Zachary W. Taylor, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi. His research focuses on linguistics and technology in higher education broadly.
Nudging in a Pandemic: Lessons Learned from Text Messaging College Students amid COVID-19
Digital Swag and College Students: Exploring 21st Century Digital Admissions, Recruitment, and Yield Collateral
Working Across the Aisle: Connecting the Enrollment Management to Financial Aid to Re-enroll College Students with Satisfactory Academic Progress Concerns
(Literally) Translating the Admissions Process: An Interview with Brent Gage and Katelyn Peters
Karla Weber Wandel is a Wisconsin native and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the School of Human Ecology’s Human Development and Family Studies program. She received her Master of Science degree in communications and public relations from Purdue University’s Brian Lamb School of Communication. She made her professional home in the Office of Student Financial Aid, first as an advisor and the front desk supervisor and now as the Communications Manager. Karla recently accepted a research affiliate position with the newly established CHELT, the Center for Higher Education Linguistics and Translation, to continue her work in improving and simplifying the communications related to accessing higher ed.
Working Across the Aisle: Connecting Enrollment Management to Financial Aid to Re-Enroll College Students with Satisfactory Academic Progress Concerns
Sarah Pauter is a Senior Project Manager with John Burton Advocates for Youth, where she works to improve the college retention and graduation rates of homeless and foster youth through legislative advocacy, policy implementation, technical assistance, and training. After spending seventeen years in the child welfare system before ultimately emancipating or “aging out,” Sarah earned a bachelor’s in social work from San Diego State University and a master’s in public policy from Northwestern University.
Muhammad Kashif Rahimoon is currently Assistant Registrar (Human Resources Management) at Sindh Agriculture University in Tandojam, Pakistan. He earned his postgraduate certificate in leadership in education from Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. He has more than a decade of experience in higher education.
Admissions Quotas in India and China: An Overview for Strategic Enrollment Management
PJ Woolston, Ed.D., has more than 20 years of experience in all not-for-profit sectors of higher education. He has been responsible for the development of all aspects of enrollment management systems at public and private institutions of varied sizes throughout the United States. Throughout his tenure, he has grown and sophisticated the admissions and enrollment operation wherever he has been, maximizing enrollment potential at all levels of the institution. He has extensive experience leading the strategic enrollment management and planning process at the institutional level. He has worked with freshman, transfer, dual credit, international, athletic, post-baccalaureate, graduate, medical school, and online/accelerated (adult and non-traditional) student populations. Although he has worked at institutions in both urban and rural settings, he has always approached recruitment with a wider geographic lens and has developed and implemented effective regional and rural recruitment strategies.
Currently, Dr. Woolston serves as Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at IUPUI in Indianapolis, Indiana. Previously, he has worked at the University of Texas Permian Basin (mid-sized public), Marian University (small private), the University of Southern California (large private), the University of Cincinnati (large public), and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (mid-sized community college).
Dr. Woolston has conducted extensive proprietary research on a wide range of topics, including best practices in higher education recruitment and marketing, enrollment and admissions policy and process, financial aid and discounting, tuition modeling, and institutional accreditation. He holds a Doctor of Education from USC, a Master of Music from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Arts in French from Brigham Young University. He has been a frequent presenter for organizations such as NACAC and multiple state affiliates, NACUBO, NAFSA, and multiple specialist organizations.
Managing Enrollment Strategically Both Formally and Informally
Paula Luff has served as the Vice President for Enrollment Planning and Management at Ball State University since April 2020. In her current role, Luff oversees the offices of undergraduate, transfer, international and graduate admissions as well as financial aid and the university registrar’s office. Luff is an experienced leader in enrollment management, having served as a senior leader (including as interim vice president) for enrollment management and marketing at DePaul university in Chicago prior to moving to Ball State.
Luff recently served as the National Chair for NASFAA (National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) and is a past president of the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA) and ILASFAA (Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators). She is a former member of the executive council of the National Direct Student Loan Coalition, and has served as an alternate for two separate negotiated rule making teams.
