Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs Director Nancy McCarthy Snyder has announced staff changes and additions at the school’s Center for Urban Studies at Wichita State University.

Misty Bruckner, coordinator of community outreach, has been named associate director for the center. Bruckner is responsible for the oversight of the Center for Urban Studies, including support for the Regional Economic Area Partnership (REAP) and the Environmental Finance Center.

She joined the school in 2006 and, in addition to her Center leadership role, is responsible for assisting local governments and nonprofits with special projects, policy development, facilitation and training efforts.

She also assists with student recruitment and placement and alumni outreach. From 1994-2000, Bruckner worked in the Wichita city manager’s office and from 2000-2006 was self-employed as a consultant to local governments and nonprofit agencies.

She completed a Master of Public Administration at the Hugo Wall School and an undergraduate degree in political science at Doane College, Crete, Neb.

Angela Buzard is director of the school’s new Environmental Finance Center (EFC). EFC’s mission is designed to facilitate the sharing of information, technology and resources offered by a national network of collaborators to result in more environmentally sustainable communities.

The EFC will serve EPA Region 7 (Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas) and will better equip local officials through training and tools to address the financial challenges that arise from environmental issues such as aging infrastructure or regulatory changes.

Buzard previously served as the executive officer to the Regional Area Economic Partnership (REAP) water resources committee. She completed a Master of Public Administration at the Hugo Wall School after receiving an undergraduate degree in environmental science from the University of Kansas.

Two public affairs associates have joined the center staff. David Poynter is the new program manager for the Environmental Finance Center to assist with the development of programs throughout EPA Region 7. He also serves as the professional development coordinator for the Kansas Government Finance Officers Association.

Poynter’s professional experience includes director of WSU’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research, community affairs coordinator at Spirit AeroSystems and development adviser at Cargill.

Poynter has an extensive background in strategic planning, research, forecasting and public relations. He completed a Master of Arts in economics and a Bachelor of Science in business administration, both from Wichita State.

Dane Baxa was recently appointed as executive officer of REAP’s water resources committee. His primary duties are assisting the committee to develop a regional agenda for water supply and quality and formulate actions to advance that agenda.

Most recently, Baxa served as an environmental education coordinator for Kansas State University at its Research and Extension Office in Sedgwick County. He has experience as a congressional intern for Congressman Jerry Moran’s Salina regional office and as an environmental management intern for the city of Salina.

Baxa completed his Master of Business Administration and earned an undergraduate degree in biology and philosophy at Kansas Wesleyan University. He also will receive a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from Friends University in 2011.