BARBARA-JEAN ANDERSON - CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Barbara-Jean is in her final term at Western Governors University earning her bachelor’s degree in special education. She plans to go on to complete her master’s in education technology and curriculum design. Barbara-Jean has spent several years working as a Special Education Paraeducator. She is passionate about creating inclusive classrooms where everyone feels safe and accepted. Barbara-Jean has been a member of KDP since 2025.
Barbara-Jean loves spending time with her husband and their three children, reading, and watching hockey with her mom.
Barbara-Jean is in her final term at Western Governors University earning her bachelor’s degree in special education. She plans to go on to complete her master’s in education technology and curriculum design. Barbara-Jean has spent several years working as a Special Education Paraeducator. She is passionate about creating inclusive classrooms where everyone feels safe and accepted. Barbara-Jean has been a member of KDP since 2025.
Barbara-Jean loves spending time with her husband and their three children, reading, and watching hockey with her mom.
ROSE SALIGER - TREASURER
Rose graduated from Western Governors University in 2018 with an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8).
She also completed an M.A. in Science Education (Secondary Earth Science) in 2022. Rose has been a member of Kappa Delta Pi since 2018. She has worked with both the Celebration of Teaching Committee and the Professional Development Committee.
Rose is currently working as a substitute teacher and lives in Texas. She enjoys reading novels from a variety of different genres.
Rose graduated from Western Governors University in 2018 with an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8).
She also completed an M.A. in Science Education (Secondary Earth Science) in 2022. Rose has been a member of Kappa Delta Pi since 2018. She has worked with both the Celebration of Teaching Committee and the Professional Development Committee.
Rose is currently working as a substitute teacher and lives in Texas. She enjoys reading novels from a variety of different genres.
QUANNISHA SIMMONS - CHAPTER SECRETARY
Quannisha graduated from Western Governors University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She has been a member of the KDP AES Chapter since 2024. She currently works as a Teacher Assistant in a third-grade classroom, where she supports instruction and works with small groups.
Quannisha is passionate about helping students grow and creating a positive classroom environment. She enjoys finding ways to use technology to make learning more engaging for students.
In her free time, Quannisha enjoys spending time with family and watching K-dramas and period dramas.
Quannisha graduated from Western Governors University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She has been a member of the KDP AES Chapter since 2024. She currently works as a Teacher Assistant in a third-grade classroom, where she supports instruction and works with small groups.
Quannisha is passionate about helping students grow and creating a positive classroom environment. She enjoys finding ways to use technology to make learning more engaging for students.
In her free time, Quannisha enjoys spending time with family and watching K-dramas and period dramas.
JESSICA MARTZ - MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Jess received her Bachelor's degree in secondary education from Penn State in 2009, a Master's in teaching ESL from WGU in 2016, and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from WGU in 2021. She has been a member of KDP since 2016, has enjoyed serving on the AES executive board in several different capacities during most of those years, and has also become a member of the national KDP executive board.
Jess currently lives in central Pennsylvania and teaches high school English. She loves animals and currently has a Pomsky named Loki (she's his social media manager, too). In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, reading, traveling, and photography.
Jess received her Bachelor's degree in secondary education from Penn State in 2009, a Master's in teaching ESL from WGU in 2016, and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from WGU in 2021. She has been a member of KDP since 2016, has enjoyed serving on the AES executive board in several different capacities during most of those years, and has also become a member of the national KDP executive board.
Jess currently lives in central Pennsylvania and teaches high school English. She loves animals and currently has a Pomsky named Loki (she's his social media manager, too). In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, reading, traveling, and photography.
SIERRA WHITNEY - SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Sierra graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Biological Science with additional credits in marine studies in 2013. She’s currently pursuing her Master’s in Teaching Secondary Biology at WGU. She and her sister are the first members of their family to graduate from college.
As a lifelong learner, she’s taught herself the skills needed to be a leader in any setting. For the past two decades she’s held a variety of positions in professional settings that involve coaching adult learners to reach quality and productivity metrics (KPIs).
She’s passionate about the environment, lifelong learning opportunities, helping to guide future leaders, and is committed to building strong and supportive communities. She’s honored to serve alongside Carmen Ellrodt as one of your chapters Social Media Coordinators.
CARMEN ELLRODT - SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Sierra graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Biological Science with additional credits in marine studies in 2013. She’s currently pursuing her Master’s in Teaching Secondary Biology at WGU. She and her sister are the first members of their family to graduate from college.
