Magdalena Hinojosa, Ed.D.

Senior VP, Strategic Enrollment and Student Affairs, UTRGV

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.

Managing Enrollment Strategically Both Formally and Informally

Jen Parker

Executive Director of Development for Student Support at the University of Oregon

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

Senior Associate VP, Student Services and Enrollment Management, University of Oregon

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.

Prioritizing Scholarships to Improve Student Access and Grow Campus Diversity 

Tara Hisert Winter

Director for Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment Co-Chair, SUNY Cobleskill

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.

Assistant Director of Enrollment Management and Student Services, Kent State University

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.

Transfer Enrollment Specialist at Kent State University

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.

High-Impact Pathways: Developing Sustainable, Strategic Partnerships to Support Enrollment Pipelines

Andrew Crawford

Associate VP of SEM, Regional Campus Administration at Kent State University

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.

High-Impact Pathways: Developing Sustainable, Strategic Partnerships to Support Enrollment Pipelines

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Victor Price

Associate Registrar, University of Missouri

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. 

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Steve Seaworth

Executive Director - INSTEP Center for Global Programs and Studies Wake Forest 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.


At AACRAO, Steve has served as a member and then Chair of the Study Abroad Committee, Chair of the International Recruitment and Marketing Committee, and Program Coordinator for Group II (International) on the Annual Meeting Program Committee. In addition to presenting many sessions over the years on different topics pertaining to Study Abroad, Steve was also involved in arranging a joint task force between AACRAO and the Forum on International Education to address best practices in School of Record relationships.

Steve earned his BA degrees in Economics, Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Redlands and his MA in Economics from the University of California at Riverside. 

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Bill Laffey

Senior Solutions Engineer, Salesforce

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.

Sue Strakowski

Associate Registrar, University of Cincinnati

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.

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Sun Jamerson

Registrar, Enrollment, Financial and Career Services - Lorain County Community College

AACRAO Bio

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).

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Nicole Kragt

Registrar, Kalamazoo College

AACRAO Bio

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: 

  • Small College Admissions Roundtable
  • Best Practices for Transfer Credit
  • Awarding Credit – CLEP, Equivalencies, Online Courses, Course Descriptions, and Associated
  • Policies
  • Friend or Foe?  Managing your Image in a Registrar’s Office
  • Change Management – Exploring Change Management Theory
  • Can I Get an A++++? Changing a College-Wide Grading Scheme
  • Transfer Student Orientation – Smoothing the Transition
  • Implementing Chosen Name and Pronoun: Process, Policy, and Technology

    She has served on the Small College Issues Committee, the Transfer and Articulation Committee, the Mentorship Work Group, and is a member of the Women’s Caucus. She was also featured on a For the Record podcast and in The Successful Registrar for her work in implementing a chosen name policy at Kalamazoo College.

     

  • Headshot of Laurie Huber

    Laurie Huber

    Workforce Project Manager, Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN)

    Laurie brings more than twenty years of leadership and project management experience working in both community based and post-secondary institutions. She worked in facilities, student services, athletics and served as the inaugural Director of Admissions at Oakland Community College (OCC) in Michigan.  Laurie also served as Interim Associate Dean of Student Services at one of five campus locations 2019-2020 when she had the opportunity to engage with the AACRAO Mentoring workgroup report.

    Laurie has served on several Michigan community college organizational boards and committees. She was treasurer for the Executive Board of the Michigan Association of College Registrar’s & Admissions Officers (MACRAO), served on several MACRAO conference committees, the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) Board, and Michigan Community College Admissions Directors (MCCAD).

    In 2020-2021, she had the opportunity to take a dean role at Dawson Community College to assist in the expansion of rural educational, dual enrollment opportunities in Central Montana. She worked to establish local employer, provider, and recruitment partnerships in order to launch virtual, hybrid and in-person academic courses via Dawson and had recruited, trained local adjunct faculty utilizing local facilities.   

    Laurie currently serves as a Workforce Project Manager at Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN) in Taylor, Michigan. Her primary assignment is the State of Michigan initiative – Michigan Electric Vehicle Jobs Academy (EV Jobs Academy) where more than 130 employers, stakeholders, and providers are working to establish a talent pipeline for the many emerging jobs in the EV and mobility industries. 

    Laurie is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse (Bachelor of Science). Purdue University (Master in Recreation & Leisure Studies) and Ferris State University (MBA).

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    Justin Schilke

    Deputy Registrar, Rice University

    Justin is the Deputy Registrar at Rice University and has been in other roles at Rice since 2014. He came to Rice from Texas A&M University, where he was an Assistant Registrar, and he started his career in 2010 at Western Kentucky University in Graduate Studies and Research. 

