Staff Directory

Questions about whom to contact? Please see the Contact Directory.

We want to hear from you.
Email is the best way to reach staff.
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Mail sent to the office is checked weekly. Expect delays in response and processing.

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Tammy Aagard

Managing Consultant
AACRAO Consulting
Business Development Division


Tammy provides direct consulting services to client institutions, and solicits and follows-up on inquiries from prospective clients.

Business Development Division

aagardt@aacrao.org

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Quintina Barnett Gallion

Associate Executive Director
Strategy & Planning Division
202-355-1052


Quintina is the executive lead responsible for AACRAO's position in the field of higher education administrators. She synchronizes all association staff, activities, and offerings to fulfill AACRAO's five strategic goals.

Strategy & Planning Division

gallionq@aacrao.org

 


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Joseph Beam

Director, Marketing and Communications
Strategy & Planning Division
202-355-1043


Joseph works across association departments to develop and execute strategic communications and marketing plans that support the association’s mission, engagement, and revenue goals while maintaining brand and messaging consistency.

Strategy & Planning Division

beamj@aacrao.org


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Michael Bilfinger

Assistant Director Public Policy
Research & Policy Division
202-263-0297


Mike directs ongoing monitoring and analysis of federal legislative and regulatory developments, emerging issues, and trends to determine the potential impact on AACRAO members. Additionally, Mike serves as editor of AACRAO Transcript.

Research & Policy Division

bilfingerm@aacrao.org

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Brittany Brown

Associate Director
IT and Business Operations
Operations Division
202-263-0295


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.

Operations Division

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Drew Carlisle

Assistant Director
EDGE Development
Research & Policy Division
202-355-1063


Drew provides customer service, refines and standardizes EDGE content, and manages projects that anchor AACRAO EDGE's position as an authoritative guide on comparative international education from a US perspective.

Research & Policy Division

carlisled@aacrao.org

 


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Tina DeNeen, Ed.D.

Associate Executive Director
Education & Member Development Division
202-263-0288


Dr. DeNeen is the executive lead responsible for professional development and content delivery with a focus on strategic plan alignment, and maintains overall responsibility for the activities in the EMD Division.

Education & Member Development

deneent@aacrao.org


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Paulina Duque

Communications Coordinator
Strategy & Planning Division
202-355-1052


Paulina Duque is the communication coordinator. 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.

Strategy & Planning Division

duquep@aacrao.org


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Becky Fowkes

Director
Meetings & Events
Education & Member Development Division


Becky leads and manages logistics related to the execution of AACRAO meetings and events, including contracting and sourcing meeting venues, registration process design, marketing, and materials procurement.

Education & Member Development Division

fowkesb@aacrao.org

 


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Julia Funaki

Director
International
Research & Policy Division
202-355-1054


Julia directs the international department, provides visibility of AACRAO to the global higher education community, and oversees the Electronic Database for Global Education and the Law School Admissions Council service lines.

Research & Policy Division

funakij@aacrao.org

 


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William Gil

Senior Director
Government Relations
Research & Policy Division
202-355-1080


Bill manages and implements AACRAO’s public policy agenda and oversees federal government relations, legislative, policy and regulatory matters impacting the AACRAO membership.

Research & Policy Division

gilw@aacrao.org


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Jody Gordon

Managing Consultant
AACRAO Consulting
Business Development Division


Jody provides direct consulting services to client institutions, solicits and follows-up on inquiries from prospective clients, develops and executes training programs for consultants, contributes research, and assists with developing partnerships with companies and agencies.

Business Development Division

gordonj@aacrao.org

 


Melanie Gottlieb

Melanie Gottlieb

Executive Director
Board & Governance Division
202-355-1055


Melanie is responsible for ensuring the association's operations (to include staff, infrastructure, products, and services) are in alignment to carry out the mission according to the strategic direction of the AACRAO Board of Directors.

Board & Governance Division  

gottliebm@aacrao.org

 


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Charles Hahn

Director
Information Technology
Operations Division
202-263-0291


Charles manages the IT team to tackle all AACRAO's technical needs for the present and future, including AMS management, cybersecurity, systems integration, project management, and hardware.

Operations Division

hanc@aacrao.org


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Martha Henebry

Associate Executive Director
Operations Division
202-263-0285


Martha is the executive lead for operations and membership at AACRAO. She oversees member acquisition and systems management and implementation. She also coordinates the organization's IT, Accounting, and HR departments. 

Operations Division 

henebrym@aacrao.org

 


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Dr. Kelli Hickey

Associate Director, Data Visualization
Strategy & Planning Division
202-355-1041


Kelli prepares, analyzes, and documents reports for management and various stakeholders across the association.

Strategy & Planning Division 

hickeyk@aacrao.org

 


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Tiffany Hsu

Executive Assistant & Board Liaison
Board & Governance Division
202-263-0290


Tiffany facilitates the coordination of scheduling and the communication between the Executive Team and board members.

