2017 Latino Leaders
Kimberly Bustillos-Chacón
Psychology & Spanish Major
Kim graduated from Friends University in May of 2020, with a BS in Psychology and a BA in Spanish. Her family is from Chihuahua, Mexico, and is a first-generation college student, wanting to become a great example for her family, and to motivate her little sister. Her parents motivated her to go to college and pursue her dreams, so she is currently at California Baptist University completing her masters degree in Forensic Psychology, expecting to finish May 2022. Kim’s dream career is to be a Criminal Profiler. Latino Leaders helped Kim with her leadership experience, giving her opportunities in her desired field by building her resume and experience. Kim loved having the opportunity that Latino Leaders gave her to grow, as she was 16 when Latino Leaders recruited her.
Allison Franco
Zoo Science & Field Biology Major, Spanish Minor
Allison Franco was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala and moved to the United States when she was nine years old. She graduated in 2017 from Maize High School. Allison’s biggest goal in life is to co-own a conservation center to rehabilitate marine and wildlife animals alongside her sister. She is double majoring in Zoo Science and Field Biology, as well as minoring in Spanish. As a Zoo Science student, Allison loves all animals and has been a vegetarian for the past four years. She loves sharing special moments with her friends, family, and her twin Huskies and chocolate Labrador. Her favorite animals are sea turtles, she hopes one day her mom will allow her to keep one in her bathtub.
Dustin Le
International Business & Christian Spiritual Formation Major
Dustin really enjoyed and appreciated all that the Latino Leader program offered to help him complete his undergraduate and get his degree. The values, and message to keep striving as a Latino in this community helped him see and relay that message on to future generations, so that they may achieve what they aspire to.
His favorite part about the program was having mentors who helped guide him in the right direction, and who continue to be there for him for when things get rough. From having an academic mentor who is there and giving feedback from a professor’s perspective, and watching over academics to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. To having a professional mentor, someone who is out doing the work, striving, and doing great things for the community to help motivate and keep him focused on completing school to get the degree. Then to having a peer mentor that is someone who’s relatable and understands where he has come from, balancing athletics, academics, and work. As of now he is still in contact with his mentors, always willing to learn and hear how he can always improve and do better. Also he is still in contact with his mentees to give back and pass on what he was taught to make it through school. For the time being he is currently working as an assistant soccer coach at Andover High School teaching and helping student athletes the game he loves. Then potentially looking for the right job with where his degree leads him.
Brandon Piña
Computer Science & Business Major
Brandon comes from Goddard High School. He enjoys building computers with his friends and hanging out with his two younger brothers. Brandon also is involved with the music program at Friends. He is in Guitar Ensemble, plays bass in Community Orchestra and sings baritone in Concert Choir. Brandon is expected to graduate in 2021 and wishes to do programming in the aerospace industry.
Nohemí Pineda
Criminal Justice & Spanish Major
Nohemí was born in Reseda, CA and moved to Wichita when she was eight years old. She graduated from Wichita East High School and is a first generation to graduate from high school and will be the first in her family to graduate from college as well. Nohemí commutes and lives with her family and is proud to be part of the Latino Leaders at Friends University. Nohemí works at a law firm and plans on graduating in May 2020.
Ana Waren
Spanish & Biology Major
Ana Waren has lived in Wichita Kansas for 19 years and attended Maize South High School. Ana enjoys playing soccer in her free time and is on the women’s soccer team at Friends University. Some of Ana’s goals at Friends are to meet new people and graduate with two majors. Ana lives with her parents, her little brother and her two dogs.
Professional Mentors
Brittany Waldman
Strategic Communications Manager, Fundamental Learning Center
Mentor to Kimberly Bustillos-Chacón
Brittany was born and raised in Dodge City, Kansas and played softball at Friends University where she majored in psychology and sociology and minored in criminal justice. She has her master’s degree in sociology from Wichita State University. Brittany serves as the Communications Manager where she serves as a liaison for parents, students, therapistsl, and community partners for the Fundamental Learning Center, a school suited for the needs of over 45 children with dyslexia. She is a current board member of CASA Tri-County that advocates for abused and neglected children in Kansas. Brittany also volunteers with Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Pass It On Outdoor Mentors Group, and League 42.
