Dragon VALOR Allies
Below is a list of Dragon VALOR allies that have taken the training to support military-connected students at MSUM.

Ethel Abe,
PhD, MBA, BS
Assistant Professor of Management
Paseka School of Business

Christine Adams,
SHRM-CP
HR Business Partner
Office of Human Resources

Taryn Akgul,
EdD, MEd, BA
Assistant Professor
School of Teaching & Learning

Sydney Arntzen,
BA Criminal Justice and BA Sociology
(She/Her/Hers)
Public Safety Sergeant
Public Safety

Catherine Artac
(She/Her/Hers)
Instructional Technologist/Designer
Office of Online Learning

Rachel Axness,
EdD, MBA, BS
Construction Management Program Coordinator | Associate Professor
Professional Management Department

Bradley Bachmeier,
MFA, LIC, BS
Program Director and Professor of Art Education | Chair, School of Art
School of Art

Loren Baranko Faught
(She/Her/Hers)
Associate Director of Academic Success
Academic Success Center

Bonnie Baumgardner
OAS Intermediate
Paseka School of Business | Professional Management Department

Carolyn Beckerleg
OAS Senior
College of Science, Health & the Environment

Kay Beckermann,
PhD, MA, BM
Associate Professor
School of Communication & Journalism

Stephen (Steve) Beckermann,
M.Ed.
Interim Director of Faculty and Professional Learning Center
Library | Faculty & Professional Learning Center

Joshua (Josh) Behl,
PhD, MMA, BA
Associate Professor
Professional Management Department

Alli Belfiori
(She/Her/Hers)
Yellow Ribbon Advance Digital Marketing Specialist
Marketing & Communications | Grants & Sponsored Programs Office

Ashley Berkenpas,
LBSW
(She/Her/Hers)
Case Manager
Dean of Students Office

Erika Beseler Thompson
(She/Her/Hers)
Director of Academic Success
Academic Success Center

Becky Boyle Jones,
MS, BS
(She/Her/Hers)
Assistant Director of Student Activities & Organizations | Adjunct Faculty
Office of Student Activities

Jessica Brown,
PhD, MEd, BS
Assistant Professor of Counseling
School of Teaching & Learning

Collin Bueltel
(He/Him/His)
College of Education & Human Services | College of Business, Analytics & Communication | Assistant Director of Transfer Recruitment
Admissions

Jeremy Carney,
PhD, MSW, BSW
(He/Him/His)
Professor | MSW Program Director
School of Social Work

Fumi Cheever
Global Engagement Director
Center for Global Engagement
Jessica Clairmont,
MN, BSN
Assistant Professor of Nursing
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Joshua (Josh) Clarke
Veterans Resource Outreach Director
Larry Shellito Veteran, Service Member & Family Success Center | Grants & Sponsored Programs Office

Audrey Cloe Messner,
MS
(She/Her/Hers)
Interim Assistant Director of International Recruitment
Admissions
Jami Crummy
Assistant Director of Employer Relations
Career Development Center

Mary Davidow
(She/Her/Hers)
Southern Minnesota | Admissions Representative
Admissions

Katie Demuth
(She/Her/Hers)
Assistant Director of First Year Recruitment
Admissions

Melissa Dingmann
Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships
Office of Scholarship & Financial Aid

Jason Dockter,
B.S. History Education
Campus Security Officer
Public Safety

Travis Dolence,
MFA, MS, MS, BA
Distance Learning/Web Librarian, Professor
Library

Timothy (Tim) Downs,
Ph.D., M.A., B.A.
President
Presidents Office

Tom Dubbels,
MS, BS
(He/Him/His)
Assistant Professor of Counseling
School of Teaching & Learning

Chuck Eade
Director of Accessibility Resources | ADA Coordinator (Students)
Accessibility Resources | Testing Services

Corinne (Cori) Edgerton
(She/Her/Hers)
Library Technician
Library

Alexander (Alex) Elness
(He/Him/His)
Readmit Students & Non-Degree Seeking | Admissions Representative
Admissions

Diane Erickson,
MSN, BSN
Assistant Professor
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Elizabeth Evert-Karnes
Director of University Events
University Events

Ellen Fagerstrom,
PhD, BS
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Academic & Student Affairs

Erienne Fawcett
(She/Her/Hers)
Coordinator of Gender and Sexuality
Diversity & Inclusion Office
Tyrel (Ty) Filley
(He/Him/His)
Digital Marketing Specialist
Marketing & Communications

Oscar Flores-Ibarra,
PhD, MA, BS
Professor
Department of Economics, Law & Politics

Steve Fox
(He/Him/His)
Asst Director for Operations
Comstock Memorial Union Administrative Offices

Rebecca Gardner,
PhD, MA, BA
(She/Her/Hers)
Professor
School of Communication & Journalism

