Mary Farmer-Kaiser is Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of History at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a recently designated Carnegie R1 institution. An award-winning teacher and scholar, she studies the history of citizenship in the nineteenth-century United States and brings a humanities perspective to her leadership in graduate education. As the principal academic and administrative officer for graduate education, she leads a centralized operation that supports graduate programs and graduate students campuswide, from recruitment and inquiry through admission, enrollment, and graduation, including international credential evaluation and initial I-20 issuance. Her leadership has been central to the growth of graduate education as part of the University’s R1 journey. She currently serves as Chair-Elect of the Council of Graduate Schools Board of Directors and holds other national and regional leadership roles with the Southern Regional Education Board and other organizations focused on expanding access, supporting student success, and strengthening graduate pathways.
LTG Russel L. Honoré helps organizations develop a culture of preparedness and creates the mindset of problem-solving, take-charge leaders.
An American hero who helped a New Orleans recover from catastrophe, he has been chosen to lead the security review of the U.S. Capitol’s security infrastructure, interagency processes and procedures and command and control. Gen. Honoré now shares candid and colorful leadership views how government resources, the private sector and we as individuals can work together to overcome the current challenges facing the world.
As the commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, LTG Honoré became known as the “Category 5 Gen.” for his striking leadership style in coordinating military relief efforts in post-hurricane New Orleans. He is a decorated 37-year army veteran and global authority on leadership. When Hurricanes such as Harvey, Irma, and Maria approach, news networks like CNN, Fox, MSNBC, and CBS consider him their go-to expert on emergency and disaster preparedness, as well as crisis management.
LTG Honoré uses his experience managing natural and man-made conflicts to help companies and organizations build a culture of preparedness. On stage, his disciplined leadership and colorful, patriotic storytelling shine. In our country’s new normal, Gen. Honoré provides audiences impactful takeaways as change and unpredictability are constants, and resilience is mandatory. He is the author of three books, including his most recent, Don't Get Stuck on Stupid!
Gen. Honoré delivers an uplifting dose of candor, with real-world leadership lessons designed to equip audiences with a preparedness mindset. He shares his no-nonsense approach to getting the job done and instills confidence in tomorrow’s leaders.
With over two decades of experience in higher education administration, Bracken is a seasoned professional renowned for her strategic leadership, collaborative approach, and commitment to excellence. Currently serving as the University Registrar at the University of California, Riverside, Bracken brings extensive organizational and policy expertise to oversee critical functions including student academic records, registration, course scheduling, and compliance with federal regulations such as FERPA.
Bracken has a proven track record of driving technological innovation within registrar offices, successfully leading the migration to Ellucian Banner and implementing Banner Document Management, Degree Works, and additional support systems. Through collaborative efforts with Enrollment Service departments, Student Business Services, and academic departments, Bracken ensures a seamless student experience while upholding a high level of customer service.
Prior to her role at UC Riverside, Bracken held leadership positions at Emory University and Towson University, where she spearheaded efficient admissions processes and implemented innovative enrollment management strategies. Bracken holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Towson University and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Rutgers University.
With a passion for empowering students and optimizing academic operations, Bracken continues to make significant contributions to the higher education community.
Michael Cunningham is the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research in Tulane University’s Office of Academic Affairs. He holds the academic rank of Professor at Tulane University; and he has a joint faculty appointment in the Departments of Psychology Africana Studies. Since beginning his academic career at Tulane in 1996, Dr. Cunningham has held several roles including the founding Executive Director of Tulane’s Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching (CELT) and Associate Provost of Engaged Learning and Teaching. In addition to his current role, he has served as the Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission, and he is a member of the Tulane University President’s Cabinet.
Dr. Cunningham is a developmental psychologist with a program of research that focuses on racial, ethnic, psychosocial, and socioeconomic processes that affect psychological well‐being, adjustment to chronic stressful events, and academic achievement among African American adolescents and their families. He uses mixed methods in his research projects that includes the study of gender‐specific patterns of resilience and vulnerability in urban participants. Dr. Cunningham has received external funding from several sources including the National Science Foundation, The National Institutes of Health, The Mellon Foundation, the Louisiana Board of Regents, and The U.S. Department of Education.
He has received Tulane’s highest teaching award and been designated as a Suzanne and Stephen Weiss Presidential Fellow. He completed his doctoral work at Emory University after completing an undergraduate degree at Morehouse College. Dr. Cunningham also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. His professional service includes serving as Editor-in-chief for Research in Human Development (2018-2024). He served as a Senior Editor for the American Educational Research Journal (2018-2022). He has severed on several journal editorial boards such as the Journal of Negro Education, Child Development of which he was an Associate Editor from 2007-2019. Dr. Cunningham’s leadership includes service on executive committees for academic societies (e.g., American Psychological Association, Division 7 – Developmental, Society for Research on Child Development, Society for Research on Adolescence) as well as graduate education organizations (e.g., American Association of Universities, Council of Southern Graduate Schools, Council of Graduate Schools - CGS). He is currently the past chair of the Board for CGS.
