Notable news at the WSU Foundation

New staff members

The WSU Foundation recently hired three new team members. Please welcome:

Yen Nguyen

Yen joined us in September, filling a new role as donor compliance coordinator. She will help build and expand our processes to ensure that donor gifts are allocated in a timely manner and in accordance with donor wishes. Yen previously worked as a senior technical associate with Wolters Kluwer, an information services company. She has a daughter, Aubrey, and a son, Malak. Her interests include watching sports and going on food adventures, especially when she travels.

Tyler Cramer

Tyler started in September as director of development for the College of Health Professions. He previously worked for nearly four years as a development team member for the Kansas State University Foundation. His bachelor’s degree in secondary education is from Kansas State. Tyler is married to Hope, a physical therapist, and has a 2-year-old son, Ryat. Another child is on the way and an Australian Shepherd named Pokey rounds out the family. Tyler enjoys golf and also likes to explore national parks on family vacations.

Connor Meier

Connor started in October as an associate director of development, working with the College of Engineering and the W. Frank Barton School of Business. He has eight years of previous development experience at the University of North Texas and the University of Tulsa. Connor earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Wichita State and an MBA from Kansas State. He was born and raised in Wichita, where his parents and two brothers live. Connor enjoys running, golfing, live music performances and spending time with his dog, Sadie.

Milestone anniversaries

Recognizing WSU Foundation employees who are marking significant work anniversaries.

Cathy Shallue

Cathy is celebrating 15 years as the WSU Foundation’s receptionist, the first person typically seen by all who enter the front doors of Woodman Alumni Center. She was born in New York State but lived in locales all around the world as the daughter of an Air Force father. Cathy’s co-workers and all who have gotten to know her over the past 15 years will miss her helpful manner and cheerful disposition when she retires in December!

A few fun facts about Cathy:

She used to skydive.
As a child, her family was stationed at Misawa Air Force Base in Japan when a magnitude 8.2 earthquake occurred in May 1968.
She enjoys crochet, knitting, gardening, her cats and “loving on my grandkids.”

Magnus Assarsson

Magnus has been on the WSU Foundation’s development staff the past five years, most recently as senior director of development for the College of Engineering. He was born in Helsingborg, Sweden, and came to the United States in 2001, becoming a U.S. citizen in 2016.

Three facts about Magnus:

He has a passion for English narrow boats and canal life in general. “You can literally travel across Great Britain, navigating a 65-foot-long, 7-foot-wide narrow boat at 4 mph. Pure relaxation, and the English countryside is incredible.”
As a child, his family vacationed in Croatia (former Yugoslavia) every year.
He loves to cook and bake with his children, especially Swedish cuisine.

Juanita Fonseca-Rodriguez

Juanita is celebrating five years as an administrative assistant with the WSU Foundation. She recently was honored as a recipient of an Administrative Excellence Award by the Wichita Business Journal. She was born and raised in Wichita.

A few tidbits about Juanita:

She’s a grandmother to twin girls, with another granddaughter on the way.
The hotter, the better for Juanita. She loves summer and 100-degree weather. “That’s why I love to vacation in Las Vegas in July,” she says.
One of her most memorable adventures was vacationing in Spain and Morocco. A highlight: Riding a camel.

Special recognition

WSU Foundation President and CEO Elizabeth King has been named a 2020 Executive of the Year by the Wichita Business Journal. King and other recipients will be honored during a virtual event on Nov. 4, with a special feature about them in the Nov. 6 print edition of the publication. The recipients are in the inaugural class of the WBJ’s Executive of the Year award, which recognizes successful senior-level business leaders in the Wichita area. King has led the WSU Foundation since 1991. Watch a two-minute video that will play during the virtual recognition event. Watch .

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