Division Leadership
Kim Boone joined Valparaiso University in August 2022 and currently serves as the Director of the Counseling Center.
Korey West Director of Residential Life
Korey joined the Student Life team in July 2024 as the Director of Residential Life. She is a First Generation student who graduated in 2008 from Western Kentucky University with a degree in elementary education. While at WKU, she served as a Resident Assistant and found her passion for helping other first gen students achieve their dreams. She went on to receive her masters degree in College Student Personnel Administration from the University of Central Arkansas graduating where she had the amazing opportunity to travel to China. Though originally from Kentucky, Korey came to the midwest in 2010 to serve as an RLC here at Valpo and remained in the area where she most recently served as the previous Director of Housing and Residential Education at Purdue Northwest. Korey is excited to be back at Valpo and enjoys bringing her family to the events she remembers partaking in as an RLC. Korey’s office is located in the Harre Union where she would love to meet with you and discuss how living on campus may just be the experience you need to become who you are meant to be!
Thomas A. Arce Director of Student Involvement & New Student Programs
Thomas Arce proudly grew up in Gary, Indiana. Thomas earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Certificate in Critical Cultural Competence from the University of Iowa. Completed graduate studies at Iowa State University, earning a Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies and a Certificate in Social Justice Education. Thomas has been working to support students in higher education while previously at Iowa State University, Grinnell College (Iowa), Southern Oregon University, University of Iowa, Oregon Institute of Technology, and currently serves as Valparaiso University’s Director of Student Involvement and New Student Programs. Thomas is an avid explorer – whether traveling a new hiking trail by foot, snowshoeing to explore outdoor adventures, or leaning into new cuisine and stretching their taste buds as a ‘self proclaimed’ foodie blogger. Thomas enjoys exploring, dreaming, and discovering new possibilities to support student success and student life engagement.
Thad joined our team in September 2022 as the director of union and student life operations. He graduated in 1998 from Bowling Green State University with a degree in secondary education and teaching. Thad went on to receive his M.Ed. from Cleveland State University in 2001. Thad has twenty years of experience working in higher education student life areas.