Brent Brockmueller, resident director, campus activities director
brentb@hesston.edu
My name is Brent Brockmueller and
I am the resident director for the men in Erb Hall. To clear up any confusion, if you hear
a student talk about Dogg, that is also me. I am excited about my second year as an RD as
well as being a co-director for activities. I spent the summer on the family farm and thw whole time I was thinking about getting back to the students at Hesston. To be honest, I have the best job in the world.
As an RD I get to spend time with the students in their mods as well as hanging out in
my apartment. Other roles include planning activities, planning meetings with resident
assistants, and, when necessary, meeting with students about lifestyle issues.
I am a 2001 graduate of Hesston College
and a 2003 graduate of Tabor College (Hillsboro, Kan.). Freeman, S.D., is where I call home; however,
Hesston College is the next best place to be. Some day I plan to
return home to Freeman to live on our family farm.
Neal Friesen, resident director
nealf@hesston.edu
B.A., Goshen (Ind.) College
Kendra King, resident director
kendrak@hesston.edu
A.A., Hesston College
B.A., Goshen (Ind.) College
Dave Osborne, director of international student
life
daveo@hesston.edu
A.A., Hesston College
B.S., Kansas State Teachers College
M.Ed., Wichita (Kan.) State University
My responsibilities here at
Hesston College include several areas: recruitment and admissions
of international students, classroom teaching, and Director of international
student services, in which I am part of the student life department.
We are available to provide a
wide range of individual assistance for our international students,
including housing, medical appointments, employment assistance, travel
arrangements, TOEFL testing, transfer assistance, passport and visa
advice and assistance, and much more.
We also arrange group activities
for international students, including shopping trips, sightseeing
trips, dances, recreation, social activities, special meals. The annual
International Festival, a highlight each year, includes a special
meal for the entire Hesston College campus, plus a program of cultural
presentations (dances, music, martial arts, traditional clothing,
etc.)
I have worked at Hesston College
for approximately 25 years, and I very much enjoy my job because I
have an opportunity of becoming acquainted with young people from
around the world. I have lived outside the U.S. for 11 years, and
I know what it’s like to adapt to a new culture and language.
Hesston is my hometown. It’s a good place to live. Hesston College
is a good place to work.
Lamar Roth, vice president of student life
lamarr@hesston.edu
B.A., Goshen College, Goshen Ind.
M.A., Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green
I have enjoyed serving as Dean of Students
at Hesston College since I took the position in June of 2003. I received bachelor of arts
degrees in Bible and Religion and in psychology from Goshen College
in 1986. In the summer of 1988 I completed my master's degree
in clinical psychology from Western Kentucky University in Bowling
Green. I was a youth minister for 10 years and a staff psychologist
and outreach coordinator for a community mental health center for
16 years.
I am married to Karla Boshart
Roth who is a psychotherapist. We have three children who are grown
and at various stages of young adult life. I enjoy a variety of activities
including flying airplanes, taking photographs, and fishing. I find
it truly exhilarating to work with such outstanding young adults,
as are the students at Hesston College.
Christine Schweitzer, resident director
christis@hesston.edu
A.A., Hesston College, 1994
B.S.N., Goshen College, Goshen, Ind., 1997
I began my term as women's resident director at Hesston College in the fall of 2005. I absolutely love it. I am asked often what I do as an RD. The obvious answer is "manage the dorm." In reality the most important part of my job and the area I spend the most time on is building relationships with students. I meet with my 14 Resident Assistants and one Assistant Resident Director weekly to talk about what is going on in their lives and what the needs are of the girls in their mods. When I'm not meeting with them, I'm thinking about ways to support them in their roles as leaders on campus. My favorite part of the job is the time I get to spend with students, being there when they realize something about themselves, define their faith in a new way, or decide the next step in their life journey.
