Synesthetic EdTech leader with a portfolio of diverse experiences advancing the global credentialing ecosystem. Day job is to turn credentials into opportunities as the Director of Global Ecosystem and Innovation at Parchment, the leading credentialing platform in Higher Education globally. Night hustle is to build out the global credentialing ecosystem across education and work by contributing and leading work on technical open standards in support of technical (and human) interoperability. Simone is an O.G.s of Open Badges, the ancestor of modern recognition technologies. He currently Co-Chairs the W3C Verifiable Credentials for Education Task Force and contributes the development of open standards for Learning and Employment Records (LERs) across multiple Standards Developments Organizations.
Currently serves as the Chair of the Credential Engine CTDL Advisory Group, Strategic Advisory Council of the Groningen Declaration Network, and advisory board of the Open Recognition Alliance, Erasmus Without Paper, Steering Board of the Learning Economy Foundation and expert in the European Blockchain Service Infrastructure (use case diploma).
Adam Daniels is currently employed as the Manager, Strategic Enrolment Management Plan Implementation at Saint Mary’s University. Before this role, Daniels worked as the student transitions specialist within student affairs and services at Saint Mary’s since 2017. Previous to his time at Saint Mary’s, Daniels was employed on the St. John’s campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland between 2009 and 2017 for both the university and the undergraduate students’ union. He has a B.A. (2009) from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Making the ROI Argument for SEM: It Makes More than Cents
Tom Brophy has worked for 23 years in progressive leadership roles at the postsecondary education level. Brophy received his B.A. (1994) and M.Ed. (2002) from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. During his career, he has worked at three universities in three different provinces including Memorial (15 years), Brandon University (3 years), and Saint Mary’s University (7 years). Brophy has been very involved in developing programs and services to engage students, enrollment management, and student success. He has published and presented on numerous assessment and research-based initiatives, most recently on student success.
Steven Smith, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology and the former associate vice-president academic and enrollment management at SMU and former dean of science. Smith received his B.A. (1995) from Bishop’s University and his M.A. (1997) and Ph.D. (2000) from Queen’s University. As AVP Smith led the strategic enrollment management program at SMU. He has published in journals such as Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Law and Human Behavior, Vaccine, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, and Journal of Applied Psychology.
Fostering Faculty Learning Communities: Reflections from an FYE Landscape of Practice
Kelly Long, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Georgia in the Doctor of Education program for higher education leadership and practice. They primarily teach quantitative research methods and courses focused on social justice. Prior to UNG, Dr. Long served as the assistant vice president of accreditation and assessment at a private business college for three years, and they held a similar role at a Oakland Community College for six years. Dr. Long is a peer reviewer for the Community College Journal of Research and Practice and is a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. They hold an M.S. in survey methodology from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in education leadership from Oakland University.
Strategies for Diversifying the Legal Profession Pipeline: A Critical Race Theory Review
Kelley Lips, Ed.D., serves Emory University as the Assistant Vice Provost & Dean of Enrollment Services at Oxford College. An alumna of Oxford and Emory Colleges, Lips earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and educational studies. She then completed a M.S. in mental health counseling from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA, and then continued her education to receive her doctoral degree in higher education management from the University of Georgia’s Institute of Higher Education. In her current role, Lips serves as a member of the university’s enrollment leadership team and is responsible for admissions, financial aid, and the registrar at Oxford College. As a first-generation college student, Lips believes in the power of education to change lives and generate opportunity.
Organizational Structure, Strategy, and Coupling of Enrollment Management Divisions
Aaron M. Berger, Ph.D., has served as the Associate Director of Graduate Recruitment at Kent State University since January of 2021. In his current role, he is responsible for working with students and assisting them on their journey into graduate education. He is also in charge of developing and executing the university’s graduate admission communication plan and working alongside the university’s nine colleges to assist in their recruitment efforts regarding graduate students. Prior to working in graduate admissions, Dr. Berger has more than ten years of experience in the campus visit experience and undergraduate recruitment. Dr. Berger holds memberships to OACAC, NACAC, and NAGAP, where he is the co-host of The NAGAP Report: The official podcast of NAGAP, the Association for Graduate Enrollment Management. Aaron is also the creator and host of Gradified: A Graduate School Prep Podcast.
Aaron holds a Ph.D. in educational administration – higher education, as well as an M.Ed. in higher education administration from Kent State University in Kent, OH, and a Bachelor of Arts in advertising and public relations from Marietta College in Marietta, OH.
Lived Experiences of Chief Enrollment Officers in Ohio
Paulina Duque is the communication coordinator at AACRAO. She helps coordinate, manage, and design AACRAO’s social media content. She is also responsible for editing and scheduling a variety of AACRAO e-blasts and newsletters.
Paulina graduated from the University of Maryland in May 2022 with an undergraduate degree in Journalism and a concentration in cinema and media studies. She began working at AACRAO in February 2023 as a communication intern and transitioned into the full-time Communication Coordinator role in October 2023. Paulina has experience in videography, photography, reporting, and social media content creation.
