In March, Parker University welcomed Kendell Bachik as Director of Institutional Advancement. Her role will primarily be to introduce the university to the community and potential donors with an initial emphasis on the development of Parker University’s Neuroscience Center.
Bachik was raised in Dallas and attended the University of Texas in Austin for two years before returning to Dallas and graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor of science degree in accounting. Upon graduating, Bachik moved to San Francisco in 2006 to intern for a global tax, audit and consulting firm. Following her internship, she earned her master’s degree in accounting from Golden Gate University.
Bachik will work on behalf of the entire university when it comes to reaching out to the community and various partners as well as potential donors. Her personal story of inspiration and determination, however, does make her an exceptional fit for assisting with the development of Parker’s newly developed Neuroscience Center.
“Every 13 seconds someone in the U.S. suffers from a traumatic brain injury resulting in more than 2.5 million new brain injuries per year,” Bachik said, adding, “I couldn’t be more pleased to join Parker and be a part of the university’s efforts to grow and educate the public through chiropractic, health and fitness and neurological research and patient care.”
On October 31, 2009, Bachik was involved in a serious car accident, severing her spinal cord, rendering her paralyzed and a person with quadriplegia. Rather than listen to harsh realities echoed by doctors, she stayed optimistically positive and sought to prove doubters wrong. After a year and a half, Bachik went from being dependent on family members helping her with every detail of life, to regaining her independence, living alone and driving herself.
She devoted much of her time after the accident to creating REACT, a non-profit organization, so she could share her experience and her life-changing program with more people who were impacted by traumatic neurological injuries.
Bachik’s spirit and dedication are sure to be a great asset to Parker University and the advancement of education and research. When she is not representing Parker University, she, her husband and daughter along with their two labs enjoy traveling to visit family in San Francisco, Denver and Orlando.
About Parker University
Dallas-based Parker University is one of the world’s leading educators of health care professionals. Founded in 1982, this private, nonprofit, educational institution prepares men and women for exciting careers in various health care fields. Parker University awards wellness-focused degrees including a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and Bachelors, Associates and certificates in a variety of health care programs as well as continuing education specializations and certifications. Parker University also includes Parker Research Institute, which provides sound, scientific evidence supporting health and wellness; two chiropractic wellness clinics in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex; Parker Seminars, the largest chiropractic seminar organization in the world, and Parker SHARE Products that provide innovative, high-quality products, and current information on chiropractic and health care wellness. For additional information about Parker University, visit the website at parker.edu.
SOURCE: Parker University
