Introduction

My name is Kirsten Allen and I am currently the Director of Admissions at Butler Community College.  I was promoted to this position in August 2008 and was an admissions counselor for five years at Butler prior to this promotion.  Before coming to Butler, I was a public relations account executive at Sullivan Higdon & Sink advertising agency in Wichita.  I have also served as the director of communications for the Kansas Secretary of State in Topeka and was at Pratt Community College for 10 years, five years as an admissions counselor and five years as the director of admissions.

Because I am a graduate of a community college and have been employed at community colleges for 17 years, I believe wholeheartedly in the education and opportunities that community colleges offer.  And, I know that I want to continue my professional career at a community college.  To be able to add to my professional accomplishments, I need to complete a master’s degree.  After carefully researching all of my options in the Wichita, KS area, I selected the Southwestern College Master of Science in Leadership program due to the course curriculum.  I feel the information I have learned in the courses has helped me build upon my skills to better lead a college department within a student services division.  I also feel more confident that I could, in time, lead the student services division.

I began the Southwestern College Master of Science in Leadership program Summer 2008.  The program includes 12 classes, which I will complete Spring 2011.  This is my portfolio.  You will see five outcomes.  You will also see my leadership projects and papers, through hyperlinks, that demonstrate my understanding of each outcome.

I am very close to completing my goal of earning a master's degree which has taken an extreme amount of dedication, determination, and sacrifice.  All well worth it!