Dr. Michael C Dills-Allen

University Registrar at California State University Chico

Christopher Buonocore

Director of Student Success Initiatives

Christopher Buonocore is currently the Director of Student Success Initiatives at CUNY Lehman College.  Chris graduated with a BA in Psychology from Queens College and an MSEd in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College.

Tracey Jamison

Director of Articulation and Enrollment Services at University System of Maryland

Tracey has over 32 years of experience in higher education, having previously worked at the University of Maryland, University of Baltimore, University of Maryland School of Nursing and American Intercontinental University. With AACRAO, she has served on various committees and task forces, including a term as Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment Management on the Board of Directors and a former chair of AACRAO’s Nominations and Elections Committee. She sits on or has served on various committees within Maryland, including the State Transfer Advisory Council, the Maryland College Commission for Student Veterans, and the State Advisory Board for Future Business Leaders of America. Tracey is a 1997 graduate of Leadership Howard County. She holds a B.A. from the University of Maryland and an M.A. from the University of Baltimore. Currently, she is a doctoral student at Marymount University where her research is focused on post-legislation trends on dual enrollment, persistence and graduation.

Michael S. Flanigan, Ed.D.

Associate Vice President - Strategic Initiatives and Project Management

Michael Flanigan is the Associate Vice President - Strategic Initiatives and Project Management, Division of Strategic Enrollment Management & Student Success, Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr. Earl Bowen Jr

Head of Counseling and Psychological Services, Cheyney University

Earl Bowen Jr. received his Ph.D. in the School of Human Service Professions from Widener University and MSW from the School of Social Administration at Temple University. He currently leads Cheyney University’s counseling and psychological services for its students. His former experience includes work as a Behavioral Therapist in the Office of Student Affairs at Lincoln University and as a Lecturer at Bryn Mawr College in the Graduate School of Social Work & Social Research. In 2018 he worked at Gratz College as Instructor of the course, Historical Origins and Developmental Patterns of African American Jewry and in January 2016, he was appointed as an Affiliate Professor at the University of Haifa.

Dr. Bowen’s research background focus addresses the psychosocial implications of prostate cancer among African American men and helping students handle the stresses of college life. In January 2015, his work on prostate cancer survivorship among this population was published in The Journal of Research and Development and subsequently in the International Journal of Neurorehabilitation. He is a former member of the University of Pennsylvania’s Prostate Cancer Academy, and current member of the African Caribbean Cancer Consortium’s prostate cancer initiative in Philadelphia and has worked with the HEAL PA initiative in response to making the Commonwealth a trauma-informed and responsive state. His research findings on community-based approaches that address prostate cancer health disparities, health care access, and the influence of culture on health behaviors have been presented at the 2018 Science of Global Prostate Cancer Disparities in Black Men Conference at the University of Llorin in Llorin, Nigeria and the National Association of Social Work Oncologists annual meeting in San Diego, California. Most recently, he served as the Co-PI on a research grant with the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and continues his work to advance solutions for the mental health and wellness of postsecondary students. You can tune into his Mental Health Monday Mornings sessions on 102.6 The Situation Internet radio. 

Rakin Hall

Vice President for Enrollment Management, Arcadia University

"Rock" is a higher education professional with over 23 years of experience working in the areas of enrollment management, institutional advancement, and strategic research initiatives. Working at five universities during his career, both public and private gives Rock the breadth and depth to understand nuanced enrollment management issues--allowing him to tactically address the myriad needs of university campuses.  Rock is a father, husband, and self-proclaimed comic book nerd. 

Dr. Randy Weber

Senior Consultant at AACRAO

Dr. Randy Weber is the President of Rogue Community College in Oregon. Previously he served as the Vice President of Student Success & Engagement at Johnson County Community College from 2015 to 2022. With over eighteen years of experience in enrollment management, Randy has led diverse enrollment initiatives at rural, urban and suburban institutions. His involvements include the development of enrollment strategies to improve processes at rapidly-growing institutions and creating strategies to mitigate enrollment declines. He entered the arena of enrollment management EM through recruitment and admissions. 

Randy currently focuses on data and trend analytics, emphasizing strategy and goal development. He has extensive experience creating program goals and strategic plans to meet institutions’ enrollment targets. In addition, having been a chief student and enrollment services officer for well over a decade, he has a unique ability to help other departments at the institution understand how enrollment management strategies can help them meet their own goals and objectives.

Deedre Daniel

Founder of The Big Fat Tip and The Interesting Conversations Company®

Deedre Daniel wanted a more exciting life, and she knew she needed to be more interesting to get it. She changed her life by becoming the founder of two businesses: The Big Fat Tip, 501(c)(3), and The Interesting Conversations Company®. Deedre is on a mission to push positivity into the world and help people think creatively, LAUGH, and build stronger bonds with others. Being in a rut feels like being stuck in a vat of peanut butter, and she expertly shows you how to set yourself free.  