Yolanda Camarena
Executive Director, Kansas Hispanic & Latino American Affairs Commission
CEO, Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Mentor to Allison Franco
Yolanda Camarena served in Higher Education Administration for more than thirty years. During that time she served as Director of Admissions for Newman University, was Associate Director of Graduate Programs at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, served as the Regional Coordinator for the LULAC Educational Service Center and co-hosted and produced “Mi Gente,” a television program which highlighted the Hispanic community for KAKE TV.
Ms. Camarena holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from WSU and a Masters’ in Public Administration in Education Policy from Harvard, Kennedy School of Government. She currently serves as the President of the Board of the Kansas Hispanic Education and Development Foundation, Chair of the Schools and Scholarship Committee for Harvard College, also serves on the Grants Committee Board for Wichita Community Foundation and the Butler Community College Foundation.
Ms. Camarena believes that education is one of the most important aspects of success for a person. She is committed to ensure that our Hispanic youth have every opportunity to pursue a post-secondary education and making a difference in their lives.
Javier Villegas
Agent, First Family Insurance
Mentor to Dustin Le
Javier Villegas came to the United States from Mexico in 2009 in search of the American dream. He received his Bachelors in Business Tourism at the Universidad de Leon in Mexico, and began working as an Insurance Agent in Wichita. As his business grew, he began to find opportunities to help others in the local Hispanic community the same way he had been helped by others. Through his involvement with the Hispanic Chamber, he has found more of the tools needed to help the businesses of his clients grow and succeed. Villegas relishes the chance to help others live out their own American dreams. “If you work hard and do things the right way, you can be successful here,” he says. “I’m living the American dream”.
Alex Nordine
Professional Musician, Guitar Teacher
Mentor, Brandon Piña
Alex graduated from Friends University in 2007 with a BA in Spanish and a BM in Music Performance, and went on to complete a MA in Spanish Translation at the University of Puerto Rico in 2012. He then worked for several years as a freelance Spanish translator from his home in Wichita. He is married and has two children. Today he teaches guitar lessons and performs regularly with several bands around the Wichita area.
Christina Bluml
Director of Marketing, Exploration Place
Mentor to Nohemí Pineda
Christina has more than 24 years of experience in marketing, and has been with Exploration Place since 2001. She oversees the museum’s advertising, public relations, digital marketing, publications, promotional signage and website strategies. Before joining Exploration Place, Christina served as marketing specialist for seven years at Commerce Bank, Wichita. In 2013 she received the Wichita American Marketing Association’s Non-Profit Marketer of the Year Award. She has served on local boards including Wichita American Marketing Association, PRSA Kansas and currently serves on the Wichita Hispanic Chamber board of directors. Christina earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism and mass communications from Kansas State University.
Shelbye Smith
Human Resources and Risk Manager, iSi Environmental
Mentor to Ana Waren
Shelbye was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. She attended Friends University where she majored in Psychology and Spanish. She has her master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Emporia State University. Shelbye is the Human Resources and Risk Manager for iSi Environmental, which provides environmental, health, and safety consulting and support services to other organizations in Wichita and beyond. Shelbye is currently the Director for the Kansas State Council of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and has previously been involved in the Wichita Chapter of SHRM. Shelbye has participated in various community programs including Leadership Wichita, Advance Kansas, Kansas Community Leadership Initiative, and Visioneering Wichita. Shelbye also volunteers at Pathway Church working with a small group of Kindergarten students.
Peer Mentors
Cassidy Darrah
Health Sciences and Spanish Major, Senior
Mentor to Kimberly Bustillos-Chacón
Cassidy Darrah is from Wichita, Kansas. I am a part of the soccer team and tennis team at Friends University as well as the president of Sigma Delta Pi & Spanish Club. Cassidy is very passionate about traveling and helping others. She hopes to become a medical missionary. Some of Cassidy’s goals for the future include to attend dental school and travel to Spanish-speaking countries and work with missions programs.
Tesla Bethel
Zoo Science Major, Graduate
Mentor to Allison Franco
Tesla Bethel works part time at Cryo Kansas as an associate helping people with chronic inflammation, and sports injuries. She lives in an apartment with her boyfriend, adorable cat named Ollie, and rambunctious husky named Hunter. She loves to travel especially abroad. After earning a degree from Friends University, she hopes to be a great keeper, or work at a wildlife rehabilitation center. She is incredibly excited to see what the future holds, and to work with animals in need of protection and conservation.
