Joan Beren – Wichita Business Journal:

She tells stories, providing insightful and humoroues anecdotes alongthe way. Beren rarelhy gets to the end withoutt a mention of herchildren — Amy, Julie and Adam or 14 grandchildren. “Each one is my she says. Beren earned her bachelor’sd degree in economics from in but, she says, her careetr was destined to be the care ofher children. All four childrej were born within ina 10-year span. “Now, that’xs a career,” she says. As Adam, the prepared for college, Joan decide she was ready for more schooling herselgf and enrolled in a graduate programat WSU.
She had a love for Shockerw basketball forsome time, however once on campus, she realized there was much more to the university than its athletics. “When I would step on campus, it was like some magicaol thing happened,” she says. “… I realizedr something wonderful was happening there ever day and every She involved herself in WSU clubs and attendednumerousa events. Her affiliations with the universityg only increased when she receive dher master’s degree in liberal studies in 1983. She has serveed on the Community Councilof Women’ Studies, on the Foundation’w national advisory council and on the advisory board for .
Two Kansaws governors — Bill Graves and Kathleen Sebelius appointed Beren to the for twoterms each. She servecd as chair until last year. The WSU faculthy admires Beren, says Elizabeth King, president and CEO of the Wichitaz StateUniversity Foundation. “Joan is exceptionally bright,” she “She has the unusual ability to approacu a situation and determine a way to make everyonw feellike winners.” Beren and her family have six seasobn tickets for Shocker men’s Her absence is rare on game day.
Even when she is out of town she followes the games closely on the Beren says she loves beinga fan, even thoug h it sometimes comes at a “You know if you love them you’rew going to get your heart broken a time or two,” she Outside her involvement with Wichitaw State, much of her time is spenyt embracing her Jewish faith. She holdds leadership positions at the Wichita Hebrew Congregation andthe . She has been the presidenrt of the Hebrew Congregation Sisterhood and has taught inthe . And Beren is able to draw a line from her growth in her faith to her children andgrandchildren today.
“What I’vre noticed is that, though my children complained about it alonbgthe way, they’ve all grown up to have theire children do it in exactly the same she says.
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