Experienced Outreach Director with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Event Planning, Program Evaluation, Academic Advising, and Student Leadership. Strong education professional with a MA focused in Adult Education from Ball State University.
Jarrell Townsend is the Assistant Registrar for Degree Completion at Oregon State University where he is responsible for awarding all degrees at the institution. He also manages their emerging microcredential program. He has been a dedicated higher education professional for over 11 years and takes pride in helping students complete their education journey. He is a Pacific Northwest Native who embraces the uniqueness of the region. He says “There are not many places where you can go to the coast, desert or mountains in one day. The variety of outdoor activities are second to none.” Outside of work, Jarrell spends most of his time being a father, socializing with friends and golfing.
Tiffany Aurora is a storyteller, writer, podcaster, and long-time communications professional who loves to help organizations tell their stories.
Tiffany has led communications teams for associations and nonprofits across the country and has provided strategic communications consulting and content creation services for international NGOs, SaaS companies, and startups. She has also designed and facilitated a wide variety of research studies, focus groups, campaigns, and special events.
Tiffany holds a BA in International Relations and Middle East Studies from Grand Valley State University, and completed graduate work in International Finance and Economic Policy at Columbia University SIPA. She lives in Baltimore and can frequently be found scouting out new restaurants, attending live performances at tiny jazz venues, and getting too emotional when talking about the latest Ravens game.
Jenni Kotowski is the Director of Admissions at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Michigan. Jenni was the co-chair of KCC’s recent initiative to create and implement a new Strategic Enrollment Management plan that identified ways to increase enrollment and retention.
Jenni is working on her Ed.D. in Community College Leadership at Northern Illinois University.
Request Dr. Robert Goltra as a speaker
AboutDr. Robert Goltra, III has a well-rounded, 20-plus-year background in education that includes experience as a K-20 instructor and administrator and specialized training in the areas of student retention, student services, and student success. Robert’s experiences in managing student service projects range from designing and implementing student enrollment and retention plans to developing and leading million-dollar student services grants. His leadership of those projects and many more have prepared him to lead the teams needed to ensure the successful completion and implementation of critical student initiatives. Leading department personnel in highly accountable higher education environments (e.g., admissions, DEI leadership, student conduct, Title IX and student advocacy, counseling centers, student health services, Greek life, veteran services, advising, campus police, career services, financial aid, housing and residence life, SGA, student activities, co-curricular assessment, tutoring services, testing centers, and TRiO grant programs) has primed him to work with and lead essential higher education personnel to engage in the best practices that undergraduate and graduate students rely on to meet their needs in today’s educational milieu. He calls on his first-hand K-20 student development experiences to best serve as an AACRAO Consultant.
As an Institute for Educational Leadership Education Policy Fellowship Program completer, he deepened his knowledge and application of policy and data governance decision-making. Assisting higher education colleagues in strategically eliminating systemic barriers was key to his desire to join the AACRAO consulting team of dedicated professionals making a positive impact in higher education. His doctoral dissertation studied college student retention characteristics, models, and programming that best engage and propel underserved and underrepresented students to successful personal and academic outcomes.
While studying to become an educator, he was also a successful student-athlete. He was named an Academic and Associated Press All-American, served as Team Captain of a top-five college football program, and played for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. These experiences, coupled with being raised in a single-parent low socioeconomic household, allow him to identify with students navigating the enrollment funnel through graduation carrying at-risk characteristics that require just-in-time wrap-around services.
Senior Associate Registrar – Iowa State University; President – Upper Midwest Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (UMACRAO)
I began my higher education career 19 years ago in Continuing Education at Valdosta State University. From there, I transitioned to Iowa State University, first in Engineering Online Learning, then within the College of Engineering Dean’s Office supporting administrative and budgetary initiatives. In 2011, I transitioned to the Office of the Registrar at Iowa State University, where I am currently Senior Associate Registrar. My experience in the Registrar’s Office spans numerous areas including Records, Registration, Curriculum Management, Course Offerings, and Tuition and Fee Assessment. In addition, I am a lifelong learner, and received my Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration in 2017. Alongside my passion for education is my passion for UMACRAO. I am the current UMACRAO President, and have been a member since 2011, serving in various positions such as creating the newsletter, supporting the technology chair, and serving as the Program Chair. The power of education to change lives and communities is fundamental, and it is through associations like UMACRAO and AACRAO that we can connect to move educational initiatives forward, with greater purpose and impact.
The AEFE is a branch of the French Foreign Affairs Ministry that coordinates French schools abroad. The pedagogical inspectors employed by the AEFE have two levels of input : they supervise the teaching of their field of study within the global network of French schools, and they coordinate teacher training in French schools abroad within specific geographical zones. Georgina MORAT is responsible for English, German and Chinese, and coordinates teacher training in the Asia-Pacific geographical area.