He was selected as the recipient for the 2025 Norman Anderson Lifetime Achievement Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Award from the Federation for Associations in Behavioral and Brain Sciences (FABBS); and in 2025 he was elected to Fellow Status for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Most recently, he was awarded 2025 James Jackson Award for Distinguished Scholarly Contributions from the Society for the Study of Human Development.
Diane has built a distinguished 35+-year career dedicated to academic policy, student success, and institutional improvement. She is deeply engaged in academic governance and university service, having served on numerous campus committees related to academic planning, standing and appeals, data governance, and faculty and professional governance. She is also an active leader at the state, regional, and national levels through her service with professional organizations including MSACROA, SUNYRA, and AACRAO. Her work is guided by a strong commitment to collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in higher education. She has been recognized for her contributions with several honors both internally and externally.
Dr. Necia Martins holds a Bachelor of Science from Western University, a Master of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Western University. Her doctoral research explored student financial preparedness in post-secondary education. With over 16 years of experience in higher education, Martins has spent 13 years within Enrolment Services at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she currently serves as Associate Registrar, Student Finance & Client Services. In this role, she oversees Financial Aid, Student Awards, Student Accounts, Financial Literacy initiatives, and Service Laurier—the university’s one-stop service centre for Enrolment Services. Martins is actively engaged in sector-wide leadership. She serves as Specialist Director, Data and Information for the Canadian Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (CASFAA), where she leads national benchmarking projects and recently completed a national financial literacy scan. Additionally, she is a Member-at-Large on the Ontario Universities’ Registrar Association (OURA) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Standing Committee, supporting professional development opportunities for enrollment professionals across the province. Beyond her administrative work, Martins contributes to academia as a contract teaching faculty member, delivering leadership courses at the undergraduate level and within Wilfrid Laurier University’s Master of Education program.
Capstone: Navigating Strategic Enrollment Management in Canadian Higher Education: A Literature Review on Implementation Challenges, Collaborative Leadership, and Institutional Transformation
Andrew Stone earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. In his current role at Utah Valley University, he oversees Enrollment Management, including Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships, the University Registrar, First-Year Experience, the UVU Student Success Center, International Student Services, and the Military Affiliated Student Hub (MASH). He also leads UVU’s efforts to build sustainable growth by overseeing the institution’s Strategic Enrollment Management plan.
2025 SEM-EP Graduate
Capstone: Growing International Student Enrollment at Utah Valley University
Holly has served as the Assistant Director of Transfer Outreach and Initiatives for the University of Illinois System since 2021. Her role includes leading initiatives that aim to benefit the transfer student population who matriculate into any of the three U of I universities. Holly was a former transfer student herself, a catalyst for her work to eliminate barriers that transfer students face from enrollment to completion. She’s held previous roles in transfer admissions/recruiting, program management, and academic advising.
Initially serving as a System Lead in the first cohort of the NASH Transfer Student Success NIC, Holly was drawn to the utilization of Improvement Science methodology as a possible means to solving inefficiencies in transfer student processes. She has since taken on the role of Improvement Coach for the NASH Transfer NIC, serving as coach to four systems in the third cohort of the community during the 2024-25 program year.
Rachael is the Director of Admission & Prospective Student Services at Tulsa Community College, where she has worked in admission and recruitment for 14 years. TCC is Oklahoma’s largest community college, serving over 20,000 students annually across 4 campus locations and educating more Oklahomans than any other college or university. A Tulsa native, Rachael holds a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Tulsa. She is a member of OACRAO (Oklahoma Association of College Registrars and Admission Officers), GPACAC (Great Plains Association for College Admission Counseling), and involved with the Tulsa Higher Education Consortium.
Karen Chico Hurst is the Director of Risk Management and Compliance at SUNY System Administration, a role she began in February 2025. Prior to this, she served as University Registrar at the University at Albany for almost 15 years. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles at public, private, and community colleges, including Associate Director for Administration for the University in the High School Program, Associate Registrar, Assistant Registrar, and Assistant to the President for Institutional Research.
Heidi Buffington is an accomplished university executive and enrollment professional with over 20 years of higher education leadership and admissions experience and is currently the director of admissions at Saint Louis University’s Madrid (Spain) campus. As a strategic enrollment management professional, she developed and implemented two consecutive five-year strategic enrollment plans that helped guide the campus towards growth from 600 students to 1600 students now. Buffington’s work spans the global higher education landscape, collaborating with international organizations, government agencies, secondary schools, and universities to advance international education and enhance student and scholar mobility.
