Current Board Members

Chris Henthorn

WAVES President

Phone: 831.459.2910
Email: chenthor@ucsc.edu

Chris Henthorn has worked in the field of Education since 1999, with his primary expertise being in Financial Aid and Veteran Education Benefit Services.  Recently he has taken on a new role as a Veteran, Residency, and Registration officer at UC Santa Cruz further expanding his knowledge base into the duties of the Registrar.  He has a passion for Music, Art, Food, Nature, and Family. Be kind, not because you must, but because you matter. Let’s make WAVES!

Jason Garcia

WAVES 1st Vice President

Phone: 334.494.2301
Email: jgarcia8@nu.edu

Jason Garcia is a U.S. Army retiree, and has worked in Military/Veteran education services since 2016.  Jason’s professional experience includes Education Advisor, Veterans Affairs ECSS and ELR, and VA compliance manager for a Non College Degree School.  His current role is Associate Director of SCOs at National University. Jason’s passion is helping Veterans achieve their educational goals; guiding students to enhance their quality of life through higher education and training.  He strongly believes in the idea that education is the great equalizer, and strives to be a positive example – Jason proudly holds a certificate in Human Resource Management, Bachelor’s in Management, and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Herzing University.

Darcy Schnuth

WAVES 2nd Vice President

Phone: 949.812.7734
Email: schnuthd@ieccolleges.com

Darcy Schnuth currently serves as the Vice President of Student Finance and Records Management at International Education Corporation.  She has 20 years of experience in higher education, starting her career in admissions at an international, multi-site education provider where she eventually worked her way to Regional Director of Finance, overseeing 17 locations.  Darcy earned an Associate Degree in Specialized Business – Accounting, a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Finance, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Kaplan University.

Keshaneoco “Kesha” Johnson

WAVES Secretary

Phone: 
Email: kjohnson@suno.edu

Keshaneoco H. Johnson is currently the Director of Veterans Affairs at Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO). In this position, she is responsible for the Recruitment and Retention of ROTC, Military, Veterans, and their families. 

In her previous roles at SUNO from Oct 2020- May 2021, Keshaneoco was the Director of Career Services and Veterans Affairs. Those offices were split in May 2021, giving her current position. In this role, she found career readiness resources specific to student programs, joined the annual Mardi Gras Career Expo committee, and partnered with Dillard and Xavier to create the first-ever NOLA HBCU Career Expo to name a few. During her brief time in this role, she raised over $20,000 and retained over 100 student veterans. From July 2018- Sept 2020, she was the Veterans Coordinator, where she was responsible for the certification of veteran, military, and dependents education benefits for the university. 

Before her work at SUNO, Keshaneoco was in the United States Air Force, where she retired in 2016 as Technical Sargent. After she retired, she returned to New Orleans to spend time with her family and enrolled at SUNO. While registered at SUNO, she was the president of the Colligate Chapter of NBMBAA, Vice President of FBLA, Member of the Student Council for the College of Business, Thurgood Marshall College Fund Student Ambassador, and President of Pontchartrain Kiwanis Chapter. She also completed multiple internships, such as a summer management intern at a Walmart Distribution Center, Programs Assistant intern for SUNO Upward Bound Math and Science and Social Work intern at the New Orleans VA. 

Keshaneoco is a Certified Social Worker and holds a master’s degree in Social Work from Southern University at New Orleans Millie Charles School of Social Work and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Management from Southern University at New Orleans.

Emily Hayter

WAVES Treasurer

Phone: 405.744.6809
Email: ehayter@okstate.edu

Welcome to WAVES 2023!

I was born in Brockville, Ontario, Canada and grew up watching the ships on the mighty St. Lawrence River. I attended Algonquin College of Design and Technology, earning an Ontario College diploma in Photography Techniques. 

I have been working in Higher Education since immigrating to the United States in 2016. I am an SCO with the Military and Veteran Benefits team at Oklahoma State University and following the retirement of the legendary Paula Barnes, I also serve as Certifications Coordinator in the Office of the Registrar. I have many years of experience working with people from all walks of life and truly love supporting the wonderful veteran population at OSU. 

My interests include painting, making terrible pottery, video games (I met my husband playing World of Warcraft), studying my Catholic Faith and raising a good kid. 

I am so excited for our revamped conference this year and can’t wait to see all of you in Reno! Don’t hesitate to reach out anytime!

Veronica Griego

IHL Member at Large

Phone: 210.486.2540
Email: vgriego3@alamo.edu

Veronica Griego, Senior Coordinator of Student Success, Office of Veterans Affairs. Alamo College District, St. Philip’s College. She has over twenty-five years of experience in education, seventeen of which have been in higher education and assisting student veterans. Her passion for helping students is why she has served on several student/veteran committees, her favorite being the Chair of the Cross College Committee for the Alamo Colleges.

Firdaus Yusuf

NCD Member at Large

Phone: 
Email: yusuff@ieccolleges.com

Coming Soon!

Past Board Members

Tracy Copeland

Past President (Advisor)

Phone: 214.273.2260
Email: tcopeland@toniguy.com

Financial Aid Director for Toni & Guy, Veteran of the US Army, served in Panama Invasion and Desert Storm. Past Waves President, member of Waves 1 year after it was started.

Cindy Watts

Various roles (Advisor)

Phone: 918.631.3985
Email: cindy-watts@utulsa.edu

Cindy has had the pleasure of working with student Veterans at The University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma for over 25 years.  She was one of the founding members of WAVES.  Cindy has previously served on the WAVES Executive Board as IHL Member at Large, Treasurer, Secretary, and 1st Vice President for WAVES.  She is currently assisting as a past board advisor for the association.

Get in Touch

Chris Henthorn
WAVES President
Veteran, Residency & Registration Advisor
University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064

831-459-2910
chenthor@ucsc.edu

Find us on