I am Jessica A. Miller, a student success coach, advisor, with a passion for holistically developing collegiate students with an emphasis on special populations (Student-Athletes, Military. Adult Education, etc.). With a strong commitment to a student-approach, unwavering ethical standards, and a proactive approach to challenges. I am passionate advocate for building bridges to success for the diverse populations of students I serve. My expertise and unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in higher education fosters an environment where student voices are heard, and their needs are met.
My professional philosophy in higher education centers on fostering an inclusive and student-centered environment that values ethical work, solid commitment to student success, robust problem-solving skills, and a strategic approach to challenges.
Over the course of my career, I have served my students and my campuses in various capacities. I began my career in the Division of Student Affairs at Huston-Tillotson University (HT) in Austin, TX as the Women’s Hall Director. While in that role, not only did I oversee the day-to-day functions of a residential facility, but I was able to positively impact my students programmatically. I was responsible for recruiting and training a dynamic team of Residential Assistants and student workers, among whom, I am proud to say, I have a 100% graduation rate. During my tenure at HT, I also served in the Office of Admissions, Enrollment Management and Athletics where I served as liaison to the Men’s Basketball Team. Currently, I serve as Special Populations Student Success Coach for Dallas College. In this role, I am primarily responsible for the holistic success of students within a certain demographic such as military-connected, student-athletes, and F1 students. I also must privilege of working with various workgroups we continue to move the success needle for our special population students.
I am proud graduate of Huston-Tillotson University, in Austin, TX., where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. I obtained my Master of Science in Sports Administration from Arkansas State University, and currently I am seeking a Doctor of Education in Applied Learning Sciences from the University of Miami.
When I am not being a studious student, I enjoy serving the community through my various organizations such Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Order of the Eastern Star, and the HTIAA -Dallas Chapter. I enjoy singing, reading a good non-educational book, and increasing my web development skills.
I am building my professional career and legacy so that it is deeply rooted in service, integrity, and adaptability. By remaining student-centered, ethically principled, and solution focused, I aim to provide an environment where students can thrive, overcoming obstacles and achieving their academic and personal aspirations. It is through this approach that I hope to contribute positively to the advancement of higher education and the empowerment of students.
Delonte J. LeFlore (he, him, his) brings over a decade of leadership experience in higher education, primarily at large urban public research institutions. Recognized for his innovative and strategic acumen, Delonte has harnessed these qualities to address educational equity gaps, particularly in areas of college readiness, college access, and student success.
In his current role as the Director of Admissions for Recruitment and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Cincinnati (UC), Delonte leads the recruitment of domestic freshman and transfer students across UC's three campuses. His commitment to transformative change and his ability to harness collective impact have yielded impressive results. During his tenure at UC, he has held various positions, from assistant director and director to system director and interim assistant vice provost. He spearheaded the integration of the admissions offices across the flagship campus and two regional campuses, devising an organizational structure that effectively implements UC’s One UC Recruitment Strategy while bolstering recruitment efforts, developing strategic initiatives to increase access for traditional and nontraditional students, increasing racial and ethnic diversity, first-generation college students, students from rural backgrounds, transfer, and military students, while maintaining a strong academic profile of the incoming class.
Delonte's academic journey is closely aligned with his professional passion. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Arts in Educational Development from the University of Minnesota. His master's thesis delved into the topic of race in undergraduate admissions and the various strategies institutions employ to recruit a diverse and academically talented student body. Delonte is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Studies, specializing in Educational Policy and Higher Education, at the University of Cincinnati. His research mirrors his career objectives. He focuses on tackling the challenges posed by shifting demographics, educational equity gaps, evolving student needs, and increased competition. His dissertation spotlights the critical role of strategic enrollment management in surmounting these challenges and the imperative need for change management in effectively implementing strategic enrollment management.
Dr. Bethany Parmer is a seasoned professional with a rich and diverse career spanning roles in higher education administration and student support services. She has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from Wingate University in North Carolina, a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Purdue University Global. Most recently she earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University. Her doctoral studies equipped her with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead institutions through challenges and changes, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of educational innovation and effectiveness. Throughout her career, Dr. Parmer has held various pivotal positions in Florida and Idaho. She has served as the Program Advisor for the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation grant, demonstrating her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in higher education. Her experience as an Academic Advisor, specializing in student-athletes, dual enrollment, and honors program students, has showcased her ability to provide tailored support to a diverse range of students.
