Hayley Hobbs, Director of Donor Relations - I am a 2009 graduate of Butler and have been working at Butler Community College Foundation since 2012 where I oversee database administration, event management, marketing and communications, and more. Recent accomplishments include writing a successful Bank of America Neighborhood Champions Grant and being recognized as a 2023 Wichita Business Journal Young Professional in Professional Service. One of my other duties as assigned jobs currently is leading the Centennial Committee as Butler Community College approaches its 100th birthday in 2027. For this and many other reasons, I am excited to be the host of Bear Tracks: The Official Butler Community College Podcast.

Addison Haiden was raised in Lindsborg, KS where her passion for the arts and community began. A dedicated student, Addison graduated from Smoky Valley High School class of 2019 with Highest Honors. Then, she attended Butler Community College. At Butler, Addison earned two associate degrees in Theatre Performance and Technical Theatre, graduating with the prestigious Order of the Purple, a recognition awarded to students recognize with outstanding work in scholarship, leadership, service and character. Addison chose to further her education at McPherson College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre: Arts and Event Management. During her time at McPherson College, Addison was in Alpha Psi Omega, Lambda Pi Eta, was honored with the McPherson College Who’s Who Award, and was nominated for Homecoming. Addison's professional journey started as the Butler Box Office Manager, taking on roles in sound and stage management for various productions. A notable Butler highlight was Addison’s role as stage manager and a featured cameo in Bob Peterson’s production of “Uniquely Frank”. This summer, Addison returned to direct the Broadway RFD Kids Camp performance of Willy Wonka Kids, where she combines her love for the arts with her commitment to community engagement.

Averie Nelson is the Director of Development & Scholarships at the Butler Community College Foundation in El Dorado, Kansas. Averie hails from Ardmore, Oklahoma, and is a proud Okie transplant. She received her bachelor's degree in 1998 from the University of Central Oklahoma and her Master’s degree of Education as well. Averie joined the Butler Family in 2006 and has worked in the Foundation office since then in various roles. She has transformed the scholarship process and awards more than $750,000 annually to students. Averie also manages the Student Emergency Loan Program and transfer scholarships. Averie has been recognized by the students, faculty, and staff as the Unsung Hero award for her work to continually go above and beyond to support students. She is a member of the EL Dorado YMCA Advisory Board, El Dorado Kiwanis Club Member, and an active participant on the El Dorado Working on Wellness Committee. She is also an active supporter of Butler athletics.

Dr. Robinson comes to Butler after serving as Vice President of Instruction at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, Washington. Prior to that, he was Executive Dean at Seattle Central College in Seattle, Washington, and Academic Workforce Dean at Green River College in Auburn, Washington. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Robinson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Brescia College (now Brescia University). He then earned his Master’s Degree in Environmental Biology with an emphasis in Microbial Stream Ecology at Eastern Kentucky University and his doctorate in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics from the University of Kentucky. Before beginning his career in higher education, Dr. Robinson worked as a clinical researcher at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington. At Johns Hopkins his research consisted of investigating peripheral neuropathy associated with HIV-1 infections.

With 14 years of dedicated service in higher education, Dr. Heather Rinkenbaugh has built a career rooted in service and is most passionate about empowering college students to reach their full potential. Starting in Student Life, Heather quickly fell in love with the work of helping students achieve their goals and has since held several leadership positions at Butler Community College. These roles include Director of Residence Life, Director of High School Academic Partnerships, Dean of Online, High School & Community Learning, and Interim Vice President of Academics. A true product of Butler Community College, where her father has also spent much of his career, Heather has fostered a deep connection with the institution and its mission. Throughout her career, she has focused on eliminating barriers to student success, believing in the power of collaboration and servant leadership as tools to help students realize their dreams. Recognized for her impact on both education and the community, Heather chairs the El Dorado Community Foundation board, was named one of the Wichita Business Journal’s 2020 Women in Business and is a member of the Wichita Business Journal’s 2024 class of 40 Under 40.

Dr. Ronald Ragan received his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Kansas and holds pharmacy licenses in both Kansas and North Carolina. He served as the Pharmacist-in-Charge and manager of a professional community pharmacy for five years, followed by a two-year tenure as a staff pharmacist in a hospital pharmacy, before returning to graduate school. Dr. Ragan earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Kansas, with his graduate research focusing on brain signaling and age-related changes. In 1998, Dr. Ragan began his academic career as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Non-Traditional PharmD (NTPD) Program at the University of Kansas, where he was instrumental in designing and developing this innovative program. He was promoted to Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Pharmacy in 2004, overseeing assessment and the professional curriculum. His scholarly publications cover topics such as neuronal cell death, drug therapy, and pharmacy education methodology. In 2012, Dr. Ragan was named Professor and Founding Dean of the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy at High Point University in High Point, NC. He spearheaded the design and development of the new school, including faculty recruitment, accreditation processes, and the creation of a state-of-the-art pharmacy teaching and research facility. In 2019, he returned to the University of Kansas as Professor and Dean of the KU School of Pharmacy, where he served for five years as the eighth dean in the school’s history. During his tenure, he navigated the school through the COVID-19 pandemic, achieved professional reaccreditation, returned the school back into the top 20 in the US News and World Report rankings, and saw licensure pass rates increase, once again placing the school in the top five nationally. Currently, Dr. Ragan serves as a professor at the KU School of Pharmacy and consults for academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies to promote excellence in pharmacy education, practice, and research. He has been an active member of several professional organizations, including the Kansas Pharmacists Association, the American Pharmacists Association, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Society for Neuroscience. Dr. Ragan has also served on the boards of numerous health-related non-profit organizations and is actively involved in his community through various civic organizations. Dr. Ragan is married to Becky, also a pharmacist, and they are the proud parents of two adult sons, Sean and Scott.

