Region IV-W

Chester "Chet" Peters from Kansas State University carved the Region IV-West gavel. Chet retired from Kansas State in 1985 as the Vice President for Student Affairs after 38 years of service to students on that campus. He was the first Region IV-West Vice President, 1967 - 1968. He also served as the President of NASPA from 1971 - 1972.

Like his passion for creating a better environment for students at K-State, Chet also had a passion for wood carving. Like the students with whom he worked, each piece of wood with which he worked was unique. His wood sculptures and carvings are on display throughout the Kansas State campus.

Region IV-West is honored to have this uniquely carved gavel as the "official" gavel for each regional leader to cherish for their two-year term. For many years, Chet also carved a unique gavel for each incoming NASPA President from a piece of wood special to that President.

Dr. Peters will be remembered for being student-centered, compassionate, moral and highly respected. Students and staff members were moved by his warmth, gentle humor and caring attitude. His ability to extend an understanding of the real meaning of goodness as a human quality is his legacy to learning.

Chet Peters will long be remembered as the "father" of Region IV-West, and we have this gavel as constant appreciation of the leadership that he gave to NASPA.

The Regional SERVE (Supporting, Expanding, and Recruiting Volunteer Excellence) Academy is mirrored from the NASPA National SERVE Academy. It is our role as an Association to help our members feel a connection to the region and Association, a sense of belonging, and purpose for your membership. This Region IV-West SERVE Academy engages NASPA Region IV-West members at all levels (graduate students, new professionals, mid-level professionals, senior-level professionals, and faculty members) in a cohort experience of learning about NASPA and Region IV-West, connecting with a seasoned NASPA Region IV-West volunteer leader as a mentor, and developing and implementing a cohort project that will give back to the Region in support of a strategic priority. The Region IV-West SERVE participants will meet monthly via Zoom from December through September to learn more about NASPA and Region IV-West and then design & implement a project as a cohort to better NASPA Region IV-West.

For questions or more information, please contact NASPA Region IV-West Communities of Practice Coordinator Brett Bruner, Assistant Vice President for Student Success & Persistence at Wichita State University – [email protected].

2025-2026 SERVE Academy Cohort

• Megan Bell, Director of Student Engagement & First-Generation Success at Arkansas Tech University. Megan will be mentored by Dr. Savala DeVoge, Vice President for Student Affairs at Adams State University.
• Cicely Bledsoe, Upward Bound Academic Advisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Cicely will be mentored by Brett Polen, Associate Director of Housing at Fort Lewis College.
• Courtney Bremer, Assistant Director of Admissions at Chadron State College. Courtney will be mentored by Dr. Amy Sellers, Program Director for Early College Partnerships & Outreach at Johnson County Community College.
• Ramya Chandrashekar, Coordinator of Student & Career Development at Oklahoma State University. Ramya will be mentored by Dr. Jacob Mendez, Assistant Dean of Student Success at Wichita State University.
• Teressa Collier, Director of Admissions & Recruitment at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Teressa will be mentored by Amber Roth, Executive Director of High School Relations at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
• Marjoanne Collins, Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs & Accessibility at South Dakota State University. Marjoanne will be mentored by Haydee Reyes, Director of Student Engagement at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
• Susan Collins, Director of Financial Aid at Doane University. Susan will be mentored by Dr. ShaRhonda Maclin, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/Associate Dean of Students at the University of Oklahoma.
• Dr. Domonique Crosby, Associate Director of Residential Education at Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Crosby will be mentored by Dr. Teresa Clounch, Associate Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students at Washburn University.
• Ashlee Dixon, Director of Greek Life & Student Engagement at Henderson State University. Ashlee will be mentored by Jessica Foxworth, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Engagement/Dean of Students at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
• Lara Edwards, Disability Resource Coordinator at State Fair Community College. Lara will be mentored by Sylvia Jauregui, Senior Residence Hall Coordinator at the University of Missouri.
• Rhylie Gachot, Assistant Dean of Campus Life at Arkansas Tech University. Rhylie will be mentored by Dr. Ashley Templeton, Associate Dean of Students at McPherson College.
• Gina Golba, Vice President for Student Experience & Success at the Kansas City Art Institute. Gina will be mentored by Dr. Phil Covington, Associate Vice President for Student Success at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
• Zachary Hair, Residence Hall Director at South Dakota Mines. Zachary will be mentored by Dr. Veronica Riepe, Director of Student Leadership, Involvement, & Community Engagement at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• Ricky Harris, Associate Director of Residence Life at the University of Central Arkansas. Ricky will be mentored by Dr. MeShonya Wren-Coleman, Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students at Bethel College.
• Diane Hernandez-Ramirez, Coordinator of Academic Success at Fort Hays State University. Diane will be mentored by Dr. Dallas Doane, Associate Professor of Practice for Higher Education Administration at the University of Kansas.
• Hannah Hoffert, Coordinator of Mental Health at Dakota College at Bottineau. Hannah will be mentored by Dr. Tiffany Schmidtberger, Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards at Wichita State University.
• Dr. Mya Lawrence, Manager of Student Life & Leadership at Johnson County Community College. Dr. Lawrence will be mentored by Frank Dorsey II, Dean of Student Involvement & Leadership at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
• Olivia Long, Assistant Director of LASSO Center at Oklahoma State University. Olivia will be mentored by Dr. Joe Thomas, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life at the University of Colorado Boulder.
• Mark Martinez, Coordinator of Accessibility & Tutoring Services at Dickinson State University. Mark will be mentored by Dr. Jerri Arnold-Cook, Program Director for McNair Scholars at Henderson State University.
• Jay Molock, Student Success Advisor at South Dakota State University. Jay will be mentored by Erica Meneses-Corona, Assistant Director of Academic Success at Fort Hays State University.
• Spencer Munson, Assistant Director of Campus Engagement at Doane University. Spencer will be mentored by Dr. Dee Dee Anderson, Vice Chancellor for Student Life at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
• Grace Osei, Graduate Assistant for Counseling, Leadership, & Research Methods at the University of Arkansas. Grace will be mentored by Kim Kushner, Project Manager-Expert for Information Services at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
• Vanessa Poyner, Vice President for Student Affairs/Title IX Coordinator at Fort Scott Community College. Vanessa will be mentored by Dr. Thomas Lane, Vice President for Academic Success & Student Affairs/Dean of Students at Kansas State University.
• Dr. Megan Red Shirt-Shaw, Director of Native Student Services at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Red Shirt-Shaw will be mentored by Dr. Josh Doak, Dean of Aviation Technologies at WSU Tech.
• Kelly Rueda, Dean of Student Success at New Mexico Junior College. Kelly will be mentored by Dr. Jerrid Freeman, Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at Northeastern State University.
• Laura Suchini, Enrollment Specialist/Recruiter at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana. Laura will be mentored by Adrain Smith, Director of the Multicultural Center at the University of Arkansas.
• Dr. Angela Webster, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Associate Professor of Leadership Studies at the University of Central Arkansas. Dr. Webster will be mentored by Dr. Melissa Stutz, Senior Vice President for Student Services/Title IX Coordinator at Laramie County Community College.
• Dr. Tina Zuniga, Program Planning Officer for Student Affairs Assessment at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Zuniga will be mentored by Alyssa Wendel, Director of Student Affairs at Kansas State University Salina.

View Past SERVE Cohorts