Emporia State to honor its 2006 Distinguished Alumni
Five special Emporia State University alumni, driven by a passion for their chosen professions, ventured out from ESU with bachelor’s degrees on a path to amazing heights. This weekend they will return to campus as 2006 Distinguished Alumni of Emporia State University.
The alumni – Jeremy C. Kohomban, Pawling, N.Y.; Marshall McNott, Claremont, Calif.; Russell E. Meyer, Grain Valley, Mo.; David L. Robertson, Wichita; and Jackie I. Snyder, Parkville, Mo. – will be honored at the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in the Memorial Union Ballroom, and throughout Homecoming weekend.
Since its inception in 1960, the award program has recognized the outstanding professional accomplishments of nearly 200 of ESU’s finest graduates. A selection committee, comprised of members representing the Alumni Association, the ESU Foundation, the faculty and the president, chooses up to five recipients each year for the university’s most prestigious award. This year’s recipients are:
Jeremy C. Kohomban, Pawling, N.Y.
BS 1989, Psychology, Emporia State University
MS, Clinical Psychology, Long Island University, N.Y.
Ph.D., Organizational Leadership, Virginia Beach, V.A.
Jeremy Kohomban is the president and chief executive officer of The Children’s Village and The Center for Child Welfare Research, one of the nation’s most-regarded child welfare agencies. The Children’s Village serves more than 1,000 children and their families in residential programs and more than 10,000 children in community programs in New York each year. The son of medical missionaries in Sri Lanka, he grew up with a love for children and a passion to fight racism and the devastating effects of the poverty on children and families. Prior to Children’s Village, Kohomban was the senior vice president at Easter Seals New York and the president of the D.C.-based National Association for Family-Based Services. Kohomban serves on such boards as the Board of the Child Welfare Watch and has been recognized for accomplishments in child welfare by The New York Times and National Public Radio.
Marshall McNott, Claremont, Calif.
BA 1957, Liberal Arts, Emporia State University
Marshall McNott has more than 33 years of fundraising experience, but he raises more than dollars – he raises hope. As president of the Los Angeles Mission, he worked to eliminate stereotypes of the homeless and to give people new perspectives of homeless shelters. The Los Angeles Mission is a facility that offers a one-year rehabilitation program for the homeless of the Los Angeles area. The curriculum includes substance abuse therapy, medical and dental treatment, job training and placement, transitional housing, and reading and language programs. In addition, McNott has helped two other nonprofit agencies transform from near-insolvency to successful, healthy organizations. McNott is also recognized as an implementer of several successful major gift and capital campaigns for organizations including the Anne Douglas Center for Women. While at ESU McNott was unofficially credited with forming “The Pastels,” ESU’s first dance band.
Russell E. Meyer, Grain Valley, Mo.
BA 1968, Mathematics, Emporia State University
Russell Meyer began his own company, Meyer Supply, by selling cleaning supplies in rural areas of Missouri. Fifteen years later, Meyer Laboratory now manufacturers and distributes janitorial supplies to school districts, motels and nursing homes in 16 states and has been recognized for its well-rounded representatives. After graduation in 1968, Meyer became a member of the first farm team of the Kansas City Royals. After his active duty in the Army Reserves he returned to the Royals until 1971. He has enjoyed sponsoring and coaching “The Sluggers,” a traveling team that competed in tournaments throughout the United States. Several of the boys he coached received scholarships to Division I colleges and junior colleges, including Albert Pujols, who now plays for the St. Louis Cardinals, and four others who were drafted by major league teams. Presently, his company manufactures nearly 80 percent of its own products with an annual growth of 15 to 20 percent.
David L. Robertson, Wichita, Kan.
BSB 1984, Business Administration, Emporia State University
In 2005, Dave Robertson became the seventh president and chief operating officer of Koch Industries, North America’s largest privately held company. Robertson began his professional career upon graduation as a marketing coordinator for Koch Asphalt Company and has been continuously promoted to positions within the company including executive vice president of marketing for Koch Refining, president of Koch Agriculture Company and president of Flint Hills Resources, before receiving his current position. Presently, Robertson also serves on the board of Koch Chemical Technology Group and Koch Industries, Inc., and is chairman of the board of Flint Hills Resources. Koch Industries consists of a diverse group of companies in refining and chemicals; fibers and polymers; commodity and financial trading; and forest and consumer products. Robertson, an Olathe native, was a starting defensive back for the Hornets and graduated with honors from the School of Business.
Jackie I. Snyder, Parkville, Mo.
BSE 1969, Home Economics, Emporia State University
MS, Educational Administration, University of Kansas, Lawrence
Ed. D., Higher Education, University of Kansas, Lawrence
Jackie Snyder is the chancellor of The Metropolitan Community Colleges, which serves five community colleges in the Kansas City, Mo. metropolitan area. Snyder had served as a teacher for 16 years at Johnson County Community College and from there was appointed vice chancellor of economic and resource development at The Metropolitan Community Colleges, where she was responsible for opening the Business and Technology College. In 1998, she was named president of Penn Valley Community College within the Metropolitan system, where she focused on improving the connection of the college with the community. In 2002, Snyder was elected president of the Presidents and Chancellors Association of the Missouri Community College Association. Snyder has earned awards including the Mattie Rhodes Counseling and Art Center “Families Helping Families” award and two national awards for excellence in staff development from the American Association of Community Colleges. She was also named a League Fellow by the League for Innovation in the Community College. She has also produced and directed award-winning educational films, and is a lecturer on women in leadership.
Last Updated July 2, 2007>