Kazimir (Kaz) Gazdzik,
PhD, MA, BA
(He/Him/His)
Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education
History, Languages & Humanities Department

Jordan Geiser
(He/Him/His)
Northern Minnesota | Admissions Representative
Admissions

Denise Gorsline,
MA, BS
Faculty
School of Communication & Journalism

Kara Gravley-Stack,
Ph.D.
(She/Her/Hers)
Dean of Students
Dean of Students Office

Samantha Gust
(She/Her/Hers)
Director of the Career Development Center
Career Development Center

Carol Hall
Post Office & Print Coordinator
Post Office | Print Shop | Marketing & Communications

Tonya (T. J.) Hansen,
PhD, MS, BS
Professor
Department of Economics, Law & Politics

Dana Hanson Schafer
Coordinator of Academic Intervention
Academic Success Center

Sara Hartwig,
MS
Assistant Director, Financial Aid
Office of Scholarship & Financial Aid

Rachael Harvey
(They/Them/Theirs)
College of Arts & Humanities | College of Science, Health & the Environment | Admissions Representative
Admissions

Jill Holmstrom,
EdD, MSN, BS
Co-Chair | Professor
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Chang-Seong Hong,
PhD, MA, BA
Professor
History, Languages & Humanities Department

Lacey Hoppe,
MS
Director, Early Education Center | Adjunct Faculty
Early Education Center (Childcare) | School of Teaching & Learning

Mandie Hulter,
LPN
Nursing Lab and Simulation Assistant
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership
Megan Jensen,
MS, BS, AA
Instructor of Mathematics
Mathematics Department

Aaron Johnson,
Veterans Education Benefits
State Prog Admin Sr • MDVA Higher Ed Veterans Program
Larry Shellito Veteran, Service Member & Family Success Center

Lisa Johnson
(She/Her/Hers)
Accounts Receivable Accountant
Business Services

Jessica Jorgensen
(She/Her/Hers)
Campus Security Officer
Public Safety
Sara Juckem
Assistant Director of First Year Programs
First Year Programs

Kayla Kappes,
MBA, PHR
Campus Human Resources Officer (CHRO)
Office of Human Resources

Heidi King
(She/Her/Hers)
Student Relations Coordinator
College of Arts & Humanities

Aaron Krenz
Yellow Ribbon Advance Director
Larry Shellito Veteran, Service Member & Family Success Center | Grants & Sponsored Programs Office

Kyja Kristjansson-Nelson,
EdD, MFA, AS, BS
(She/Her/Hers)
Dean
College of Arts & Humanities | Honors Program

Lauren Kupfer
(She/Her/Hers)
Assistant to the VP of Enrollment Management & Strategic Initiatives
Enrollment Management

Jenna Laurin,
PhD, MA, BS
(She/Her/Hers)
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Psychology Department

Ok-Hee Lee
Interim Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs
Academic & Student Affairs

Kathleen (Kathy) Lehn
Assistant to the President
Presidents Office

Christina (Tina) Lien
Contract Compliance Officer
Business Services

Derek Lien
Design/Communications Coordinator
Marketing & Communications

Julie Maahs
(She/Her/Hers)
Assistant Director for Career Readiness
Career Development Center

Ralf Mehnert-Meland,
JD, BA
(He/Him/His)
Associate Professor
Paseka School of Business

Kristi Monson,
BS, MBA
Director of Communications
Marketing & Communications

Nancy Moore,
MS, BS
BSN Program Coordinator | Assistant Professor of Nursing
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Mary Muehlberg,
MLIS, BA
(She/Her/Hers)
Associate Professor
Library

Sarah Muehler
Executive Assistant to the VPFA
Finance & Administration

Denette Narum,
MSW, LICSW
(She/Her/Hers)
Assistant Professor of Social Work
School of Social Work

Robert Nava
Dean of Graduate Studies & Extended Learning
Academic & Student Affairs | Office of Graduate & Extended Learning

Elizabeth Nawrot,
PhD, MA, BS
Dean
College of Science, Health & the Environment

Ryan Nelson
Executive Director of Public Safety & Compliance
Public Safety

Heather Nesemeier
(She/Her/Hers)
OAS Senior
College of Arts & Humanities

Brenda Norris
Executive Director of Facilities Management
Physical Plant

Anthony Ocana,
PhD, BA, ALA
(He/Him/His)
Associate Professor
School of Communication & Journalism

Eduardo Pablo,
PhD, MA
Associate Professor
Paseka School of Business

Jered Pigeon
Campus Diversity Officer | Director of Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity & Inclusion Office

Megan Proulx,
MS, BS
Student Support Services Specialist | Adjunct Faculty
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership | College of Science, Health & the Environment

Elaine Pyle,
PhD, MS, MS, BA
(She/Her/Hers)
Associate Professor | Department Chair
Speech Language Hearing Sciences

