2022-23 NASASPS Board of Directors

Cathie (Cam) Maeyaert
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
President
2022 – 2023
Ms. Cathie Maeyaert is the Director of Private Postsecondary Institutions with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Ms. Maeyaert has worked for the Coordinating Board since 2012, primarily overseeing authorization of private postsecondary educational institutions operating in Texas. She serves as the Coordinating Board’s Title IX Coordinator for Institutions and as Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator. Prior to that, she worked in the areas of compliance, accreditation, and licensing for a private for-profit multi-state educational system. Ms. Maeyaert has been an adjunct instructor at both a for-profit college and a non-profit private university. Throughout her career, Ms. Maeyaert has served on boards of directors for various non-profit charitable organizations. In a previous life, Cathie practiced intellectual property and employment law and developed continuing legal education seminars. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamline University and a Juris Doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law.
This is her second term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors and is serving as President for 2022-23.

Kevin LaMountain
Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
Vice President
2022 – 2023
Kevin LaMountain is currently the Executive Director at the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education. Prior to Kevin’s position with Arizona, he served in numerous roles in the private postsecondary space for over 30 years. Kevin’s experience in education ranges from service roles in career services, student services, and financial aid through Dean of Student Affairs and culminating in a Divisional President position for a large postsecondary institution. Kevin has dedicated his career to serving those individuals who seek to reach their goals through higher education. A graduate of Northern Arizona University’s educational leadership program, Kevin has dedicated his career to serving those individuals who seek to reach their goals through higher education. He advocates for always doing the “right thing” for students, faculty, and staff in these institutions.
Kevin is also the past president of the Arizona Private School Association and currently serves on the board of Caurus Academy, a small charter school system based in Anthem, Arizona. This is Kevin’s first term on the NASASPS board and he is serving as Vice President for 2022-23.

John Ware
Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools
Treasurer
2022-2023
John Ware has served as Executive Director of the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools since 1997 and is responsible for the oversight and regulation of Ohio’s 230 career colleges and schools. In addition to the Board’s general oversight responsibilities, John is responsible for drafting and implementing Ohio’s rules and regulations governing career colleges including academic standards, admissions standards, and regulations governing the recruitment and solicitation of students.
Prior to joining the Board of Career Colleges and Schools, John served as an Ohio Assistant Attorney General for education, providing legal counsel to numerous state education agencies including the Ohio Board of Regents and the Ohio Department of Education. While serving as an Assistant Attorney General, John was responsible for the implementation and prosecution of administrative enforcement actions against state licensed teachers, private elementary and secondary schools, as well as licensed career colleges. John received his Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University.
John is also active on many state and national education organizations and previously served as President of NASASPS from 2009-2015. This is his first term on the NASASPS Board of Directors since serving as President.

Betsy Talbot
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Director
2021-2024
Betsy Talbot is Manager of Institutional Registration and Licensing for the Office of Higher Education, the SARA Portal Entity for Minnesota, and the Chair of MHEC’s Regional Compact Committee for SARA. She is responsible for the oversight of postsecondary schools including state authorization and student consumer protections, coordination between members of the triad, policy guidance for postsecondary regulation in Minnesota, and coordination between schools, the community, and students in the event of a school closure. She holds a B.S. from College of Charleston, a Master’s in Education in Post-Secondary Education from Argosy University, and Juris Doctorate from Seattle University.
This is her first term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

Lynette Kuhn
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Director
2022 – 2024
Lynette Kuhn is the Chief for the Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In her current role, Lynette uses her 16 years of experience in higher-education administration in the oversight of state authorization processes for degree-granting institutions. Previously, she has worked as a career school administrator, overseeing the compliance and accreditation of six institutions in three different states. Lynette holds a Master of Education in Higher Education and Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society with an emphasis in labor employment and relations, both from Penn State University. She is currently in the process of completing her Doctor of Education degree in Leadership and Administration. Lynette enjoys working with school leaders and regulators to ensure learners have access to and receive quality education.
This is her first term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors.

Lorna Candler
Colorado Department of Higher Education
Director
2020 – 2023
Ms. Lorna Candler has been an attorney for over 27 years and has served in various roles which contribute to her passion for seeking justice and improving education. In 2012 Ms. Candler took the position of Director of the Division of Private Occupational Schools and now serves as the Chief Occupational Education Officer of the Colorado Department of Higher Education & Director of the Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS). Previously, Ms. Candler served as an Assistant Colorado Attorney General advising educational and healthcare agencies. Previous roles include practicing as Deputy General Counsel for Denver Public Schools and criminal litigation as a Deputy District Attorney for the Denver District Attorney’s Office. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French from University of Vermont and a Juris Doctor degree from University of Denver College of Law.
This is her second term serving on the NASASPS Board of Directors. She served as President in 2021-22 after serving as Vice President the previous year and as a Director from 2017 – 2020.

Laura Vedenhaupt
Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Director
2022 – 2025
As a Missouri public servant for more than 20 years, Laura has had the opportunity to observe, identify, and engage with varying constituencies from students and parents to school administrators and legislators to resolve issues related to public, private, and proprietary postsecondary education. Prior to joining the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development in 2003, Laura worked with Missouri’s Professional Registration division with responsibility for certifying individuals in three professional licensure areas.
Laura served seven years with the US Marine Corps after which she attended Columbia College where she attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Laura also completed a Master of Business Administration with the University of Phoenix and earned her Doctorate in Business Administration from Capella University.
Board Meeting Minutes are available upon request. Please email info@nasasps.org for more information.
The board of directors generally holds meetings on the third Tuesday of each month via teleconference. Any NASASPS member interested in attending a board meeting should contact the NASASPS president.