Meet Our 2023 Kansas Participants!
Bella Wood
Junior at Washburn University from Arkansas City studying Integrated Studies in Administrative Communications with minors in Leadership Studies and Music.
Hi everyone! My name is Bella and I come from a small-ish town in South-Central Kansas. I am attending Washburn University to pursue a Bachelor's of Integrated Studies in Administrative Communication (basically a bunch of social sciences) with minors in leadership studies and music. On campus, I've been involved in Student Government, the Leadership Institute, the Honors program, served as a Peer Educator, a Residential Assistant, and a Student Orientation Counselor, just to name a few!
I'm a very organized person who loves streamlining and simplifying processes to make things as effective as possible. I enjoy hanging out with friends, listening to music, taking care of my plants (really just gardening in general), and playing games. Although I don't have a set career path yet, my ultimate goal is to help make people happy. I really like learning about what makes people tick and the variety of factors that may impact how they live and behave. I've always been passionate about education; recently, I've gotten more interested in accessibility and equitable opportunities for all.
I am ecstatic to participate in the KWLI this summer! I'm most excited about making lifelong connections with new amazing peers. The curriculum is right up my alley and I can't wait to dive deeper into it. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I'm incredibly thankful to be a part of it. I'm looking forward to the transformational experience of a lifetime :)
Elizabeth Sutherland
Junior at Fort Hays State University from Mulvane studying Leadership Studies with a minor in Sociology.
Hello, my name is Elizabeth Sutherland and I am a Junior at Fort Hays State University studying Organizational Leadership and a minor in Sociology. I am also working on a Certificate in Women and Gender Studies. I am passionate about women's issues within society. I want to work on making the world a better place for everyone. I hope that through the Kansas Women's Leadership Institute I will better learn how to use and develop my leadership skills to work on issues that are important to me. I am excited to spend the summer connecting and learning from all the other amazing women involved in the program!
Layla Buttel
Junior at Washburn University from Madison studying Art Education and Art History with minors in Museum and Curatorial Studies and Leadership Studies.
My name is Layla Buttel and I grew up in a small town south of Emporia, KS, called Madison. I am a sophomore at Washburn University, majoring in Art Education and Art History with minors in Museum & Curatorial Studies and Leadership Studies. My interests include LGBTQIA+ activism and awareness, education, environmental issues, and mental health awareness. While I am also passionate about helping others learn and grow, I want to help guide others towards success and help them live happily. I am hoping that the Kansas Women’s Leadership Institute will enable me with resources and a community to lean on while I reach towards these goals. I am looking forward to meeting women from all across the globe, working alongside each other to strengthen one another's leadership skills!
Olivia Ramos
Junior at Wichita State University from Dodge City studying Communication Studies.
Hello! My name is Olivia Ramos and I am 20 years old. I grew up in Dodge City, Kansas but I recently moved to Wichita back in January to pursue my bachelors in Communications. I hope to become a community organizer or to be able to work within communities to make them a better and safer place to exist. I started volunteering at the age of 12 and it instantly became my biggest passion. I continued to work with 3 different organizations throughout my teens and my time at Dodge City Community College. Along with helping other organizations I also created my own mental health organization "I Am" on my campus with a close friend. We have raised over $1000 in funds for the club, gained over 20-30 members, and shared information through workshops and presentations around campus.
I hope to have the same impact on the Wichita community through fighting for my passions within the community such as access to resources and information, mental and physical health, diversity, and providing an environment that is not only safe, but enjoyable. I look forward to KWLI so I am able to learn about different types of leadership and ways of living to bring back to my own community and make an impact for years to come. I am so grateful for this opportunity and I look forward to being in a group full of inspiring women from every walk of life.
