Slate Position: Vice President at Large
Position Statement:
I have been involved with AACRAO for more than 15 years. During this time, the organization has provided me with countless resources, including learning and development opportunities, that have helped me grow as a professional. In addition, AACRAO has helped me create an invaluable network of colleagues from across the country.
Over the years, my record of service with AACRAO has run the gamut from various Professional Activities Committees (PACs) to sitting on both the Nominations and Elections and Program Committees. I have also served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Program Committee, with my term ending at the 2024 annual meeting. Furthermore, I have applied to join two PACs, the Prior Learning Assessment and Alternative Credit and Credentials Committee and the Member Engagement Committee.
My colleagues have graciously nominated me to fill the Vice President at Large role. If elected to this position, I plan to use my experience with AACRAO in several ways to keep up with the responsibilities of the role. I will work with the Board and others in AACRAO to ensure solid and timely communication between the Board and members, especially members who are less active and who may feel they need to be heard. I will also work diligently on any special projects assigned to me by the Board, again with an eye toward encouraging engagement by members where possible.
Finally, I will collaborate with other Board members and leaders in the association to ensure that we continue to live out and promote our mission “to serve and advance higher education by providing leadership in academic and enrollment services.” In spite of its importance to the functioning of higher education, we tend to practice our profession behind the scenes. Highlighting our association’s mission for our members will not only serve to keep members engaged in AACRAO but also will help them to see themselves as key players on their own campuses in their day-to-day work.
I am appreciative of all that AACRAO has provided me over the years and would like to continue to serve the association and its members. Therefore, I respectfully request consideration for the Vice President at Large role on the Board of Directors.
Sam Fugazzotto currently serves as the University Registrar of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. An active AACRAO member for many years, he also serves as the Program Committee Chair for the 2024 Annual Meeting in Columbus, OH.
It is with humble excitement that I accept the nomination of AACRAO’s Vice President-At-Large. I am interested in this opportunity because my participation in AACRAO has benefited me professionally and personally. I recognize AACRAO’s impact on higher education, and specifically my professional growth, for which I am grateful.
My AACRAO and State and Regional service has included the following:
Black Caucus Chair
Public Policy Advisory Group membership
Technology and Transfer Virtual Summit co-lead
Past-chair of the Nomination and Elections Committee
Past-president of the Michigan ACRAO
AACRAO Connect Field Notes contributor
Annual, State, and Regional Session Presenter
Each opportunity has increased my desire to play a significant role in representing, supporting, and advancing the interests of the association and its members. AACRAO has afforded me the opportunity to experience their impact on legislation, policy setting, research, establishing competencies and meeting the needs of higher education professionals. These opportunities have strengthened my leadership, and it would be a privilege to utilize this skill set to give back in a more significant way to AACRAO and my profession.
AACRAO values include collaboration, innovation, inclusivity, inquiry, and integrity. My strengths are aligned with AACRAO’s values and are demonstrated in my ability to bring people together, to promote a common vision and commitment for a positive outcome.
Serving on the AACRAO Board of Directors is not considered lightly, as this comes with great responsibility and commitment to make sure the association and its members are served.
My professional experience specifically related to this role includes:
President's Cabinet member
Multiple service roles as caucus, committee, or task force chair
Project development and management
Collaboration with multiple partners on legislative issues
Governance over and monitoring of adherence to legislated higher education practices
Continuous quality improvement
Institutional strategy development and implementation
As Vice President-at-Large, I understand that my viewpoint has significant impact on shaping how the association is observed and on member experience. I will use my strengths to serve as a voice and liaison between the board and membership, lead efforts to guide strategic planning, leverage my position to ensure the board is positively represented as needed and assigned, and make myself available to state and regional associations, while being flexible regarding how I can best be of service.
Dr. Wendolyn Davis is Executive Director of Pathway Alignment at Chattanooga State Community College. Prior to joining Chatt State in June 2023, she held the position of Director of Undergraduate Admissions Transfer Center at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville for four (4) years, Assistant Director of Transfer Student Services at Central Michigan University for nearly seven (7) years and Education & Training Specialist at Grand Rapids Community College for two (2) years.
Dr. Davis taught TRNS 201 – Transitioning to Rocky Top, a UT transfer transition course led by the Office of Academic Success First Year Programs and served as an Intercultural Diversity Inventory (IDI) Advisory Board Member and Qualified Administrator (QA).
Dr. Davis is active in the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) as chair of the Black Caucus and chair of the Nominations & Elections committee, in addition to co-directing the Technology and Transfer Virtual Summit. She is a member of the Transfer and Articulation Committee, Public Policy Advisory Group, a past contributor to AACRAO Connect, and has presented at Annual Meetings. Additionally, she is a past-president and former board of director’s chair of the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (MACRAO).
