City: Dodge City
Term Ends: June 2026
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Diana Mendoza was appointed to the Kansas Board of Regents by Governor Laura Kelly in 2022. She is the director of ESOL and diversity at Dodge City Public Schools and has been in public education for more than 20 years, serving as a teacher, instructional coach and district-level director.
Regent Mendoza received an associate degree from Dodge City Community College, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Kansas State.
City: Edna
Term Ends: June 2027
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Alysia Johnston was appointed to the Kansas Board of Regents by Governor Laura Kelly in 2023.
Regent Johnston has 37 years of experience in community college education. She most recently served as the President for Fort Scott Community College, where she worked closely with the Kansas Board of Regents and the Kansas Technical Education Authority. She served as Vice President for Academic Services for Coffeyville Community College from 2005 to 2015, where she was Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee.
Regent Johnston earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Kansas State University and a Master of Science in Biology from Pittsburg State University.
City: Overland Park
Term Ends: June 2027
Neelima Parasker was appointed to the Kansas Board of Regents by Governor Laura Kelly in 2023.
Regent Parasker is the President and Chief Executive Officer of SnapIT Solutions LLC, an innovative technology company providing IT services, software product development solutions, training, and staffing. With more than 20 years of experience in IT, she has held many leadership positions. She is a Board Member of KansasWorks State Workforce Board and served on the Community Development Advisory Council at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
Regent Parasker studied at Osmania University, India, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. She later earned her Master of Science in Computer Science from Oklahoma City University.
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City: Pittsburg
Term Ends: June 2026
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Blake Benson was appointed to the Kansas Board of Regents by Governor Laura Kelly in 2022. He is the the president of the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce and also serves on the board of directors for Ascension Via Christi Hospital-Pittsburg and the Pittsburg State University Foundation. Regent Benson holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arkansas State University.
City: Kansas City
Term Ends: June 2025
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Dr. Cynthia Lane is highly recognized for her leadership in the field of education. She has 40 years of professional experience, including 30 years in the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. Lane has received numerous awards and recognitions for leadership and advocacy for quality public-education, including being named Kansas Superintendent of the Year in 2016.
Now retired, Dr. Lane serves as the Chair of the Kansas Governor’s Council on Education, and serves on the Advantage Kansas Coordinating Council focused on driving Kansas forward with the highest skilled and educated workforce. Lane is also the CEO of Evolve Education Leadership Consulting LLC.
Lane considers it a privilege to serve. Her philosophy is to lead by example, cultivating strong relationships focused on shared vision and goals. She is passionate about empowering others through education. Lane continues to be involved and engaged within education community, cultivating partnerships between educators, business and civic leaders. Her attitude is that all things are possible when we come together to improve our futures.
Lane’s past leadership positions spanned the realm of education, including serving as superintendent of schools for Kansas City, KS Public Schools (KCKPS), assistant superintendent, director of special education, principal, director of the Parent and Professional Partnership Advocacy Coalition, and classroom teacher. While in KCKPS, she led the development of the diploma plus initiative focused on career exploration and preparation, graduating students with their diploma plus industry recognized credentials, early college, internships, and other key endorsements. During her tenure the district realized its highest graduation rate; significantly increased early college, technical college admittance and completion; developed primer programs for students and families speaking languages other than English; quadrupled early childhood programs and services; built or renovated 15 school facilities and led the passage of a zero tax increase bond of $235 million designed to rebuild five additional schools and remodel all remaining school facilities.