10/15/26

By FHSU University Marketing and Strategic Communication

HAYS. Kan. - Dr. Christie Brungardt, former FHSU professor and founder of Jana’s Campaign, has been named to the 2026 Class of L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth. This prestigious national recognition celebrates women making a difference in their communities through their commitment to addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges.

Before her retirement as a leadership studies professor at FHSU eight years ago, Brungardt held several leadership roles, including director of the Kansas Women’s Leadership Conference, fellow at the FHSU Center for Civic Leadership, and director of the Women’s Leadership Project. She has published and presented on civic engagement, leadership development, and gender issues in leadership.

“Christie Brungardt was and still is passionate about civic leadership,” said Dr. Jill Arensdorf, FHSU Provost. “She poured her incredible heart and mind into creating opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with the community. I am proud of Christie and the legacy she has left at FHSU and in our community.”

In 2009, Christie and her husband, Dr. Curt Brungardt, created the non-profit organization Jana’s Campaign to honor their daughter, Jana Mackey, who was murdered by an ex-boyfriend in Lawrence, Kan., in 2008. Jana, a passionate advocate for women’s rights, social justice, and equality, had just completed her first year of law school.

What began as the Brungardts’ commitment to carry Jana’s legacy forward in Kansas has grown into an international effort. Jana’s Campaign has impacted communities across 46 states and multiple countries worldwide. In Kansas alone, Jana’s Campaign has worked with 365 middle and high schools and 48 colleges and universities in 103 of 105 Kansas counties. Since its inception in 2009, Jana’s Campaign has directly impacted more than 100,000 K-12 students and indirectly impacted hundreds of thousands more across 678 middle and high schools and 686 colleges and universities throughout the nation.

“It was her (Jana’s) lifelong quest for equality for all people,” Brungardt said. “To Jana, nothing was more important than that. I never could have imagined where this journey would take us.”

“This recognition is an incredible opportunity to shine a light on the importance of our prevention education work.”

As a 2026 L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth, Brungardt received a $25,000 charitable grant for Jana’s Campaign. The grant will support continued violence prevention education work, helping the organization reach more young people with the tools and knowledge needed to prevent violence before it starts. In addition, Brungardt will be a special guest at the L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth red-carpet gala on November 18 in Los Angeles. Here, she will give a short presentation on Jana and Jana’s Campaign to hundreds of celebrities, influencers, national PR and media firms, and outlets.

For Jana’s Campaign, this recognition celebrates Brungardt’s work and offers an opportunity to continue Jana’s legacy. Eighteen years after Jana’s death, her values and mission live on through the young people, educators, schools, colleges, and communities impacted by Jana’s Campaign programming. To learn more about Brungardt, her fellow honorees, and the L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth program, please visit WomenofWorth.com.

To learn more about Jana’s Campaign, visit www.JanasCampaign.org.