As a lifelong learner, she’s taught herself the skills needed to be a leader in any setting. For the past two decades she’s held a variety of positions in professional settings that involve coaching adult learners to reach quality and productivity metrics (KPIs).
She’s passionate about the environment, lifelong learning opportunities, helping to guide future leaders, and is committed to building strong and supportive communities. She’s honored to serve alongside Carmen Ellrodt as one of your chapters Social Media Coordinators.
CARMEN ELLRODT - SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
DOROTHY BAUMGARTNER - FACULTY CO-COUNSELOR
With career-long commitments to values-based leadership, systems thinking, and maintaining a growth mindset, Dorothy is rewarded when she can help support and empower others in their professional and personal journeys.
More than two decades of experience in higher education have given Dorothy opportunities to understand the life-long learner experience from several perspectives, first in private colleges and then as the Director of the Student Success Center at an R1 University, where Dorothy later served as the Director of Strategy and Operations at the Teaching and Learning Center, collaborating with faculty and staff to provide opportunities for their professional development. Additional years of experience as a consultant and leadership coach gave Dorothy the opportunity to work with a variety of corporate and not-for-profit leaders in their professional journeys. Dorothy holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Design and Leadership Development.
An amateur musician, theater buff, believer in storytelling, , nature lover, and a better-gardener-wanna-be, Dorothy lives in the greater Seattle WA area with her spouse, the rain, and occasionally with her two sometimes-home-from-elsewhere daughters.
With career-long commitments to values-based leadership, systems thinking, and maintaining a growth mindset, Dorothy is rewarded when she can help support and empower others in their professional and personal journeys.
More than two decades of experience in higher education have given Dorothy opportunities to understand the life-long learner experience from several perspectives, first in private colleges and then as the Director of the Student Success Center at an R1 University, where Dorothy later served as the Director of Strategy and Operations at the Teaching and Learning Center, collaborating with faculty and staff to provide opportunities for their professional development. Additional years of experience as a consultant and leadership coach gave Dorothy the opportunity to work with a variety of corporate and not-for-profit leaders in their professional journeys. Dorothy holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Design and Leadership Development.
An amateur musician, theater buff, believer in storytelling, , nature lover, and a better-gardener-wanna-be, Dorothy lives in the greater Seattle WA area with her spouse, the rain, and occasionally with her two sometimes-home-from-elsewhere daughters.
DAGMARA OCHAL - FACULTY CO-COUNSELOR
Dagmara has been in higher education since 2005 in a variety of settings and roles including administration, mentoring, and teaching. Currently, she is a senior mentor at Western Governors University, where since 2014 she guided over 400 Educational Leadership students to graduation. In addition, Dagmara is a faculty co-counselor for KDP, AES WGU chapter.
Dagmara’s passion is helping others to become successful and fulfilled. She especially enjoys supporting peers in recognizing their own leadership potential and becoming effective people leaders.
On a personal note, Dagmara is fluent in Polish and English and currently in Arizona. Spending free time with family and/or friends is extremely rewarding for Dagmara. She cherishes the outdoors and enjoys hiking, backpacking, and skiing. She embraces volunteering opportunities which allow her to connect with local community and pay-it-forward for received kindness. Dagmara volunteers mostly at the local Ski Resort where she wears many hats. Overall, whether it is at home or work, Dagmara embraces a growth mindset and continues evolving.
Dagmara has been in higher education since 2005 in a variety of settings and roles including administration, mentoring, and teaching. Currently, she is a senior mentor at Western Governors University, where since 2014 she guided over 400 Educational Leadership students to graduation. In addition, Dagmara is a faculty co-counselor for KDP, AES WGU chapter.
Dagmara’s passion is helping others to become successful and fulfilled. She especially enjoys supporting peers in recognizing their own leadership potential and becoming effective people leaders.
On a personal note, Dagmara is fluent in Polish and English and currently in Arizona. Spending free time with family and/or friends is extremely rewarding for Dagmara. She cherishes the outdoors and enjoys hiking, backpacking, and skiing. She embraces volunteering opportunities which allow her to connect with local community and pay-it-forward for received kindness. Dagmara volunteers mostly at the local Ski Resort where she wears many hats. Overall, whether it is at home or work, Dagmara embraces a growth mindset and continues evolving.
