Language Translation
  Close Menu

State Approving Agency

Amber Mertens, State Approving Agency Director   amertens@dva.in.gov

Amber joined the U.S. Navy in 2002 and served as an Arabic linguist specializing in Iraqi dialect. She was assigned many places and served worldwide deployments. She received her AA in Arabic Studies from the Defense Language Institute and her BA in Sociology from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Amber joined the State Approving Agency in 2011.


Tim Wilson,  Assistant Director   twilson4@dva.in.gov

Tim Wilson is a retired Army 1SG with over 20 years of military service. He joined the State Approving Agency as a Program Director, and he covered the Southern portion of the State of Indiana. He had the opportunity to work as an Intern with IDVA prior to his departure from the Army by participating in the Army Career Skills Program, which allows Soldiers to work for an organization/company while on Active Duty.  He has served in three different career fields during his time in the Army.  As a Tanker on the M1A2, Helicopter Mechanic for the Kiowa Warrior and as a Career Army Recruiter.  Tim is a graduate of Post University and has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a concentration in Administration.  Tim has a passion for coaching and mentoring youths through sports, primarily basketball, football, and track.  He loves to travel and spend time with his family.


Gary Rainey, Program Director  grainey1@dva.in.gov

Gary served for five years in the U.S. Navy from 1992-1997 as a Cryptologist Technician-Interpretative and Naval Aircrewman. He joined the State Approving Agency in August 2022. Gary is married and has two children.


Sean Litchford, Program Director  slitchford@dva.in.gov

Sean served in the U.S. Army from 2007-2012 as a PATRIOT Launching Station Operator, serving in multiple assignments stateside and overseas. After leaving the Army, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education from Penn State in 2016 and a Master’s Degree in Special Education from IUPUI in 2020. When he is not working, Sean enjoys sports (especially football and baseball), traveling the world with his wife and hanging out with their two dogs.


Kimberly Bloodgood, Program Director  kbloodgood@dva.in.gov

Kimberly is a U.S. Air Force veteran and the East Region Program Director at the Indiana State Approving Agency (SAA). Kim has served our Indiana veterans population for the past 14 years as a school certifying official, director and Indiana SAA program director. Kim’s journey has allowed her to assist military connected students with transitioning into the college setting by providing them with veteran related resources, camaraderie opportunities, and individual success coaching. In addition, Kim made a point to share her knowledge of the population with her campus’ staff and faculty through individual and group conversations as well as presentations focused on assisting the military connected population at her institutions. Kim will continue her educational journey starting in the Fall 2023 academic year by pursuing a degree in accounting; a dream that she has had since she was a teenager. Kim resides in southern Indiana where she can visit with her family, hike and build a relationship with nature.


Jada Coleman, Program Coordinator  jacoleman@dva.in.gov

Jada joined the Army directly after high school and served as an 88M Field Transportation Specialist. Following her service, she obtained her cosmetology license and relocated to Indiana from Louisiana. She started at the State Approving Agency as their Program Coordinator in April 2022. Currently attending Ivy Tech for AS in Biology to transfer to IU for B.S. in Forensic Biology and Investigative Science. She is currently engaged to her fiancé Tia. I have a passion for helping others, cooking and music.

 Top FAQs