As the Content Strategy Manager, Autumn is the lead storyteller, transforming AACRAO’s industry-leading work into a consistent voice. Autumn strives to build narratives that connect people across roles and industries. Her commitment to higher education and professional development drives her passion to support the AACRAO community in advancing the future of learning mobility.
No stranger to professional development associations, Autumn has served on the conference executive committees and presented sessions for the Middle States Association of Collegiate Registrars and Officers of Admission (MSACROA) and the Delaware Valley Association of Collegiate Registrars and Officers of Admission (DVACROA). Her first AACRAO conference was the 101st Annual Conference in Baltimore, and one year later, she presented at the 102nd in Phoenix. She also presented at the American Marketing Association (AMA) Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education during her membership years.
Autumn has dedicated her career to education, most recently at Charter School Growth Fund as a data and technology systems lead and in higher education as a communications strategist specializing in marketing technology and operations. She is also a Salesforce Certified Administrator. She has held roles at Villanova University, West Chester University, and the University of Pennsylvania, building expertise in brand and reputation management, digital marketing, enrollment management, web development, systems implementation, content strategy, and nonprofit and philanthropy research. She began her career as one of the founding members of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania.
Other side quests include her business consulting practice, Clarity, Hope, and Luck, LLC. Autumn is also the co-founder, lead singer, and singer-songwriter of the Philadelphia-based folk band Kicking Down Doors. She earned a BS in education from Temple University and an MA in humanities from Arcadia University.
Christine Welden is the Associate Registrar for Policy & Operations at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She began her career in the Registrar’s Office in 2014, focusing on degree audits and graduation checks. Throughout her tenure, Christine has held a variety of roles, including VA School Certifying Official, academic standing reviewer, and professional development facilitator for staff and faculty. She has also overseen graduate school processes, managed office operations, and conducted the final editing of the University Catalog.
Christine has been an active member of AACRAO since 2019, serving on the Accessibility Task Force in 2023, participating in the Peer Mentor Program and Academic Progress PAC in 2024, and is currently an active member of the Young Professionals Caucus.
Nicholas Jobe is the University Registrar at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. His work as a registrar since 2016 has resulted in enhancements to operational efficiency at three different institutions. He also has experience across numerous areas including accreditation, assessment, and advising, and he has led or been involved with several technology implementations.
Nick is also an active and engaged member of the AACRAO community. He serves as the Communications Specialist for AACRAO’s Young Professionals Caucus and as a member of the Small Colleges Committee. Nick also participates in AACRAO’s Peer Mentoring program, presents at both regional and national conferences, and has appeared as a guest on AACRAO’s For the Record podcast.
Dr. Curtis Clock is originally from Matthews, Indiana but moved to Muncie to pursue his education at Ball State University. He earned his Bachelor’s in History and his Master’s and Doctorate in Adult, Higher, and Community Education--all from BSU! Dr. Clock’s dissertation centered around exploring the lived experiences of first-year students on academic probation. He spent the first four years of his professional career in Academic Advising working primarily with First-Year STEM students, and he currently serves as the Associate Registrar in the Office of the Registrar at Ball State University overseeing the Catalog, Schedule, and Student Curriculum functions and processes. Curtis has been involved with AACRAO since 2021 and has served as the Vice Chair for the Academic Progress Committee within Group 3 since 2023 and has been an active member of the Young Professionals Caucus since its inception.
Karen J. Solomon presently serves as the Higher Learning Commission’s Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer. In addition to serving as an institutional liaison, she has been leading HLC’s future-focused grant initiatives since 2016. She is co-leading the development of HLC’s new Credential Lab, an innovation hub designed to assist institutions and providers in navigating the complex and growing ecosystem of postsecondary short-term credentials.
Previously, Dr. Solomon was the founding Executive Director of Illinois Campus Compact and held leadership roles at ACT, Inc and higher education institutions. She holds an Ed.D. in Adult and Continuing Education from Northern Illinois University.
President Dr. Laura L. Douglas is Bristol Community College’s fourth president. She is dedicated to driving a college-going culture in the region. Through her leadership, Bristol Community College, with locations in southeastern Massachusetts including Attleboro, Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton and Online, continues to be a leading resource for higher education and workforce development. She is well-known throughout the community for her dedication to college access, Early College, continuing education, economic development and workforce preparedness.
