2024 Shocker Pride honorees
Click on the bars below to read Q & As with this year's class of Shocker Pride honorees.
Click on the bars below to read Q & As with this year's class of Shocker Pride honorees.
Clawson Chandler
President's Distinguished Service Award
Cheyla Clawson Chandler, School of Performing Arts, College of Fine Arts
What do you think is your most significant contribution, accomplishment or achievement
at WSU?
Having the incredible opportunity to facilitate and collaborate with colleagues and
students to build a unique, professional community, and enhance arts education and
impact in the School of Performing Arts, in the College of Fine Arts, and wider WSU
community.
Why are you proud to be a Shocker?
I have great pride in the opportunity afforded by 成人头条 State to be a part of a
community that celebrates and embraces diversity, inclusion, and belonging in all
roles across campus.
What鈥檚 the greatest piece of advice a colleague or mentor has given you?
Your success is my success (mentorship). If you fail, I fail (mentorship responsibility).
It is our collective responsibility to ensure everyone is supported and succeeds (community
perspective).
What technological innovations have made the most impact on your life? Explain how
or why.
The use of file sharing and Microsoft Teams has greatly allowed for transparency and
collaboration in our school. And, the cell phone (for better and for worse).
What practical skills do you wish you had?
The ability to say no, more often.
What is the most important skill every person should have?
The ability to hear and share diverse perspectives without judgement.
What qualities do you admire in others?
I admire curiosity and creativity in collaboration and problem-solving (and the ability
to be professional vs. taking things personally).
If you could have a super human power, what would it be?
To fly, and to speak every language on earth.
If you have one opportunity to travel in time, where would you go and what would you
do?
I would love to travel to any period of war or intense negotiation and be in the decision-makers'
room and hear the process.
Describe yourself in three words.
Serial entrepreneur (sorry, those go together), pragmatic, contemplative
What is one item on your bucket list?
To finish a doctoral degree.
What (or who) inspires you?
My daughter and grandchildren
What is the best concert you attended?
Who has time for a concert?
Who would you choose to play you in the movie adaptation of your life?
No idea
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?
An astronaut ... it involved flying/floating.
What piece of advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
Society does not define or decide what success is for you.
If you could be on a TV game show, which one would it be?
Password (if I have a good partner)
What is one thing that would be surprising to learn about you?
I love sports, and miss having time to go to Shocker Basketball games.
FILL IN THE BLANK: If calories did not matter, I would eat/drink _______ every day.
Calories matter?
Are you right or left handed?
Left-handed
Fonseca
President's Distinguished Service Award
Gabriel Fonseca, Student Engagement, Advocacy and Leadership, Division of Student Affairs
What do you think is your most significant contribution, accomplishment or achievement
at WSU?
I think my biggest accomplishment has been with my work with Student Government. When
I got here I know that relationships were like walking on egg shells. I have been
so proud of the work that SGA leaders have done to repair relationships and grateful
for university leaders and faculty to do their part in working on those relationships.
The chance to earn my doctoral degree has also been something that I am more proud
during my time at 成人头条 State and honestly my promotion to Director as a young professional
has been something that I have been working hard to do for my career. Additionally,
the honor of serving as the first Staff Senate President, with the privilege of representing
my peers at the University was an honor of a lifetime.
Why are you proud to be a Shocker?
During my time here, I have found a chance to learn from so many amazing people and
that has made such an impact in my professional career. I have been extremely fortunate
to be given so many opportunities to try new things and experiment on thing. This
place has given me permission to be exactly who I am, and I am so grateful for that.
What鈥檚 the greatest piece of advice a colleague or mentor has given you?
You can't let the people who know less, or care less, stop you from doing what's right.
What technological innovations have made the most impact on your life? Explain how
or why.
This is super silly, but FaceTime, because I get to see the faces of my family when
I call them because I get to see their faces because I do not often travel home.
What practical skills do you wish you had?
I would say how to write a check, but I learned that recently, (I know) but really,
how to invest money in the stock market.
What is the most important skill every person should have?
Public speaking
What qualities do you admire in others?
I admire people who are fearless to try new things and to never see regrets but see
opportunities and lessons learned.
If you could have a super human power, what would it be?
Shapeshifting
If you have one opportunity to travel in time, where would you go and what would you
do?