Board & Governance Division 

hsut@aacrao.org

 


Photograph of Malenah Hunter

Malenah Hunter

Associate Director
Membership & Awards
Operations Division
202-263-0297


Malenah is responsible for managing the AACRAO Jobs service in addition to the annual awards program. She also facilitates the planning for the annual membership renewal campaign and assists with general operations.

Operations Division

malenahh@aacrao.org 

 


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Natalia Jimenez

Associate Director
Exhibits & Events
Education & Member Development Division
202-263-0287

Natalia is the primary point of contact for companies and organizations purchasing exhibit space or paid presentations at AACRAO meetings.

Education & Member Development Division

jimenezn@aacrao.org


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Chris Kalavsky

Director, Corporate Partnerships
Business Development Division
202-293-9161


Chris is responsible for the association's corporate memberships, sponsorship across AACRAO's event, research and product inventory, and manages yearly or longer term corporate partnerships/agreements across AACRAO's various departments.

Business Development Division

kalavskyc@aacrao.org

 


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Alex Lojko

Director
Membership & Operations
Operations Division
202-355-1053


Alex oversees the Membership and Operations team and coordinates the retention of over 11,000 existing members, the recruitment of new members, as well as drafting membership policy to align with AACRAO's strategic plan.

Operations Division

lojkoa@aacrao.org


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Wendy Kilgore, Ph.D.

Senior Director, Research
Research & Policy Division
202-355-1066


Dr. Kilgore leads AACRAO's research agenda, providing valuable insights into issues that impact the professionals and learners that our members serve.

Research & Policy Division

wendyk@aacrao.org

 


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Matt MacIntire 

Associate Director
Information Technology
Operations Division
202-355-1074


Matt assists the IT team in strategizing, policy-making, standardization, and providing guidance in managing AACRAO's core systems.

Operations Division

mattm@aacrao.org

 


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Orlando Mayorga

Assistant Director
Membership & Operations
Operations Division
202-263-0284


Orlando serves as the primary customer service contact for AACRAO members, assisting with renewal and member maintenance projects and general operations.

Operations Division

mayorgao@aacrao.org

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David Mihalyi

Associate Director, International
Research & Policy Division
202-293-9161


David manages AACRAO’s contracted partnership with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), provides training and guidance for remote evaluation staff, and contributes expertise to EDGE, while serving as an ex-officio member of AACRAO’s International Education Standards Council (IESC).

Research & Policy Division 

mihalyid@aacrao.org

 


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Jill Orcutt

Global Lead
Consulting
Business Development Division
202-293-9161


Jill is responsible for all aspects of Consulting, oversees approximately 60 highly qualified contracted consultants, develops new business lines, and maintains and expands AACRAO’s standing as a global SEM leader.

Business Development Division

orcuttj@aacrao.org

 


Marisella Reyes

Coordinator
Education & Member
Development Division
(202) 355-1047


Marisella provides administrative support to the AED, EMD and cross-divisional assistance to the departments within EMD.

Education & Member Development Division

reyesm@aacrao.org

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LeRoy Rooker

Senior Fellow
Education & Member Development Division
202-355-1059


LeRoy is the nation’s leading authority on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). 

Research & Policy Division 

FERPA@aacrao.org

 


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Belma Sadikovic, EdD

Coordinator
Content and Curriculum
Education & Member Development Division
202-355-1069


Belma assists in the management, design, and production of AACRAO’s on-demand courses/micro-credentials and manages all webinar related activities.

Education & Member Development Division

sadikovicb@aacrao.org

 


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Paige Selman Boucher

Community & Volunteer Manager
Impact & Engagement
Strategy & Planning Division
202-355-1043


Paige manages member-driven networks. She encourages collaboration throughout the membership empowering AACRAO professionals to leverage resources, professional functions, and personal identities.

Strategy & Planning Division

selmanboucherp@aacrao.org

 


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Mike Simmons, Ph.D.

Associate Executive Director
Business Development & Strategic Partnerships Division


Dr. Simmons is the executive lead responsible for leading the consulting, corporate partnerships and grants teams in creating and maintaining valuable strategic relationships and creating resource opportunities that allow AACRAO to meet strategic goals and serve our members.

Business Development Division 

simmonsm@aacrao.org

 


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Michael Sisson

Associate Director
Content and Curriculum
Education & Member Development Division
202-355-1069


Mike supports the management, production, and delivery of all AACRAO programming in the professional proficiencies, including faculty-led courses, on-demand courses, institutional FERPA training and SEM-EP, as well as virtual events like Tech Transfer.

Education & Member Development Division

sissonm@aacrao.org

 


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Nicole Spero Cunnick

Director
Consulting Operations
Business Development Division
202-355-1049


Nicole directs all operational aspects of AACRAO Consulting's services as well as managing consultant activities, and contributing to the development of strategic department initiatives such as marketing, new business lines, and recruiting consultant expertise.

