About Region IV
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NAFSA Region IV is one of NAFSA's 11 geographic regions. Each region is governed by an elected chair and a team of representatives from the various NAFSA professional sections and educator groups.
Interested in joining the NAFSA Region IV Team? View job descriptions for all NAFSA Region IV team positions.
Contact a regional team member based on their position responsibilities. Contact information can be found on the NAFSA member directory.
2023-24 Region IV Election
The 2023-24 Region IV Election is now open! If you are a NAFSA member, please take a moment to cast your ballot.
Contact Us
Leadership Team
Barry Armstrong
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Drury University
Past Chair, Region IV
Patrick Parnell
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Missouri State University
Chair, Region IV
Jessica Lynn Hylton
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University of Missouri - Saint Louis
Chair-Elect, Region IV
Jorona Johnson
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Drake University
Communications Coordinator, NAFSA Region IV
Libby Claerbout
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Semester at Sea
Treasurer, Region IV
Daniel Ogunyemi
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Ozarks Technical Community College
Treasurer-Elect, NAFSA Region IV
Cathy Toohey
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Saint Ambrose University
Secretary, Region IV
Knowledge Community & Advocacy Representatives
Jacob Kinning
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Saint Cloud State University
Education Abroad Representative, Region IV
Jacob Kinning has been involved in International Education since 2011 after his first study abroad experience to England. This experience ignited an interest in the international field and only continued to grow while working in the field. Jacob is currently the Associate Director of Education...
Xiaobin Dai
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Iowa Wesleyan University
International Education Leadership Representative, NAFSA Region IV
Xiaobin Dai has been involved in the field of international education and student consulting services for nearly 20 years. A former international student herself, Xiaobin has assumed various roles in secondary and post secondary classrooms, as well as having lived in Kentucky, Ohio, and now Iowa...
Kendra Hossain-Morehead
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Drake University
International Student & Scholar Services Representative, NAFSA Region IV
Kendra serves as Director of International Student & Scholar Services within the Office of Global Engagement at Drake University. Her role includes ensuring compliance of F and J visa regulations on Drake’s campus (as the PDSO and RO), helping international students and visiting scholars adjust to...
Jeffrey Foot
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Missouri Western State University
Teaching Learning and Scholarship Representative, Region IV
Merrilee Kohout
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Ozarks Technical Community College
Community & Two-Year Colleges Representative, NAFSA Region IV
Erika Lees
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Northwest Missouri State University
Public Policy Representative, Region IV
Kristen Colbrecht
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University of Missouri
Student & Scholar Regulatory Ombudsperson, Region IV
Miho Patani
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University of St. Thomas
Academy Coach, Region IV
Miho Patani is Assistant Director at the Office of International Students & Scholars at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, where she serves as a primary immigration advisor for more than 500 international students and scholars. Miho has more than 10 years of extensive experience in...
State Representatives
Karla McCollum
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Iowa State University Foundation
Iowa State Representative, Region IV
Karla McCollum, Director of Development for International Engagement for the Iowa State University Foundation, has over 15 years of international experience which encompasses the fields of international admissions, recruitment, diplomacy, and now advancement. Karla’s roles have taken her to Asia...
Jemma Lund
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University of Minnesota Learning Abroad Center
Minnesota State Representative, NAFSA Region IV
Jemma Lund is an Instructor-led Program Manager at the University of Minnesota Learning Abroad Center. She formerly was the Study Abroad Manager at the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay and has been working in the field since 2011. Before working in higher education, she taught English conversation...
Thomas Merlot
Missouri Valley College
Rus Kiser
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Dickinson State University
North Dakota State Representative, Region IV
Beth Riley
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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
2023 Regional Conference Planner Cohort Coach
Beth Riley is the Assistant Director in the Ivanhoe International Center at the South Dakota Mines. Her two-person office handles everything international from international recruitment, admissions, retention, international partnerships, events, and education abroad. Her various roles on the NAFSA...
Conference Team
Shannon Ingleby
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Kirkwood Community College
Conference Planner, Region IV; Academy Chair Designate 2024
Shannon Ingleby is the Associate Director of International Student Services at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA. She started her career in International Education while teaching and living in China. After living overseas for three years, she understands the difficulties of moving to a...
Heather Loveland
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Maharishi International University
2024 Conference Shadow, NAFSA Region IV
Elizabeth O’Brien
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Kirkwood Community College
Conference Local Arrangements, NAFSA Region IV
Elizabeth O’Brien is the International Program Coordinator at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In her role, Elizabeth supports international students studying at Kirkwood on grant sponsored programs in addition to creating on-campus programing to support internationalization efforts...