A Lasting Impact

I remember my first day on our campus and how excited I was to begin my next chapter as a college student preparing for my future. I was not sure where I would end up, but I knew I wanted to earn a university degree because I was raised to believe higher education was incredibly important. Being able to play collegiate tennis at the same time was a bonus. I also remember my final day as a student on campus as President John E. Visser handed me my diploma. Throughout my long career in global business, I always was aware of how strongly my time at Emporia State University prepared me and influenced me. When the Kansas Board of Regents named me the 18th president of our alma mater, I realized I had come full circle.

Each day that I work with the phenomenal leaders on our campus to prepare and influence our current students for their own futures, I reflect on how different the world is for today’s 18-yearolds when compared to my own experiences. As I enrolled at Emporia State University, my plans were unclear, yet I knew whatever I chose to study I would use to build a career. Today, students plan differently. They enroll because they know the career they want, and they choose a major that will bring those career goals to fruition. As we kicked off the fall 2022 semester, I reminded our faculty and staff that our reason to come to work every day was simple — students, students, students. To this end, we are focusing on all the aspects of Emporia State University our students need for the careers they tell us they want. As we are listening to modern students, we also focus on careers we envision on the horizon that don’t yet exist but will need educated graduates to fill them. Our goal is to educate and graduate phenomenal talent to supply the Kansas economic workforce pipeline today and in the future. We also focus on our students’ other necessities that must be met for their day-to-day success. These basic needs include food, shelter, mental health services and professional advising. With support from the City of Emporia and Lyon County, our Corky’s Cupboard food pantry has grown, and we are working to connect students with needed resources.

As I think back to my 18-year-old self, I laugh at what today’s students would think of him. Would he seem naïve? Probably, because in many ways I believe life felt simpler then. We all are products of our own generations and the times in which we grew up. Yet, we have in common the fact we chose Emporia State University as the place to embark on our future. As we alumni continue to walk our individual paths, I hope we all hold onto our own cherished memories of our alma mater, its impact on our lives and ponder how we can creatively give back to today’s ESU students embarking on their own journeys. With Hornet Pride,

Picture a winding gravel path, shaded from the sun by towering trees, with the quiet sound of a river running gently just out of view. Birds flutter happily among the leaves as your shoes crunch along the ground below. The Dale Greiner Nature Trail, named for ESU alum and former biology instructor Dale Greiner (BSE 63-Biology, MS 65-Biology), runs 1.12 miles through Campus Woods at the very north end of Emporia State University’s campus. With a gift from fellow ESU alum and Dale’s wife of 54 years, Barbara Greiner (BSE 65- Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Biology, MS 66-Physical Education), the trail was improved and expanded. Barbara and Dale met at Emporia State University, while on a biology field trip, in 1962. They shared a passion for nature, sports and science education. By summer’s end in 1963, they were married. Dale began his master’s degree at Emporia State University, eventually teaching at ESU while Barbara finished her graduate studies. Their careers took them to Ann Arbor, Michigan, after Emporia State, where they worked for the public school district. When Dale passed away in 2017, Barbara wanted to honor his legacy in a meaningful way. Working with the Department of Biological Sciences and the Emporia State University Foundation, she found a project worthy of Dale’s memory. “In the year after Dale passed away, I took stock of our life together. The time we spent at Emporia State was really important, so I wanted to do something there for him. The trail was perfect.” The new Dale Greiner Nature Trail, open to Emporia State University and the Emporia community, improved upon the existing trail with widened walking paths, two ADA-compliant bridges over lowlying areas and the installation of bluebird houses and educational signage, created by the biology department, along the trail. Beyond the woods, Dale’s legacy lives on in another way at Emporia State University: through his granddaughter, Grace. While Barbara didn’t put any pressure on Grace to attend her alma mater, or major in biology, Grace said her family members were happy she chose ESU. “Nana was probably the most excited. My Mom and Nana were even more excited, if not amused, when I changed my major to biology.” As a junior biology major, Grace is still figuring out where her degree will take her but credits her lifelong love of animals and her grandpa for her desire to study biology. “My grandparents used to live in a cute little house right on the edge of the woods. Papa would take me out on some of the paths talking about the different plants, animals, birds and berries. He especially loved the birds. He would explain which berries or plants were poisonous or good to eat. We would pick berries and take them back to the house to make jams and such.”

On ESU’s campus, Barbara says the trail is a testament to Dale’s life as an educator, athlete, environmentalist, gardener, avid recycler and all-around nature guide. “Dale loved teaching and being outdoors, so it is the perfect way to honor him. It is fitting that those using the trail will enjoy exercise, being in nature and learning.” For Grace, the trail holds a special place in her heart as a place to connect with her grandfather. “There have been specific moments where I can feel his presence. In those moments, it's grounding. It’s a small reminder he is watching over me. I can once again go walking through the woods with my papa and that is very special to me.”