- A message from the Interim Dean
- Homegrown: How One Alum is Cultivating Manhattan's Tech Future
- Data Corner
- Finding Her Place: How Amanda Burris Turned Connections into a Career
- Investing in the Next Generation of Researchers
- Research and the State Fall 2025
- 3MT Spring 2026
- K-State Graduate Research, Arts, and Discovery Forum Spring 2026
- Capitol Graduate Research Summit Spring 2026
- Meet Alumni Fellow Mona Choi Dexter
- K-State Graduate School Celebrates Record-Breaking Day of Giving
- Want to get involved with the Grad School?
A message from the Interim Dean
Dear K-State alumni, friends and supporters,
Summer is off to a fast start here in the Graduate School! We continue to visit with grad students daily and the excited sounds of new students echo throughout the many trees on campus. Through all of this anticipation, the Graduate School is already busy planning an exciting and ambitious Fall 2026 semester. As we reflect on the past year, we’re proud to highlight a few selected major milestones that made this year one to remember. We started the Spring with a fantastic preliminary and final round of our Three Minute Thesis competition (3MT) – thank you to all the participants and judges who made this event a resounding success! Our winner, Vidya Nadar, went on to compete – AND WIN!!!!!! – the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Regional Competition. She will now represent Kansas State University Graduate School in Los Angeles, CA at the Annual Meeting of the Council of Graduate Schools where she will compete against 11 other winners from across the country.
Right after Spring Break, ten of our graduate students traveled to Topeka to share their research with legislators and significant stakeholders at the Capitol. Watching our Graduate Students in their element engaging with colleagues, stakeholders, congressional members, and staffers is a remarkable sight and our graduate students represented K-State with the highest level of scholarship and professionalism. Kansas is directly benefiting from the depth of their creativity, innovation, and talent. We rounded out the year celebrating the successful second year of the Graduate Student Mentor Program in partnership with our very own Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. As we continue to innovate and build on our journey to the Next-Gen K-State, we extend an invitation to reach out and engage with our grad students! Whether you are a graduate student, faculty, or alumni, your experience is invaluable for the next generation of graduates. Alumni, we would love to hear about your journey post-graduation. Your experiences, successes, and insights help shape the future of our community in Manhattan and beyond. Together, we aim to create a vibrant and engaged alumni network that reflects the dynamic, innovative, and collaborative spirit of the K-State Graduate School. Here’s to a summer filled with sunshine and long-awaited reads! Go Cats! Phil Payne, Interim Dean K-State Graduate School
The Kansas State University Graduate School
honored 885 graduates during 2026 Spring Commencement
705 master's degrees
101 doctoral degrees
124 graduate certificates
105 international graduate students earned degrees this spring
35 master's students and 2 doctoral students self-report as active-duty service members or veterans
The graduate students who travelled the furthest to pursue graduate studies at K-State are from:
Sri Lanka (9,241 miles), and South Africa (9,138 miles)
Homegrown: How One Alum is Cultivating Manhattan's Tech Future
Steve Bellinger doesn’t fit the typical mold of a nuclear technology CEO. On weekends you’ll find him on his family farm outside of Manhattan, doing the same work he’s always done – planting, harvesting, fixing machinery, and solving whatever problem the day throws at him. It’s the same work that shaped him long before he stepped foot in a laboratory.
“Running a business is in my blood,” Bellinger says. “We were trained on the farm how to make every dollar count.”
Growing up, the path forward seemed simple enough: stay on the farm or go to K-State. Bellinger’s love of mathematics, physics, and STEM classes in high school was enough to show his parents a real passion for education. They both encouraged him to attend university. He chose K-State so he could still come home and help his brothers on the farm. Bellinger arrived at Kansas State University in 2000 as a first-generation college student, enrolling in mechanical engineering with a nuclear option. Mechanical engineering allowed him to take all the base sciences and apply them, while the nuclear option let him go to the atomic level, of how things were made. It was in the Semiconductor Materials and Radiological Technologies (SMART) Lab where everything clicked. As an undergraduate researcher, Bellinger moved out of the lecture hall and into the work itself. Building and fabricating devices for radiation sensing, learning by doing. His instincts from the farm translated more directly than anyone might have expected. Fixing vacuum pumps in a high-end research lab, it turns out, isn’t all that different from fixing a piece of equipment on the farm. The technology that would define his career was already taking shape around him. The early stages of a device called the Microstructured Semiconductor Neutron Detector (MSND) had been brought to K-State by Dr. Douglas McGregor from the University of Michigan. Bellinger was working on the prototypes in the SMART lab. After completing his undergraduate degree, Bellinger continued directly into a PhD program in nuclear engineering. Graduate school, Bellinger will tell you, changes what you are after.