Before starting these organizations, she spent nearly two decades at GEICO, where she rose through the ranks from call center sales associate to head of the Affinity Marketing division. Her division was responsible for the relationship management of 800 corporate partners, which generated over $6 Billion a year in written auto premium. (No, she didn't get a commission on that.) For 11 years, the primary function of her job was a paid professional schmoozer - attending multiple networking events nearly every week for those organizations. Most people struggled to connect at these gatherings, and she had to find an effective way to create memorable moments with potential customers. After a decade of turning boring conversations into fascinating ones, Deedre was inspired to create a keynote and training course called, How to be More Interesting Than a Cell Phone®. She invented The Very Interesting Game™ to accompany it, which she turned into an online game show when COVID-19 demolished her newly-launched speaking business.  

Every week, she writes new game cards for virtual game shows for various themes. She often weaves corporate facts seamlessly into the game for sponsors, a unique way for customers to interact with brands. Deedre has a book coming out this year, an app in development, and a new "Very Interesting Person" certificate program. Her husband, Rob, and their dog, Spartacus, live in Lakeland, Florida, with her active imagination.   

Dr. David L. Graham

Assistant Vice Provost for Student Academic Success at The Ohio State University

Dr. David L. Graham is currently a senior-level administrator at The Ohio State University, serving as the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Academic Success. He joined Ohio State in January 2006 as the Director of Student Athlete Support Services. In 2011, he was promoted to Assistant Provost for Student Athlete Success, and in 2018 he was promoted to Assistant Vice-Provost for Student Academic Success. In this role, he assists the Vice Provost for Student Academic Success with the management of administrative functions and planning strategic initiatives that support undergraduate student success. He also provides direction to a number of university-wide programs that serve undergraduate students and develops, implements, monitors, and revises policies and procedures related to student success.

Dr. Graham serves as a liaison to the Strategic Enrollment Planning Office, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Division of Student Life, and the Department of Athletics. He has been recognized for his ability to develop and implement strategic plans to achieve student success goals and increase student engagement. His research is focused on various issues concerning the administration of intercollegiate athletics in higher education (e.g., academic integrity and achievement, gender, racial and ethnic diversity, Title IX, corporate sponsorship, learning disabilities, and fiscal responsibility), and the effects of college on student athlete development and learning outcomes.

Dr. Reginald Garçon

Registrar at Washington Adventist University

Dr. Reginald Garcon is currently the Registrar at Washington Adventist University. In addition, he serves as Vice President of Programming for CAPACRAO (Chesapeake and Potomac Association of Registrars and Admissions Officers). Dr. Garcon began his career at Florida Atlantic University as the Coordinator for Orientation and several years later was promoted to Assistant Dean of Students, which included overseeing judicial affairs and advising student government. Next, he had the wonderful opportunity to become the Dean of Students & Registrar at Mountain State University in Beckley, WV. In this role, he provided direct oversight in the following areas: Admissions, Academic Advising, Housing, Registration, Retention, Student Activities, Student Affairs, the International Student Fellowship Program, and served as ADA/504 Disability Services Coordinator. In 2009, Dr. Garcon became the AVP for Student Affairs & Registrar at Maryland University of Integrative Health for 7 years before taking on his current role as Registrar at Washington Adventist University. 

After serving in higher education for over 25 years in various student affairs, student services, and registrar related roles, two of his biggest accomplishments are earning his doctorate focusing on Educational leadership in 2012 and being selected by his peers at Washington Adventist University to serve as the co-chair on the executive team to lead the Middle States re-accreditation self-study visit for the university which concluded (May 2022) having met all seven standards. Dr. Garcon is very passionate about student success and lives by the mantra of the 3 Es (Educate, Engage, and Entertain).  This mantra is exhibited in every aspect of his life, especially at work. In his spare time he is involved in church, the local theater in Laurel, MD (Laurel Mill Playhouse) and teaches soul/urban line dancing. 

Ja’Bette Lozupone

Director of Student Affairs

Dr. Ja’Bette Lozupone is an educator, writer, and speaker, who has helped countless people transform themselves through her mentorship, coaching, programs, and public speaking. After transforming her own life from a teen mother to a successful college administrator and business owner, her accomplishments testify to our ability to realize our full potential.

At Montgomery College, she led both the academic and student affairs divisions, where she created and fostered multiple student programs. Along with her official duties, she led and developed employee initiatives and served as a mentor and board member for organizations benefitting youth from underrepresented populations. She is involved in multiple national and local civic organizations. As a sought-after expert in personal and professional development, she launched Wishful Doing LLC to share her expertise and empower individuals and organizations to live and lead lives of “wishful doing.” As a speaker and consultant, she works with non-profit organizations to global companies to translate vision into reality.

Dr. Lozupone earned her doctorate in organizational leadership from Hood College with a concentration in education leadership. She also holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in communications and Hispanic American philology from Hood College.

Prudence Layne

Associate Professor of English at Elon University

Prudence Layne, Ph.D., is an experienced educator, administrator, academic, and scholar, who is highly skilled at developing and implementing programming that guides students to recognize the realities of privilege and social exclusion and actively engages students in personal growth and discovery. As a requested speaker and workshop leader/facilitator, Layne combines the social and intellectual domains to include the broadest audiences possible. Her teaching, mentoring, and research specializations reflect a commitment to raising awareness, fostering inclusion and diversity, giving voice to marginalized groups, and providing opportunities for students, faculty, staff and community partners to incorporate these values into their respective learning, pedagogy, and work. She is Associate Professor of English at Elon University.