Driven by her dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion, she has led the development of a strategic plan that weaves equity into all aspects of our mission, vision and values. During her tenure, the college has become a regional leader for social justice initiatives, a voice for underrepresented students and advocate of affordable and equitable access to quality higher education.
Under President Douglas’ leadership, Bristol Community College has taken the international stage. Her dedication to creating jobs in the community and being on the forefront of the United States’ emerging Offshore Wind industry demonstrates the community college’s value as an economic driver in New England and beyond.
President Douglas attended the University of Southern Maine and holds an undergraduate degree in Social Welfare. She holds a master’s degree in international administration from the School for International Training in Vermont and a master’s and Ph.D. in education from the University of Michigan’s Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education.
Dr. Linda C. Martin was appointed interim chancellor in July 2022.
Most recently (2021-22), Linda served as the Interim Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) overseeing the UT College of Veterinary Medicine; Herbert College of Agriculture; AgResearch; and Extension. Prior to this since November of 2017, Martin served as the vice president for academic affairs and student success for the University of Tennessee System. Martin’s prestigious career includes 10 years at The Ohio State University serving as the Sanford G. Price and Isabelle P. Barbee Endowed Chair for Teaching, Advising and Learning, the associate dean and director for academic programs for the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the director of the second-year transformational experience program.
Previously, she was assistant dean for academic programs for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University (2002-2007), following 15 successful years in higher education as a faculty member, teaching and advising at Kansas State University, serving in the department of animal sciences and industry.
Martin earned a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University, a master’s degree from Virginia Tech and a doctorate from Colorado State University—all in animal science.
Martin currently lives in Knoxville with her husband, Ken, and their dog Jake. Linda and Ken have two children, Travis and Hannah.
Dr. Laura M. Gambino is a Vice President for the New England Commission of Higher Education, where her work focuses on helping institutions and the Commission use data and conduct assessment for institutional learning and improvement. She also oversees NECHE’s Information Technology and is project director for the Commission’s Non-Credit Quality Assurance work. Prior to joining NECHE in 2018, Gambino was Associate Dean for Assessment and Technology and Professor of Information Technology at Guttman Community College (CUNY) and a Visiting Scholar at the Community College Research Center (CCRC), Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Gambino, a leading ePortfolio and assessment practitioner and researcher, served as a Coach for the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA). She is co-author of High-Impact ePortfolio Practice: A Catalyst for Student, Faculty, and Institutional Learning and co-edited Catalyst in Action: Case Studies of High-Impact ePortfolio Practice.
Dr. Anthony Abraham Jack is the inaugural faculty director of the Newbury Center and associate professor of higher education leadership at Boston University.
Dr. Jack’s research documents the overlooked diversity among lower-income undergraduates: the Doubly Disadvantaged—those who enter college from local, typically distressed public high schools—and the Privileged Poor, or those who do so from boarding, day, and preparatory high schools. His scholarship appears in the Common Reader, Du Bois Review, Social Problems, Sociological Forum, and Sociology of Education and has earned awards from the American Sociological Association, American Educational Studies Association, Association for the Study of Higher Education, Eastern Sociological Society, and the Society for the Study of Social Problems.
Dr. Jack held fellowships from the Ford Foundation and the National Science Foundation and was a 2015 National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellow. In 2016, the National Center for Institutional Diversity at the University of Michigan named him an Emerging Diversity Scholar. In 2020, Muhlenberg College awarded him an honorary doctorate for his work in transforming higher education.
The New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Atlantic, the New Yorker, Chronicle of Higher Education, Huffington Post, the Nation, American Conservative Magazine, National Review, the Washington Post, Vice, Vox, and NPR have featured his research and writing as well as biographical profiles of his experiences as a first-generation college student. The Privileged Poor: How Elite Colleges Are Failing Disadvantaged Students is his first book. His second book project, When Campus Closed: How Elite Colleges Are Still Failing Disadvantaged Students, is due out in 2024.
