SBS Advancement Council

Purpose

The Northern Arizona University (“NAU”) College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (“SBS”) Advancement Council (the “Council”) provides volunteer leadership in support of the Dean’s strategic direction for the SBS College. Council members assist with advocacy, philanthropy, career readiness and professional networking while serving as ambassadors to the professions and communities served by the SBS College. The Council’s specific goals also include:

• Supporting the SBS mission, vision, and values.
• Advancing SBS as distinguished advocates, ambassadors, and philanthropists.
• Connecting the SBS faculty and students to communities of practice, sharing information about current needs and trends in the profession, encouraging experiential learning, and connecting with academic or financial resources.
• Serving as an SBS Ambassador to external partners, such as alumni, friends, business leaders, foundations, as well as local and regional communities.
• Championing SBS academic, professional, and community activities.
• Supporting SBS students with their academic and professional goals through career placement and mentorship.
• Supporting SBS faculty by serving as resources to their specific field of practice.
• Recognizing outstanding alumni through the nomination and selection into the SBS Hall of Fame.

Council Members

Karolyn “Kari” Kent, ’91

Council Chair

Kari Kent has dedicated her entire 30-year career to public service: 27 years serving the City of Mesa and 3 years with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. She retired in January 2021 as the Assistant City Manager of the City of Mesa overseeing departments such as Transportation; Water and Wastewater; Electric and Natural Gas Utilities; Land Entitlement and Permits; Engineering Infrastructure; Parks and Recreation; Arts and Culture; Libraries; and Digital Engagement. Previous positions held included Neighborhood Services Director, Assistant Public Works Manager, and Solid Waste Director.

Kari has been engaged in the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA), a professional organization dedicated to increasing the knowledge and ability of local government professionals in cities, towns, and counties in Arizona, for decades serving on the ACMA Board including one year as president. She was awarded ACMA Life Membership in 2021 for distinguished service to the organization and the profession. Kari currently serves on the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Alumni Association Board, is Chair of NAU’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences College Dean’s Advancement Council, and resides on Arizona State University’s (ASU) Master of Public Administration Advisory Board.

In March of 2024, Kari took on a part-time position with Arizona State University as the Local Government Fellowship Program Manager for both the Marvin Andrews and Jane Morris Fellowship in Urban Management and Harrell-Hutchinson Visiting Professional Programs. These Master of Public Administration and Public Policy degree programs allow Kari to pursue her passion which is to cultivate the country’s most talented students aspiring to executive levels in local government through hands-on professional experience, mentorship and quality education.

Kari’s professional award honors include NAU Dr. Cliff Harkins Distinguished Citizen of the Year, ACMA Connolly Outstanding Assistant City Manager, Women Leading Government Trailblazer, and Arizona Capital Times Women Achievers of Arizona. Kari has a BS in Political Science from NAU and a Master of Public Administration from ASU.

Carmelle Malkovich, ’03

Council Vice-Chair

Carmelle Malkovich (BS Public Relations and Advertising, ’03) is the Director of Communications for Dignity Health’s Southwest Market. Carmelle was a member of the NAU Cheerleading and Dance Team, NAU Kayettes community service organization, and president of the Public Relations Student Society of America – NAU Chapter. She is grateful for all NAU gave to her as a student and is honored to serve on the Alumni Association Board. Carmelle is a native Arizonan from Globe-Miami, AZ, and currently resides in Scottsdale, AZ.

Kim Alexander, ’95

Kim (BA Psychology, ’95 and ’97 MA Counseling Psychology) currently the Director of Psychiatric Services for MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital. Previously worked at Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) for 14 years and was instrumental in providing urgent behavioral health support to all NAH colleagues during the COVID pandemic. Kim has been providing behavioral health services for the past 28 years. Kim is a native Arizonan and currently resides in Yakima, Washington and travels back and forth between Washington and Arizona where her family resides.

Magali Bearden ’19

Magali earned her MPA from Northern Arizona University and works for the State of Arizona as a Senior Policy Advisor and Intern Coordinator. She has staffed various policy areas and currently oversees the Arizona House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee for Democratic members. As a former NAU policy intern for the legislature, she loves to train the future no matter where they choose to take the knowledge they gain in the legislative internship. She lives in Phoenix with her husband and two children.

