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Jeff Kready, b music ’04, credits his Washburn experience for cultivatinga career on Broadway. Along with wife Nikki Renee Daniels, the Topekanative taught Washburn University and area high school students in severalclasses and performed during the sold-out “Broadway in the Heartland”concert. Kready and Daniels took a break from their lead roles on the stagein New York City to serve as the Ruth Garvey Cochener Fink Professors inLeadership from April 13 to April 17. Photo by Peggy Clark5 Signs of Progress
MUSIC TOOUR EARSAlumnus Kready, Daniels take students to ‘next level’ asRuth Garvey Cochener Fink Professors in LeadershipBy Ernie W. Webb III • ernie.webb@washburn.eduAs the evening of April 17 came to a close, Jeff Kready and Nikki ReneeDaniels sat around a table with family in the Bradbury ThompsonAlumni Center discussing a whirlwind week at Washburn as the RuthGarvey Cochener Fink Professors in Leadership.Kready, b music ’04, and Daniels seemed to beembracing the peaceful setting in the moments followingan after-party for the sold-out “Broadway in theHeartland” concert at White Concert Hall.“We were excited to do this. Giving back toWashburn is something I really look forward to doing,”said Kready, star of the Tony-winning musicals “AGentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” and “BillyElliot the Musical.” “The music department at Washburnwas a huge part of my development as a performer. It’simportant to come back and pass on the same support tothe next generation here.”Kready and Daniels, who met on the set of “LesMiserables” in 2006 and married in 2009, were oncampus as Fink Professors from April 13 to April 17. Inaddition to rehearsing for the concert, the performersspent the week working with students from Washburnand area high schools.“I haven’t done much teaching, so I thought it wouldbe interesting to see what it’s like,” said Daniels, whostars on Broadway in “The Book of Mormon.” “Wedon’t plan on retiring anytime soon, but the naturalprogression once you do retire is to teach. This was agreat opportunity to experience that.”IN THE CLASSROOMKready, also a Washburn Rural alumnus, creditsWashburn for helping to cultivate his career. Becauseof that connection, the Fink Professorship seemed likea perfect fit, said Ann Marie Snook, chairwoman andprofessor, music.“We reached out to them about the professorshipBroadway in the Heartland 6
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Page 5: Karl Fundenberger, the director of
Page 9 and 10: here says something about our profe
Page 11 and 12: POND GIFT FUNDSSIGNATURE SCULPTURED
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Page 15 and 16: BOW TIE BASH TO CAPGRAND HOMECOMING
Page 17 and 18: OCTOBER 2015OCTOBER 2015October 23:
Page 19 and 20: A GRANDWEEKENDWashburn community ce
Page 21 and 22: Craig Treinen, who receivedtwo bach
Page 23 and 24: countries while living and taking c
Page 25 and 26: Gary Baker said his favorite course
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Page 29 and 30: Romero arrived at Washburn in 2006
Page 31 and 32: aunts Sheri Cafer, ba ’98, and Mi
Page 33 and 34: After working in financial services
Page 35 and 36: Smelser-Bisel earned her bachelor o
Page 37 and 38: A NIGHTTO REMEMBERWashburn Night at
Page 39 and 40: loved political science and history
Page 41 and 42: think, while playing or watching te
Page 43 and 44: “He could put on his industry hat
Page 45 and 46: Former student and alumna Eleanor H
Page 47 and 48: She is a member of Sigma ThetaTau.A
Page 49 and 50: IN MEMORYC. Keith Gustin, ba ’48,
Page 51 and 52: was a retired attorney.Robert Korte
Page 53 and 54: He served in the Army and ArmyReser
Page 55 and 56: The Power of a PlanEstablishing an

TO OUR EARS

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