Dr. Davis holds a PhD in Organization and Management, an MBA in Human Resource Management, a BS in Psychology, and an associate degree in general studies. Previous experience includes TRiO Programs, Child Welfare (International and Domestic), and Workforce Development.
Slate Position: President-Elect
Hello Beloved AACRAO Family,
I am incredibly honored and humbled to have received three nominations for the President-Elect position. AACRAO, and the values we encompass, has come to mean a great deal to me. I was both nervous and excited when I attended my first conference in 2015, for I would attend a conference I’d heard about during my years at a prior institution, and I would simultaneously be introduced to the other organization that is relevant for professional development in my area, and that is the National Network of Law School Officers (NNLSO). During my initial years in higher education, I was unable to attend conferences due to my position. However, my current institution and administration encouraged professional development, which allowed me the liberty to not only be involved with AACRAO, but be committed, submit presentation proposals that fell under both personal and professional development, and serve in leadership. From my election as Vice-Chair-Elect and then Vice-Chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee to my service as Vice-President At Large on the Board of Directors, Chair of the Governance Committee, speaker at State and Regional meetings, and co-author of a chapter within the most recent edition of Academic Operations and the Role of the Registrar, it has been my absolute pleasure to attempt to understand the needs of the organization and/or individual members and then choose areas for meaningful impact. Service in the role of President Elect empowers me to extend that same fervor but focused on Goal #5 of our Strategic Plan…to Develop and lead strong advocacy coalitions to benefit the advancement of higher education, higher education policy, and the learners we serve. In short, I desire to take a deep learning dive to broaden my and others’ knowledge on the different considerations/perspectives we must employ regarding accessibility and inclusion. I am learning that accessibility and inclusion has many faces. How then might we, as a profession, come to readily recognize those faces and transform our areas and our hearts to serve our clients (learners, faculty, fellow administrators) in a way that empowers, exhorts, engages, and promotes well-being? We must have a shared goal to consistently relay the message to any given person that “we see you, we want to help you, and we want you to know that you are not alone.” I truly believe that if we intentionally expand our view regarding the various forms of accessibility and inclusion, it will go a long way to projecting a more positive and discerning image of the higher education landscape, institution by institution. If any organization can be a premier leader in implementing such change, I certainly believe that AACRAO is such an organization, and I would love to be a part of such a movement.
LinkedIn
Dr. Connie enjoys the study of leadership and the privilege to impact others through encouragement and exhortation to be the best version of one’s authentic self. During her career, with over 20 years in higher education administration and preceding years in non-profit management, her main focus has been on process improvement, managing teams, and creating professional development opportunities that lead to proper team and organizational fit. Her recent professional passions include the study of behavioral and communication drivers, leading to a certification in the John Maxwell D.I.S.C. Method of Behavioral Analysis.
In her current position of Director of Registrar Services, she worked diligently to transition the department to a paperless division, created a pathway for electronic transcripts, presented an environment aesthetically pleasing as a “safe space” for students hailing from various areas of diversity, and has continually focused on process improvements throughout her career, to the benefit of the respective department, team processes, and organization as a whole.
Connie is also passionate about volunteerism. With that, she has served as a Guardian Ad Litem for over 20 years, advocating for children who have been temporarily or permanently removed from their home due to abuse and/or neglect. She is also active in professional organizations in her field; she has been an active member of both the National Network of Law School Officers and the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers since 2015, garnered by the support of her law school administration. She was elected and serves(d) as Vice-President at Large as well as Chair of the Governance Committee and Vice-Chair for the Nominations and Elections Committee (past commitment) for the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers and Assistant Executive Director of the National Network of Law School Officers. She is also a “JMTer,” committed to study and development from leadership expert Dr. John Maxwell. Connie is a lover of quotes and one of her favorites include, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Ghandi
Finally, having always lived a busy life between work, personal, and school commitments, Dr. Newsome became intentional about self-care during her doctoral journey. However, it was just in 2023 that she coined the phrase “beneficial selfishness,” which she lovingly defines as the concept of taking ownership of one’s own well-being, to the benefit of self and with the goal of positive engagement with one’s inner and outer circles. Beneficial selfishness is important because it impacts how we show up each day and moments within each day. Engaging the concept does not have to be long nor deep, it only needs to be impactful, leaving you feeling restored, a better version of yourself, every time.