Caroline Laguerre-Brown is the Principal and CEO of Designing Equity, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in higher education. She offers comprehensive support to national associations, post-secondary institutions, and corporations, leveraging her seasoned expertise as a lawyer with deep knowledge in diversity, inclusion, and institutional compliance. Caroline's extensive experience includes leading the design and implementation of policies, educational programs, and risk management strategies for global organizations, focusing on a wide range of anti-discrimination laws. She has specialized expertise in sexual harassment policy, prevention, and compliance management. As an experienced facilitator and trainer, Caroline addresses various workplace discrimination and diversity issues, including unconscious bias and anti-racism training. She plays a key role in assisting senior leaders with strategic communications to manage crises and mitigate reputational damage.
Previously, Caroline was the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement at George Washington University (GW) in Washington, D.C. Her responsibilities encompassed overseeing departments that serve 26,000 students, including the Title IX/Sexual Assault Prevention office, the Multicultural Student Services Center, GW’s Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service, and the Office of Disability Support Services. Joining GW in August 2016, she led a significant review and overhaul of the university’s sexual harassment/assault policy and spearheaded the university’s first comprehensive diversity program review.
Before her tenure at GW, Caroline was the Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer at Johns Hopkins University, where she introduced the university’s first sexual harassment prevention training initiative, implemented unconscious bias training for faculty search committees, initiated a Race in America speaker series, and co-developed a faculty diversity program.
Currently, Caroline is active on several boards and committees. She serves as the First Vice Chair for the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) and teaches at NADOHE’s Standards of Professional Practice Institute, preparing and coaching future chief diversity officers. Caroline is also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Union Theological Seminary, as a charter committee member of the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity, and as an advisory board member for the George Washington University Online High School.
Amber Ovaska serves as the Associate Director of Admissions and Registration at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With nine years of experience in enrollment services within higher education, she has focused on admissions and registration in both private and public institutions. Currently, she holds the position of Vice President of Admissions for Rocky Mountain ACRAO and is a member of New Mexico ACRAO. Additionally, she is a member of the AACRAO State & Regional Relations Committee. Amber earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and will be graduating with her MBA from New Mexico Highlands University in December 2024.
Alex serves as Associate Registrar for Compliance at Marquette University, a position he has held for just over nine years. He is a self-confessed FERPA geek and also oversees enrollment reporting, policy interpretation and implementation, and is honored to work with Marquette’s military-connected population to utilize their federal and state education benefits.
Alex has been actively involved in his state association, WACRAO, since moving to Wisconsin from Florida in 2012. He has served on standing committees, as WACRAO Treasurer for two terms, and most recently completed the presidential cycle and now serves on the nominations and awards committee. In these roles, he has had numerous opportunities to collaborate with WACRAO’s neighboring association, the Upper Midwest ACRAO (UMACRAO) and is excited to share his experiences with AACRAO!
Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond, President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has been a member of the higher education community for over 30 years. Her professional career has included tenured and administrative positions in universities throughout various regions of the United States. She has held faculty and administrative positions at the University of Louisiana Monroe, California State University Dominguez Hills; Delaware State University; University of North Carolina Charlotte, Winston-Salem State University; and Coppin State University. Most recently, Dr. Jackson Hammond completed her tenure as president (Emerita) of Central State University in Ohio. She has appeared several times on Capitol Hill providing testimony regarding the status of 1890 Land-Grant institutions.
Dr. Jackson Hammond is a sought-after thought leader on accreditation, multicultural diversity, equity and inclusion. Her academic disciplines are Higher Education Administration and Curriculum. Dr. Jackson Hammond spent the majority of her career in administration serving as director of TRIO programs, academic dean, provost and president. Jackson Hammond has served on many national boards including Thurgood Marshall College Fund; NCAA Division II Presidents Council; American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; Fulbright Scholars Advisory and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Dr. Jackson Hammond was appointed in 2022 to President Joseph Biden’s Commission on Presidential Scholars.
Dr. Jackson Hammond is an ardent advocate for quality assurances and transparency in higher education and is committed to the advancement of college student success, equity and integrity in higher education.
