President's Cabinet

Kichoon Yang, Ph.D.

Provost

Named provost at Northwest in 2005, Dr. Kichoon Yang formerly was dean and professor in the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Northern Iowa. He previously was assistant vice president for undergraduate studies at the University of Texas-Pan American and program director in the Geometric Analysis Program, Division of Mathematical Sciences, at the National Science Foundation. Dr. Yang, whose academic discipline is mathematics, holds a Ph.D. from Washington University and a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina.

Robert J. Boerigter, Ph.D.

Director of Athletics and
Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (HPERD)

As director of athletics, Dr. Robert Boerigter has oversight of the University's intercollegiate athletics program as well as campus intramural and recreational activities. Additionally, he is the lead administrator for the HPERD curriculum. Dr. Boerigter, who came to Northwest in 2001, holds a Ph.D. from the University of Utah, a master's from the University of Northern Colorado and bachelor's from Northwestern College in Iowa. He formerly held positions at Northwestern College, Whitworth College, Adams State College and Hastings College. He received the National Athletics Administrator of the Year award while at Hastings.

Joseph W. Cornelison

Chief of Staff and General Counsel

Retiring from the U.S. Army as a full colonel in 1995, Joseph W. Cornelison came to Northwest in 2005. He formerly was general counsel and vice president of a private security consulting company and, prior to that, served as deputy administrator for the Panama Canal Commission. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and served in the Vietnam War. During active military service, Mr. Cornelison held the posts of assistant to the assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs and executive to the Army judge advocate general. Earlier in his career he was chief of the Army's environmental law division and staff judge advocate for U.S. Army South in Panama. Mr. Cornelison completed his J.D. at the Georgetown University Law Center and his master's at Western Kentucky University.

Raymond J. Courter

Vice President for Finance and Support Services

A member of the Northwest administrative staff since 1972, Raymond Courter oversees all financial aspects of the University as well as its administrative support services. These two areas include: budgeting, accounting, payroll, cashiering, purchasing, insurance, construction projects, environmental services and campus safety. Mr. Courter previously was Northwest's internal auditor and controller. He received his bachelor's and M.B.A. degrees from Northwest and is a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to joining Northwest, he worked as an auditor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and served in the U.S. Air Force.

Orrie T. Covert

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Joining the Northwest administration in 2005, Orrie Covert previously was director of development for the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University. Earlier, he worked in private business as a sales engineer and business development manager for Orbseal LLC. He co-founded GT Manufacturing in Kansas City. Mr. Covert completed his master's degree from the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Administration and holds a bachelor's degree from Graceland University. He oversees the advancement and alumni areas of the University and serves as executive director of the Northwest Foundation.

Jackie R. Elliott

Vice President for Student Affairs

Beginning her career in higher education in 1989 at Barton County Community College, Great Bend, Kan., Jackie Elliott joined the Northwest administration in 2006 as assistant vice president for student affairs. She was named to the vice president’s position early in 2008. Elliott holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and English from Concordia University in Seward, Neb., and a master’s degree in English from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan. She is currently completing an Ed.D. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Mary Ann Lowary

Vice President for University Relations

A former reporter, photographer, editor and publisher, Mary Ann Lowary came to Northwest in 2004. She formerly was media relations coordinator at Graceland University and, prior to that, worked at weekly and small daily newspapers in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Montana for more than 25 years. She holds a B.A. from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Ms. Lowary's responsibilities include the University's news bureau, advertising and marketing, publications, Web page design and updates, photographic services, event planning and Northwest's National Public Radio affiliate, KXCV/KRNW-FM.

Elizabeth “Becky” Mullins

University Architect and Sustainability Coordinator

Northwest’s architect and sustainability coordinator, Elizabeth “Becky” Mullins, joined the University in early 2008. Her administrative duties include responsibility for both capital projects planning and environmental oversight related to energy use, recycling and facilities design. Mullins has more than 20 years of experience and previously worked on a number of Northwest facilities with the architectural firm of Gould Evans, Kansas City. She holds a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Kansas and is active in the American Institute of Architects and the Council of Educational Facility Planners.

Jon Todd Rickman, Ph.D.

Vice President for Information Systems

Designer of Northwest's Electronic Campus, established in 1987 and the first of its kind at a public university, Dr. Jon Rickman's entire career has been in computing and telecommunications. He came to the University as a faculty member in 1976, later moving to administration. He completed his Ph.D. at Washington State University. Dr. Rickman has co-authored two books about the Electronic Campus and frequently is asked to speak on the topic. He is the head administrator for all computer systems and telecommunications at Northwest and also acts as curator of the Jean Jennings Bartik Computing Museum.

Mary E. Throener

Director of Human Resources Management

Director of human resources management since 1998, Mary Throener has been with Northwest since 1988. She formerly held positions in human resource management's student employment department and as a faculty member in the Department of Marketing and Management. Mrs. Throener received her master's and bachelor's degrees from Northwest and holds certification as a senior professional in human resources from the Society for Human Resource Management. She is responsible for all facets of human resources at Northwest, including compensation and benefits, workplace and professional development initiatives, work and job design analysis and employee well-being and satisfaction.

Northwest Missouri State University