My husband Brad and I are alumni of Hesston College. We agree that our time here was pivotal in our development. I took a break in my career as a nurse to come back to Hesston and help students have the same amazing Hesston experience that I did. It is not surprising that the students have become my teachers and once again Hesston College is pivotal in my development.
Molly Simmering, director of counseling
mollys@hesston.edu
B.S., Oklahoma State University (Stillwater)
M.S., Oklahoma State University (Stillwater)
Advanced studies, Johnson Institute (Minneapolis, Minn.)
I joined the Hesston College Student Life team
as campus counselor in fall of 1996. My family and I came to Hesston
from Knoxville, Tenn., the previous year. We longed for community, to
live in a smaller town, and to find ways to simplify our living, and
to connect more with the great outdoors. We have found this in Hesston!
I am originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and attended college in Stillwater.
I graduated from Oklahoma State University where I received a bachelor
of science in psychology and a masters in family relations and child
development. While doing an internship at a half-way house for my
psychology degree, I became interested in substance abuse and addictions
and did further studies in Minneapolis at the Johnson Institute School
on Chemical Dependency.
As the campus counselor at Hesston
College, I provide individual counseling for students, faculty, and
staff. Counseling sessions involve the sharing of information about
an issue of importance or concern. My role is to listen, clarify the
issues, and aid individuals in developing strategies to successfully
work with the problem. Emphasis is given to the development of a well-balanced
lifestyle, including mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health.
These services are free and confidential.
On a personal note, what keeps
me sane, fueled, and humble (when I’m not at the college) are
activities like fishing, bow hunting, women’s issues, breeding
and training puppies (Labrador Retrievers and Brittanies), singing,
teaching arts and crafts to youth, reading, and the love and support
I receive from my family. Life is good, pass it on.
Brenda Wenger, administrative assistant
brendaw@hesston.edu
I began working here at Hesston
after receiving my associate of arts degree from Hesston College in
1979. I previously worked in what was known as the student services
department (admissions and student life combined). Since that time
I have been a part of the student life department working as an administrative
assistant.
My responsibilities as an administrative
assistant within the department include providing assistance to the
campus pastor and international student director, as well as offer
support when needed to the dean of students. Various other responsibilities
include—coordinating and assisting with departmental events
related to student orientation, Opening Weekend activities, and Thanksgiving
activities, providing assistance with departmental budget, providing
support to Parents Council and the parent program, updating departmental
materials through the summer, as well as participate in departmental
planning and activities.
My husband, Dwayne, and I live
in Hesston and have three children, twin sons who are in high school
and a daughter in middle school. I enjoy reading, and as a family,
we enjoy traveling, camping, and going to bluegrass festivals. Through
the years Hesston College remains to be a very positive place to work
and experience growth within a nurturing community.
Kevin Wilder, campus pastor
kevinw@hesston.edu
I started at Hesston College
on a committee working on a new youth ministry major for the college.
I then taught the first Programming for Youth Ministry class, and
then psychology, and then interviewed for the campus pastor position.
I still teach the Youth Ministry course and occasionally teach psychology
and lead a Bib Lit small group. I also teach/co-teach Conflict Resolution. I have a B.A. from Taylor University
in religion and psychology, I studied Christian education at Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School and have an M.A. from Friends University
in Christian ministry with an emphasis in family ministry. I am an ordained minister. As a campus
pastor I am responsible for chapel, small groups, Campus Worship,
and Peace and Service Club. I enjoy the interaction with students
the most about my job. I am a stay home Dad in the summer.
I am married to Marilyn Wilder,
and we have three children (two boys and a girl). We live in a blue
house right across from the chapel at Hesston College. I love to ride
bicycle, play video games with my children, fish, and kayak in little
lakes in Kansas. I am a member of Whitestone Mennonite Church, and
before attending there was a youth and Christian education pastor
at Grace Community Evangelical Mennonite Church in Newton for 8 1/2
years. I think one of the most formative events in my life was working
in a Christian Youth Center in the Inner City of Indianapolis for
two years after college.