Tamara Bauer | Teacher

Passionate about learning at all levels, Tamara Bauer loves designing and participating in transformative experiences that help people grow and develop in meaningful ways. She is the inaugural Director of the Institute for Community Health and Well-Being at Kansas State University, a presidential initiative designed to bring together faculty, students, extension, and community partners to strengthen health and well-being across Kansas. In this role, she focuses on building partnerships, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, and helping translate research and community expertise into meaningful impact for Kansas communities.

Tamara has worked at K-State since 2005, where she also earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from K-State as well. Prior to her current role, she served as Director of Leadership and Service Programs and Assistant Professor at K-State’s Staley School of Leadership, where she designed leadership learning experiences for classes ranging from 20 to 250 students and led campus-wide programs such as Wildcat Dialogues, ‘Cats Connect, and What Matters to Me and Why. She is a certified practitioner of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and a trained facilitator of CliftonStrengths, with more than 20 years of experience teaching adaptive leadership. She continues to put that work into practice through service on the advisory board for Cats’ Cupboard, K-State’s campus food pantry. Tamara works to elevate unheard and unseen narratives and to help individuals connect meaningfully to create more whole communities.

Tamara lives in Manhattan, Kansas, with her three children, husband, and dog, Daisy. She is grateful to have family close by in Clay Center and Wichita. You can find her at one of her kids’ sporting events, enjoying the outdoors, or spending time in community with others.