At Boise State’s School of Public Service, faculty and staff are
reimagining student support through SPS Connect, a new center that
considers every step of the university journey.
K’Lee Burbank, a senior criminal justice major and SPS student
ambassador, grew up in Preston, Idaho, where college wasn’t the norm.
She found her passion for criminal justice through ride alongs with local
police and work for the city prosecutor.
“Boise State wasn’t on my radar, actually,” she said. “Then I got an email
from the School of Public Service that said, ‘Are you coming to Boise
State? We’d love to have you,’ and I turned to my dad and said, ‘I think
I’m going to Boise State.’ Ever since then, it’s been the best decision of
my life.”
Her first semester was tough — living far from home and adjusting to
new roommates and academics. “I didn’t even know if I would come
back for my second semester,” she said. Following her dad’s advice to
get involved, she joined the criminal justice society, Mock Trial team and
student government, finding mentors and direction.
“I was planning on going into corrections, then I thought I wanted to be
a lawyer, but I didn’t know if that was the right path,” she said. “I wished
there was somebody who could sit down with me and say, ‘You can try
this, let’s get you into this internship.’”
Now, with SPS Connect — launched in 2025 — there is. The center offers
career coaching, experiential learning opportunities and specialized
advising, including a pre-law advisor open to all students.
“Reflecting on my own academic journey, I was fortunate to have
mentors who guided me, and that’s the kind of support system we’ve
aimed to build,” said Mike Stefancic, director of SPS Connect.
As an SPS ambassador, Burbank helps the center serve students while
exploring new possibilities for herself. After talking with SPS Connect
counselors about her interest in politics, she’s now considering a
master’s in public policy and administration — a path she’d never
imagined before.