Dr. Parmer's tenure as the University Registrar at Ana G. Mendez University underscored her administrative prowess, as she oversaw critical aspects of academic operations, ensuring the smooth functioning of the institution. Her current role as the Registrar at the College of Southern Idaho is a testament to her leadership and her dedication to facilitating student success.
Throughout her career, Dr. Bethany Parmer has exemplified unwavering dedication to the advancement of education, a commitment to student development, and a passion for fostering inclusive learning environments. Her extensive academic background, along with her hands-on experience, positions her as a respected authority in the field of higher education administration.
I have worked in higher education for the past fifteen years, but my desire to work in the university setting began much earlier. As an undergraduate student, I worked alongside my academic advisor to develop an interdisciplinary major that focused on education, business/CIS, and social work. As I look back on those formative years, I see that my academic program and student worker role in Residential Life/Student Activities were steppingstones for a future career in higher education.
The year following college graduation, I moved to Moscow, Russia to work with Russian educators in a private Russian IB school. My experience at the Moscow Economics School confirmed my desire to pursue a career that enveloped education, data, administration, and service. I then accepted a position as Assistant Registrar at Trinity International University. I worked closely with Admissions and Financial Aid to ensure a seamless student experience from recruitment to graduation for non-traditional students in the Chicago area.
I then joined Bacone College as a Financial Aid Counselor. I was able to integrate my registrar knowledge of degree completion and retention with financial aid. I began to see how recruitment and advising have a direct impact on student success, retention, persistence, graduation, and life after college. As the higher education landscape is rapidly changing, my experiences at Bacone taught me to always be mindful of the financial sacrifices students make to attend college. An opportunity then arose to work as an Assistant Registrar at Rogers State University. I had an opportunity to be part of the new SIS implementation team. I was the project manager for the Student and Advising/Degree Audit modules for the new SIS. After three years in my role as Assistant Registrar, I was promoted to Associate Registrar. I led the Registrar team to develop efficient transfer evaluation processes. I was able to work with campus leaders to improve transfer admission, course review, and degree completions.
After a move across the country, I accepted a position as Associate Registrar at Lawrence University. Alongside an Intentional Interim Registrar and a new Co-Associate Registrar, we were tasked to rebuild the registrar’s office to align with university priorities and best practices. Six months into this transitional season, Lawrence launched a national search for the Registrar position. I applied and was offered the position. With the encouragement of the administration, strong IT support, and an energetic staff, we have been able to improve processes and align our priorities with the university’s strategic initiatives.
My past experiences have helped me develop my understanding of how institutional processes, procedures, and technological tools can improve the student journey from prospect to life after college. I enjoy working with systems and data. However, even more than systems and data, I enjoy working with students, staff, and faculty in the higher education setting. I look forward to meetings with students to answer difficult questions. I enjoy collaborating with staff and faculty to think through problems, policies, ideas, and goals to better equip the institution to deliver a quality education to our students.
A life-long learner, Janell came from a family of educators. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Fisk University and her doctorate in higher education from the University of Denver. She has worked at several institutions including the Community College of Aurora and Community College of Denver where she focused on the success of First-Generation students. She currently works for Ellucian as a Solutions Consultant.
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals is a specialty biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmic products, with two commercialized products for serious eye diseases that can lead to blindness and an impressive pipeline of drugs to treat serious retinal diseases. Nancy, a veteran in the biopharmaceutical industry, joined EyePoint in September 2016 as President and Chief Executive Officer and is a member of the company’s Board of Directors.in 2023 she then semi-retired and became Executive Vice Chair of EyePoint. EyePoint has grown substantially under Ms. Lurker’s leadership, taking it from a small, research driven organization to one having several marketed ophthalmology products and a leading pipeline of extended delivery treatments for serious retinal diseases. Ms. Lurker has more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical services industries. Prior to joining EyePoint, Ms. Lurker was President and CEO at PDI a leading commercialization and contract sales company that commercialized hundreds of pharmaceutical drugs, devices, OTC and diagnostic tests in collaboration with their business partners through PDI’s 1100 sales representatives. In 2015, Nancy led the sale of PDI’s contract sales division to Publicis Touchpoint Solutions.
