Learn about mentors available for selection in the current cycle of Co-Serve’s Mentor Program.
The following mentors, in alphabetical order, are participating in Co-Serve’s December 2025 – March 2026 Cycle of the Mentor Program. Students participating in the program can use this page to choose their mentor. Students should send an e-mail to [email protected] with their top three mentor choices. Mentors already chosen will be removed from the page.
Aigerim Bekturganova
Growing up in an international family, I have always been surrounded by people that led me by their inspiring examples that shaped me into the person of integrity above all else. Their presence exposed me to various languages as well as showed me what it is like to be a true servant. I am lucky enough to say that I have had the opportunities to experiment with various fields, being attracted to them by my inner desire to explore, but no matter what I did — it all seemed to lead me back to my Rome, which is law. It is such a fascinating tool as it shapes the world, provides assistance to those in need and protects their rights, which is one of the reasons why I chose to study it. Apart from law, I enjoy learning and teaching languages, dancing, writing stories, reading fantasy books, and books about history and science. Being a human to me means to live not only for ourselves, but for each other, to create for each other, and make the world a better place for each other — and that, in my eyes, is true beauty and love. I am beyond excited to discuss all the topics and help each other grow as servant leaders.
Aizhan Chettykbayeva
Hello, everyone! My name is Aizhan Chettykbayeva and I am happy to be a part of the Co-Serve International team since 2014. I live in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan and work at Kazakh-American Free University in the international office and as a teacher of the English and German languages. I love my job and I try to do my best to help students, because I believe that teaching is not only transferring the knowledge, but also helping people to find their path. In my free time I like reading books, walking, listening to music. I also write poems, short stories and love to spend time with my family. I hope that I can be helpful and I will be very glad to have interesting discussions, because we always learn something new from each other.
Daren Connor
Daren was raised in the California bay area and has lived in the Portland area since 2004. He’s been married for 30 years to Kathy, a college consultant and amazing mom to their two adult daughters. Daren has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from University of California at San Diego and has worked in technology and healthcare in roles ranging from Software Developer, Product Manager, and Consultant for 40 years, including WebMD, Providence Health Care System, and Hewlett Packard. He retired in 2024 from his work as a Solutions Product Manager for Hospital Patient Monitoring at Philips. Professionally he’s most passionate about leveraging new/innovative business models and technology to address the myriad challenges in our healthcare system. Daren served for several years with the Hands In Service ministry at Cedar Mill Bible Church that provided practical assistance with home maintenance and repair for community members unable to address these needs. He was part of the founding team that developed and launched The Jesus Table in 2011, which provides a weekly meal and conversation to the poor and needy in his local Cedar Mill community. He is currently serving on the board of Hope For The Homeless, a local non-profit organization that provides funding for nonprofits that are most effective at helping the homeless gain stability, and become housed. Daren’s other interests include hiking, running, travel, kayaking, gardening, and photography.
Steve Estes
I’m Steve Estes, from St. Louis, Missouri in the central United States. My wife, Karen, and I have been married for over 40 years, and have six adult children and five grandchildren. I continue to enjoy a 40 plus year career in Information Technology, the last 25 involving people and project management at various levels within large organizations. I hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Information Technology Management and am working on my dissertation for a Doctor of Management. Throughout my career I have had many opportunities to coach and mentor, and enjoy sharing my experiences with others in the hope of helping them on their own journeys.
Melinda Green
I currently live in Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA and serve in the role of pastor’s wife. My husband and myself have been in ministry for 44 years and have lead congregations in several states and communities. I have three grown children with many grandchildren. After my children married, I returned to school and achieved degrees in Interior Design and Occupational Therapy. Both degrees have been utilized to maintain a full life while helping others. I enjoy gardening, homemaking, and furniture refinishing.
Marina Larina
My name is Marina Larina. Now I’m working as a Chief Development Officer in a Linguistic Center in Omsk. I was a teacher of English and Spanish at Kazakh American Free University for 17 years. Speaking about my study I graduated from East Kazakh State University. It offered me a general course of academic subjects, providing higher education. The University offered a number of courses giving profound knowledge in a variety of fields: the humanities, natural sciences. I specialized in the humanities because English has always been my favorite. At Kazakh American Free University I gave lectures in Translation subjects and gave tutorials in Spanish and English. I also taught in the Graduate School. I was lucky to attend classes of Servant Leadership. I participated in the Servant Leadership Academy in 2012 and in 2017. The leadership role is an inevitable reflection of people’s needs and challenges in modern life. Now I use the knowledge of Servant Leadership in running business and in developing the linguistic center.