She approaches leadership through a humanistic lens, recognizing that authentic relationships and individual contributions form the foundation of successful collaboration and transformative results.
Capstone: Strategic Enrollment Audit
Dr. Wisely is a higher education professional who has held positions on both sides of the admissions desk, from college counseling high school students at Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT) and later Reicher Catholic High School (Waco, TX), to admissions positions at Franklin & Marshall College (Lancaster, PA) and the Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH). Most recently, from 2013-2025, Dr. Wisely served as the Senior Director of Undergraduate Enrollment Initiatives for the College of Arts & Sciences at Baylor University (Waco, TX). There she partnered with faculty and students in over 25 academic departments, as well with those in other colleges and programs at the University, to improve recruitment, retention, and graduation rates. The measurable gains in all three metrics she attributes to strong collaborative work with colleagues and to a well-executed enrollment management plan. Dr. Wisely holds a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in English from Franklin & Marshall College, a Master of Christian Studies in Systematic Theology from Regent College in Vancouver (British Columbia), and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Baylor University (TX).
Capstone: Literature Review: The Fourth Face: Community
Dr. Somanita Kheang is an Assistant Professor of Educational Studies and Co-Director of the EdD in Adult and Community Education at Teachers College, Ball State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development from North Carolina State University (2023) and her Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership from Lindenwood University (2018). Her research applies andragogy, transformative learning, and the impostor phenomenon to explore adult learning experiences and satisfaction in postsecondary education. She has examined these frameworks with nontraditional and international students from diverse educational, cultural, and professional backgrounds in higher education.
Jeff Levine, Ph.D., serves as an Assistant Consultant for AACRAO Consulting and as Interim Senior Associate Director of Recruitment at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has been trained in holistic review by four AAU member universities and has experience partnering with faculty at public and private colleges and universities. He is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and has a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall.
Developing Academic Collaboration in Enrollment Management
Debra M. McCoy, Ph.D., earned a Ph.D. from Capella University and has served the University of Phoenix College of Social and Behavioral Sciences as faculty since 2006.
Solving Employers’ Dilemma Through Academic-STEM Industry Partnerships
Mary Jo Brinkman, Ph.D., earned a B.S. (Biology and Chemistry) and certification as a Medical Technologist by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) from the College of St. Mary, Omaha, Nebraska. She earned a Master of Health Care Administration (MA) from Central Michigan University, followed by a Ph.D. in Health Science from the University of Arkansas. She holds certification as Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, Certified Professional in Risk Management, and Certified Professional in Healthcare Compliance. She has held positions in healthcare organizations as a Medical Technologist, Utilization Review Coordinator, Quality Director, Risk Manager, and Assistant Administrator. She is currently working for a corporate healthcare organization as the Senior Compliance & Privacy Associate, performing audits of eleven hospitals to ensure accurate billing and program compliance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). She is an Associate Faculty member of the University of Phoenix. She has taught courses in the College of Doctoral Studies since 2018. She is currently teaching Risk Management in Complex Healthcare Organizations and Population Health and Epidemiology. She has presented at the Knowledge Without Boundaries Research Summit. She is a member of the Health Care Compliance Association, the American Society for Health Care Risk Management, and the National Association for Healthcare Quality.
Nicole Gulley, Ed.D., earned an Ed.D. from the University of Phoenix, College of Doctoral Studies, and is affiliated with the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR). Research interests include student retention and promoting graduate employability.
Maureen Marzano, Ph.D., M.B.A., has been in the healthcare and related industries for over 30 years. She has taught doctorate, master’s, and undergraduate courses in Healthcare, Educational Leadership, business, and management since 2008. She currently serves the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies as Faculty, Research/URM. Dr. Marzano earned her Ph.D. in Organization and Management from Capella University and the M.B.A./TM degree from the University of Phoenix, Colorado Campus.
Mar Navarro, Ph.D., holds a doctoral degree in Applied Experimental and Human Factors Psychology from the University of Central Florida. She is a Research Fellow with the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research and serves as University Research Methodologist for the University of Phoenix. Navarro’s research interests are in cognition and cognitive ergonomics, including how humans learn, understand, and process information. Within this area, she has developed a special interest in online teaching and learning, has participated in the development of online course shells, and is certified by Quality Matters, a national program in quality assurance in online learning. Dr. Navarro has been teaching at the University since 2009.
Shawishi Haynes, Ed.D., has been in the healthcare industry for nearly 30 years. She is Board Certified by the American College of Healthcare Executives and earned a doctorate from the University of Southern California. She is an award-winning educator, advanced facilitator, and faculty assessment liaison. She is currently a Doctoral Instructor and University Research Methodologist at the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies and is affiliated with the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR). Research interests include student retention and promoting graduate employability.
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