Dr. Newsome holds a B.S. and an MPA, both from East Carolina University; she also holds an Ed. D. in Educational Leadership, with a focus in Higher Education Administration, from Argosy University. She appreciates time to periodically blog and write articles, write poetry, watch action movies with her husband and Schnoodle, and fellowship around good food with beloved family and friends.
AACRAO Role: Vice President at Large - Board of Directors
Ari currently serves as Associate Registrar of Berklee College of Music | Boston Conservatory at Berklee. With over 22 years of experience in the Office of the Registrar, Ari has a strong customer service focus while providing expertise in the areas of compliance, querying, reporting, registration, systems troubleshooting, curriculum management, and degree audit. Ari has been AACRAO's Vice President for Finance of AACRAO since 2022. He is also Past President and former Treasurer of New England ACRAO (NEACRAO). Ari has written for AACRAO’s College and University (C&U) periodical on the topic of student data security and recently presented at Oklahoma ACRAO on the topic of career and professional development. Prior to his career in higher education administration, Ari worked as a CPA in the audit function at Ernst & Young and he also taught financial accounting at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
AACRAO Role: Vice President for Finance - Board of Directors
I'm a St. Louis, MO native and honored to work in higher education for over two decades. I have been a part of the Washington University in St. Louis, MO community for several years. I have served in various roles, including student affairs advisor, registrar, academic advising, student development advocate, and club advisors. Two and half years ago, I transitioned into the vital inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program manager position at WashU Olin Business School. In this role, I have concentrated on enhancing the Olin community through innovative programming, community building, and an atmosphere of mutual respect and belonging. I have an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion work as a member of the University's Diversity Delegates, Olin's Racial Equity Task Force, and many other on- and off-campus initiatives, including WashU Staff Ombuds role, Danforth Staff Council, University Sexual Harassment Investigation Board, Co-chair Diversity Inclusion Forum for Faculty and Staff, Day of Dialogue and Action, advocacy for an inclusive culture for all, and involvement with many university committees. My involvement in the community includes St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative and the Diversity Awareness Partnership. I have board membership in the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and I am currently the President of AACRAO. I'm a 2019 alum of the WashU Professional Leadership and Network Academy and a 2019 W.E.B. DuBois Staff Mentor Award recipient, an award nominated by students. I earned a B.A. in Business Administration, an MBA degree, and a veteran of U.S. Army reserves. As a first-generation student, my focus is to ensure all individuals have access and equity within any environment. That setting is inclusive and allows one to thrive to their fullest potential. I see education as a human right that should open up opportunities for advancement. I know an inclusive environment will allow anyone to thrive to their fullest potential. I love traveling, live music, cycling, and sporting events with my husband. I love enjoying creating infinite memories filled with joy and laughter with friends and family.
AACRAO Role: Past President - Board of Directors Interview with Jackie Carter
Ken Sharp is a higher education professional with more than 20 years of higher education administrative experience at two-year and four-year institutions. His administrative experience spans all aspects of finance and administrative services including financial management, budgeting, human resource management, information technology, facilities management, strategic planning and project management. In addition to his administrative experience, Ken has more than 20 years of teaching experience focusing on statistics, economics and finance and has taught both online and face-to-face classes. Before transitioning to full-time teaching in 2015, Dr. Sharp served as an Associate Dean of Finance and Administration at the University of Colorado Denver as well as serving in Director and Associate Director of Finance and Administration positions at the University of Colorado Denver and the Pima County Community College District.
Sasha currently serves as the Associate University Registrar at Wake Forest University. Her prior experiences in higher education also include working with student-athletes, academic advising, and orientation. She has a BA in Political Science and MA in Human Services from Wake Forest University.
Sasha has been a member of AACRAO since attending her first Annual Meeting in Baltimore in 2015. She is the vice-chair of the Member Engagement Committee (formerly Mentor Services) and is a member of the Registration and Academic Support Committee, Women’s Caucus, Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus, and most recently served on the Transfer Student Success Workgroup.
Emily D. Campion, PhD is a consultant with Campion Services, Inc and an Assistant Professor of Management at Old Dominion University.
For more than 40 years involved in the evaluation of foreign educational credentials and the admission of international students to U.S. colleges and universities. Trained several hundred institutional staff in international admissions. Presented sessions to numerous educational associations on good practices in international student recruitment and admission.
Jill Desjean is a Policy Analyst with the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. In her role, Jill works with NASFAA’s members to develop policy recommendations, provides feedback to Congress on legislative proposals, and interprets financial aid-related policy issues for NASFAA’s members and other audiences. Prior to joining NASFAA, Jill enjoyed a 20-year career in financial aid administration, having held roles in the financial aid offices at Tufts University School of Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brandeis University and the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts as well as The New School in New York City. Jill joined NASFAA in 2016 and lives in Maryland with her husband and three children.