“When I started, I was interested in understanding science,” he said. “When I ended, it was more about exploration and application. How do I use what I know now, build more knowledge, and make money from it?"
Mentorship helped Bellinger find his footing. McGregor was a big supporter of taking the MSND technology to market. Then, a graduate course on technology and entrepreneurship with Bret Lanz helped Bellinger learn to separate research from the demands of running a business, factoring the return on investment into the mix. But some of graduate school’s most valuable lessons came from an unexpected place. Through his undergrad experience in various leadership roles in clubs on campus, Bellinger found a knack for leading people and getting work done. Looking for a similar opportunity in graduate school, Bellinger wandered into a Graduate Student Council meeting. It happened to be the meeting when officer elections were being conducted. As the president and vice president roles were spoken for, Bellinger raised his hand when the opportunity for secretary arose. It was a clear win for Bellinger, until the previous secretary raised their hand for the role. After a short impromptu presentation as to why Bellinger should be elected, he mentioned, in a moment of candor, that the previous secretary probably would be a better fit, given their direct past experience. That comment sealed his fate. He lost to the previous secretary. But Bellinger sat down next to someone who would change his life. Kara Ross, the current treasurer, was looking to move on from the role in the coming year and asked Bellinger if he wanted to work with her and learn the role. With dual intent, as Bellinger described, he asked Kara to dinner to learn more about the treasurer position. The following year, Bellinger ran for treasurer unopposed. He stayed connected with Kara, also a K-State PhD graduate, and they eventually married.
As the Graduate Student Council treasurer, Bellinger learned more about the inner workings of graduate education. He distributed travel grants for students presenting at conferences and attended leadership meetings. Working under the guidance of then dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Carol Shanklin, gave Bellinger a view of institutional leadership that the lab couldn't have provided. From the treasurer role, he came away with a clearer sense of how organizations actually function and with lifelong friendships from around the world. Bellinger graduated with more than an advanced degree. He had a technology worth commercializing and a business framework to support it. Radiation Detection Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in February 2012 with a team of one. Today, Radiation Detection Technologies (RDT) employs 25 people, most of whom are K-State alumni. Operations are split between a facility on the K-State campus and a second location east of Manhattan.
Over the years, the RDT portfolio has grown considerably. Early on, much of the MSND technology was built for the Department of Defense. However, over the past 15 years, their client base has expanded along with the technology they produce. Their community footprint has expanded along with their product portfolio. RDT works with students at Manhattan Area Technical College and is building a partnership with Fort Riley’s transition soldier program. Bellinger has also grown more involved with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, with a longer-term goal of positioning Manhattan as a destination for other technology companies like his.
“I see growth and excitement from community members looking to build here and do more,” he says. “There’s opportunity here for anyone who comes to this community.”
A PhD in nuclear engineering could have taken Bellinger almost anywhere. He interviewed with large organizations around the country and was well aware of the developments internationally in the nuclear sector. In the end, he chose home. "Manhattan was always going to be home because of the family farm,” he says. “When I’m done with my work here, I will be on the farm."
He didn’t go far. But what he’s built from here has reached farther than anyone might have imagined.
Data Corner
Finding Her Place: How Amanda Burris Turned Connections into a Career
Amanda Burris arrived at Kansas State University’s Counseling and Student Development PhD program with a clear sense of purpose, helping students and interests that spanned higher education, but without a definitive road map for getting there. Rather than seeing that ambiguity as a weakness, she leaned into the people and opportunities around her to find her way. Burris was no stranger to the higher ed environment. During her time at Fort Hays State University, Burris built connections through the many student organizations she was involved in. From the student alumni association, student government association, and president of the communications club, her interest in student life during her time at Fort Hays State gave her an understanding that there is so much to a student’s higher education experience that happens outside the classroom. After earning both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in communication studies from Fort Hays State University, Burris stayed on as an instructor. Recognizing her interest in student life and her desire to build a career in academia, but not necessarily on the tenured faculty track, Burris began looking into what might be next. Her mentor at Fort Hays was heavily involved with the NACADA program, based at Kansas State University, and nudged Burris to check out the student affairs program. Burris made the trip to Manhattan to learn more. A few conversations later, she applied and was admitted to the doctoral program. As Burris joined the program, she realized that she was pursuing her degree at a much faster pace than her peers. That left her feeling disconnected from the rhythm of campus life. Her major professor, Linda Thurston, encouraged Burris to get involved with the Graduate Student Council (GSC), and it turned out to be exactly what she needed.
