By Autumn Walden, Editor, AACRAO Connect, Content Strategy Manager, AACRAO
When you hear the word “research,” what comes to mind? For some, it could conjure images of a library filled with large, dusty books and dark halls overflowing with archives, or a bright lab with microscopes and lab animals, while others might imagine a keyword search or an AI prompt. AACRAO Research, however, takes many forms to serve our membership and our industry, such as Career Profile Reports, the Eye on Research blog, cross-sector collaborative surveys and studies, research grant opportunities, and much more.
Leading our research is AACRAO Senior Director of Research, Dr. Wendy Kilgore, with guidance from the Research Advisory Board—a voluntary group of practitioners who provide strategic feedback and innovative ideas to Dr. Kilgore on research topics of interest to our membership. This October marks a transition of members on and off the Research Advisory Board. As Dr. Henrietta Romero concludes three years of service on the RAB, she has offered lessons learned along the way.
“The work on this committee always took into consideration publications that advanced the best practice work for our colleagues around the country,” said Dr. Romero. “As I transition off the Research Advisory Board, I hope that the group continues to address holistic student service approaches. I encourage anyone who would like more research-based experience in a professional setting to join the AACRAO Research Advisory Board—it’s a great way to expand your experience, knowledge, and integration of research into practice for your team, your institution, and your students.”
This fall, new members Ashley Miller and Jerry Ross joined the RAB to help advance AACRAO research priorities and methodologies. I asked Miller about how her current role and experience shape her contributions to the RAB’s mission. “AACRAO, as an organization, has given me so much that being on the Research Advisory Board provides me with an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way,” Miller responded. “I have seen how data and insight can be a catalyst for change and improvement.”
Then I asked Ross to describe a specific moment or experience in which AACRAO research or community connections had a tangible impact on his work. “Earlier in my career, it was the work on a Professional Activities Committee on federal compliance, and the informal mentoring from others in the field, as well as helping to bring ideas to the annual meeting through that work,” he shared.
In the interview conversations that continue, these three practitioners share insights to remind us that while research can require data, rigor, documentation, and observation, it also requires humanity and community to carry it forward meaningfully.
Reflections from Dr. Henrietta Romero, Outgoing RAB Member
Which findings or studies did you find most compelling, and how did they influence your own perspective or work?
Romero: My heart has steadily and continues to have a passion for the role of the institutional Registrar. As I aspired and achieved the goal of becoming an institutional Registrar, I found that no matter what institution you work in or what region you are located in, the role of the Registrar remains the most elusive and mysterious.
During my time on the Research Advisory Board, I had the opportunity to participate in the Career Profile that AACRAO has been conducting since 2015. This report was so important to my work and to the successful relationships I built in my career. I was able to share this report and others with other institutional leadership to help them understand the ever-so complex, mysterious, and rewarding role of the Registrar. I hope that AACRAO will continue to publish this report and others to help us and our colleagues better understand the scope and important role registrars play in institutional success.
How did your time on the RAB shape your own professional growth or leadership style, especially as you step into your new role at LCC?
Romero: Being a part of the Research Advisory Board allowed me to educate my colleagues in my state, region, and most importantly, my institution in the best practices and research-based reports that have an impact on our work. This opportunity gave me the ability to envision and lead my teams with practical and research-based evidence on how we can improve our work within our institutions. I also had the opportunity to challenge my own leadership style in ways that have now benefited me, my teams, and our service to our students.
Would you recommend any AACRAO courses, resources, or meetings that influenced your work?
Romero: One of the best benefits that I found as a young leader many years ago was the number of free services (with and without paid membership) that AACRAO offers to its professionals. The relationships and partnerships I have built over the years have been instrumental in my success and are a testament to who I have become as a leader. I also recommend:
Being a continued AACRAO member is the most beneficial.
Attending the Annual Meeting and other convenings.
Volunteering for the AACRAO Caucuses.
Taking Registrar 101, ASCEND, and other training offered by AACRAO.
Engaging in your state or regional ACRAO.
Consider trying for publication in the College & University Journal or SEM Quarterly.
Reviewing the Eye on Research blog or Higher Ed Policy Central.
Aspirations from Ashley Miller and Jerry Ross, Incoming RAB Member
What distinguishes your involvement on the AACRAO Research Advisory Board at this moment in your career from other professional activities, and how do you see your role contributing to the RAB mission and the broader higher education community?
Miller: Being on the RAB enables me to contribute to larger conversations facing higher education professionals today so we can continue the good work already happening in this area and provide others with the guidance they truly need. I started my career in marketing research, so being on this board feels full circle for me as it incorporates areas I am truly passionate about: consumer insight and higher education.
Ross: AACRAO is a leader in SEM and registrar work, so the opportunity to collectively help shape research for the field that sets the standard for this important part of higher education.
Can you share a piece of standout or original research from the last few years that continues to drive or inform your own work?
Miller: I am currently working on research with a colleague of mine that we will be presenting out at the AACRAO SEM conference in November. We are exploring the rise of the stealth applicant, as we have seen an increase in this area and expect there may be more on the horizon, given the impending search cliff.
Ross: On a very tactical level, the career profiles and staffing surveys are very helpful when in discussions about structures and staffing. Also, the territory management work from a few years ago was very helpful in moving the conversation around recruiting work.
Outside of your professional accomplishments, what’s one interest, habit, or perspective that helps you stay curious or creative in your work?
Miller: Right now, having a 17-month-old daughter helps me stay curious and creative. Seeing someone learn something for the first time or explore the world freely has given me a few good lessons to keep in mind. However, one key lesson is that we should value progress and not necessarily perfection. If it doesn’t work the first time or if we completely break it, we now have a learning that will make it even better the next time we try. In my work, I try to create the same kind of space for teams and encourage them to “fail forward.” Curiosity can be contagious. When we lead with it, others around us feel more likely to explore, question, and innovate too.
Ross: We are always trying new things, so creativity is vital. My leadership team carves out time for professional development through shared readings and other things, as well as in our regular retreats that help to keep a constant eye towards innovation. I'm also participating in an eight-to-nine-month program through ASU/Georgetown, entirely on innovation in higher education leadership.