Acclaimed for her powerful fusion of jazz, roots, and social commentary, Tucker uses her music as a platform for reflection and healing. With a growing audience of over a million followers, her evocative compositions and insightful social media presence uniquely connect with both jazz aficionados and new listeners. Her latest project blends original songs and innovative arrangements, showcasing her exceptional artistry and commitment to cultural equity.
Doug Lederman is co-founder of Inside Higher Ed. For 20 years he co-led the news organization's editorial operations, overseeing news content, opinion pieces, career advice, blogs and other features. Doug speaks widely about higher education, including on C-Span and National Public Radio and at meetings and on campuses around the country, and his work has appeared in The New York Times and USA Today, among other publications. Doug was managing editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education from 1999 to 2003. Before that, Doug had worked at The Chronicle since 1986 in a variety of roles, first as an athletics reporter and editor. He has won three National Awards for Education Reporting from the Education Writers Association, including one in 2009 for a series of Inside Higher Ed articles he co-wrote on college rankings. He began his career as a news clerk at The New York Times. He grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and graduated in 1984 from Princeton University. Doug lives with his wife, Kate Scharff, in Bethesda, Md.
Yá’át’ééh! (Navajo Greeting)My name is Winifred Bessie Jumbo and I come from a small community called Two Grey Hills, NM, well known for their Navajo rugs and textiles. My mother is Naakaii Dine’é (Wondering People Clan), my father was Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle People Clan), my material grandfather was Hashtł’ishnii (Mud People Clan), and my paternal grandfather was Táchii’nii (Red Running Into Water People Clan). I began my higher education career at Diné College in 2011. I have grown professionally and personally over 11 years within our institution. I value our purpose as Diné College and enjoy working with our communities, more importantly with our Navajo families. I’m passionate about making sure all students succeed in their higher educational journey, specifically our first-generation college students.I serve as the Director of External Campuses of Diné College. I’m excited for the new opportunity and I hope you join me in creating and developing innovative approaches to expanding and stabilizing our campuses, centers, and microsites to serve our students and communities. I appreciate our institution and its investment in growing our own to advance our professions and experiences. My previous roles at Diné College include Dual Credit Program Director, Recruiter, and Executive Assistant to the Office of the President. I am currently a graduate student at Baylor University pursuing a doctorate in Learning and Organizational Change. I’m an alumna of Northern Arizona University (M.Ed. in Educational Leadership) and Brown University (B.A. in Anthropology and Ethnic Studies). Ahéhee’ t’áá ánółtso! (Thank you)
In response to a nomination, I am stepping forward to run for this position. I am deeply humbled and honored to be considered for this role, and I wish to express my sincere gratitude for this recognition.
My decision to run for this position stems from my deep respect for AACRAO and the distinguished individuals who are part of it. I am inspired by the work we do and the impact we have, and I am eager to contribute to our collective efforts in a more significant capacity.
If elected, my primary goal will be to serve our organization and its members to the best of my abilities. I am committed to contributing in any meaningful way I can, with the aim of furthering our shared objectives and values. I believe in the power of collaboration and mutual support, and I am excited about the possibility of working closely with respected mentors and colleagues.
In closing, I would like to thank you once again for considering my nomination. I am looking forward to the opportunity to give back to an organization that has given so much to me.
Respectfully,
Crystal Palacioz
If selected for the Nominations and Elections Committee, I would be eager to serve AACRAO in a new capacity. My primary goal is to ensure that the membership is presented with a qualified, diverse, and balanced slate of nominees for open positions. I believe that diversity and balance are crucial for fostering a range of perspectives and experiences within our organization, which in turn strengthens our collective ability to address the challenges and opportunities we face.
In addition to curating a robust slate of nominees, I am committed to promoting the nominations and voting process with the goal of increasing member engagement and participation and ensuring that every member feels their voice matters. I am prepared to fulfill additional responsibilities related to the planning and preparation of AACRAO nominations and elections by collaborating with colleagues and adhering to the highest standards of integrity and fairness throughout the election process.
My experience in AACRAO and OACRAO leadership over the last thirteen years has equipped me with the skills and insights necessary to contribute effectively to this committee. I am passionate about AACRAO's mission, dedicated to supporting its continued growth and success, and eager to find new ways to contribute meaningfully to the organization that has been pivotal in my professional development.