Our Team
​Kansas Appleseed takes pride in statewide reach.  Both our staff and board members live in communities across the state, allowing us to better understand the barriers and challenges facing Kansans in all areas of our work.  Our staff members are based in Emporia, Holcomb, Lawrence, Piqua, and Wichita,  where they work to make both their home communities and our entire state more thriving, inclusive, and just. 

If you are interested in inviting a Kansas Appleseed team member to speak at your event or to your organization, please email our Operations Director, Lori Johns (ljohns@kansasappleseed.org).​

Kenzie Borland (she/her)

Communications Manager
kborland@kansasappleseed.org
Kenzie is a multicultural artist and storyteller based in Wichita. As communications manager, Kenzie serves as our media liaison, working with the team to ensure that the voice of every Kansan is uplifted in our work. Kenzie holds a degree from Wichita State University and is a co-founder of Dead Center Vintage, a Wichita-based vintage clothing store. She currently serves on the Mid-America All Indian's Museum / Education Board.

Mike Fonkert (he/him)

Lori Johns (she/her)

Deputy Director
mfonkert@kansasappleseed.org
As deputy director, Mike works closely with the executive director to advance our mission and vision.  In addition to his organizational responsibilities, Mike oversees our policy initiatives and manages the work of the Just Campaign.  In this role, he works with directly impacted communities, policymakers, and legislators to identify needs in our communities that can be addressed through policy change, specifically focused on juvenile and criminal justice and child welfare. ​​

​​Director of Operations
ljohns@kansasappleseed.org
As the operations director, Lori's job encompasses several areas–finances, human resources, support for the executive director and board, planning, reporting, and office management. Lori also recruits and supervises student interns and volunteers.

Haley Kottler (she/her)

Thriving & Integrated Voter Engagement Director
hkottler@kansasappleseed.org
Haley engages with Kansans across the state in anti-hunger advocacy, conducting (and building!) grassroots campaigns, developing strategies to increase voter turnout as it related to hunger policy, as well as making the case for change through policy and legislative action. Haley's fight for justice is rooted in a devotion to equity and fairness for all.

Adina Morse (she/her)

Child Welfare Advocate
amorse@kansasappleseed.org
Children are our future: We owe them our very best.
In her role as Kansas Appleseed's first-ever Child Welfare Advocate, Adina’s focus is to reform the child welfare system in Kansas as it relates to youth justice and foster care. Adina is passionate about advocating for children through connecting professionals and impacted individuals, creative problem solving, making connections between people and organizations to generate positive change, legislative engagement, and if necessary, litigation. Prior to joining Appleseed, Adina worked in the areas of family planning, adolescent psychiatric care, education, and most recently had her own law firm with a focus on domestic litigation and mediation.

Paige Olson (she/her)

Integrated Voter Engagement Advocate
polson@kansasappleseed.org
Paige is a mother of three kids from Allen County, KS. Having experienced poverty and food insecurity, Paige believes food is a right. She works with Southeast Kansas residents to use their voting power to create better food access policies and laws. Prior to joining our team, Paige helped establish a local soup kitchen, advocated locally for affordable utilities, and more. 

---

Jami Reever (she/her)

Executive Director
jreever@kansasappleseed.org
As executive director, Jami works to advance our mission of building a more thriving, inclusive, and just Kansas by working effectively to lead and coordinate multiple strategies, set the strategic directions of the organization, work with local, state, and national partners, and deepen relationships with funders and donors. Prior to joining the team, Jami spent ten years leading the United Way of the Flint Hills and was active in state and national advocacy efforts. 

Amanda Schlumpberger (she/her)

Policy and Legal Research Analyst
aschlumpberger@kansasappleseed.org
Amanda leads all of Kansas Appleseed's policy and research efforts. Before joining our team, Amanda worked for the Kansas Legislature on a variety of research topics, such as research on child welfare and K-12 education. She has witnessed the power of high-quality research to drive real change in Kansas communities. Amanda's approach to her research is rooted in using analysis to give a voice to those who policy actions affect the most.​

Tajahnaé Stocker (they/them)

Just Campaign Advocate
tstocker@kansasappleseed.org
​Tajahnaé is a dedicated advocate for youth justice, working closely with communities to address policy issues related to fines and fees in Kansas. Prior to joining Kansas Appleseed, Tajahnaé was heavily involved in the food justice movement in Wichita, including working with the ICT Community Fridge. Their work is based on a deep commitment to ensuring equitable and fair treatment in our justice system, particularly for young people. Through their tireless efforts, Tajahnaé is working towards a more equitable and just society where all young people have access, support, and resources they need to thrive.
​

Martha Terhaar (she/her)

Thriving Advocate
mterhaar@kansasappleseed.org
Based in Holcomb,  Martha works with the Thriving Campaign team to address hunger in her own community and throughout the state.  With strengths in active listening and community engagement, Martha is excited to connect to fight hunger.

Teresa Woody (she/her)

Litigation Director
twoody@kansasappleseed.org
Teresa oversees litigation filed by Kansas Appleseed and our partners, evaluates potential areas of litigation, and works with local and national pro bono attorneys and organizations on identifying legal issues and/or litigation that could affect systemic change in Kansas.

---

Board of Directors
(with their county of residence)

Gaye Tibbets, President, Reno
C. Edward Watson, President-Elect, Sedgwick
Teresa M. Meagher, Treasurer, Johnson
Etta Walker, Secretary, Wallace
Teresa Anderson, Johnson
Samuel Blatnick, Johnson
Carly Duvall LeRiche, Johnson
Mitchell Engel, Johnson
Karen Griffiths, Norton
Natalie Haag, Shawnee
Martha Hodgesmith, Douglas
William Kassebaum, Morris
Lynn R. Johnson, Johnson
Steve Morris, Stevens
David Rebein, Ford
Nicki Rose, Sedgwick
​Eric Rosenblad, Montgomery
Larry Rute, Shawnee
Richard Seaton, Riley
Joy Springfield, Johnson
​David Wing, Johnson