Overview
The Employer Relations Team is focused on establishing and nurturing relationships with employers and organizations. With a deep understanding of the job market and industry trends, they work strategically to build partnerships and collaborations that benefit student job seekers and employers with a focus on Applied Learning.
Information
In this role, Julie identifies and cultivates relationships with organizations across sectors, bridging the gap between businesses in alignment with the University's overall mission and vision and focusing on the workforce needs of the many industries in Wichita and nationally. One crucial element is collaborating with WSU's internal departments to align students with applied learning opportunities. She connects entities with the appropriate resources and facilitates workforce solutions for partnered employers.
Julie is a seasoned business professional with 14+ years of diverse experience in business development, account management, and problem-solving. A Wichita native, she is deeply committed to community service and contributes to the city's future through workforce development and nonprofit support.
In her previous role as the Director of Military Employment Strategy at Workforce Alliance, Julie led a groundbreaking military hiring initiative called Home Base Wichita, demonstrating leadership in aligning talent with workforce needs. Julie previously served at Wichita State University as a Recruiter and Program Specialist at Veterans Upward Bound, where she recruited qualified veterans for a federally funded grant program. Her early post-military career began at Cargill, where she served as a senior merchant, managing product development, pricing, international trade, and supply chain logistics.
Julie's prior military service in the US Army underpins her core values and discipline in her civilian sector work and her passion for military veterans and families, creating and serving in programs and boards designed to assist them. Julie is co-chair of the Greater Wichita Area Veterans Advocacy Board and board secretary for Passageways, Ltd. A military veteran herself, she provides leadership and direction to achieve strategic initiatives.
With a Master of Business Administration from Wichita State University and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management and Leadership from Friends University, Julie Sanders combines business acumen, leadership skills, and a dedication to community service, making her a valuable asset in any endeavor.