Hannah Bargas is a visionary entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and creative force dedicated to helping businesses grow and thrive. With a background in leadership and brand development, she specializes in crafting compelling marketing campaigns, high-impact content, and innovative digital solutions. She attended Butler Community College from 2015 to 2017, where she honed her skills in business and marketing, laying the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey. Since then, she has partnered with brands and businesses to enhance their reach, engagement, and revenue through strategic marketing and content creation. Beyond business, Hannah is a devoted fiancée and mother, always striving to build a life filled with love, success, and purpose. She is also the host of an upcoming podcast designed to empower women to break barriers and achieve their dreams. Hannah’s mission is simple: to inspire, create, and elevate—helping others unlock their full potential and build the life they deserve.

Originally from the great state of Missouri, Kate was an only child raised by a strong single mom, on unsweet tea, playing outside, and old school Nickelodeon cartoons. Growing up small compared to others her age, Kate always felt the need to try to chase that pesky little thing called perfection, which was a losing fight. In working with youth for over ten years, Kate can see the same chase for perfection in teens that she saw in herself. She uses her story of being told she was never good enough to becoming a performer at Walt Disney World to becoming an author and gladiator, not because anyone saved her, but because she learned how to save herself. Kate is luckily enough to have called the stage home since she was a young girl. Kate has performed as a dancer and actor all around Orlando, Florida including including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Seaworld Orlando, Legoland. and regional Theaters. Kate has also toured the country with a National Dance Competition tour as their resident Emcee. In 2019 Kate published her first book, based on her keynote talk. Kate’s energy, humor, and genuine love for others has captivated audiences from California to Florida. She spends her life trying to speak to as many teens as possible in the hopes that they will stop listening to the lies they have believed for so long, and start accepting the gladiator of greatness that is inside them. Her energy, humor, and genuine love for others has captivated audiences from California to Florida.

Matt Jacobs is an award-winning broadcaster and the Station Manager at BCTV20, Butler Community College. A Butler alumnus, Matt's deep-rooted connection with the institution began in childhood, witnessing his father's graduation. He pursued journalism at Butler, receiving mentorship from Gene George, which propelled him to advanced opportunities at Kansas State and beyond. Matt's professional journey includes a notable tenure as Managing Editor at a local newspaper and a transformative role in Butler's Athletic Department, where he pioneered athletic streaming and social media initiatives. Since 2019, he has led BCTV20, driving innovative broadcasting projects and community partnerships that have garnered significant recognition, including an innovation award from the Wichita Business Journal. Matt is passionately committed to Butler's mission, contributing to endowed funds to support athletics and BCTV, ensuring a lasting legacy for future generations.

Rick’s first career was in corporate I.T. after receiving a college education in engineering, chemistry and physics. However, that work still left him unfulfilled. Rick’s true passion is making great beer and sharing it with others. After nearly 20 years of accomplished homebrewing, including winning numerous local and national homebrew competitions, Rick made the jump. At his wife’s “aggressive suggestion” Rick, started the process of opening a brewery. His first step was to complete the Craftbrewer’s Apprenticeship Program sanctioned by the American Brewers Guild. The 6-month program taught him the science and engineering that goes into producing top-notch beers and running a craft brewery. At the completion of the 6-month course, Rick did a month-long internship at a working brewery where he received hands-on experience with professional equipment. After the internship, Rick found himself involved in setting up an exceptional brewery, but it was working for someone else. He still wanted his own. After gaining the critical knowledge of how a brewery should operate, Rick then took business classes at a local college to learn how to develop a sound business plan. This was vital because it gave him a practical understanding of the operational and business side of a brewery before he sought partners. The mission of this long and difficult process was to convince himself this was a good idea before trying to convince others of the same. Mission accomplished. Rick and his wife Laura live in El Dorado and have two children.

Graduated MLIS with a concentration in Archives from Emporia State University. He has lived mostly in Kansas with a few forays around the United States and overseas. A true member of the library and archives staff at Butler, Ron loves to read!

Ryan Howey is the Deputy Director of Laboratory Services for the Medical Bureau (MED) of the US State Department. He is currently residing in Abu Dhabi, UAE with his wife who is a diplomat for the US Department of Commerce. Prior to working for MED headquarters, Ryan served as a Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist (RMLS) in the Africa and Asia, as well as in the DC based MED Laboratory during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before becoming an RMLS, Ryan graduated from the Medical Technology program at Wichita State University after obtaining all the prerequisite courses at BCCC. Ryan then worked at the non-profit hospital system, Via Christi. Building on his previous experience in phlebotomy he held a wide range of positions in their clinical lab ranging from blood banking to night shift generalist and microbiologist. After a total of ten years with the Via Christi clinical Lab Ryan’s tenure with them cumulated in joining the Transplant Medicine and Flow Cytometry Laboratories. After leaving Via Christi, Ryan worked for a year as a contracted with the Department of Defense in Afghanistan. Prior to joining the State Department Ryan worked for Adventist Health Northwest in rural Oregon and then in Portland as their Regional Quality Manager, overseeing all aspects of the accreditation program in Portland and in the regional affiliated hospitals.