2026 Ad Astra Conference, January 30th
Registration is open!
The Ad Astra Conference Brings first-generation students from colleges and universities across Kansas and the surrounding state together for a common experience with a desired outcome of greater persistence to graduation.
Please join us in welcoming our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Teresa Clounch (Dr. TLC).
Dr. Teresa L. Clounch serves as the Acting Vice President of Student Life & Dean of Students at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. In this role, she has oversight for the Career Engagement, Office of Student Involvement and Development, Student Health Services, Student Accommodations, Counseling Advocacy and Prevention Services, Student Recreation and Wellness Center and Residential Living as well as being the senior disciplinary officer for the university.
A native Kansan, Teresa, also known to colleagues and students as Dr. TLC, is an alumna of Allen Community College (ACC) and is a former ACC staff person. She served as the inaugural Alumni Director who created the first alumni database and alumni newsletter. She also was the cheer and dance coach at Allen.
With her hometown of Iola, Kansas as her foundation for family and education, she attributes her leadership skills and understanding of higher education to her USD 257 education, her community college experience, and faculty/staff mentors. While working throughout the state of Kansas for the majority of her career, she remains connected to Southeast Kansas through her family and higher education colleagues.
During her more than 35 years in higher education she has worked in the areas of residential life, conduct, academic advising, alumni relations and foundation, and fraternity and sorority life. TLC has higher education experience at a community college, a women’s college, regional university, independent university, and a research university.
As a first-generation college student who is a Head Start alumna, she has a doctorate of education in Educational Policies & Leadership from the University of Kansas, a masters of arts in Student Personnel Administration from Emporia State University, a bachelor of science in Business Administration from Emporia State University, and an associate of arts in Business Administration from Allen Community College.
She is a volunteer and serves on the Kansas 4-H Foundation Board, Kansas Association for Youth Alumni Network Board, and the TFI Family Services Board where she is the board chair. She is an almost 40 year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where she is the president of the Topeka Chapter.
While she is a proud alumna of three different colleges and universities, Teresa has a passion to help students to be successful in college and life after college. Because this means something different for every student and their college experience, she enjoys working with students who are freshman, transfer, or graduate students. Helping students “find their level of success” is what she enjoys doing.