My name is Susan Lukwago. Of course, my current position on the KAEA board is president. I also had the opportunity to serve briefly as Vice-President and then as President-Elect. I enjoy serving on this board because I think it is good to have a professional organization for us Kansas Adult Basic Education folk. I also serve as the Director of the Colvin Adult Learning Center and have been in this position for 3.75 years. I was born in Uganda and grew up in Kenya due to the political unrest in Uganda. However, I have been in the United States for 23 years and became a citizen six years ago. I enjoy my job very much because I get the chance to help students in the way I was helped when I first came to the United States. By way of hobbies, I love to exercise, read and volunteer.

My name is Sue Choens. I have held my current KAEA board position as treasurer since late 2001. In addition, I served as the Missouri Valley Adult Education (MVAEA) alternative representative for four years and have been the Kansas Representative for three years. Many years ago, in the mid 1980s, I served four years as KAEA Secretary. KAEA and MVAEA have given me the opportunity to grow professionally. Both organizations welcome and encourage anyone with a desire to help strengthen and advance the field of adult education to become active members and volunteer for a board position.

I had my start in adult education in 1981 as Butler Community College Adult Education instructor and have been the Butler Adult Education Director for the last nine years with the added duties of GED Examiner for the last six years. Adult Education has been through many changes during those 27 years and often like a roller-coaster ride, it is very challenging, exhilarating and rewarding.

I am a lifelong resident of Kansas. I have been married to my husband Pat for 40 years and we have two daughters, who have given us two great son-in-laws, and five outstanding grandchildren.  The grandchildren’s purpose in life is to keep us young, at least at heart. My hobbies besides my grandchildren and volunteering are reading, cross-stitch, and flower gardening.   

My name is Kim Kirk. I currently serve as the membership chair. Previous to that I served two years as the Historian. I enjoy serving on the board because I get to meet and hear from the members of the organization. I work at the Paola Adult Education Center. I have been there for about 10 years. I am the assistant director as well as an instructor. I love my job because of the wonderful students I get to work with. Most of them have struggled in school and it is wonderful to see them find success. I am a lifelong Kansan. I am happily married with two daughters, a son-in-law, and a fantastic three-year-old grandson. My hobbies include all sports and riding horses. In my spare time, which I don’t seem to have, I also like to read and crochet.

I'm Karen Culver, Allen Community College, Iola, Adult Education Instructor, KAEA District 5 Representative. I have worked in Adult Education for six years as instructor on the Iola campus. I have served on the KAEA board as the District 5 representative for two terms. I have been on committees and task forces for Allen as well as KBOR. I am a part of the Leadership Academy offered by K-State and KBOR. My personal life includes being married for 25 years, mother of three (adult) children, and "Meemee" to a three-year-old grandson. My hobbies include playing with my grandson, digital photography, flower gardening, cake decorating and being hostess for special friends' bridal brunches. My hobbies allow my creative side to emerge. I truly enjoy my role as instructor of adult education. I am encouraged by the impact adult education makes on our society one student at a time. It is a very rewarding career.

My name is Donna Munsch. I represent District 4 on the KAEA board. I have been a GED instructor at the Salina Adult Education Center since August 2008. Before that I taught ESL. I am a native of Wisconsin, but I have lived in Kansas for over 17 years.

My name is Candace White, aka "Candie." I have the pleasure of being the Director of the Manhattan Adult Learning Center. I have worked at the Manhattan ALC since 1993, and have been the Director there since 2000. I am currently completing my final year of a four-year cycle on the KAEA Board. Prior to working in Adult Education, I was the director of a local program serving pre-school children with disabilities for over 15 years. (I tend to stay in jobs for a long time.) I have a Masters degree in Special Education from Kansas State University. I am married and have three daughters (Tracy, Elise, and Melanie), and one granddaughter. My husband, Warren, who is a professor at KSU in the College of Education, and I are empty nesters. I grew up as an Air Force brat and had the unique experience of attending high school in England. We moved around every three to four years, so I’ve enjoyed planting roots in Manhattan and have been here for over 30 years.

Vivian Copsey is the Allen Community College Adult Education Coordinator in Iola, Kansas. Services provided at the main site and two outreach sites include basic skills in reading, writing, math and technology, GED preparation, work place skills, English for speakers of other languages, homework help for parents, and college readiness. Student information is entered on a weekly basis into PABLO, a Kansas Adult Education data collection and reporting software for data collected under the National Reporting System. Reports generated are reviewed regularly by the adult education staff to monitor and evaluate the performance of the program. This information is also shared with community stakeholders.

I'm Angie Reid, the KAEA "webmistress." About eight years ago, I convinced the board that our website could be something more lively than four pages of text. Today, I maintain the 50-plus webpages, graphics, and scripts that make up your association website. I've always been a bit of a geek by nature, seeing something cool and then learning whatever it took to duplicate that coolness. That's how I learned website management in the first place. My background was in journalism, including graphic design, until fate lead me to a new city and to a position as an adult educator. I was hooked -- by the learners. In 1981, I earned by master's in Adult and Continuing Education from K-State and was named "Outstanding Graduate Student." Today, I'm working on my doctorate. In addition to my husband, I have two cats, six big fish, and thoroughly spoiled nieces and nephews.

My name is Jennifer Anderson and this is my first year as Vice President and first year on the KAEA Board. I have been the Director of Adult Education at the Coffeyville Community College Adult Education Center for 2 years and I am enjoying it immensely. My past experiences include teaching community college developmental courses as well as GED preparation classes. I find adult education to be one of the most rewarding and challenging professions that I know of, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I bring with me my philosophy that education and knowledge are tools that should be passed onto everyone, not just those who find them easy to come by. I look forward to serving the Kansas Adult Education Association to the best of my ability in the upcoming years. In my personal life, I am married with three children. A lifelong Kansan, I enjoy rural life and agriculture. My family raises sheep and swine for show purposes and my children are extremely active in 4-H. My hobbies include reading, Kansas history, hiking, and fishing.

My name is Wendy Isle. I have been in Adult Education at Coffeyville Community College for eight years. I maintain the student files, keep PABLO up to date, and help where I can in the center. Outside of work, I can be found spending time with my husband and two boys. In the summer, I am busy gardening or cheering on my husband at the drag strip. During the school year, I stay busy volunteering at my son's school as homeroom mom, lunchroom helper, and kindergarten librarian.