Our Staff
Deborah Droppers
Founder & Executive Director
"My mom, Shirley Van Hoeven, inspires me every day and it is in her spirit that I founded the Center. She lived her life for college students when she was teaching at Western Michigan University. Her impact still resonates through her Scholarship Fund in the Communications Department.
This center is my dream. I love working with non-profits and enjoy the chaos of working with interns. I am inspired to think of new ideas to make events more interactive, customer-focused, and multi-layered. I teach at Western Michigan University and run the Event Management Minor. It's insanely fun. Every day I learn something new in preparation for the lectures that hopefully engage, inspire, transform. Within this pledge, we celebrate the passion of the product and the people we serve.
It's an amazing adventure".
Elly Weber
Marketing Manager
Elly Weber, a Baker College alumna, is a vital member of the KELC team. She utilizes an extensive background in event management and strategic marketing to cultivate meaningful customer engagement. In addition to her full-time role at KELC, Elly operates a photography business—an endeavor that highlights her entrepreneurial drive and creative versatility. Her unique blend of marketing expertise and visual artistry makes her exceptionally adaptable, focused, and adept at managing complex, multi-faceted projects with a positive, client-centered approach.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Elly enjoys line dancing and cherishes time spent with her fiance, family, and friends.
Cristina Ysunza
Event Operations Manager
Bio coming soon!
Our Event Staff
Event Coordination Interns
At KELC, we proudly look to hire passionate students from Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College in event management, sports management, and related fields for our hands-on internship program. Our interns gain invaluable, real-world experience by diving straight into the planning, marketing, and execution of dynamic community events.
Our Current Interns:
Megan Zabinski - Acting Major, Event Management Minor
Lucie Johnson - Public Relations Major
David Bibler - Sports Management Major