I want to go back in time where they wrote the US Constitution to help them choose
their words better.
Describe yourself in three words.
Passionate. Fierce. Courageous.
What is one item on your bucket list?
I want to visit all the Presidential Libraries
What (or who) inspires you?
This is going to sound cheesy, but 13 year old me. The resiliency that he had and
the fearless attitude he had find joy in everything, even when things were hard.
What is the best concert you ever attended?
Jennifer Lopez: All I Have, her Las Vegas residency
Who would you choose to play you in the movie adaptation of your life?
Oh totally, Nick Jonas!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?
I wanted to be Superman because I wanted to help save the world. But also, I wanted
to be a chef so that I could own my own restaurant and be the biggest name in food
in the world.
What piece of advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
The courage to be happy also includes the courage to be disliked
If you could be on a TV game show, which one would it be?
Deal or No Deal or Wipe Out (if I stretched enough)
What is one thing that would be surprising to learn about you?
I radiate momma bear energy. I am extremely protective of the students and staff around
me. I will stand up for them day in and day out and never let anyone make them feel
less than.
FILL IN THE BLANK: If calories did not matter, I would eat/drink _______ every day.
Pizza
Are you right or left handed?
Right
Menon
President's Distinguished Service Award
Mythili Menon, Department of English, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
What do you think is your most significant contribution, accomplishment or achievement
at WSU?
My most significant accomplishment at WSU is creating The Center for Educational Technologies
to Assist Refugee Learners (CETARL) which provides free, accessible, education for
all by developing digital-game based learning platforms for middle-school refugee
and asylee children, The game teaches them both science and English. The center is
working to improve the lives of people who resettled in the United States as refugees
or asylees. The center is also conducting digital literacy workshops to improve digital
literacy skills among refugee and asylee adults.
Why are you proud to be a Shocker?
Shocker nation, hands down, has the best student population. I love the students I
teach and mentor. It is the reason why I do what I do.
What鈥檚 the greatest piece of advice a colleague or mentor has given you?
Just be yourself, Mythili!
What technological innovations have made the most impact on your life? Explain how
or why.
Amazon's Alexa has a hard time understanding my "Indian" accent. This is interesting
to me as a linguist because there are many strides that need to be made in AI and
human speech perception by AI and machines. This is a vibrant area of research in
linguistics, and I always hope to mentor some students at WSU who are interested in
this area of research.
What practical skills do you wish you had?
I wish I could fix my car without having to pay a fortune to get it repaired in the
auto shop.
What is the most important skill every person should have?
Critical thinking
What qualities do you admire in others?
I admire patience and resilience, also the ability to listen and empathize with others.
If you could have a super human power, what would it be?
Travel wherever I want, whenever I want. Also transporting myself back in time to
different places.
If you have one opportunity to travel in time, where would you go and what would you
do?
I would travel to 5th millennium B.C to visit the Sumerian civilization to learn more
about Sumerian, one of the oldest languages in the world.
Describe yourself in three words.
Independent, motivated, hard worker
What is one item on your bucket list?
Visit the pyramids in Egypt.
What (or who) inspires you?
My grandmother - Aniyathi Menon. She was far ahead of times. She went to college,
and she was the first woman president of the college's student body. She was also
one of the first woman drivers in the 1940s in Cochin, India.
What is the best concert you ever attended?
The Aerosmith concert in 2007 when the band toured India.
Who would you choose to play you in the movie adaptation of your life?
Sushmita Sen, a veteran Indian movie actor.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?
I wanted to be a chemistry professor. I was very interested in organic chemistry and
my goal was to do a PhD in chemistry.
What piece of advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
Always follow your heart.
If you could be on a TV game show, which one would it be?
Jeopardy!
What is one thing that would be surprising to learn about you?
I won the French nightingale singing competition conducted by Alliance Fran莽aise in
India.
FILL IN THE BLANK: If calories did not matter, I would eat/drink _______ every day.
Dosa. Dosa is a savory Indian crepe made from rice and white lentils and eaten with
sambar and chutney.
Are you right or left handed?
Right
Pierpoint
President's Distinguished Service Award
Jessica Pierpoint, University Libraries, Division of Academic Affairs and Research
What do you think is your most significant contribution, accomplishment or achievement
at WSU?