EMILY SMITH - FACULTY CO-COUNSELOR
Dr. Emily Smith is an accomplished educator and literacy leader with a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. She holds a Master’s in Reading and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education both from Wilmington University. She is a National Board-Certified Teacher in Reading–Language Arts (Early and Middle Childhood) and holds multiple teaching certifications, including Elementary Education, Mild/Moderate Special Education, and Structured English Immersion. Her professional experience spans K–6 classrooms, school-based literacy coaching, and higher education, where she currently serves as a Literacy Course Instructor and Adjunct National Board Instructor for graduate and undergraduate programs. She brings extensive expertise in the Science of Reading, teacher coaching, instructional design, assessment, and faculty development.
Although new to the KDP AES WGU Chapter, she is deeply committed to supporting its mission and actively contributing to the continued improvement of education through collaboration, leadership, and service to the profession.
Dr. Emily Smith is an accomplished educator and literacy leader with a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. She holds a Master’s in Reading and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education both from Wilmington University. She is a National Board-Certified Teacher in Reading–Language Arts (Early and Middle Childhood) and holds multiple teaching certifications, including Elementary Education, Mild/Moderate Special Education, and Structured English Immersion. Her professional experience spans K–6 classrooms, school-based literacy coaching, and higher education, where she currently serves as a Literacy Course Instructor and Adjunct National Board Instructor for graduate and undergraduate programs. She brings extensive expertise in the Science of Reading, teacher coaching, instructional design, assessment, and faculty development.
Although new to the KDP AES WGU Chapter, she is deeply committed to supporting its mission and actively contributing to the continued improvement of education through collaboration, leadership, and service to the profession.
JEFF TUNSTALL - FACULTY CO-COUNSELOR
Dr. Jeff Tunstall is a faculty supervisor in the Evaluation Department at Western Governors University. He previously served as a middle school math and science teacher, a building administrator, and a district-wide executive in the K-12 education sector.
He lives with his wife, Leah, in northwest North Carolina, where they both run an elite community swimming program. They have four daughters and four grandchildren that keep them busy.
Dr. Jeff Tunstall is a faculty supervisor in the Evaluation Department at Western Governors University. He previously served as a middle school math and science teacher, a building administrator, and a district-wide executive in the K-12 education sector.
He lives with his wife, Leah, in northwest North Carolina, where they both run an elite community swimming program. They have four daughters and four grandchildren that keep them busy.
KEVIN GOMEZ - FACULTY CO-COUNSELOR
Kevin has been passionate about working with language learners and teachers over the course of his almost 20 years in education. He worked as a social studies teacher for 10 years in Colorado, a professor of online studies for Adams State University and as an English professor for five years for several Chilean Universities and the Chilean Navy. During his time in Chile, he learned Spanish which helped him become a better educator for his students and broadened his perspective.
Kevin has been with WGU for close to three years and is a Senior Program Mentor in the School of Education working with students in the ELL Master’s and Endorsement programs and MSCIN program. Connecting with lifelong learners and career educators and learning from them as well as collaborating with his colleagues on continuing to improve existing workflows are just a few of the reasons why Kevin loves his work.
When he’s not on the clock, Kevin is an avid traveler and loves spending time outdoors. He fell in love with nature as a kid growing up in Colorado, skiing and snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains and in his time working, camping and hiking in Glacier National Park in Montana. In his free time, he likes to take walks with his wife and two dogs, go to the beach, read and watch sports. Go Nuggets!
Kevin has been passionate about working with language learners and teachers over the course of his almost 20 years in education. He worked as a social studies teacher for 10 years in Colorado, a professor of online studies for Adams State University and as an English professor for five years for several Chilean Universities and the Chilean Navy. During his time in Chile, he learned Spanish which helped him become a better educator for his students and broadened his perspective.
Kevin has been with WGU for close to three years and is a Senior Program Mentor in the School of Education working with students in the ELL Master’s and Endorsement programs and MSCIN program. Connecting with lifelong learners and career educators and learning from them as well as collaborating with his colleagues on continuing to improve existing workflows are just a few of the reasons why Kevin loves his work.
When he’s not on the clock, Kevin is an avid traveler and loves spending time outdoors. He fell in love with nature as a kid growing up in Colorado, skiing and snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains and in his time working, camping and hiking in Glacier National Park in Montana. In his free time, he likes to take walks with his wife and two dogs, go to the beach, read and watch sports. Go Nuggets!