Kauffman Museum Staff

Andi Schmidt Andres

Acting Director

Chuck Regier

Curator of Exhibits

David Kreider

Museum Technician

Kristin Schmidt

Museum Assistant

Rebecca Schrag

Exhibition Assistant

Volunteer Professionals

Dianne Epp, Collections Processing

Rachel Pannabecker, Special Projects

Karen Schlabaugh, Collections Data Entry

Loretta Wiens, Membership Records

Bob Simmons, Master Gardener

Constance Gehring, Herb Gardener

Constance Gehring & Rosie Gehring, Flower Gardeners

Museum Student Assistants

Nathan Garber, Bethel College ’22, Newton, Kansas

Adam Sigwing, Bethel College ’21, Halstead, Kansas

Addie Regier, Bethel College ’22, Newton, Kansas

Board of Directors

Rosalind Andreas, Board President,
Retired University Administrator

Donna Becker, Retired Teacher & Administrator

Barbara Bunting, Community Volunteer

Kendra Burkey, Owner, Salted Creamery

Rachel Epp Buller, Associate Professor of Visual Arts & Design, Bethel College

Evan Fast, Account Supervisor, Signal Theory

Donna Friesen, Retired Methodist Minister

Steve Friesen, Partner, Friesen-Dakin Museum Consulting

Julian Gonzalez-Salamanca, Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Bethel College

David Haury, Board Secretary, Retired Archivist

Sondra Koontz, Retired College Administrator

Johann Reimer, Paint Production Manager, AGCO

Katie Schmidt, Grounds Manager & Horticulturist, Dyck Arboretum

Cindy Wiens, Attorney, Adrian & Pankratz

Ex-Officio

Andi Schmidt Andres, Acting Director, Kauffman Museum

Robert Milliman Vice President for Academic Affairs, Bethel College

VISIT US

27th and North Main St.
North Newton, KS 67117
Across from the main campus of
Bethel College

HOURS

Tue-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm
Sat-Sun 1:30pm-4:30pm
Closed Mondays and
Major Holidays

CONTACT US

(316) 283-1612
kauffman@bethelks.edu
Mailing address:
300 E. 27th Street
North Newton, KS, 67117-1716

Andi Schmidt Andres

Acting Director/Curator of Education

About Andi

Andi has worked at Kauffman Museum since 1993. In her role as Acting Director she is responsible for special events such as fund-raising dinners and receptions, educational program for children and families including Uncle Carl’s Camps and Celebrate Kansas Day!, managing the museum store, coordinating the volunteer program, supervision of student employees and Kauffman Museum administrative duties. After graduating from Bethel College with degrees in German (1984) and Environmental Studies with an emphasis in education (1985), Andi worked for six years for the City of Colorado Springs. Through the Parks and Recreation Department, she supervised interpretive programs at Garden of the Gods Park, at North Cheyenne Canon Park and on the summit of Pikes Peak. Andi lives outside Newton on a farm with her husband, daughter, a few goats and many barn cats.

Email: asa@bethelks.edu

Office Phone: (316) 283-1612

Office Location: Kauffman Museum

Contact Andi for:

Administrative questions
Education inquiries
Uncle Carl’s Camps
Special Events
Volunteers

Chuck Regier

Curator of Exhibits

About Chuck

Chuck began work at Kauffman Museum in 1985 as an exhibit builder and craftsman. Working closely with Bob Regier, Bethel College art professor and Kauffman Museum exhibit designer, Chuck gradually took on a larger role in exhibit design. Chuck has led Kauffman Museum’s consulting work for a number of other museums, including permanent exhibits at the Stauth Memorial Museum in Montezuma, KS and the Penrose Heritage Museum in Colorado Springs. Chuck grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where his parents worked with the Mennonite Central Committee in agricultural development and public health. He graduated from Bethel College in 1981 with Industrial Arts and Bible and Religion degrees and has lived in Newton ever since. Married to Cindy Bertsche Regier (’82), their children all graduated from Bethel. Chuck is passionate about cooking, biking and raises chickens and rabbits at their in-town home.

Email: crregier@bethelks.edu

Office Phone: (316) 283-1612

Office Location: Kauffman Museum

Contact Chuck for:

Traveling exhibition inquiries
Museum design and consulting services

David Kreider

Museum Technician

About David

BA Environmental Studies with Communications Emphasis
Bethel College, 1982

David began work at Kauffman Museum in 1985 as an exhibit builder and craftsman working together with Chuck Regier to fabricate and install the permanent exhibits “Of Land and People.” Dave left Kansas in the fall 1988 and returned to KM in the summer of 2000. During the time away he worked at other museums – as preparator for the Anthropology Division of Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven, Connecticut; assistant preparator at Harn Museum of Art at University of Florida; and as a naturalist instructor at Morningside Nature Center, Gainesville, Florida.

In his current role Dave prepares the temporary exhibits, maintains the permanent exhibit, travels with and installs traveling exhibits, and coordinates incoming donations and care for our collections. Since 2006 he has coordinated for Humanities Kansas the shipping and installation of Smithsonian Museum on Main Street exhibits around Kansas. Depending on the season you may see him swinging a broad axe or riding the high-wheel bicycle for a school group.

Email: dkreider@bethelks.edu

Office Phone: (316) 283-1612

Office Location: Kauffman Museum

Contact Dave for:

Collections
Traveling exhibit inquiries
Facilities use and questions

Kristin Schmidt

Museum Assistant

About Kristin

Kristin began working at Kauffman Museum as the part-time bookkeeper in 1999. This evolved into museum assistant when her hours were increased to half-time providing oversight of the custodial needs of the museum, assisting with the Museum Store, Museum Bus Tours, front desk docents and other needs as they arise. In 2004, with her attention to details, Kristin added on the half-time Bethel College Business Office accounts payable clerk position. She enjoys this continuity between the college museum and the rest of the Bethel College campus. Kristin continues to partner with her husband on their family farm, enjoy their three adult children and daughter-in-law (all Bethel College graduates) and delight in their granddaughter. She enjoys reading a book outside on her front porch while drinking hot tea or taking in the wonders of the night sky.

Email: kristins@bethelks.edu

Office Phone: (316) 283-1612

Office Location: Kauffman Museum

Contact Kristin for:

Membership
Store inquiries
Accounts receivable
Accounts payable

Rebecca Schrag

Exhibition Assistant

About Rebecca

Rebecca has worked at Kauffman Museum since 2019. In her role as Exhibition Assistant she is closely involved in all graphic design and exhibit design detailing. She is also responsible for the Kauffman Museum website, social media, and digital outreach. Rebecca graduated from Bethel College in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design. She is from Newton, Kansas, and enjoys local coffee, yoga, and arts events. Rebecca also is a floral designer and enjoys creating floral arrangements for weddings and to photograph.

Email: rschrag@bethelks.edu

Office Phone: (316) 283-1612

Office Location: Kauffman Museum

Contact Rebecca for:

Social media collaborations