Would you like to get in touch with us? Select your region below to view the contact information for that region.

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Central Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Region 4 Region 5 Region 6

Central Office

Located in Wichita, Kan. Oversees regional Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP offices.

Office Location

  • Wichita - WSU Campus, 1845 N Fairmount, Box 110, Wichita, KS 67260-0110 • Telephone: 316-978-7810

Staff Members

Name Title Phone Email
Corinne Nilsen Executive Director 316-978-7810 corinne.nilsen@wichita.edu
Nichelle Mauk Assistant Director 316-978-7810  nichelle.mauk@wichita.edu
Barbara Kae College and Career Assistant 316-978-7810 barbara.kae@wichita.edu
Yetnayet Tsegaw Database Manager 316-978-7810 yetnayet.tsegaw@wichita.edu 
Richard Schwasinger Scholarship Coordinator 316-978-7413 richard.schwasinger@wichita.edu
TBA Administrative Specialist 316-978-7810  

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Region 1

Located in southeastern Kansas. Serves students in foster care in Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson counties.

Office Locations

  • Pittsburg -  Kansas DCF,  320 S. Broadway,  Pittsburg, KS 66762 • Telephone: 620-231-5300, ext. 220
  • Parsons -  TBA

Staff Members

Name Title Phone Email
Brenda Armstrong Regional Coordinator 620-231-5300 ext. 220 brenda.armstrong@wichita.edu
Jim Fryer College Access Advisor 620-231-5300 ext. 218 james.fryer@wichita.edu
Stephanie Knisley College Access Advisor 620-231-5300 ext. 224 stephanie.knisley@wichita.edu
Lori Woods College Access Advisor 620-231-5300 ext. 301 lori.woods@wichita.edu

Is the Region 1 staff member you want to contact not listed? Please call 620-231-5300 and select ext. 220.

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Region 2

Located in northeastern Kansas. Serves students in foster care in Douglas, Franklin, Johnson, Miami, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties.

Office Locations

  • Kansas City -  Washington High School,  7340 Leavenworth Rd.,  Kansas City, KS 66109 • Telephone: 913-627-7810
  • Lawrence - Ballard Center, KKGU, 708 Elm St., Lawrence, KS 66044 • Telephone: 785-842-0440

Staff Members

Name Title Phone Email
Cathy Crist Regional Coordinator 913-627-7904 cathy.crist@wichita.edu
Derek Koenigsdorf College Access Advisor 913-627-7904 derek.koenigsdorf@wichita.edu
TBA College Access Advisor 913-627-7904  
Olivia Vaca College Access Advisor 913-627-7904 olivia.vaca@wichita.edu
Darian Koenig College Access Advisor  913-627-7904 dairan.koenig@wichita.edu

Is the Region 2 staff member you want to contact not listed? Please call 913-627-7810.

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Region 3

Located in northeastern Kansas. Serves students in foster care in 24 counties, including Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Riley, Saline, Shawnee and Wabaunsee.

Office Locations

  • Topeka - Kansas DCF, 500 S.W. Van Buren, Topeka, KS 66603 • Telephone: 785-296-2990
  • Junction City - Kansas DCF, 1010 W. 6th St., Junction City, KS 66441 • Telephone: 785-762-5445, ext. 252
  • Salina - Kansas DCF, 901 Westchester, Salina, KS 67401 • Telephone: 785-826-8000, ext. 378

Staff Members

Name Title Phone Email
Kathy Espana Regional Coordinator 785-296-2990 kathy.espana@wichita.edu
Eyyup Esen College Access Advisor 785-296-2990 eyyup.esen@wichita.edu 
Steven Hammond College Access Advisor 785-762-5445 ext. 252 steven.hammond@wichita.edu
Beth Randall College Access Mentor 785-826-8000 ext. 378 beth.randall@wichita.edu

Is the Region 3 staff member you want to contact not listed? Please call 785-296-2990.

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Region 4

Located in western Kansas. Serves students in foster care in 46 counties, including Finney, Pratt, Barton, Ellis, Gove and Ford.

Office Locations

  • Garden City - Garden City Alternative Education Center, 1312 N. 7th, Garden City, KS 67846 • Telephone: 620-805-8628
  • Great Bend - Barton Community College, 1025 Main St., Office #D105, Great Bend, KS 67530 • Telephone: 620-786-7552 ext. 552
  • Hays - Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th, Hays, KS 67601 • Telephone: 785-623-2400 ext. 150
  • Dodge City - TBA

Staff Members

Name Title Phone Email
Amanda Kennedy Regional Coordinator  620-805-8628 amanda.kennedy@wichita.edu
TBA College Access Advisor    
Ben Hyatt College Access Advisor 620-786-7552 ext. 552 john.hyatt@wichita.edu
Mark Ricketts College Access Advisor  785-623-2400 ext. 150 mark.ricketts@wichita.edu

Is the Region 4 staff member you want to contact not listed? Please call 620-617-1955.

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Region 5

Located in Sedgwick County. Serves students in foster care in Cowley, Harper, Sedgwick and Sumner counties.

Office Location

  • Wichita - Parent Teacher Resources Center, 412 S. Main St., Wichita, KS 67202 • Telephone: 316-866-8900
  • Arkansas City - Cowley Community College, 125 S. Second St., Arkansas City, KS 67005

Staff Members

Name Title Phone Email
Torisha Shorte' Regional Coordinator 316-866-8900 torisha.shorte@wichita.edu 
Mary Grace Held College Access Advisor 316-866-8902 marygrace.held@wichita.edu
Clinton Jones College Access Advisor 316-866-8902 clinton.jones@wichita.edu 
TBA College Access Advisor 316-866-8902  
Bonnie Jones-Jackson College Access Advisor 316-866-8902 bonnie.jones-jackson@wichita.edu  
Sarah Mick College Access Advisor 316-866-8902 sarah.mick@wichita.edu

Is the Region 5 staff member you want to contact not listed? Please call 316-295-4651.

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Region 6

Located in south central Kansas. Serves students in foster care in 14 counties, including Butler, Elk, Lyon and Reno.

Office Locations

  • Hutchinson -  Kansas DCF, 1700 E. 11th Ave., Hutchinson, KS 67501 • Telephone: 620-860-7281
  • Emporia - Kansas DCF, 1701 Wheeler St., Emporia, KS 66801 • Telephone: 620-342-2505
  • El Dorado - Department of Health, 410 N. Haverhill, El Dorado, KS 67042 • Telephone: 316-321-4200, ext. 268

Staff Members

Name Title Phone Email
Silvia Morales Regional Coordinator 620-860-7281 silvia.morales@wichita.edu
TBA College Access Advisor 316-321-4200 ext. 268  
Racquel Houston College Access Advisor 620-860-7334 racquel.houston@wichita.edu
TBA College Access Advisor 620-342-2505 ext. 248  

Is the Region 6 staff member you want to contact not listed? Please call 620-860-7281 

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