Meet the Success Advisors

Wyatt Mitchell, M.A.
Second Wind Program Manager
Wyatt loves to be outside and active! For close to a decade, he has tricked companies into paying him as a whitewater rafting guide and manager, horseback trail guide, and more. He also loves to help others. This has led him to working at various universities as a faculty and staff member in multiple capacities in addition to an adolescent detention and therapy center. In fact, Wyatt has worked in a number of professional capacities that reflect his varied interests. He earned a Masters degree in Communication from California State University, Fresno and has lived on the West Coast, South Dakota, and now Montana. He loves to travel and explore new places. When not on MSU campus Wyatt can be found in the backcountry with his dog, listening to a wide range of music, or playing and watching sports. At MSU, Wyatt specializes in working with students who are working to improve themselves. Common topics are academic skills, time management, accountability, and self-improvement. Wyatt will focus on whatever goals the student has!
Janet Barkow, M.A.
Student Success Advisor
Meet Janet, an adventurous, dog-loving person who enjoys everything outdoors. Her two dogs, Roy and Addie, are the perfect companions for her skiing and hiking/camping escapades.
Currently, Janet is a Success Advisor at AYCSS, where her enthusiasm and passion for education fit perfectly. She loves working with students and supporting their academic experiences and challenges by teaching effective and efficient ways to learn. Janet is always happy to help students connect with the many resources that Montana State University has to offer, which can assist them in achieving their educational goals.
Her education includes a Psychology degree from Colorado State University and a M.A in Experiential Education from The University of Colorado/Boulder. She taught elementary education (first and fourth grades) for 14 years in Broomfield, CO. When her family reconnected with their Montana roots in Bozeman, Janet found the perfect place to thrive with a university, a cool town, and mountains all around.

Chip Ritter, M.A.
Student Success Advisor
Chip is thrilled to be at MSU and back in Higher Education after 20 years in the tech
sector. He believes earning your college degree is a long-term investment in yourself
— and that the more you put into your college experience, the more you’ll get out
of it. The entire campus is your classroom, offering the opportunity to learn more
about how you like to work, play, and socialize while you gain the skills and knowledge
you need to propel yourself into the future. Every member of the faculty and staff
at MSU wants to set you up for success. Come see us at AYCSS to take advantage of
what we have to offer.
When not in the office, Chip can be found hanging out with his wife and daughter,
singing with the Bozeman Symphony Choir, or banking as many turns as possible at Bridger
Bowl. He also cherishes his visits to Minnesota, where his son is attending college.
Chip earned a bachelor’s degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology with a minor
in Vocal Music Performance from San Jose State University and a Master’s in Student
Affairs Administration from Michigan State University. He has special insight into
Residence Life, Study Abroad, and the international student experience, having lived
and worked outside the United States.

William Kuba, Ed.D
Student Success Advisor
Bill has over 30 years of student affairs, enrollment management, and academic experience at all levels in education, in both the proprietary and non-profit environments. Before going into semi-retirement he was an Asst. Professor and Department Head of Physical Education at a small Iowa University and a member of the State of Iowa’s K-12 Physical Education curriculum redesign team. Currently, he holds an IRB / Jeanne Cleary Act Compliance Certification and Montana Teaching Credentials for K-12 Health Enhancement. He has an Ed.D. from Montana State University – Bozeman, MA in Teaching from Whitworth College, and a BA from Tabor College.