Marilyn Pauly began her banking career in 1969 when, as a student at Wichita State University, she applied for a part-time position as operations clerk at what was then Fourth National Bank. She’s come a long way since then.

Pauly will be featured at the WSU Alumni Association-sponsored Rise & Shine 11 Distinguished Alumni Speaker Breakfast Series at 7:30 a.m. Friday, April 25, at WSU’s Marcus Welcome Center.

Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. with an informal lecture at 8 a.m., followed by a question-and-answer period that concludes at about 8:30 a.m.

For reservations, go online to http://www.wichita.edu/alumni or contact Mandy Fleming at (316) 978-3831 or mandy.fleming@wichita.edu by April 21. The breakfast is $15 per person; $10 per student.

Pauly worked her way up through the organization and was named president of Bank IV Wichita in 1993, becoming one of the highest ranking women in the state’s banking industry.

After the 1998 Bank of America acquisition of NationsBank, which less than a year earlier had acquired Bank IV, she served as state president until her retirement from Bank of America in 2000. She came out of retirement a year later to work at Commerce Bank, where she serves today as vice chairwoman.

Awarded the WSU President’s Medal in 2000, she has a long history of commitment to professional, civic and community activities.

Pauly’s lecture is sponsored by Commerce Bank. It is the final presentation of the 2007-08 speaker series.