Professional Development

Iowa MILE Information

MILE (Members Involved in Leadership and Engagement) participants are Iowa TRIO members who are in training to be or who are currently leaders within Iowa TRIO. This program grew out of our responsibility to support and educate our membership. Iowa MILE launched with its first class in 2020. 

MILE training includes: History and Impact of Iowa TRIO, Roberts Rules and Overview of Board/Committee work, Leadership Styles and what it means to be a leader in Iowa TRIO, and Committee work.

If you have any questions about the MILE program, please reach out to a member of the current Training Team.

2025 Iowa MILE Participants 

Stefanie Ball- Southeastern Community College SSS

Brennah McCorkell- University of Iowa SSS

Katie Bailey- University of Dubuque SSS

Keith Sayles- University of Northern Iowa UB

Taija Tucker- University of Northern Iowa UBMC

Kaylee Crouse- Central College Talent Search

2025 Iowa MILE Training Team

Whitney Wagner

Bob Kuennen

2024 Iowa MILE Participants 

Reagan Brown, Advisor, Talent Search, Southwestern Community College

Nick Demke, Educational Coordinator, Student Support Services, Western Iowa Technical Community College

Monica Leier, Educational Counselor, Talent Search, University of Northern Iowa

Amanda Pond, Advisor, Student Support Services, Iowa Western Community College

Alli Ster, Advisor, Talent Search, Kirkwood Community College

Joseph Villalobos, Educational Support Services Specialist, Upward Bound, University of Iowa

2024 Iowa MILE Training Team

Kurt Roberts, Assistant Director

Talent Search, Iowa State University

  Heather Nissen, Director

Talent Search, Briar Cliff University

2023 Iowa MILE Participants

Megan Averill, Advisor, Talent Search, Iowa State University

Jesse Kiracofe, Program Advisor, Upward Bound Math & Science, Kirkwood Community College

Miguel Marcelino, Advisor, Upward Bound, Central College

Jamie Martin, Advisor, Student Support Services, North Iowa Area Community College

Trang Nguyen, Educational Coordinator, Student Support Services, Western Iowa Tech Community College

Shelly Smith, Assistant Director, Talent Search, University of Northern Iowa

2023 Iowa MILE Training Team

Kurt Roberts, Assistant Director

Talent Search, Iowa State University

  Heather Nissen, Director

Talent Search, Briar Cliff University

2022 Iowa MILE Participants

De'Carlos Anderson, Director, Educational Talent Search, University of Northern Iowa

Morgan Renee Bear, Advisor, Student Support Services, Kirkwood Community College

Karina Pedroza, Educational Coordinator, Student Support Services, Western Iowa Tech Community College

Tristan Schmidt, Educational Support Services Specialist, Upward Bound, University of Iowa

Jodie Smith, Director, Student Support Services, Iowa Western Community College

Mashyra Taylor, Advisor, Student Support Services, Southeastern Community College

Stephanie Yazell, Assistant Director, Student Support Services, University of Iowa

2022 Iowa MILE Training Team

Jodi Kremer, Academic Coordinator

TRIO-Student Support Services, Northeast Iowa Community College 

  Haley A. Kamps, L.M.S.W. (She/her/hers), Success Coach

TRIO-Student Support Services, University of Iowa

Nick Sullivan, PACE Coordinator and Academic Advisor 

Office of Academic Advising, University of Northern Iowa

2021 Iowa MILE Participants

Kimberly Castillo, Educational Support Services Specialist, Upward Bound, University of Iowa

Sarah Clark, Coordinator, Educational Talent Search, Central College

Wendy Iverson, Educational Coordinator, Student Support Services, Western Iowa Tech Community College

Sarah Schwartz, Project Advisor, Student Support Services, Southeastern Community College

Terry M. Luiken, Advisor, Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Iowa Lakes Community College

2021 Iowa MILE Training Team

Kristin Lewis, Assistant Director 

Educational Talent Search, Central College

Kris Nerem Lowery, Director 

Student Support Services, Iowa Central Community College

Cindy Virta, Director

Student Support Services, Northeast Iowa Community College

Nick Sullivan, Director, 

Student Support Services, University of Northern Iowa

Megan Holbach, Assistant Director

University of Northern Iowa Center for Multicultural Education (UNI-CUE

2020 Iowa MILE Participants 

Megan Holbach, Assistant Director, Educational Opportunity Programs, UNI

Scottie Yang, Coordinator, Upward Bound, Central College

Katie Evenson, Academic Advisor, Upward Bound, Simpson College

Mollie Kingma, Coordinator, Educational Talent Search, Central College

Sibyl McIntire, Director, Student Support Services, Southeastern Community College

2020 Iowa MILE Training Team

Dr. Jane Agyeman, Director 

Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound Programs, Iowa State University

Dr. Ellie Burns, Director of Pre-College Programs, 

Central College

Kristin Lewis, Assistant Director

Educational Talent Search, Central College

Kris Nerem Lowery, Director

Student Support Services, Iowa Central Community College

Robert Smith, Executive Director

Educational Opportunity Programs & Special Community Services, University of Northern Iowa

Nick Sullivan, Director

Student Support Services, University of Northern Iowa