Business Development Division

speron@aacrao.org

 


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Annetta Stroud

Director
Content & Curriculum
Education & Member Development Division
202-355-1064


Annetta oversees the development and implementation of AACRAO's adult education strategy and offerings to include faculty recruitment and training, and leads the C&C department in the design of custom training modules.

Education & Member Development Division

strouda@aacrao.org

 


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Autumn Walden

Content Strategy Manager
Strategy & Planning
Communications & Marketing Division
202-355-1046


Autumn is the lead storyteller, transforming AACRAO’s industry-leading work into a consistent voice.

Strategy & Planning Division

waldena@aacrao.org

 


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Erika M. Watts

Assistant Director
Meetings & Events
Education & Member Development Division
202-263-0286


Erika provides operational support and is the primary contact for conference and event registration customer service inquiries.

Education & Member Development Division

wattse@aacrao.org

 


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Heather Zimar

Managing Editor, Journals and Publications


Heather is responsible for the management, design, and production through all levels of AACRAO publications and journals. Heather also manages publication inventory, sales and distribution.

Education & Member Development Division

zimarh@aacrao.org

 


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Photograph of long-time AACRAO staff member Michele Sandlin

Long-time AACRAO Member, Board Member, and Consultant Retires

Jun 12, 2023

AACRAO Staff member, Michele Sandlin, discusses her upcoming retirement and what she'll be focusing on in the coming years.

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Introducing AACRAO’s Interim Executive Director, Melanie Gottlieb

Mar 9, 2021

Gottlieb to serve as Interim Executive Director beginning May 1

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AACRAO Executive Director search update

Feb 23, 2021

Candidate to be announced before the 2021 (106th) AACRAO Annual Meeting.

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Meet Joseph Beam, AACRAO’s new Marketing Coordinator

Feb 23, 2021

Help us welcome him to our team.

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AACRAO approves new Strategic Plan

Jan 25, 2021

Next step: develop strategies and tactics.

zoomed in headshot of Anita Nuñez Cepollaro

Meet Anita Nuñez Cepollaro, AACRAO’s new Director of Corporate Partnerships

Jan 11, 2021

Help us welcome her to the team.

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3 goodbye lessons: On becoming a statistic, and embracing it

Dec 12, 2020

Connect editor Brooke Barnett says goodbye to AACRAO.

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Update on AACRAO’s Strategic Planning process

Sep 5, 2020

New 10-year plan to be released in the coming months.

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AACRAO staff to present on international credential evaluation at TAICEP

Sep 5, 2020

Conference to be held virtually in October.

headshot of Cao-Nguyen Jonathan

Meet Jonathan Cao-Nguyen, new International Educational News Content Curator for EDGE

Sep 5, 2020

Researching and documenting education news from around the world.

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In memory of Edward Devlin

Jul 25, 2020

Ed’s groundbreaking work and advocacy enriched AACRAO and higher education.

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8 tips for keeping your team connected from the home office

Mar 23, 2020

Remote work is the new normal, but physical distancing doesn’t have to mean social isolation.

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AACRAO welcomes Tina DeNeen as Associate Executive Director

Mar 17, 2019

The University Registrar, basketball aficionado, and long-time AACRAO volunteer will become the new AED of Meetings and Partnerships on May 1.

female holds two sticks, one in either hand, while posing on a hill overlooking a body of water and trees

AACRAO’s Janie Barnett to retire in 2019

Oct 29, 2018

After nearly 50 years in service to higher education, the Associate Executive Director and “heart of AACRAO” is ready for her next adventure.

Photo of William Gil smiling.

AACRAO welcomes William Gil as the Director of Government Relations

Feb 7, 2017

AACRAO's seat at the table with the presidential administration and Congress.

Headshot of Melanie Gottlieb.

Meet the AACRAO Staff: Melanie Gottlieb, Deputy Director

Aug 25, 2015

Melanie talks about the transition from institution to association and confesses to "a serious book habit."

Meet the AACRAO Staff: Nicole Spero, Assoc. Dir. of Consulting

Mar 23, 2015

She oversees the task flow of consulting projects -- and has been known to frequent throwback 80s parties.

Meet the Staff: Heather Zimar, Managing Editor, C&U and SEM Quarterly

Mar 17, 2015

Meet AACRAO's resident polo fan, yogini and C&U wordsmith.

Meet the AACRAO Staff: Dr. Tom Green, Associate Executive Director, Consulting and SEM

Jan 13, 2015

AACRAO's art and theater enthusiast, classical musician and practicing SEM doctor.

Meet the Staff: Julia Funaki, Associate Director, International Education Services

Dec 2, 2014

This issue, promenade with avid reader, chef and practiced square dancer Julia Funaki.

Meet the Staff: Charles Han, Assistant Director of Information Technology

Oct 21, 2014

Meety AACRAO's resident IT guru, pool shark, and dance pro!

Meet the AACRAO Staff: Michelle Cormier Mott

Oct 23, 2013

Meet the AACRAO Staff: Natalia Jimenez -- Asst. Director, Marketing and Exhibits

Oct 22, 2013