Prior to joining PDI, she was Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation where she oversaw a $6 billion product portfolio in multiple therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, CNS, respiratory and anti-infectives.
Ms. Lurker was also President and CEO of ImpactRx, a private equity backed market research firm servicing the biopharmaceutical industry. Prior to ImpactRx she was Group Vice President – Global Primary Care Products for Pharmacia Corporation, and a member of Pharmacia’s US Executive Management Committee.. She began her career at Bristol Myers Squibb, where she quickly rose from Senior Medical Representative to Senior Director of Worldwide Cardiovascular Franchise Management where she oversaw the global launch of Plavix, along with many other successful drug launches.
Ms. Lurker graduated magna cum laude with a BS in biology from Seattle Pacific University, and holds an MBA from the University of Evansville (Evansville, IN).
In addition to her Board Director role at EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Nancy also serves on the Board of Altasciences, LLC, a rapidly growing, private, contract research organization (CRO) focused on early stage drug development services. She is also a Board member of National Sanitation Foundation, a not for profit focused on improving the quality of water, food and human health. Ms. Lurker is a member of the Novo Advisory Group, which advises on large investments for the $200 Billion private equity fund of Novo A/S, Denmark. She is also a member of Stanford’s M-TRAM program (Masters in Translational Medicine).
Ms. Lurker has also served on multiple other public and private Boards over her career, including Cancer Treatment Centers of America, a multi-billion-dollar private cancer treatment hospital system, Aquestive Therapeutics, a public, CNS commercial stage company, and Auxillium Pharmaceuticals, among others.
Ashley Hildebrandt, Call Center Manager and Records Specialist for CU Boulder, has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Wyoming and Master of Arts in Higher Education from the University of Denver. She has worked for the Office of the Registrar for three years.
Engaging Student Employee Development with Microcredentials
Rebecca Jones, Assistant Registrar for Client Services for CU Boulder, is a CU Boulder alum with both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Literature. She has worked for the Office of the Registrar for more than thirteen years.
Yosayra F. Solano, Ed.D., is the Assistant Dean for Academic Enrichment and Director of the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program at the Rutgers University School of Nursing. She has worked in higher education for over seventeen years and is passionate about helping underrepresented populations through support and mentorship. She earned her B.A. in Communication Arts from Ramapo College of New Jersey, her M.A in Education from Seton Hall University, and her Ed.D. in educational leadership/higher education from Rowan University. Her research interest focuses on first-generation students' academic and social success.
Choosing a Major: How the Experiences of African American and Latino Males Influence Retention and Persistence
Pierre Debaty has more than 20 years of experience in learning and development within leading intergovernmental organizations. He holds a Doctorate of Social Sciences from the University of Leicester (UK), a Master's in Laws from the University of London (UK), and a Licenciate in Law degree from the University of Louvain (Belgium).
Understanding the European Baccalaureate and the European Schools: A Unique College Preparatory Program
Amml Hussein, Ed.D., LMSW, currently serves as the Director of Research at the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the premier accreditation body for the social work profession nationally. Beyond the conventional realm of education, Dr. Hussein's influence is expansive, marked by a forward-thinking approach that integrates cutting-edge technology and instructional methodologies to elevate student engagement. She consistently adapts courses to ensure they resonate with the individual needs of her learners, fostering an environment where learning flourishes.
In her pivotal role at CSWE, Dr. Hussein is at the forefront of the design and development of the Assessment Institute, a post-conference initiative showcasing her dedication to advancing education. This institute serves as a knowledge hub, empowering educators, researchers, and practitioners to refine teaching and evaluation methods, while enhancing the learning experience with the latest assessment best practices.
Another groundbreaking initiative is the Research, Policy, and Practice Student Summit, a visionary endeavor that Dr. Hussein spearheaded with her team at CSWE. This inaugural event, themed "Decolonizing Social Work Education: Moving Beyond Conversations," facilitated translational research, directly impacting communities and highlighting critical social issues. The four-day summit connected baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral student fellows with congressional offices on Capitol Hill, providing invaluable experiential learning opportunities as well as a platform for engagement in research and addressing social issues with a solid peer network.
