MANA de Topeka Hermanitas Conference has been serving upwards of 150 Latina youth in Topeka annually since 2010 at Washburn University. This conference serves to build leadership skills, introduce students to community leaders and mentors, and welcome them to a college campus. The value of this program for young students in their formative school years has been to open their eyes to available academic and professional opportunities, giving them the confidence to pursue paths they may not have otherwise known.
The conference is a day of fun and discovery. We have sessions to discuss women in multiple career paths and have panels on educational options after high school to provide students with the tools to fulfill any dream. We introduce attendees to first generation college students who are making big dreams come true. We wrap up the day with campus tour of Washburn University.
JESSICA DE LA ROSA
“Hello, my name is Jessica. I go by Jessi, I been an Hermanitas since 2013. I graduated from Washburn University in 2020 with a bachelor degree of Arts in communication studies, and Sociology with a minor in History. After college I worked as a Case Manager for The Villages Inc , I am currently a stay home mom. My biggest professional goal is to be become an attorney.”
DR. KIM MORSE
Kim Morse is a professor of History at Washburn University and empowerment through education are the causes that inform her professional life. It has been her greatest honor to co-organize the Hermanitas Conference since 2010, work with the Ichabod Success Institute, and serve as Faculty Senate President from May 2020 to May 2022. In 2016, she was fortunate to receive the Herrick Award for Outstanding Service to Washburn University. In 2022 she was honored to receive the Edwin Lieuwen Award for Excellence in Teaching Latin American Studies from the Rocky Mountain Council of Latin American Studies. Best of all things for her are her sons, Ben and John Córdova (Robinson and Topeka High – Hoy hoy!). Her students call her Dr. Morse, but her favorite title is Ben and John’s Mom.
ANALISA CHAVEZ-MUNOZ
Analisa is a Topeka native who grew up in the Oakland neighborhood. She is Mexican American and graduated from Hayden High School in 2018 and a recent graduate from Washburn University having graduated in December 2022. She currently works at U.S. Bank as a Client Relationship Consultant while working towards her goal of getting into a master program for city planning.