    He has been an active member at the state (TACRAO) and regional (SACRAO) levels by regularly presenting and serving on the executive committees for those organizations.

    Justin earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Chicago and a Master of Arts at Western Kentucky University.

    Josh Lind head shot

    Josh Lind

    University Registrar, University of Wisconsin–Stout

    Josh Lind has worked with academic records for more than twenty years. He has worked in various roles at George Mason University, Western Oregon University, Chippewa Valley Technical College, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and University of Wisconsin-Stout. He has been an active participant in AACRAO, serving on conference planning subcommittees as well as state-level conference planning teams. He has presented sessions at national and state-level AACRAO conferences. He is particularly interested in data governance, query tools, data-informed decision-making, and software that improves the student experience. Currently, he is honored to work with the terrific registration and records team at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of Oregon.

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    Brittany Brown

    Associate Director, IT, and Business Operations

    Operations Division

    Brittany Brown is the Associate Director of IT and Business Operations at AACRAO.  She earned her masters at American University in Public Administration with a concentration in state and local government and public financial management.  She began her journey with AACRAO in the membership division before joining the IT team where she brings her passion for higher education and her dedication to serving others.  Brittany is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in technology and education, and is eager to contribute to AACRAO’s efforts to create more equitable and inclusive higher education systems through her work with the Accessibility Taskforce.

    Brittany's Role at AACRAO

    Brittany helps manage the Association's IT systems.  She evaluates business processes, anticipating requirements, uncovering areas for improvement, and developing and implementing solutions for each department. 

     

    Shelly Jackson

    Product Solutions Specialist

    CollegeSource

    Photograph of Dr. Mark Garrison

    Mark David Garrison, PhD

    Dean of the School of Graduate Studies

    Currently the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Mark Garrison has held teaching and administrative positions at Bethel College, Kentucky State University (KSU), and now Morgan State University.  He was an Instructor of Psychology and Sociology at Bethel College (now University) in McKenzie, Tennessee, from 1982 to 1984.  A faculty member at Kentucky State University from 1984 to 2007, he became the founding Director of Graduate Studies at KSU in 2004.  He joined Morgan as Associate Dean in 2007 and became Interim Dean in the fall of 2008, and has been Dean since 2012.  He holds the rank of Professor of Psychology.
     
    Mark’s research interests include the psychology of everyday life and theoretical and philosophical psychology.  He is the author/coauthor of five textbooks reflecting a wide-ranging repertoire:  Introduction to Psychology (Glencoe, 1992—in Spanish translation in 1996 and 2002); Activities and Demonstration Handbook for Introductory Psychology (Allyn & Bacon, 1993): Human Relations:  Productive Approaches for the Workplace (Allyn & Bacon, 1997); Strategies for Managerial Writing (South-Western, 2006); and Certified Administrative Professional Exam Review IV:  Advanced Organizational Administration (Prentice Hall, 2006).  In addition, he has published numerous instructional materials and contributed to several editions of a multi-course text series of collected readings.  He has been the author (or coauthor) and project director of grants awarded from USDE, USDA, NEH, and the NSF.  Recently, he has served as the PD for a sub-award of the CGS Ph.D. Career Pathways Project for Program Improvement.  He served as the internal evaluator for KSU’s NSF TEAMS grant.

    Mark served two terms as the Faculty Senate President at KSU.  He taught two summers in the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program.  As a Professor of Psychology at KSU, he focused on building the program in Psychology and was the lead contributor to the development of the Online Bachelor of Arts Psychology Program at KSU.  His teaching awards include the KSU College of Arts and Sciences Teaching Excellence Award (2001).  He received the State-wide 2002 Excellence in Online Teaching Award sponsored by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and the Kentucky Virtual University.  Dean Garrison was the 2004–2005 Distinguished Professor for Kentucky State University.

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    Newsoul Deus

    Program Manager, Upward Bound Math-Science, Florida International University

    Deus serves as the Program Manager of TRIO Upward Bound Math-Science (UBMS) at Florida International University (FIU). In this role, she leverages her extensive experience in enrollment management and services to support the access and success of UBMS students. Additionally, she is an adjunct lecturer at the FIU Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs. Deus holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education, a Master's in Public Administration, and a Bachelor's in Business Administration, from FIU. She is deeply passionate about creating pathways for first-generation and low-income students and using her research background to better understand the role that higher education and its professionals play in promoting college access and the success of disadvantaged students.

    LinkedIn Profile

    Capstone: Program Enrollment Evaluation: FIU Biscayne Bay Campus, Kinesiology Program

    Cultural Integrity in College Bridge Programs: A Cultural Analysis