Burris didn’t ease in slowly. She went from chairing the professional development committee to president-elect to president. The GSC gave her something that can be hard to find in doctoral programs: a genuine community of peers across disciplines, all navigating the same demanding stretch of life.
“I think especially when you are working on your PhD, you are so focused on what you are doing,” she reflected. “Having a group of people who are in this same place as you doing this same really hard thing in life, but that you never would have met otherwise, that was such a great place to make connections and learn about different fields of study.”
That spirit of connecting beyond her own department shaped not just her graduate experience, but the direction of her career. As she neared the end of her program, Burris applied for jobs across the country. Graduate school, for her, was always meant to be a launch pad. She just didn’t know where it would send her. That launch point turned out to be a small but well-connected organization based right on the Kansas State University campus, the Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA). IDEA is a consortium of 19 institutions across the United States offering fully online degrees in human science and agriculture, allowing schools to pool resources to offer full programs they wouldn’t have had the capacity to offer alone. With the support and encouragement from friends and mentors, Burris took the job and didn’t look back. Ten years later, Burris’s role has evolved and grown along with the alliance. Today, Burris heads up the data collection and distribution, student services, and orientation, and works closely with the board of directors and the CEO. The graduate coursework that once felt abstract gave Burris a better understanding of institutional decision-making and the complex responsibilities administrators balance every day.
Manhattan also grew on Burris in ways she didn’t anticipate. “I never expected to love the town so much and feel so at home here.”
She has remained involved with the university and the community by volunteering with various organizations. Her number one piece of advice to current graduate students is to “get involved and be willing to step outside your department to broaden your experience and connections.” For Burris, that willingness made all the difference.
Investing in the Next Generation of Researchers
The University Distinguished Professors Excellence in Doctoral Studies Award was built on a simple belief: that exceptional graduate researchers deserve to be recognized. Nominations for the award come from every discipline across the university, reflecting the breadth of dedication our graduate students bring to their work. The award was created by the University Distinguished Professors - faculty who themselves represent the university’s highest honor, recognized for outstanding contributions to teaching, research, and service to their professions and communities. For them, this award is an extension of what they do every day.
“Graduate education is the hybrid of your research, teaching, mentoring, and the creativity you brought to the field,” said former UDP President Brian Giesbrecht. “Our UDP faculty are leading the next generation of experts and equipping them with the skills to take their work and build on it.”
This award reflects the legacy each graduate faculty member instills in their graduate students and opens doors for the next generation of researchers to build on what they have been taught.
For Roselle Barretto, 2025 UDP awardee, it meant traveling to the International Conference on Wood Adhesives in Vancouver, Canada – a trip that connected him with fellow researchers and led directly to his current position as a postdoctoral researcher with the USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory.
“This award was not only financial support,” Barretto said. “It was an investment in a future researcher, and I am grateful for the lasting impact it has had on my career.”
Carlos Pires, 2022 UDP awardee, attended the 22nd World Congress of Soil Science in Glasgow, Scotland. The experience shifted something in him. “Attending the conference helped me see myself as part of the academic community and gave me confidence that a career in academia was the right fit for me,” he said. “In the end, that is the path I chose to pursue.” Today Pires is an assistant professor, Extension and Soil Health Specialist at North Dakota State University. And sometimes, the impact is less about where the award takes you and more about what it gives you when you need it most. Kiana Schulze, 2024 recipient, received the award going into her final year of her PhD. “In what feels like a long, arduous journey at times, receiving the UDP award was revitalizing – it helped me keep that momentum going and finish strong,” she said. The recognition also creates a sense of responsibility.
“It makes you want to do well in your future scientific endeavors, to live up to that potential and make the UDP committee proud to have awarded you that honor.”
Schulze now is a postdoctoral research associate in the Translational Vascular Physiology Lab at the University of Utah.
Giesbrecht put it plainly: “This award impacts students on a deeper level than just the research. Many times, there are other factors going on in a student's life that don’t come through in the work. This award validates the obstacles and resilience of the graduate students who have dedicated their efforts to their work.” Historically, the University Distinguished Professors have been the primary funders of this award, with minimal contributions from other sources. This year, as a graduate community, we are looking to come together to support our graduate students. "We want this award to be a shared fund where everyone can contribute to support and to recognize the success, dedication, and resilience of our doctoral students,” Giesbrecht said. Every contribution ensures we can keep recognizing the researchers who are pushing their fields forward, one breakthrough at a time.
Over the past 5 years the Graduate School has seen a 133% average increase in participation at K-State research forums
By presenting their work locally, nationally, and internationally, graduate students help create awareness of the important and groundbreaking work they and our graduate faculty are doing.
