Bowl (Go Chiefs!)
My favorite quote: “Trust the process.”
What do you like most about your position at Professional Studies? Guiding students to reach their educational goals and being able to see them succeed.
What makes you passionate about helping adult learners? The ability to share my experiences and those who supported and coached me throughout my journey.
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.
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.
Brett Mathis
Phone: 316.866.3374
E-mail: brett.mathis@sckans.edu
Toll-Free Phone: 888.684.5335 ext 3374
Role: Admissions Counselor
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Hobbies: Playing football and watching any form of competitive sports.
Degree: Business Administration
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I’d pick: Cham, Switzerland
Someone who inspires me: Sebastian Janikowski
My first job was: My first job was scooping up horse poop at the Los Alamitos Horse Racing Track.
One thing that remains on my bucket list: I want to ski the in the Swiss Alps.
My favorite quote: “There is a MILLION ways”- M. Lolar
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.
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.