Pettey Receives Kopke Award for
Distinguished Teaching at Southwestern College
Winfield,
Kan., May 16, 2024 — Kristen Pettey, professor of business and faculty chair,
was named recipient of the Charles H. and Verda R. Kopke Award for
Distinguished Teaching during Southwestern College Commencement exercises
Sunday, May 5. The Kopkes established the award in order to honor outstanding
faculty members.
Pettey
earned her bachelor of arts degree in physics and masters degree in business
administration from Southwestern College and her Ph. D in business
administration from Northcentral University in Prescott Valley, Ariz.
“Dr.
Pettey is a fierce advocate for Southwestern College in all ways—but
particularly for our students,” says Southwestern College President Elizabeth
Frombgen.
Prior
to working at Southwestern College, Pettey was employed at Cessna Aircraft
Company as a Systems Safety Engineer for three years. She then worked for
General Electric Aircraft Engines at Strother Field as a Process Engineer on
the CF34 engine line.
In
late 2007, she was hired at Southwestern as an adjunct professor to teach
Quantitative Methods for the business department and she joined the college as
a full-time professor in January of 2008.
“Dr.
Pettey continues to be an active faculty member at the college, serving the
college on various committees – this year she is the faculty chair and is
serving as the assistant faculty athletics representative,” Frombgen
says. “Additionally, she is often called upon to sing the national anthem
at sporting events. She also sings and plays piano for the Faculty/Staff Chapel
Band. She is an active person who enjoys playing tennis and pickleball.”
Pettey
lives in Winfield with her husband, Brian, and son, Hayes.
