Trudy Hansen

My long term goal is to receive a doctorate in educational leadership. This will allow me to teach at a university level, which is my main intention in pursuit of a doctoral degree. I am currently enrolled at Pittsburg State University pursuing a Masters of Science in Career and Technical Education. I am writing a thesis analyzing how critical thinking is assessed among Physical Therapist Assistant students in the state of Kansas. I intend to use my thesis topic for my dissertation upon admittance into the doctoral program.The Department of Technology and Workforce Learning, at Pittsburg State University, is participating in a cooperative doctoral program with the University of Arkansas.
Currently I am a Graduate Assistant student within the Kansas Center for Career and Technical Education (KCCTE). KCCTE is within the Department of Technology and Workforce Learning at Pitt State.
I am a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) and work throughout the week at a local nursing home. I've been a PTA for the past 9 years and have worked within the healthcare agencies and the educational systems in the local area. The skills of being a PTA have proven a worthwhile career choice. Having been a Clinical Coordinator and instructor within a Physical Therapist Assistant Program at a community college for the past three years, I have been introduced to the education side of Career and Technical Education programs. When my job within the PTA Program was eliminated due to the sudden resignation of the program director, I found myself encouraged to attend PSU to seek a MS by way of a graduate assistant job offered to me.

*Graduate Assistant Student for the Kansas Center for Career & Technical Education (KCCTE)
*Teaching Assistant to Undergraduate students pursing a BS in Vocational Technical Education
*Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC); 2015-2016 school year
*Academic Honesty Committee as a GSAC representative for 2015-2016 school year
*Coordinated health science portion of the Fall 2015 CTE workshop sponsored by KCCTE. Presented the topic of "Anterior Cruciate Ligment Injury and Physical Therapy Protocol" at the workshop to health science high school teachers within the state of Kansas.
*Capitol Research Summit for Graduate Students-Topeka, KS Feb. 2, 2016
Pittsburg State University Research Colloquium at PSU on April 7, 2016
Thesis topic-Critical Thinking Assessment of Physical Therapist Assistant Students in Kansas

*cross stitching
*exercising/fitness
*reading fiction & bibliographies
*baking cookies (and eating them)
*hosting social events/hospitality