Karen Qualey,
MLIS, Ed.S
(She/Her/Hers)
Executive Director of Library Services & Online Learning
Office of Online Learning | Library

Debra Radke
Office & Admin Spec Senior
College of Education & Human Services

Ashley Rambousek ,
MSN, BSN, AS, AAS
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Amber Reed,
DNP, MSN, RN, PHN
(She/Her/Hers)
Associate Professor of Nursing | RN-BSN Program Coordinator
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Jeff Salinas-Jenni
(He/Him/His)
Assistant to the Dean of Students (OAS Senior)
Dean of Students Office

Paul Sando,
PhD, MA, BSEd, BS
Associate Professor
Anthropology & Earth Science Department

Sarah Saude
Customer Service Specialist Senior
Office of Scholarship & Financial Aid

Deborah Schaefer Kukowski,
JD, BS
Professor
Department of Economics, Law & Politics

Troy Schmidt
(He/Him/His)
Assistant Dean of Students
Dean of Students Office
Monica Schneider,
MSW, LICSW
Mental Health Program Therapist
MSUM Counseling Services

Heather Schneiter
Instructional Technology Specialist 2
Office of Online Learning

Peter Sherman,
PhD
Dean of the College of Business, Analytics & Communication
College of Business, Analytics & Communication

Brandi Sillerud,
DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
(She/Her/Hers)
Program Coordinator | Professor
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Jitendra Singh,
DHSC, MHA, BDS, Lean certified, Online Teaching certified, Bioinformatics certified
Co-Chair | Program Coordinator | Professor
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Steve Sjoberg
Director of Foundation Marketing & Communications
MSUM Foundation

Yamaya (Maya) Sosa Machado,
B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
(She/Her/Hers)
Director of Graduate Studies
Office of Graduate & Extended Learning
Amanda Stegmaier
(She/Her/Hers)
Lead Web Design & Development
Information Technology

Carrie Stenseth
Student Relations Coordinator
College of Education & Human Services

Jim Sterling,
PhD, MS, BS
Associate Professor
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Nancy Stock,
DNP, MS, BSN
Associate Professor
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Aaron Suomala Folkerds,
EdD, MS, MDiv, BA
Associate Professor
School of Teaching & Learning

Alicia Swanson,
EdD, MSN, RN, PHN, HNB-BC
Professor of Nursing | Graduate Nursing Program Coordinator | Chief Academic Nursing Administrator
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Emily Tiefenthaler,
M.S.
(She/Her/Hers)
North Dakota & South Dakota | Admissions Representative
Admissions

Georges Tippens
Vice President of Finance & Administration
Finance & Administration

Jason Trainer
Vice President of Enrollment Management & Strategic Initiatives
Enrollment Management

Stacy Voeller,
MS, MSLS, BA
Professor
Library | University Writing Support Center

Micah Von Bank
(He/Him/His)
Assistant Director of Accessibility Resources
Accessibility Resources

Lois Wagner
Grant Accountant
Grants & Sponsored Programs Office

Linda Winkler,
PhD, MS, BS
Associate Professor
Physics & Astronomy Department

David Wolff,
EDD, EDS, MED, BS
Assistant Professor of Elementary Education
School of Teaching & Learning

Danelle Wolnik
Assistant Veterans Resource Outreach Director
Larry Shellito Veteran, Service Member & Family Success Center | Grants & Sponsored Programs Office

Tracy Wright,
PhD, MS, BSN, RN, NI-BC, CNE
Professor
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Hailey Wyum,
MS, BS
Adjunct
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

Madison Ziegler
(She/Her/Hers)
Central Minnesota | Admissions Representative
Admissions
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Olivia Brinsfield
Chapter Success Coach, Student Veterans of America
Curtis Cannon
Clay County Veterans Service Officer
Christopher Deery
Cass County Veterans Service Officer
Brianna Droege
Veteran and Military Connected Student Success Coordinator, Metro State University
Minnesota State University System Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Steering Committee Member
Minnesota State University System Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Steering Committee Member
Gabriel Gust
Fargo Vet Center, Veteran Outreach Specialist
Miki Huntington
Political Science Faculty, Minneapolis Community & Technical College
Christopher Johnson
Director of Credit for Prior Learning, Minnesota State Community and Technical College (Moorhead Campus)
Shane Moore
Assistant Director of Human Resources, Minnesota State
Dylan Rowinski
Military and Veteran Services Coordinator
North Hennepin Community College
Amy Sleath
NDNG Service Member & Family Readiness Specialist
Gina Sobania
Director of Military, Veteran, and Adult Learner Services, Minnesota State
Blake Sykes
Program Coordinator
ND Veterans Education Training
Bryan Watters
NDDVA Veterans Service Officer Supervisor
Thomas Webb
NDDVA Veterans Service Officer