Kesia Ceniceros ’07 &’09

Kesia, a proud two-time alumna of Northern Arizona University (’07 and ’09), found her life’s calling through her experience as a first-generation, low-income student. The uncertainty about pursuing higher education changed when a friend introduced her to the STAR (Successful Transition and Academic Readiness) Program, led by the Multicultural Student Center (now the Office of Inclusion). This pivotal moment set Kesia on a dedicated path focused on promoting educational equity, particularly for underrepresented students, as a means to enhance economic mobility and community well-being.

As the inaugural graduate of NAU’s Ethnic Studies program, Kesia garnered recognition as a Gold Axe recipient and actively contributed to the President’s Commission on Ethnic Diversity. She also served as an advisor to M.E.Ch.A. and played a key role in the Latinx Convocation planning committee. Presently, Kesia holds the position of Associate Dean of TRIO Programs at Everett Community College in Everett, WA. In this role, she fervently advocates to expand access and opportunities for traditionally marginalized groups. Kesia further extends her impact by serving on the board of the Northwest Association for Educational Opportunity Programs (NAEOP) and consultant with ESCALA Educational Services Inc.

During her leisure time, Kesia remains engaged with her family, actively cheering for her son’s basketball team, and adeptly navigating the negotiations with her toddler.

Mitch Ettinger, ’80

Winner of the NAU Dwight Patterson Alumnus of the Year Award, 2012 and inducted into the SBS Hall of Fame in 2013. Mr. Ettinger is a 1980 graduate of NAU, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminalistics; he then earned a JD degree from Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America. Having earned his commission in the Air Force while at NAU through ROTC, he began his professional career as a Judge Advocate. His last active duty assignment was as a Chief Prosecutor for the US Air Force in Europe.

In 1990, he joined Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where he made partner in 1994, and remained there for more than 30 years, retiring in 2021 as the Office Leader in Washington, D.C. During his time at Skadden, he handled many high profile national and international cases, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters, and cases involving allegations of health care fraud, procurement fraud, and violations of federal and state laws. In retirement, among other endeavors, Mitch is the Assistant Head Coach of the St. Michaels High School Boys Varsity Basketball team and Chair of the Talbot County Police Accountability Board. 

Booker T. Evans, Jr., ’69 & ’70

Booker T. Evans, Jr. retired from the law firm of Ballard Spahr, LLP in December of 2018 and opened a solo practice, Booker T. Evans, PLLC in Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Evans focuses his practice in the areas of white-collar crime and commercial litigation and is experienced in the areas of criminal defense, commercial litigation, products liability, insurance matters, criminal and civil RICO cases and healthcare matters. Mr. Evans has substantial civil and criminal trial experience; having tried cases involving allegations of defective products, bad faith on the part of insurance carriers, disputes over real estate holdings, copyright and trademark infringement, as well as a number of cases involving allegations of criminal conduct. He also handles post-conviction cases in Federal Courts and is often retained in matters involving the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Before entering private practice, Mr. Evans served as a Chief Deputy District Attorney in Las Vegas, Nevada; as an Assistant United States Attorney in both Nevada and Arizona; and as Corporate Counsel for Arizona Public Service Company. He is licensed and practices in both Arizona and Nevada. In 2016, he received the National Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

Booker T. Evans, Jr received his B.S. in 1969 and his M.A. in 1970, from Northern Arizona University. In 1978, he received his Juris Doctorate from St. Louis University School of Law. While attending Northern Arizona University, Mr. Evans served as the founding President of the University’s first African-American Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi; was the first African-American to serve on the Inter-Fraternity Council; was active in student government; and received his Gold Axe Award in 1969. He continued his relationship with the University after graduation by serving as President of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association from 1991-1992. Mr. Evans has served as a Board Member of the NAU Foundation from 1993-1996 and 2021-Present. Mr. Evans was named one of Northern Arizona University’s 100 Outstanding Alumni for its 1999 Centennial Celebration.
Mr. Evans was named to the Hall of Fame for NAU’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences in 2011. Mr. Evans is also the recipient of Northern Arizona University President’s Distinguished Alumni Award, 2021