Luff holds a master’s degree in public administration from DePaul, and has more than 30 years of experience in enrollment management. She has held positions at a variety of colleges and universities, including Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Loyola University Chicago. She has presented on various enrollment and financial aid topics at the state, regional, and national level for several professional organizations, including NASFAA, AACRAO, and The College Board.
Magdalena Hinojosa, Ed.D., is the Senior Vice President for Strategic Enrollment and Student Affairs at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Dr. Hinojosa provides oversight and guidance to College Access & K-12 Partnerships which includes TRIO Programs and GEAR UP, Dean of Students, Degree Audit Systems & Support, Enrollment Systems & Analysis, Financial Aid, Military & Veterans Success Center, P-16 Outreach & Testing Services, Scholarships & Communication, Student Activities, Student Involvement, Student Life, Student Media, Student Rights and Responsibilities, Student Service Centers, Undergraduate Admissions, Undergraduate Recruitment, and University Registrar. She is a seasoned enrollment manager and student affairs professional with more than 29 years of higher education experience and is dedicated to promoting access to excellence and student success.
Dr. Hinojosa is actively involved in her profession, presenting at numerous conferences throughout the year. She is a current member and holds positions on several state and national organizations. Her article “Achievement and Retention Patterns in a Predominantly Hispanic Serving Institution of Higher Education” was published in the Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers Journal and won the Margaret Ruthven Perry Distinguished Journalism Award.
Dr. Hinojosa earned a bachelor’s in business administration from Texas A&I University, a master’s in public administration from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University-Kingsville & Corpus Christi.
Jen Parker is the Executive Director of Development for Student Support at the University of Oregon. She joined the university in 2015, after serving as a fundraiser within higher education, arts administration, and social service non-profit organizations in Austin, TX and Jacksonville, FL. She has overseen a record fundraising initiative around student financial aid, and has presented on higher education fundraising at conferences nationally.
Prioritizing Scholarships to Improve Student Access and Grow Campus Diversity
Jim Brooks is the Senior Associate Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management and Director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at the University of Oregon. He also oversees the Orientation Programs, Continuing and Professional Education, and SSEM Events units. He has served on the board of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and had leadership roles in the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. He has served on committees at the national, regional, and state levels, and presented at conferences on all of these levels.
Tara Hisert Winter has been a higher education professional for 25 years and has served in a variety of leadership roles. The majority of her experience is in enrollment management, with her most recent efforts focused on strategic planning and institutional effectiveness. Winter believes that a combination of servant leadership and data-informed decision-making is fundamental to successful change management in higher education.
Winter holds an Ed.D. in executive leadership from St John Fisher, an M.S. in communications from Ithaca College, and an M.S. in education from the College of St. Rose.
Throughout her career, she has held positions where she has influenced the development and implementation of policies and practices to both enroll and retain students and to impact the overall strategic direction of the institution. She has presented at several conferences on the value of data-informed decision-making and the importance of collaboration.
Winter also enjoys working directly with students and has taught coursework in strategic planning, research, and English and has also mentored doctoral candidates. She is community-minded and has served on local advisory boards focused on the arts and economic development and is a volunteer for the YMCA and local youth sports.
Review of: Managing the Whole Student Life Cycle: A Handbook for Higher Ed
Donald Bean, M.S. has served as the Assistant Director of Enrollment Management and Student Services at Kent State University East Liverpool since 2015. He has worked in a variety of enrollment management and student services roles at KSU since 2009. In his current role, he oversees campus admissions, advising, student life and College Credit Plus, Ohio’s innovative dual-enrollment program.
Bean holds a M.S. in Knowledge Management from KSU in Kent, Ohio and a B.A. in religious studies from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
High-Impact Pathways: Developing Sustainable, Strategic Partnerships to Support Enrollment Pipelines
Jonathan Gates, M.A., is a Transfer Enrollment Specialist at Kent State University. He has served in that role since June 2020 and is responsible for assisting new transfer students on their way to KSU, traveling all over the state of Ohio. He also heads the university’s transfer enrollment group, transfer text initiatives, and much more. Prior to working at KSU, Gates worked in the University of Akron’s Transfer and Adult Enrollment Center where he headed the university’s course review process, some academic pathway initiatives, and much more. He has served as a member of the Ohio Transfer Council’s executive board since 2018 and is currently serving as their President-elect.
