Marsyl Le Nelson

is honored with a Brick from Paul Ackerman, Charles A. Burdsal, Jeanne Burdsal, Alex Chaparro, Darwin Dorr, Gary Greenberg, Chuck Halcomb, Jim Klingsporn, Robert Knapp, Lou Medvene, Greg Meissen, Suzan Olson, Jim Snyder, Marilyn Turner, and Rob Zettle.

To Marsyl Le Nelson, family is the central core to her life, whether her own immediate family or her larger "extended family." Marsyl (Marci to everyone who knows her) says she has enjoyed all of her jobs, but says that she "has found her home" with the Psychology Department at Wichita State University. "I enjoy working with the faculty and all the students. I have learned so much from all of them and I feel I am part of a much bigger family."

Marci adds the small touches that make the Psychology Department more than just a workplace. She remembers birthdays and celebrates holidays (her ghoulish Halloween punch is memorable). She takes charge of decorating the office for holidays and special events. Her most extensive project each year is to make individual Christmas holiday greetings for each faculty member and graduate student. Many former students keep in touch with Marci to let her know what is going on with their lives. Her bulletin board is covered with student wedding announcements and pictures of children.

Marsyl Le Nelson, the second of six children, was born to Martin Alex and Sylvia Louise Pavloff on November 8, 1947, in Bell, California. Her childhood was spent in California. While attending high school in San Luis Obispo, California, she met her husband. Marci moved to Wichita in 1965 and married Woodrow Ray Nelson on April 30, 1965. Their first child, Pepper Ann Nelson Sims was born in Wichita. Shortly after that, the Nelsons returned to California where their second child, Poppie Lyn Nelson was born in San Diego. Her father-in-law's illness made it necessary to return to Wichita. Their third child, Woody Eli Nelson, was born in Wichita. Marci and her family have resided in Wichita since 1969. Marci has six grandsons and one granddaughter. Family is and has always been a vital part of Marci's life. All of her children and grandchildren reside in Wichita, and Marci takes a great deal of pride and pleasure in their accomplishments.

While her children were young, Marci devoted her time to raising them and to their education. She has been an active member of an Extension Homemakers Unit. She is a lifetime member of PTA and was a Wichita West High Boosters Club member while her children were attending school. In spite of her busy schedule, Marci found time for bowling and has been an avid bowler for years. She is a member of the Wichita Women's Bowling Association.

As her children grew, Marci began to devote more of her efforts and energies to endeavors outside the home. She worked for Head Start as a clerk for the Health Coordinator. It was the encouragement by her supervisor that led to the completion of her GED which she received in 1988. While preparing for the GED exam, Marci also began taking general office classes at the vocational technical school to enhance her clerical skills and to prepare herself for the state civil service exam. In 1989, she went to work for the State of Kansas in the Child Support Enforcement Office. In 1990, Marci accepted the position in the Psychology Department at Wichita State University.

November 3, 1998