Meet Rosa Blaske - Recruitment Coordinator

Story by Wendy Barnes

Rosa settles into her new office in admissions. Photo by Wendy Barnes.

A small-town farm girl, Rosa Blaske developed a love for all things related to animals at a young age. Her experiences on the farm taught her many life lessons and fostered a sense of respect and compassion for both people and animals that she carries with her into her role as the admissions recruitment coordinator.

“Growing up on a rural farm allowed me to have my fair share of animals — from cats, dogs, cows, horses, Guinea pigs and geckos to the occasional stray rabbit,” she says. “Each of these animals taught me countless lessons about discipline, forgiveness, time management and patience. The skills I learned from growing up on a farm and being surrounded by animals have been the foundation of my success as a student and now professional.”

Rosa gets friendly with some piglets at the Kansas State Fair in September 2024. Courtesy photo.

What is special about K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine?

“Hands down, it’s the people!” Rosa exclaims. “Whether it’s the faculty, staff, students — everyone here truly wants to be a part of this community. When I first stepped into this role, I was greeted with cheerful smiles, clear guidance, candid expectations and helpful connections. These are the qualities that make K-State veterinary medicine so special. You’ll hear the same sentiment from prospective and admitted students. I can confidently say that K-State CVM exceeds all expectations!”

Education/Professional Background

A Kansas native from Blue Rapids, Rosa completed her undergraduate in psychology from Emporia State. In 2022, she decided to join the K-State family and started her master’s in human development and family science. During her program she worked as a GRA with K-State Research and Extension and conducted research on rural childcare throughout Kansas.

One of her graduate school mentors encouraged her to apply for the recruitment coordinator position, believing she would be a great fit due to her ability to connect with students and faculty.

“I love working with people,” Rosa says. “I’ve always had a natural talent for connecting with others and presenting ideas. There’s something incredibly rewarding about taking information, sharing it and watching others light up when they learn something new.”

Rosa began her journey at the college in June 2024 and has seamlessly fit into her first full-time role.

Goals and Objectives

A self-described “college jack-of-all-trades,” Rosa’s primary responsibilities include connecting with prospective students, representing the college at various recruitment events, supervising the CVM Ambassadors and helping with a variety of other activities and events in the college.

Her main goal is to create awareness about the college and give prospective students an opportunity to learn more about the program.

“I get the chance to engage with prospective students, meet with them about the academic process, and guide them through the steps of enrolling in the DVM program,” she says. “I also connect with various groups across the state and beyond to offer tours and facilitate conversations about what the college has to offer. I’ve often heard that KSU CVM is considered the best kept secret in veterinary medicine, so my goal is to share as much as possible about our program and make sure we’re not just seen as a ‘flyover state!’”

While she loves all aspects of her position, she says her favorite part is getting the opportunity to work hand in hand with the ambassadors, students and professionals throughout the program. Currently, she supervises and manages the schedules of 72 ambassadors.

“I love getting to learn with them,” Rosa says. “They really are the heart and soul of KSU CVM. They’re out giving tours, chatting with visitors, and spreading the word about our college. Word of mouth works wonders, and our ambassadors are amazing at sharing the college’s mission and vision wherever they go!”

She wants to continue to develop the ambassadors’ skill sets in communication, community engagement and professional development. Her goal is to provide them with resources they can use after they graduate and enter practice.

Rosa is leaning into her new role at Trotter Hall. Photo by Wendy Barnes.