By Emily Luckeroth
Many people apply for jobs to earn a living, but not often do people apply for jobs with the intentions of having it be a
life-long commitment.
Twenty years ago, Barbara Marshall received her degree from Kansas State and applied for a position at Kansas Wesleyan. Little
did she know how big of a part KWU would have on her life. Marshall has been in the communications department at KWU for 20
years and has been “The Chair” of the department for the last two years. She has seen people come and go, and
most importantly, has seen the positive transformations the department has made.
When Marshall first arrived on campus, the communications department was still very much in the developmental stages. She
recalls, “They were still piecing the department together, with several of the people working from off campus.”
Marshall remembers the head of the theater department when she arrived, who was also the yearbook advisor and was responsible
for several other jobs. Although there were not many faculty members in the department, there were not many students either.
Over the next two decades, however, both the Fine Arts Building and everyone involved would see drastic changes.
According to Marshall, the communications department currently has five full-time positions, two staff and three faculty positions.
When asked what the most noticeable change in the department was Marshall answered, “The biggest change has been the
digital phenomenon that Kansas Wesleyan is not only embracing, but moving towards as well. We have a wealth of people that
know the different areas so that we have been able to move towards digital journalism with Dr. Jack Morris and multimedia
with Professor Paul Green. We have been able to expand not only in the studio, but outside as well.”
Marshall boasted about the specific changes in the department as if talking about the accomplishments of her own daughters.
She mentioned how much the speech department has grown, which is now in its fifth year, with Professor Gary Harmon leading
the way. “It’s exciting to not only see a competitive team form, but have great results within the region,”
said Marshall.
She is also quick to credit her fellow professors for the changes in the department, “The theater department is
getting such a boost from Professor [Richard] Esvang.” Marshall feels the physical theater itself now needs to match
the improvement the department has made internally. To date, the theatre has already had upgrades made to the wiring and lighting,
mainly for the digital aspects of production. She would like to see physical improvements, however, such as new paint and
upgrading the seats. She also talked of building a scene shop for the theater that would allow them to rehearse on stage while
the scene construction is assembled outside.
One of the most rewarding changes Marshall mentioned was the relationship the department now has with the community of Salina.
“Students are now doing internships, and are being well received by companies because they are being well-trained.”
This is a testament to the rise in the level of quality the department has undergone during Marshall’s tenure.
Marshall can be credited for so many positive changes within the communications department over the past 20 years. Her inside
perspective and knowledge of the department’s history give a good indication of the passion and dedication she has shown.
When she talks of the impact she has personally seen the department make on its students, there isn’t much wonder as
to why she has chosen to stay for so long. Surely the improvements to the building are of benefit to all students, and Barbara
Marshall was the backbone to the movement that started it all.