Tai Toon Lim
Tai Toon (“TT”) Lim is a versatile professional manager with extensive experience across the public, for-profit, and non-profit sectors. His management and leadership approach is shaped by his background as a military officer, his Christian faith, and the experience leading teams in Singapore, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Sri Lanka and the UK. TT specializes in corporate restructuring and insolvency, strategic planning, M&A integration, venture investments, and start-ups. He is deeply committed to initiatives focusing on community transformation and promoting human flourishing.
Pat Mitchell
Pat (Patrick) Mitchell lives with his wife, Jaroslava, in Beaverton, Oregon, a suburb of Portland. They have been married for almost 39 years, and have 6 adult children + 13 grandchildren ranging from 25 to 1 years of age! They first visited Ust-Kamenogorsk and the Kazakh-American Free University (KAFU) in March 2000. After that, they returned to teach every academic year until 2017. In the early years, they brought their 2 youngest children, and Jarka home-schooled them in the “Mitchell apartment.” Here’s a snapshot of Dr. Mitchell’s career. He earned a B.A. in Mathematics (1966), a M.S. in Information Science (1968), and a Ph.D. in Computer Science (1971). After serving in the US Army, he worked in two jobs before being hired by Intel Corp, where he worked for 21 years doing software development, management, and research. Looking back, he clearly sees God’s hand at each stage of his life. After retiring, he decided to “give back” by sharing his career with the next generation. That’s when he and Jarka began going to Kazakhstan. In past years, he has mentored ISLP students from Ukraine, Afghanistan and Kazakhstan. He looks forward to discussing the principles of Servant Leadership with YOU. You can find him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pat.mitchell; however, he doesn’t post very often.
Kanjana “Pang” Satidboon
My name is Pang – Kanjana Satidboon, and I live in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I work with the Karen Leadership Development Foundation, where I am deeply involved in mentoring and teaching university students. I have a strong passion for personal development and enjoy walking alongside young adults on their life journeys, helping to guide and support them in various aspects of growth and servant leadership. In my free time, I love traveling, experiencing other cultures, hiking and engaging in adventurous outdoor activities.
Anna Tuksunova
I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan. My husband and I have been married for 11 years, we have 2 sons. I’m a Certified Language Coach with over 10 years of experience across education, marketing, and sales in the educational sector. I run an online English school and personally teach Business English to professionals and teams. Passionate about personal and professional growth, I help others unlock their communication potential and lead with confidence. I participated in the Servant Leadership Program when I was a student back in 2008, I also joined the 2011 Leadership Academy as one of the mentors.
Ron Wiley
Ron Wiley has worked his entire career in the non-profit sector, and the past 30+ years with Resource Exchange International, Inc. (REI, Inc.), an international humanitarian service organization headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. Ron is currently the Central Asia Director for REI, Inc., and an associate professor at Kazakh-American Free University, in Oskemen, Kazakhstan. Ron has two degrees in agriculture, as well as a M.A. (Organizational Leadership), and PhD (Conflict Analysis & Resolution). He is passionate “to extend to others the gift of relational reconciliation so that together we can build a more just and peaceful world.” Toward that end, Ron has also worked as a trained Restorative Practices facilitator, and Restorative Justice, Organizational Development, and Cross-Cultural Engagement trainer/consultant. Ron and his wife, Jeanine, have four adult children and one grandson, and divide their time between Central Asia and Colorado, near where Ron’s ancestors homesteaded, and where family members continue active farm and ranch operations. He loves to read, to travel, to hike, and to make spiritual pilgrimages on foot in Spain, Portugal and elsewhere, whenever possible.
Stanley Wong
I live in Gresham Oregon and have worked in the field of Computer Programming for about 35 years. I retired from that position in 2011 when my job was off-shored to India. Since 2011, I worked as a bus driver transporting people with disability. I loved that job but finally retired from that job in March 2020. I have been married for 41 years and have two sons and a daughter, who have all finished college and are on their own. I just turned 76 this year. I also assisted with the Servant Leadership Academy held in Kiev Ukraine during summer of 2016.
Aleksandra Zaitseva
Aleksandra Zaitseva is an alumnus of the Servant Leadership Academy in 2009 (Portland, OR, USA), has a Master of Arts in English translation and interpretation, an English language instructor for children and adults at English for a New Generation of Leaders “English for ANGELS” self-made project, the Callan Method Registered Teacher and co-founder of an NGO International Life Academy. Actively took part in organizing the first Servant Leadership Academy at Borys Grinchenko Kiev University (BGKU). Since 2014, Jeff and Coralee Stevens have been my mentors, therefore, I am able to pay it forward and help every student to develop their inner potential by means of English language teaching. I love photography, hiking, rafting, visiting foreign countries, and have been to Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, France, Poland, Slovakia and the USA.