Emilio Escamilla
Business and Spanish Major, Graduate
Mentor to Dustin Le
Emilio Escamilla is from Aguascalientes, Mexico. He is part of the baseball team at Friends University as well as the president of the Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) at Friends. Emilio is extremely passionate about mathematics and physics. Some of Emilio’s goals for the future are to go to grad school for physics and be a change in the world.
Ashley Knepper
Music & Spanish Major, Graduate
Mentor to Brandon Piña
Ashley is from Winfield, Kansas. She enjoys playing guitar with her father and spending time with her cats while drinking coffee. Ashley will be studying abroad in Merida, Mexico for the Spring semester.
Melanie McCormick
Accounting, Business Administration & Spanish, Senior
Mentor to Nohemí Pineda
She is a junior from Derby Kansas. Melanie is a member of the volleyball team. She is considering either going into private accounting or going on to law school. She is currently working at Kohl’s while going to school. She lives in Wichita with two roommates and her dog.
Madison Rhodes
Spanish Major, Graduate
Mentor to Ana Waren
Madison Campbell works at Wesley Medical Center in the imaging department and is a volunteer with the Cheney Fire Department. She gets to work as a firefighter and EMT with her husband, father and grandfather. After earning her degree at Friends, she plans on using her Spanish degree to interpret and translate so that she can reach more people as a paramedic. Maddi and her husband Bryce got married in May of 2018 and live in Cheney, Kansas with their three dogs Sasha, Scooby and Chewy.
Academic Mentors
Bill Allan
Associate Professor of Family Life & Division Chair of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Former Dean of the College of Business, Arts, Sciences and Education
Mentor to Kimberly Bustillos-Chacón
Bill Allan graduated with his bachelor’s of science from Abilene Christian University and his master of arts degree from California State Polytechnic.
Dr. Patrick Mathews
Professor of Biology & Program Director of Zoo Science
Mentor to Allison Franco
Dr. Mathews has been a member of the faculty at Friends University since 2003. His prior faculty experience includes two years at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and three years at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri. He received his bachelor’s and masters’ degrees at Truman State University, and his PhD at the University of Arkansas. Though broadly trained in all aspects of biological sciences, Dr. Mathews completed his doctoral research on the predator/prey relationships between wasps and beetles, and is the university’s resident expert on all things creepy-crawly.
Dr. Arlen Honts
Professor of Business; Division Chair of Business & Information Technology
Mentor to Dustin Le
Dr. Arlen K. Honts joined the faculty of Friends University in 2004 – prior to that he was on the faculty of the School of Business at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina for eleven years – serving two and one half years as the Dean of the School of Business. Dr. Honts is exceptionally active in the community, having held various positions such as: Civic Leader for McConnell Air Force Base, Honorary Commander for the 350th Air Refueling Squadron, Past President of the Rotary Club of Wichita, member of the Society for Human Resource Management, board member of Directors for the Wichita SHRM Scholarship Fund, member of the Small Business Advisory Board for the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, past board member of Cleveland County (North Carolina) Chamber of Commerce and the Cleveland County Economic Development Commission. He received his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Honts earned his Ph.D. in Organization Studies at Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Jamie Knight
Assistant Professor of Piano
Mentor to Brandon Piña
Dr. James Knight was born in Wichita and during his undergraduate years, he won the Naftzger Piano Award and the Kansas Cultural Trust Award enabling him to study in New York City. He attended the Manhattan School of Music in New York, where he studied under Constance Keene. In 1990 and 1996 respectively, he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from this institution. Dr. Knight was a finalist in the Leschetizky Piano Competition and also performed at Steinway Hall in New York City. Dr. Knight is now in his 20th year of teaching at Friends University.
Professor Keas Keasler
Assistant Professor & Program Director of Christian Spiritual Formation
Mentor to Nohemí Pineda
Keas Keasler has his B.A. from Baylor University, M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in theology. Keas has done extensive work in the areas of spiritual formation and missiology, presented at various conferences around the country, and serves on the board of the Ecclesia Network, a missional network of churches and leaders in North America. Ordained as a Baptist minister, Keasler’s background is in pastoral ministry – he has a deep love for the global church, having traveled and done mission work in over forty countries and preached on six continents.
Dr. John Simmons
Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology
Mentor to Ana Waren
Dr. Simmons earned his Ph.D. in Physiology from Missouri University in Columbia, Missouri in 1994. He has taught college since then while attending medical school and serving as an administrator for Hutchinson Community College. He has six children, four biological and two adopted from Ethiopia.