Managing the Challenges of Remaining Open during a Pandemic 

Matthew R. Moody

Senior Associate Director, Strategic Operations, Undergraduate Admissions Office, IUPUI

Matthew R. Moody is the Senior Associate Director for Strategic Operations in the Undergraduate Admissions Office at IUPUI. As a part of his role at IUPUI, Moody oversees application file review for both general admission to the university and direct admission into the academic major for first-year beginning applicants. Moody is a previous NACAC Delegate and Past-President of Indiana ACAC. Moody earned a bachelor’s from Indiana State University and a master’s from Indiana University in Bloomington. 

Exploring and Communicating Data for Test-Optional Decisions 

Errol Wint

Director of Undergraduate Admissions at IUPUI

Errol Wint is the Director of Undergraduate Admissions at IUPUI, where he oversees the university’s new student undergraduate strategic enrollment efforts, with a focus on domestic beginner and transfer students. As the university’s chief admissions officer, Wint works across campus and the Indiana University enterprise as a collaborative leader, seeking opportunities for alignment in the direction of enrollment optimization across a decentralized admissions community model. 

Before starting his role at IUPUI, Wint spent seven years at the University of Louisville’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, as the senior associate director of admissions and assistant director of diversity recruitment. In addition to seeing success in achieving consecutive years of exceeding enrollment goals while simultaneously expanding the institution’s diversity profile, Wint served on the board of directors for a local nonprofit focused on food insecurity as well as founded the University of Louisville’s MLK Scholars program. 

Exploring and Communicating Data for Test-Optional Decisions 

Michele J. Hansen

Assistant Vice Chancellor of Institutional Research and Decision Support, IUPUI

Michele J. Hansen, Ph.D. serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Institutional Research and Decision Support (IRDS) at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. IRDS is a comprehensive institutional research office where members are engaged in institutional research, advanced statistical analyses, survey research, program evaluation, student learning assessment, and data support for strategic enrollment management. Dr. Hansen’s primary research interests are in the areas of predictive analytics, use of thick data (quantitative and qualitative), employing analytics through an equity lens, program evaluation methods, understanding the effectiveness of interventions to enhance retention and academic success of undergraduate and graduate students (applying social psychology theories to higher education), and incremental and large-scale change management. Dr. Hansen received her baccalaureate degree in psychology from Michigan State University and master’s and doctoral degrees in social psychology from Loyola University Chicago.  

Exploring and Communicating Data for Test-Optional Decisions 

Steven S. Graunke

Director of Institutional Research and Assessment, IUPUI

Steven Graunke, Ed.D., is the Director of Institutional Research and Assessment at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. In his role at IUPUI, Graunke assists with the reporting of enrollment information, completes data requests from schools and academic units, and participates in studies of the effectiveness of programs designed to facilitate student success. His scholarly research interests have focused on test-optional admissions, retention modeling, and the intersection of financial and psychological factors on student success. Graunke received an Ed.D. in higher education and student affairs with a minor in inquiry methodology from Indiana University. He received his masters’ degree in counseling from Ball State University and his bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in chemistry from Butler University.

Exploring and Communicating Data for Test-Optional Decisions 

Julia Trowbridge

Western Michigan University’s Salesforce Trainer and Project Specialist

Julia Duhan Trowbridge is Western Michigan University’s Salesforce Trainer and Project Specialist. At the time this article was written, Trowbridge was the associate director of admissions operations at Western Michigan University. In this role, she oversaw all aspects of application processing and decision-making and ensured that the application process fit seamlessly into the recruitment cycle. Prior to joining WMU in 2016, Trowbridge worked in professional school, graduate, and undergraduate admissions in various roles. She earned a master's degree in higher education administration from Loyola University Chicago in 2011 and bachelor's degrees in advertising and communication from Michigan State University in 2007.

A Barrier-Free Path to Going Test Optional 

Sherry Waldon Wells

Assistant Vice Provost for Digital Learning at Lamar University

Sherry Waldon Wells, Ed.D., is Assistant Vice Provost for Digital Learning at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. She currently serves as the Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment Management on the AACRAO Board of Directors.

An Interview with David Coleman and Priscilla Rodriguez 

Christina Pellegrino

Owner, Complete College Prep, LLC

Christina Marie Pellegrino, Ph.D., has served as an educator and advisor in K-12 and college settings, including public and private institutions.  Pellegrino has enjoyed roles in student advising, teaching, and higher education administration and admissions.  She earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University where she researched the impact of test-optional policies on national institutions.  Pellegrino is the owner of Complete College Prep, LLC where she provides college planning advisement and tutoring.  

Test-Optional Policies: Implementation Impact on Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment

Sean Gallagher

Executive Director of Northeastern University’s Center for the Future of Higher Education.