The Role of WIEA
Wisconsin Inmate Education Association is the catalyst for the partnership that makes Operation Transformation possible. The collaboration includes WIEA and Trinity International University. We function as the guardian of vision and results as we facilitate necessary planning, fundraising and implementation.
Board of Directors
Robin Knoll
Dean of Students
Prior to joining the Wisconsin Inmate Education Association, Robin worked for Elmbrook Church, serving as Director of James Place – Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education, coming alongside students and teachers alike, listening to their needs and offering care and guidance. Prior to his time at the school, Robin served as President of Inspiration Ministries, a residential care provider for adults with disabilities. In addition to a 35-year industrial career that he left in 2005, he also served for 8-years as an Adjunct Professor at Milwaukee School of Engineering. Robin has also been involved in both Industrial and Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, concentrating on Pastoral Care, Crisis Intervention, Grief and Trauma Care and Critical Incident Stress Management.
Robin earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Milwaukee School of Engineering and his M.A. in Religion with an emphasis on Pastoral Counseling from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Steven F. Mayer
Board Member
Steve Mayer graduated with a Master of Arts in Religion degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Steve is a businessman in Milwaukee and has served on various boards of organizations that aim to provide assistance to the under resourced in our community. Steve has three grown children and has been married to his wife Susan for 38 years.
Robert P. Koebele
Treasurer
Bob Koebele is a volunteer member of the board of directors and Treasurer for WIEA. He is a 1980 graduate of St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN with a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting.
Professionally, Bob owns a financial serves firm. In 2017 Bob was appointed to the Council for Offender Re-entry for the Department of Corrections and the State of Wisconsin where he continues to serve. Bob has been married to Kris for 42 years and has two sons.
Scott Hower
Co-Chair of Board of Directors
Scott Hower has experience in real estate development and a background in engineering. He felt a strong desire to get involved after hearing about the life transformation taking place in prison systems across the country. His duties include attending meetings of our board of directors, voting on board decisions, assisting in the classroom build out project, and developing relationships with prison staff.
Alice Koepke
Board Member
Alice Koepke has a heart for inmates and their families. She has been visiting a family member serving a life sentence in a Wisconsin prison for over 35 years. She joins WIEA with thirty years of experience in Jail and Prison ministry. Alice currently volunteers with CRU and Brother Bob’s Outreach Ministries, mentoring, and facilitating Bible Studies and Worship Services at several prisons. She has been a Celebrate Recovery leader at Northbrook Church for over 10 years. She was the administrative assistant to Lead Pastor and the Mission’s Ministry Assistant at Northbrook Church for eleven years. Married to Ron Koepke for 45 years, and widowed in 2016, Alice has three sons, 18 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
Andrew Murphy
Board Member
Andrew Murphy is a Field Claims Adjuster with Acuity Insurance. He graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a B.S. degree in criminal justice. He currently serves on the board of another non-profit in the city focused on inner city youth and after incarceration programing. Andrew has a strong passion for discipleship and helping others in their walk with Christ despite their background challenges and life experience. Andrew has been married to Jasmine for 9 years and has 4 daughters.
Tom Keppeler
Board Member
Tom Keppeler is Director of Partner Development at Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School. He recently served for three years as executive director of PRISM Economic Development Corporation where he developed and launched UpStart Kitchen, a food business incubator serving Milwaukee’s under-served neighborhoods. Tom is also a coach and mentor of emerging ministry and pastoral leaders, has served as a pastor for 13 years and missionary-educator for 18 years in Romania. He has a B.S Degree in industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.A. in intercultural studies from Wheaton Graduate School, and a PhD in education from Trinity International University. Dr. Keppeler is married and has three grown children. In his spare time enjoys downhill & cross-country skiing, reading, cycling, and listening to his wife play the harp.
Dr. Tom Nebel
Co-Chair of Board of Directors
Dr. Tom Nebel has a Master of Divinity degree from Denver Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA. He has served as the national Director of Church Planting for a Christian denomination, and during his tenure nearly 800 new churches were started across the US. He has authored six books on the subject of ministry improvement. He is a partner with GiANT Worldwide, an international leadership development consultancy.
Dr. Daniel Green
Board Member
Dr. Daniel Green earned degrees from Trinity College (Trinity International University), Bradley University (M.A., Community Psychology), and University of Arkansas (Ph. D., Clinical Psychology). A Licensed Psychologist, he has served for 29 years as the Clinical Director of New Life Resources, Inc., a mental health clinic offering professional services in a Christian framework. He has faculty appointments with Trinity International University, Marquette University, Evangelical Theological Seminary of Prague and Charles University (Czechia). He is the author/co-author of 7 books and many articles. Dan has been married to Lynne for nearly 40 years and have a son, daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren.
Angela Otto, CPA
Board Member & Treasurer
Angie graduated with a B.S. degree in accounting from Carroll University and received her CPA license shortly thereafter. Angie provides assistance to the Treasurer in bookkeeping for WIEA. She has worked for other nonprofits and hopes to put her knowledge and experience to work for WIEA. Angie was honored to join the board and is excited about the transformation stories coming out of our Wisconsin prison system.