Les Kodlick, ’84

Les Kodlick is a corporate communication consultant, motivational speaker, and guest lecturer. Prior to his current position, he served as the Director of Public Affairs for the United States Air Force, the world’s largest aerospace organization. Working in the Pentagon, he advised the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force on public affairs matters. He was responsible for developing and executing the Air Force’s global, strategic communication enterprise to build understanding and support for the Air Force. General Kodlick led a headquarters staff of 120 and was responsible for the entire public affairs career field providing guidance and support for 5,500 active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen and civilians. Their mission is to broadcast internal Air Force information, conduct community and media relations, manage integrated marketing, and execute the service’s security review programs to protect classified and sensitive information.

General Kodlick received his commission in 1984 through the Air Force ROTC program at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. He served in wing, numbered air force, major command, Air Staff and joint staff positions, and was a commander three times, including a combat tour at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan where he earned the Bronze Star Medal. Among his many assignments, he worked in New York City as an account executive for Hill & Knowlton, Inc., an international public relations firm, as part of the Air Force’s Education with Industry program. General Kodlick also served as a National Defense Fellow and an Associate at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.

His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal and Legion of Merit among others. He is also a two-time recipient of the Public Relations Society of America’s prestigious Silver Anvil Award including PRSA’s “Best of” Award for Excellence in Issues Management.

Kim Musselman, ’93

Kim Musselman 1993 Social Work. Kim was appointed as Coconino County Health and Human Services Director on January 9, 2021. Leading up to this appointment, she served as the Interim Health and Human Services Director and as the Incident Commander for the County’s COVID-19 Response. Prior to her Health and Human Service position, she served as the Director of Special Initiatives. In this role she managed strategic, operational, and administrative functions of special initiatives and projects for the County. This included serving as the Census 2020 Coordinator. Her thirty years of experience includes work in the public and non-profit sectors across multiple county departments, and disciplines.

She has served Coconino County for 25 years in Health and Human Services, the County Manager’s Office, the Public Fiduciary Office, the County Attorney’s Office, Adult and Juvenile Probation, and the Sheriff’s Office. Community collaboration and inter-agency advocacy has been a major focus throughout her career. Kim received her Bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University

Al Zelinka, ’89

Al Zelinka’s professional goal is to make a difference in communities, and this aspiration drives his work on behalf of Riverside’s elected leaders, residents, businesses, and staff. His public service roles during the past decade include: Assistant City Manager, and Community Development Director for the City of Riverside; and Community Development Director and Planning Manager for the City of Fullerton.

Prior to his municipal service career, Al was Vice President with RBF Consulting and Principal of RBF Consulting’s URBAN DESIGN STUDIO. He has practiced city planning and delivered presentations or training in more than 28 states and the District of Columbia, directed more than 150 projects, and played an active role in another 100. He is the co-author of two books, SafeScape and Placemaking on a Budget, and is Past President of the California Planning Roundtable, a 35-year organization dedicated to advancing the practice and profession of planning and to providing leadership for a better California.

Al graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Planning from Northern Arizona University in 1989 and a Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University in 1991. As Riverside’s City Manager, Al believes that the community and region’s best days are ahead and, anything can be achieved through positive mindsets and commitments to healthy partnerships.

John Zielonka, ’15

John Zielonka is a marketing and communications professional specializing in non-profit services and environmental sustainability. He received a B.A. in Political Science from NAU in 2015 and then served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Helen’s Hope Chest, a foster care organization operated by Mesa United Way. In addition to providing direct service to meet the program’s daily operational needs, he assisted with much of their outreach and fundraising activity. Upon completing the AmeriCorps service term, he accepted a position as a Community Outreach Coordinator for Mesa United Way and was promoted to Director of Marketing and Communications in 2019. In this position, he worked closely with executive staff and the Board of Directors to manage all public outreach and fundraising campaigns for Mesa United Way and its six subsidiary services. In June 2022, he accepted his current position as the Marketing & Communications Specialist in the City of Mesa’s Solid Waste Department. He is currently responsible for creating and managing public-facing messaging regarding curbside collection services, waste reduction, recycling contamination, and hazardous waste disposal. He also works closely with Public Information Officers from various City departments to advance Mesa’s Climate Action Plan.