Patrick Tanner began serving as Vice President of Student Services in August 2024. In this role, Patrick is responsible for services which support students in their quest for success, including Admissions, Advising, Disability Access Services, Equity & Diversity, Financial Aid, Global Education, Registration, and Student Life. Prior to joining the team at Spokane Community College, Patrick led ort students in their quest for success, including Admissions, Advising, Disability Access Services, Equity & Diversity, Financial Aid, Global Education, Registration, and Student Life. Prior to joining the team at Spokane Community College, Patrick led enrollment management and student life units for public and private institutions across the country. Patrick serves on a number of professional and community association boards including the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators James E. Scott Academy Board and the Higher Education Research and Development Institute Innovate Board. Patrick is currently a doctoral candidate in Higher Education Administration at Idaho State University (anticipated completion in 2026). He earned his Master of Education in College Student Affairs Leadership from Grand Valley State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Geneva College in Pennsylvania.
SEM Endorsement Program: Ten Years of Growing Enrollment Management Competency
Review of: The Future of American Higher Education: How Today’s Public Intellectuals Frame the Debate
Caroline Dean Glover is a Student Engagement & Events Manager at Campus Greensboro, where she has served since 2019. Her work focuses on creating strong campus-community partnerships through paid summer internships, community mentor programs, and civic engagement opportunities for college students living in Greensboro, North Carolina. Her research and publications focus on student resilience, expanding academic records, and campus-community partnerships. Caroline graduated with her Master of Arts in Higher Education from Elon University in May 2020.
Comprehensive Learner Records: The Student Voice
Amber Lin was an undergraduate student at Elon University, graduating with a degree in Finance in May 2020. She is now a Product Strategy Associate at Cohen & Steers Inc.
Bailee Castillo was an undergraduate student at Elon University, graduating with degrees in Finance and Economics in May 2020. She currently works at StoneX as a Mortgage Backed Securities Operations Associate.
Maya Thomas Fernandez, Ed.D., is Director of the Employee Research Center at Dallas College. Her career has been primarily in health care management and higher education. She earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from Concordia University Texas. She has a Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in business. Dr. Fernandez holds a Yellow Belt in Lean Six Sigma. Her research interests include job satisfaction, student success, health care, and Six Sigma. Dr. Fernandez is a Graduate of the Aspen Institute first cohort of the Dallas Economic Opportunity Leadership Academy.
Job Satisfaction of Community College Deans
Jessica M. Muehlberg, Ph.D., is the Associate Registrar for Curriculum Management and Scheduling at Stanford University, where she has used her fifteen years of experience within the registrar’s office, enterprise student systems, community emergency response teams, and systems thinking in ways she never thought could possibly be combined. Her passion is for understanding complexity at the intersection of policy, processes, and tools and how to use systems thinking practices to drive organizational change. Muehlberg has a Baccalaureate and Master’s in Geology and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada.
Pandemic Scheduling: The Art of the Pivot
Sarah Cho has worked in the world of curriculum and scheduling for more than ten years at Stanford University. During this time, she has implemented a room scheduling tool, helped to ensure accurate course data, has scheduled innumerable classes, exams and events, and has endeavored to provide the best possible support to Stanford's students, faculty, academic departments, and campus partners. Currently, she is the Assistant Registrar for Courses and Scheduling on a fantastic team.
Shunit Harpaz is a Program Manager for Curriculum and Scheduling within the registrar’s office at Stanford. She is leveraging her startup tech background to creatively reform archaic processes and takes a getting-things-done attitude to constantly deliver better results. Shunit regularly works with Stanford faculty and staff to improve decision-making and implement advanced technology. Shunit’s multi-disciplinary background in tech, higher education and Marcom supports her pursuit of innovative solutioning.
Marisa White is the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Services at Lorain County Community College (LCCC) in Elyria, Ohio and has more than fifteen years of experience working in and leading student affairs enrollment management teams in community college environments, beginning with her first role as an academic advisor in 2006. She is a graduate of Kent State University (B.A. in 2004, M.Ed in 2006) and earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Colorado State University in 2021.
“Community College Students and the Pandemic”: A Review of: Inside Higher Ed’s Special Report
Abigail Benz, Ed.D., is Chief Strategy Officer for Ozarks Technical Community College. In this role, Dr. Benz guides strategic planning and grant development. Additionally, she spearheads the implementation of high-priority projects for the institution. Throughout her career, Dr. Benz has focused on addressing holistic needs of students as well as creating accessible systems and supports to reduce students’ barriers to educational success.
Proactively Supporting Students during a Crisis