Research and the State Fall 2025
99 graduate students from eight colleges and over 25 academic programs presented posters of their research and why it's important to lawmakers and Kansans. Learn more about the 2025 Research and the State Forum.
3MT Spring 2026
This year marked the largest first round in the competition's history, with more than 80 students representing 36 academic programs in eight colleges presenting in early February. Read about the winners and watch the 2026 final presentations.
K-State Graduate Research, Arts, and Discovery Forum Spring 2026
Capitol Graduate Research Summit Spring 2026
“I was amazed by the interesting research that other graduate students have been conducting,” she said. “It was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to learn and expand my knowledge in areas I wasn't familiar with.”
-Nayara Mota Miranda Soares, doctoral student in grain and food science
Read the K-State Today article showcasing our 2026 CGRS presenters
Meet Alumni Fellow Mona Choi Dexter
Mona Choi Dexter earned her master's degree in counseling and student development from K-State in 2008 with a clear plan: pursue a PhD and build a career in student affairs.
Nearly two decades later, she serves as Vice President of Military and Veteran Affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal — a path she never could have predicted and wouldn't trade for anything. Her journey wound through international student programming in Hawaii, community colleges in Nevada and Virginia, career transition work for the Department of the Army, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation before landing in the private sector. What carried her through every turn was less a plan than a philosophy.
"The plans we make are often what limit us the most," Dexter says.
She encourages graduate students to set a North Star — a clear sense of purpose — while staying open to the unexpected opportunities that surround them. For Dexter, that North Star has always pointed toward expanding economic opportunity for military families and veterans, a community deeply personal to her as a former military spouse, mother of a current U.S. Army soldier, and daughter and sister of veterans. Dexter also speaks to the quieter work of sustaining a career over time: finding community everywhere she goes. She's built that community through running groups in every city she's lived in, through professional networks, and through deliberate connections with fellow Wildcats. Her advice to current graduate students is to expand beyond their cohort, stay curious about things outside their discipline, and never be afraid to reach out — because people genuinely want to help. This fall, you can hear Mona's full conversation with Interim Dean Phil Payne on The Scholarly Grind, the K-State Graduate School's new podcast dedicated to the people, research, and conversations that define graduate education.
K-State Graduate School Celebrates Record-Breaking Day of Giving
K-State Day of Giving is a time for all wildcats to rally around the causes closest to their hearts – whether through advocacy, matching gifts, or yes, even naming a campus squirrel or two. For the Graduate School, the 2026 Day of Giving was record-setting. In just our second year, we doubled our donor count and tripled our total dollars raised.
Thanks to the generosity of 61 donors, the Graduate School brought in $55,773 to support graduate education at K-State.
Donors could direct their gifts to the areas that matter most to them:
- Graduate Student Parent Success Scholarship - $1,892 raised
- Graduate Education Enhancement Fund - $441 raised
- Graduate School Accelerator Fund - $51,832 raised
- Graduate Student Council Fund - $1,086 raised
New this year, donors had the opportunity to create their own matching gift challenges. One extraordinary donor rose to the occasion in a big way, pledging a gift of $50,000 if 50 gifts of any amount were made to the Graduate School. That’s the power of community. To every donor who contributed: thank you! Your generosity extends far beyond dollars – it fuels the dreams, research, and ambitions of graduate students who are shaping the future.
Want to get involved with the Grad School?
Volunteer and connect with grad students at our upcoming events:
- Join us at the first round of the Three Minute Thesis in October 2026
- Attend the Final round of the Three Minute Thesis in January 2027
- Participate as a judge during Research and the State - February 2027
- Share your story with us to be featured in the next Alumni Newsletter
The Graduate School will reach out to alumni in the Manhattan area about volunteer opportunities during the upcoming academic year. To learn more or express your interest in getting involved, send a message to: grad@ksu.edu
Have a story to tell? Connect with us for an opportunity to be featured in a future edition of the Graduate Alumni Gazette.
- A message from the Interim Dean
- The Kansas State University Graduate School
- Homegrown: How One Alum is Cultivating Manhattan's Tech Future
- Data Corner
- Finding Her Place: How Amanda Burris Turned Connections into a Career
- Investing in the Next Generation of Researchers
- Research and the State Fall 2025
- 3MT Spring 2026
- K-State Graduate Research, Arts, and Discovery Forum Spring 2026
- Capitol Graduate Research Summit Spring 2026
- Meet Alumni Fellow Mona Choi Dexter
- K-State Graduate School Celebrates Record-Breaking Day of Giving
- Want to get involved with the Grad School?