taken from a Facebook post by Bethel College
An outstanding music program and being close to home and family were things Danny Barrera wanted in a college, and Bethel provided both. “Bethel exceeded my expectations by the emphasis on relationships, and the amount of critical thinking I needed to develop in order to progress in my studies,” he says.
After graduating with his business degree (and playing saxophone in Bethel groups all four years), Danny worked for a local nonprofit, Peace Connections. “I [was] curious [and began] asking questions and finding mentors who were doing the things I aspired to, such as facilitating conversations around community progress and leadership. Many of them had a Masters in Social Work and urged me to look into this path.”
Danny earned an MSW (emphasis on social administration and planning) from the University of Kansas in 2017. He then spent five years as a community project specialist at Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute. In 2022, he began working at INTRUST Bank, Wichita, as learning and development coordinator.
“My education and experience [have taught me] how to better work with people and organizations on different levels individual, group, system. This directly transfers into my current role because it allows me to switch my lens when necessary, whether I’m planning an individual training session, developing long-term strategies or figuring out what makes people passionate about different topics.”
