WSU African American Faculty and Staff Association Executive Board
President
Derrick Veasey- derrick.veasey@wichita.edu
Derrick Veasey is a native of St. Louis, MO. Graduated high school from Berkeley Seniors High School. Went to college at Wichita State University and graduated with a bachelor’s in ’95 and received a master’s at Western Illinois University in ’98. Is now the Director of Upward Bound Math Science at Wichita State University since 2018. I also sit on the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Executive Board. Employed by the City of Wichita where I am an instructor for teaching Urban and Soul Line Dance. In my spare time, I like to travel, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy attending functions within the Wichita community. I am a true Shocker fan and I attend all shocker Basketball games.
1st Vice President
Courtney Lockhart- courtney.lockhart@wichita.edu
Courtney Lockhart is a Student Services Coordinator & Advocate with the CARE Team in the department of Student Affairs.. Courtney graduated from Wichita State with his AA in 2004, BA in 2006, a BGS in 2010, and a Masters in Counseling – Higher Education in 2023, also at Wichita State, and hopes to continue to give back to the community from which he’s abundantly received. Courtney enjoys playing the trumpet, spending time with his family, and making new experiences with his host-family in Germany. Since 2003, Courtney has worked in some capacity on campus, from assisting international students in the Office of International Education to now leading an awesome team in the OFA to now working with the awesome CARE team. In this role with AAFSA, Courtney hopes to continue to support in the building of strong networks with all staff on campus, especially those of color, as well as to provide more support and resources for underrepresented student populations.
2nd Vice President
Vicki Forbes- vicki.forbes@wichita.edu
Vicki Forbes is the Technical Gant Writing Specialist for the College of Applied Studies and the College of Health Professions. Vicki graduated from Kansas Newman College (now Newman University) in 1991 with a BS in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Human Resources from Webster University in 1993.
Prior to working at Wichita State University in 2019, she spent 36 years working in local government for the City of Wichita. During her tenure with the City she worked with budgets, grants, departmental human resources issues, and as a co-facilitator for various diversity training classes. She spent 24 of those 36 years serving as an employee union representative for two of the five unions in the organization. She has also worked for Butler Community College as an adjacent faculty member.
Her goal in working with the African American Faculty and Staff Association is to better connect African American students, Faculty and Staff to each other to bring about a successful networking system for all including those not classified as a person of color.
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” Helen Keller
Secretary
Naquela Pack- naquela.pack@wichita.edu
Naquela Pack is the Director of Engagement for the Office of Engagement at Wichita State. She has become a dynamic servant leader dedicated to fostering empowerment and holistic well-being. She earned a master’s degree in public administration from Wichita State University in 2020 and holds a bachelor’s in political science with a minor in Sociology. Naquela's journey began with mentorship-focused initiatives, working with youth in the juvenile justice system and later assisting men in prison with successful reintegration. Her commitment to serve and inclusivity led her to Fargo, ND, where she played a vital role in bridging cultural gaps, improving education, and increasing access to healthy local foods for a predominantly new American population.
In Wichita and surrounding areas, Naquela has been a driving force in various community initiatives, particularly those centered around youth and engagement. Holding certificates in NonProfit Management and Mindfulness Fundamentals, and currently in a yoga teacher training, she champions holistic well-being, emphasizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. Naquela's global perspective, enriched during her time teaching English in Thailand, underscores her dedication to promoting diversity and cross-cultural understanding. As a beacon of inspiration, she actively engages with and supports communities, bringing visions of positive change to life. And if we can see it, she knows we can achieve it together.
Treasurer
Dr. Valerie Thompson- valerie.thompson@wichita.edu
Dr. Valerie J. Thompson is an Assistant Professor within Intervention Services & Leadership in Education (ISLE) Department at Wichita State University. Specifically, she coordinates and teaches within the Higher Education Leadership Graduate Certificate program and the Higher Education/Student Affairs program track. Additionally, Dr. Thompson has sixteen years of student affairs experience and is one of the co-creators/co-hosts of BLK Womyn Podcast (Higher Education-Student Affairs Podcast), which centers on the lived experiences of Black Womyn within Higher Education. Dr. Thompson’s research interests center Black women student affairs professionals and burnout, compassion fatigue, intersectionality, (race and gendered) stress and (race and gendered) fatigue.
She has published several pieces that explore the lived realities of Black women and other women of color such as: Thompson, V.J. (2023). Politics, Identity, Faith, and the Academic Hazing of a Black Woman: A Scholarly Personal Narrative of a Black Woman Doctoral Student, Thompson, V. J. (2023). The Emotional, Mental and Physical Implications of Teaching Diversity Courses for Women of Color Faculty. In the Journal of Student Affairs at Colorado State University. 30TH Edition, Volume 81. pages 81-96, and Thompson. V.J, Coles, D.C. (2023). Strange Fruit: The Collective Crushing of Black Women in Academe. In
Lopez, A.E., Jean-Marie, G., Tran, H. (Eds.). Leadership in Turbulent Times: Cultivating Diversity and Inclusion in the Higher Education Workplace. United Kingdom: Emerald Publishing Limited. Lastly, she is the co-editor of the upcoming book Differentiated Academic Advising Strategies for Students Beyond the Margins, through Lexington Books (imprint of Rowman & Littlefield).
Parliamentarian
BreAnn Gilkey- breann.gilkey@wichita.edu
BreAnn Gilkey is the Associate Director of Field Practicum and an Associate Clinical Instructor in the School of Social Work. BreAnn is a graduate of Wichita State University with her BA in Social Work in 2003 and got her MSW from WSU in 2005. She has worked in a variety of social service settings over her social work career. She began her career at Episcopal Social Services working in their Representative Payee program and served as the Administrative Assistant for their Teen Intervention Program. From there she moved on to United Methodist Urban Ministries (now Open Doors) and was their Transitional Housing Case Manager. BreAnn moved over to Wichita Area Technical College and served as the Career advisor assisting students plan their career goals. Before coming to Wichita State University, BreAnn worked at Catholic Charities with the Marriage for Keeps program, counseling couples and individuals in making healthy relationship choices as well as assisting pregnant women with parenting and adoption choices. In her free time BreAnn is the Board Development Chair for Family Promise, a part of Jack and Jill of America and she is a part of the Southern ICT Black Social Workers Association.