Gates holds an M.A. in higher education administration from the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio; and a B.A. in political science and history from the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio.
Andy Crawford, Ed.D., is Associate Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management, Regional Campus Administration at Kent State University. He has served in that role since February 2020. This is Crawford’s second stint working at KSU. In his current role, he is responsible for supporting the university’s regional campuses with enrollment, academic, and student-focused initiatives. He collaborates with stakeholders across the institution to design, execute, and evaluate these strategic priorities ensuring a collaborative approach to supporting student success. Prior to working at Kent State University, Andy worked at Cuyahoga Community College serving as their Dean of Student Affairs for the Eastern Campus. Other previous experience includes roles related to student services/enrollment management at Ohio State University - Mansfield and North Central State College, as well as his first tenure at KSU in student success programs and new student orientation.
Crawford holds an Ed.D. in education leadership from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.; a master of education from Ohio University in Athens; and a B.S. in public administration from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
Victor serves as the Associate Registrar at the University of Missouri in Columbia. He has served in the Office of the University Registrar at MU for the past 27 years of his 30+ year career. Current responsibilities include the areas of records, registration, transcripts, diplomas, and residency.
Professional interests include staff development, student retention, and non traditional credit issues. He has been an active member of MACRAO for many years providing presentations and serving in a variety of positions.
Victor holds an Educational Specialist degree in Adult Education from the University of Arkansas, a Master of Education degree from Drury University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography-Urban Planning from Missouri State University.
AACRAO Bio
Steve has been in the field of International Education for 30 years concentrating on Study Abroad for US undergraduates. Since 2016, Steve has served as Executive Director within the Center for Global Programs and Studies at Wake Forest University for the INSTEP programs in the United Kingdom. Prior to 2016, Steve served in a number of roles, including Vice President, at a comprehensive study abroad provider.
Bill Laffey is currently a Recruiting & Admissions Specialist with Salesforce but started his career in Admissions. Bill worked in Admissions for 14 years, with positions ranging from Admissions Counselor to Director of Admissions. He's passionate about using technology to improve student and staff experiences.
My name is Sue Hyun Strakowski and I am an incoming Associate Registrar at the University of Cincinnati and the former Assistant Director of College Credit Services (Credit Evaluation and Articulation) at the University of Cincinnati. I am a 2023 Conners Scholarship recipient and a member of the AACRAO Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus. I was born in Busan, South Korea and grew up in New York City before moving to Cincinnati, OH in 2014. The majority of my work in higher education has been focused on transfer and transition populations, such as: concurrently enrolled high school students, transfer students, adult learners, and non-matriculated students. While working with these students, one of my primary focus areas has been working to advocate and implement policy and procedural change to bridge inequalities in educational access.
Sun has had a long and diverse career in higher education, beginning with her part-time position at Lorain County Community College Registrar's Office in 2000. Over the years, she has held various roles within the registrar's office, including DARS Encoder, Transcript Evaluator, Functional Analyst, Associate Registrar, and Registrar. Throughout her career, Sun has been mentored by her predecessor and has followed in their footsteps.
Outside of her regular work, Sun has also been involved in various state-wide projects and committees, serving as a consultant for the Ohio Department of Higher Education for the state-wide Transfer Coding Project. She has also served as the Vice President of Membership from 2018-2020 and is currently the President-Elect for OACRAO (Ohio). Sun has been heavily involved in PeopleSoft implementation on her campus and has represented community colleges in the Higher Education User Group (HEUG).
Nicole Kragt is the Registrar at Kalamazoo College, where she has worked for 14 years. She has over 25 years’ experience in higher education, holding positions in academic support, admissions, financial aid, operation, and as a faculty member for various institutions. Nicole earned a BS in Elementary Education and an MA in Organizational Communication from Western Michigan University. She has been a member of AACRAO since 2008 and has been presenting at AACRAO conferences since 2011. Her presentations, panels, and round table contributions include: