Kent McAnally, the director of Career Services at Washburn University, has a wide range of interests and experiences. McAnally brings a unique perspective to his job at Washburn, having a background in music instruction and a career spanning over three decades in both music and career services.
He was born in Arkansas, but has resided in Kansas for more than three decades. He taught high school music in Arkansas for nine years before moving at the age of 31. He continued his study and was startled to discover that he had no relations in Kansas; they had all remained in Arkansas. For the past thirty years, he has lived alone in Kansas.
McAnally earned a degree in music education from Henderson State University in Arkansas. His musical background was supplemented by a master’s degree in music performance from the University of Kansas.
He had a wide range of musical skills outside of his academic work. As he worked for his master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Kansas, he spent 13 years instructing music in classrooms in Arkansas and Kansas. He also spent six years instructing college-level students.
McAnally’s entry into the sector of career services was somewhat unexpected. His teaching experience was noted by a colleague at the University of Kansas Career Center, who advised that he would be an excellent fit for a post requiring such knowledge. Thus, his work in the career center began in 1991 as a graduate assistant, working part-time while pursuing his own degree.
He returned to the University of Kansas as a full-time assistant director at the Career Center after leaving for a time to teach, gaining expertise in this position for close to seven years. He moved to Washburn University in September 2006, taking on the position of director of Career Services.
He has also worked in the field of career services for 17 years and has seen many big developments. One of his early projects at Washburn was to update the Career Services website with useful tools for both students and businesses. The website has been improved throughout time by McAnally and his staff, who have made sure it remains an important resource for the Washburn community.
Jackie Askren, executive assistant of the president’s office believes, McAnally is a remarkable individual, both as a leader and a mentor.
His approach to leadership is distinguished by careful consideration and thoroughness in every choice he makes. Because of his analytical nature, he makes sure that every component of a task or project is carefully planned and carried out. His leadership goes beyond administration; he fully comprehends the university’s objective and works aggressively to properly carry it out. McAnally consistently tries to interact with coworkers and employers around the state of Kansas, which demonstrates his devotion and commitment to his job.
“We are also happy for him as he starts new projects since we know his commitment and knowledge will continue to have a beneficial influence wherever he goes. The university and the people he have impacted over the years will never forget Kent, and his legacy will go on,” Askren said.
The use of Handshake, a tool that links students with businesses and facilitates the job search process, is another remarkable progress. His team has effectively utilized Handshake to help students build a resume and job posting database, making it simpler for both companies and students to identify opportunities.
McAnally embraced the technology long before the COVID-19 pandemic made it necessary for virtual appointments and career fairs. While virtual career fairs had significant drawbacks, they also provided graduate schools and businesses with affordable options.
He underlined the significance of being educated about the requirements of both students and companies when questioned about the fundamental characteristics and abilities for a career services director. He emphasized the need of keeping solid ties with academics, students and employers as well as managing budgets well to promote efficient communication and interactions.
With pride and satisfaction, McAnally reflects on his time in career services as he prepares to retire at the end of this fall semester. His expertise, vision and devotion to the industry are what he credits for his success. McAnnlly’s interests, however, go much beyond his job.
Angela Valdivia, the assistant director of Career Services, thinks that McAnally genuinely enjoys dealing with students and recognizing their accomplishments.
His eagerness for learning about students’ accomplishments shows how committed he is to be guiding them. Beyond the requirements of his job, McAnally can relate to kids on a personal level, demonstrating his genuine interest in their development and success.
“He not only serves as a leader but also serves as an inspiration for students who are working to realize their full potential because of his sincere interest in their successes within the university community,” Valdivia said.
McAnally gave us an insight into his life in Topeka, where he currently resides, by sharing some of his personal favorites.
“My favorite restaurant there is Chez Yasu, which is conveniently close to Washburn University. It’s a French restaurant, and even though the prices are a bit high, the cuisine is simply delicious.” McAnally said.
He’s an enthusiastic reader, therefore he can’t pick a single favorite when it comes to literature. He says he was deeply immersed in a book by Dan Brown, best known for his novels “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons.” He’s currently reading a piece of fiction called “The Rock Cutter,” which centers on a piece of rock that raises the possibility of life from other planets.
McAnally has three notable interests outside of work: rock collecting, gardening and acquiring knowledge of the way to make wine.
He also has three notable hobbies outside of work: gardening, rock collecting and knowing how to make wine. McAnally’s gardening abilities and love for plants have inspired him to create an ecological refuge. He also brought back his passion for rocks and minerals, researching amateur geology and even mailing himself a box of fascinating rocks from an Oregon trip.
McAnally’s career trajectory from music education to director of career services at Washburn University is evidence of his versatility and dedication to student achievement. His unique approach to career growth and wide variety of interests show that he is a multifaceted and successful person who has had a big impact on the Washburn community.
As he gets ready to retire, McAnally leaves behind a history of commitment and ardor for both his professional and personal endeavors.
Edited by Aja Carter and LeSha’ Davis