I have had the privilege to contribute to University Libraries going on 10 years now
through my work starting as a student assistant in various departments within Ablah
Library to now as a current staff member serving as there Patent and Trademark Specialist
for Kansas only Patent and Trademark Resource Center. Getting to be a part of the
continuous change the library has and continues to make to help foster overall student
success has been a true blessing and I can't wait to continue that journey with my
fellow library colleagues.
Why are you proud to be a Shocker?
Shocker Nation is all I have ever know-having grown up in this environment as a dependent
of a former staff retiree, a student turned alumni, and now full-time staff member.
Being a Shocker is HOME: it is where I have received my education, met my spouse,
had my whole career journey, and now get to share with my little one, which is truly
awesome! I am proud to be a Shocker because this is where I have grown and without
its creativity, innovation, and deep rooted connections I would not be the person
I am today.
What鈥檚 the greatest piece of advice a colleague or mentor has given you?
Do what makes you happiest no matter what that may be.
What technological innovations have made the most impact on your life? Explain how
or why.
Internet, I use it every day in multiple ways and without it I might not be able to
do my job the same.
What practical skills do you wish you had?
I wish I was bilingual. I come from a Mexican American background and even though
my culture comes through in various ways, language was one way that never connected
with me. Although, I am trying to learn Spanish better now but harder when you're
older.
What is the most important skill every person should have?
Communication skills through public speaking and writing.
What qualities do you admire in others?
Leadership, Confidence, and to be Tech Savvy
If you could have a super human power, what would it be?
Time traveling or be in two places at once.
If you have one opportunity to travel in time, where would you go and what would you
do?
I am obsessed with anything 80s, so probably travel back into time to sometime between
1980-1989. Not sure what I would do but just to experience that time frame in history.
Describe yourself in three words.
Determined, Optimistic, Thoughtful
What is one item on your bucket list?
To travel to Cabo - a goal for me and my best friend.
What (or who) inspires you?
My father, for who I would not be where I am today if it was not for him. He is the
one that started my love for all things 成人头条 and gave me my work
ethic.
What is the best concert you ever attended?
Twenty One Pilots (Heavy Dirty Soul Tour at Walmart AMP in Rogers, Arkansas). My husband
and I try to see them for each tour and this was the concert they sang a cover version
of our wedding song.
Who would you choose to play you in the movie adaptation of your life?
Not sure but will be taking any ideas.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?
Teacher/Librarian. I come from a long line of educators (teachers/professors/counselors),
so I knew that was a field I wanted to continue in but once I hit 5th grade librarianship
was more my first choice but knew the journey was long since needed a master's degree.
Helping people learn and find their own passions, whether that be through books or
research, just excites me!
What piece of advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
Take your time-things will happen when they are meant to happen.
If you could be on a TV game show, which one would it be?
Who wants to be a Millionaire?
What is one thing that would be surprising to learn about you?
Most think my only time as an undergrad was spent at the library but it was actually
spent first in athletics. During my first undergrad year here at WSU, I was actually
one of the girl managers for the 2012-2013 men's basketball team. Getting to experience
being a part of a team that traveled to the Final 4 will be a part of my life I will
always cherish and remember.
FILL IN THE BLANK: If calories did not matter, I would eat/drink _______ every day.
Any type of potato chips and have a Dr. Pepper Icee
Are you right or left handed?
right
Porter
President's Distinguished Service Award
James Porter, Ulrich Museum of Art, Division of Academic Affairs and Research
What do you think is your most significant contribution, accomplishment or achievement
at WSU?
The repair and re installation of the Joan Miro mural Personnages Oiseaux
Why are you proud to be a Shocker?
The sense of community and tradition associated with being a Shocker
What鈥檚 the greatest piece of advice a colleague or mentor has given you?
Measure twice cut once.
What technological innovations have made the most impact on your life? Explain how
or why.
GPS. I don't need a map in the car and it's a major time saver
What practical skills do you wish you had?
Be a better writer.
What is the most important skill every person should have?
Knowing how to balance a check book
What qualities do you admire in others?
Patience
If you could have a super human power, what would it be?
Flight
If you have one opportunity to travel in time, where would you go and what would you
do?