Dr. Hussein's commitment to bridging the gap between research, practice, and policy is evident, as she nurtures a network of peers and mentors. Her drive to innovate and dedication to cultivating a dynamic learning environment underscore her visionary leadership and commitment to advancing the fields of social work research and higher education.
GPA Fixation: Performance Mindset during the Sophomore Year, A Qualitative Study
Jessica Alberhasky is the Senior Associate Registrar for Student Academic Systems at the University of Iowa. She has been a member of UMACRAO (Upper Midwest) and AACRAO since 2015. Alberhasky holds a B.S. from University of Iowa.
If You Build It, They Will Come: The University of Iowa’s FERPA Team
Kathryn Stoltenberg is a Senior Associate Registrar, Director of the Academic and Alumni Management Teams, Institutional Reporting, & Compliance at the University of Iowa. She has served postsecondary institutions for 27 years, 25 of them in the registrar field, and seventeen at the University of Iowa. She earned a B.A. (German) from St. Ambrose University.
Emily Tallant has served as the Director of Records and Enrollment at Emory College of Arts & Sciences since 2018 and has worked in higher education since 2008. Prior to this role, she most recently served Emory as an associate university registrar, leading a student support services team. Emily started her higher education career in the registrar’s office at a small, private liberal arts institution, learning the breadth and variety of registrar tasks in that small-scale office. Her passion is leading teams to work efficiently, cooperatively, and toward a common goal of excellent student service.
Bridging the Silos: Strengthening Connections Between the Central Registrar and Decentralized Academic Units
Stephanie Liebnick is the Registrar and Associate Director for Enrollment Services at Yale University School of Nursing. She has a BA in Media and Communications, and Studio Art from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. She also has an M.Ed. with advanced study in Higher Education from The Pennsylvania State University. Her areas of interest and expertise include practicing and implementing policy as well as systems integrations. Stephanie has been a member of AACRAO since 2015 and is currently the vice-chair for the Young Professionals Caucus.
Dr. Jeff King is Assistant Vice President for Transformative Learning and Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Transformative Teaching and Learning (CETTL) at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). He is a chief architect of UCO’s Student Transformative Learning Record (STLR), which is UCO’s operationalization of its mission to provide a transformative education to students. In addition to having served as Principal Investigator for a U.S. Department of Education $7.8M (US) grant supporting STLR, Jeff is also subaward Principal Investigator for a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant investigating the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to scan students’ critical self-reflective narratives to search for language and contexts within the narratives that correlate with transformative experiences as assessed by trained faculty using robust rubrics. This NSF grant work has produced findings that will help learners and job-seekers find better matches for their skills and desires in the workplace and/or for future education.
Dr. Gloria Niles, the director of online learning for the University of Hawaiʻi System, is a visionary leader in online education and a pioneering strategist and policy advocate. In addition to her collaborative efforts within the University of Hawai’i system, Dr. Niles plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of higher education on regional and national levels.
At the University of Hawai'i System, Dr. Niles leads strategic initiatives in academic technologies, micro-credentials, and generative AI, harnessing the power of emerging technologies to enhance the educational experience for students across all ten campuses. Her forward-thinking approach ensures that the University remains at the forefront of educational innovation, providing students with opportunities to thrive in the digital age.
Furthermore, Dr. Niles's influence extends far beyond the boundaries of the University of Hawai’i. As an active participant in national organizations, she contributes her expertise to shaping policy and best practices in online education, focusing on micro-credentials and generative AI. Her leadership and advocacy in these areas profoundly impact the future trajectory of higher education, paving the way for transformative advancements in teaching and learning.
Drawing upon her extensive expertise, Dr. Niles plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of higher education at the University of Hawai’i and nationally. As an accreditation peer reviewer, she ensures the highest standards of quality and rigor in higher education. Furthermore, her role as faculty for the 2024 Cohort of the Institute for Emerging Leaders in Online Learning, offered by the prestigious Online Learning Consortium (OLC), underscores her dedication to nurturing the next generation of online education pioneers.
Dr. Niles actively shapes policy and best practices in online education. Her membership in the steering committee for the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) and participation in the NC-SARA Institutions Advisory Committee exemplify her commitment to advancing the field and fostering collaboration across institutions.
Dr. Niles's multifaceted expertise, unwavering dedication, and passion for transformative online learning make her a driving force in shaping the future of higher education in Hawai’i and beyond.