1974, I go find Bill Gates and invest in new venture
Describe yourself in three words.
Honest, sincere
What is one item on your bucket list?
Base jumping
What (or who) inspires you?
My wife
What is the best concert you ever attended?
Beastie Boys
Who would you choose to play you in the movie adaptation of your life?
Sam Rockwell
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?
Artist
What piece of advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
Start saving now
If you could be on a TV game show, which one would it be?
Price is Right
What is one thing that would be surprising to learn about you?
I worked in the Alaska fisheries to pay for college
FILL IN THE BLANK: If calories did not matter, I would eat/drink _______ every day.
Pizza
Are you right or left handed?
Right
Redger-Marquardt
President's Distinguished Service Award
Chelsea Redger-Marquardt, Cohen Honors College, Division of Academic Affairs and Research
What do you think is your most significant contribution, accomplishment or achievement
at WSU?
I think my biggest contributions are related to supporting experiential learning and
collaborative/ high-impact teaching. Examples include Lead for Tomorrow: Cohen Honors
Leadership Academy which includes an annual Place as Text travel experience with students
and faculty, BILL'S Trip (Building Investment in Lifelong Leadership and Service)
in which students and faculty travel to a National Park Service unit to engage in
service-learning, past Alternative Spring Break trips, or supporting Service-Learning
faculty development with Dr. Rhonda Lewis. Each of these experiences has built community,
a sense of belonging, and had an impact on students, faculty, and various communities.
Why are you proud to be a Shocker?
Because it is a community that centers people. Great students, great colleagues, great
campus partners.
What鈥檚 the greatest piece of advice a colleague or mentor has given you?
The little things matter. Send the note of gratitude, think about the people aspect
first and foremost, and do things that you say you will.
What technological innovations have made the most impact on your life? Explain how
or why.
The first innovation that I really remember- "wow, that is awesome" was my first iPod.
All my music in one place when I was walking across campus to go to class ... that
was the jam.
What practical skills do you wish you had?
A photographic memory.
What is the most important skill every person should have?
The ability to communicate with kindness, grace, and respect for others.
What qualities do you admire in others?
Curiosity, compassion, presence, intellect, values/ethics
If you could have a super human power, what would it be?
The power to teleport - think of the travel benefits.
Describe yourself in three words.
Organized. Upbeat. Creative.
What is one item on your bucket list?
Travel, it's always travel. I would also like to attend a World Cup.
What (or who) inspires you?
Lots of things inspire me - a great song, creative spaces, and from a people aspect
my parents have always been an awesome inspiration and support.
What is the best concert you ever attended?
This is a tough question as concerts are one of my favorite things to do. Recently,
I was able to attend an acoustic show with the lead singer and guitarist of Matchbox
Twenty and the Goo Goo Dolls with my husband. That was great show in a cool historic
venue. Other highlight shows have included James Taylor, Elton John, Paul McCartney,
and numerous Fall Out Boy shows (another of my favorite bands).
Who would you choose to play you in the movie adaptation of your life?
Julia Stiles
What piece of advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
Explore, explore, explore. Be open and take all the opportunities you can. Also, you
will make lifelong friends at this stage in your life and rooting for and supporting
one another in each stage of life is a magical thing.
If you could be on a TV game show, which one would it be?
Not much of a TV game show person but I would love to have the cooking expertise to
try Chopped.
What is one thing that would be surprising to learn about you?
In eighth grade I won the state egg drop championship.
FILL IN THE BLANK: If calories did not matter, I would eat/drink _______ every day.
Fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce.
Are you right or left handed?
Right
Wiseman
President's Distinguished Service Award
Ken Wiseman, GoCreate Maker Space, Division of Industry and Defense Programs
What do you think is your most significant contribution, accomplishment or achievement
at WSU?
I think my best contribution is problem solving that benefit both 成人头条
and the community as a whole; such as the my involvement with the construction of
the Promise Bridge that saved the university overall cost. Also, the work that I do
with Envision and other non-profits.
Why are you proud to be a Shocker?
My mom graduated from WSU and I remember her graduation ceremony. She instilled in
me the love for 成人头条 State and what the university does for students and the community.
What鈥檚 the greatest piece of advice a colleague or mentor has given you?
The best advice I have been given is that all problems have a solution and sometimes
you just have to be patient for it. Perseverance always leads to success.
What technological innovations have made the most impact on your life? Explain how
or why.
Artificial Intelligence, Google, YouTube and all that information at my fingertips
- all the time.
What practical skills do you wish you had?
I still do a lot of things 'old school.' I wish I had more computer skills.
What is the most important skill every person should have?
Communication. The ability to be relatable but also relate.
What qualities do you admire in others?
Honesty, integrity, loyalty, kindness and empathy.
If you could have a super human power, what would it be?
Super Brain Power: All the knowledge inside my head.
If you have one opportunity to travel in time, where would you go and what would you
do?
Either go to Galileo and learn about his teachings and theories or Nikola Tesla and
learn about all of his inventions.
Describe yourself in three words.
Disruptor, Renegade, Defender.
What is one item on your bucket list?
Get my degree.
What (or who) inspires you?
My mother
What is the best concert you ever attended?
Rob Thomas
Who would you choose to play you in the movie adaptation of your life?
Robin Williams
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?
I wanted to be a pediatrician, because I wanted to help and protect children.
What piece of advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
How you learn is different from others and it doesn't mean that you are stupid. Being
curious is good!
If you could be on a TV game show, which one would it be?
Whose Line is it Anyway? Or Naked and Afraid.
What is one thing that would be surprising to learn about you?
The amount of empathy I have for the underdog.
FILL IN THE BLANK: If calories did not matter, I would eat/drink _______ every day.
Tiramisu
Are you right or left handed?
I use my right hand for writing but I'm very ambidextrous with most things.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for this honor. I am very humbled and I was caught off guard by being acknowledged
for something I love to do and talk about everyday. Being in the spotlight is difficult
for me but I extremely grateful for this award.
Wright
Wayne Carlisle Distinguished Service Award
David Wright, Office of Academic Affairs and Research, Division of Academic Affairs and Research
What do you think is your most significant contribution, accomplishment or achievement
at WSU?
The opportunity to be part of a group of cross-functional subject-matter-experts who
fundamentally changed the way business is done at WSU!
Why are you proud to be a Shocker?
Because we give the forgotten the opportunity to be heard.
What鈥檚 the greatest piece of advice a colleague or mentor has given you?
"Don't answer the call, they (the media) already wrote the story, they just need you
to say anything so they can make it legit."
What technological innovations have made the most impact on your life? Explain how
or why.
People. In the People-Process-Technology triad, technology is simply a vehicle, it
takes people and process to make technology go where you need to be. So, the most
impactful technology for me was the people I worked with, they changed my life and
that of others.
What practical skills do you wish you had?
Proper pronunciation.
What is the most important skill every person should have?
Start with humility.
What qualities do you admire in others?
Smart, funny, humility, loyalty, and above all, can laugh at themselves.
If you could have a super human power, what would it be?
We already have super human powers, it's called the team, nothing we can't do together.
If you have one opportunity to travel in time, where would you go and what would you
do?
Yesterday, I can never get enough done in one day.
Describe yourself in three words.
Work-ethic, collaborative, loyalty.
What is one item on your bucket list?
Did them all already.
What (or who) inspires you?
The unicorns I work with daily in my jobs.
What is the best concert you ever attended?
Never attended a concert.
Who would you choose to play you in the movie adaptation of your life?
Will Smith.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?
Scientist, because when I was a kid (early-1960s) those were our heroes, not celebrities,
rock stars or athletes.
What piece of advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
Don鈥檛 let them stop you.
If you could be on a TV game show, which one would it be?
Survivor.
What is one thing that would be surprising to learn about you?
I鈥檝e watched every episode of Bold and the Beautiful from 1992 to the present.
FILL IN THE BLANK: If calories did not matter, I would eat/drink _______ every day.
Fortunately, I possess the DNA to eat endless high calories and see no weight gain.
Are you right or left handed?
Right
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Don鈥檛 let others stop you from doing what you know is right, and never forget that
'doing' can be done in many different ways, but it can鈥檛 be done alone. I have a placard
on my wall I see every day which keeps me going, it states: "If I advance, follow
me. If I hesitate, push me, If I retreat, kill me" (Catholic Insurgents during the
Mexican Revolution 1910-1920).