Michelle Gruber is a Associate Registrar at Butler University and was a 2024 AACRAO Congressional Hill Day Advocate.
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With over 25 years of work experience in higher education, I am a passionate and dedicated leader who strives to make a positive impact on students, faculty, and staff. My core competencies include strategic enrollment management, adult education, staff development, and academic administration. As an adjunct faculty and advisory board member, I currently leverage my expertise and skills to support the doctoral program in higher education at Fairleigh Dickinson University and the reenrollment services at myFootpath.Previously, I served as the Executive Vice President of Education at Helms College until October 2023, where I led the institution wholly. Additionally, I have published journal articles and book chapters on enrollment management and higher education leadership and have made nearly 100 presentations at regional and national conferences. I have been an AACRAO member since 2002, and served on the AACRAO Board as the Vice President for Admissions and Enrollment Management from 2014 -2017.
Interview with Don Hossler
Aaron Oberman, Ph.D., is an associate professor of counselor education at The Citadel and serves as the program coordinator for school counseling programs. His scholarly interests include the ASCA National Model and best practices in teaching and training school counseling students.
Examining College Admissions Counseling Curricula within School Counselor Preparation Programs
Kara Hadley-Shakya serves as the Associate Vice President for University Admissions at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), commencing her role in January 2024. Prior to that, she served as the Executive Director of Recruitment and Admissions at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Hadley-Shakya is a SEM practitioner who brings more than fifteen years of experience in higher education. Her experience in admissions positively impacts students from diverse backgrounds and helps them attain their academic and personal goals in a supportive and inclusive environment. She is a member of AACRAO and presented at the 108th Annual Meeting. She earned her B.S. and M.S. from St. Cloud State University.
The First Two Years of College: Predicting Academic Success and Promoting Four-Year Completion
Rebecca Weston, Ph.D., is Associate Dean in The Graduate School and Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She received her Ph.D. in experimental psychology at the University of North Texas, with specializations in interpersonal relationships and quantitative methods. She has conducted research on relationships and partner violence for more than 20 years. Her more recent research on graduate student success is an outgrowth of her service as inaugural director of the Ph.D. program in psychology at UTSA. After seeing firsthand what factors facilitate and impede students’ successful degree completion and career placement, she was excited to have the opportunity to directly impact graduate students’ success in her role at The Graduate School working with a dedicated and passionate group on implementing and evaluating initiatives such as Keep Running with Us, the annual Graduate Student Well-Being Survey, and the Transdisciplinary Teams Grand Challenge.
Keep Running with Us: An Innovative Program at a Hispanic-Serving Institution Designed to Increase Graduate Enrollment of Hispanic/Latinx Students
Meng Ni, Ph.D.,is a strategic enrollment management data specialist and functional analyst at University of Houston-Clear lake (UHCL). Her career in higher education began in 2017 as a faculty member and student advisor. At UHCL, she develops data-driven enrollment strategies and provides input and recommendations to the SEM team for goal setting and long-term planning. She is a member of AACRAO and presented at the 108th Annual Meeting. Dr. Meng Ni earned her B.S. from Sun Yet-sen University, China, and her Ph.D. from University of Miami.
Jeffrey Ragsdale, Ed.D., is the Assistant Vice Provost of Graduate Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). He and his team lead student success initiatives involving DegreeWorks, Annual Review and IDP and the Bold Doctoral Staged Orientation series. Together these three initiatives were developed to remove barriers and demystify processes to degree completion. Prior to this position, he served as assistant dean of the UTSA Graduate School where he led the enrollment and recruitment strategies where, as part of the leadership team, the Keep Running with Us program was created. He is a three-time alum of the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in humanities, master’s in educational leadership and policy studies with a concentration in higher education administration, and received his Ed.D. in educational leadership with a concentration in higher education.
Ambika Mathur, Ph.D., is Senior Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Graduate Dean at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Dr. Mathur received her doctoral degree from the University of Iowa and has held faculty positions at the University of Minnesota and Wayne State University. Dr. Mathur is deeply committed to the advancement of all aspects of training for high school, undergraduate, medical, master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral trainees. She has received more than $30 million in grant funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and several other agencies in support of her research and training grants to advance diversity in graduate and postdoctoral education as well as the workforce. Dr. Mathur has more than 400 research publications and presentations in these areas.
Maria Medrano, Ph.D., is the Director of Special Projects at the UTSA Graduate School where she collaborates with campus partners seeking training grants from various federal funding agencies. She also conducts research to develop evidence-based programming for graduate students, especially as it relates to wellbeing. Dr. Medrano obtained her Ph.D. in psychology from The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She has been assisting prospective students from diverse backgrounds in starting their graduate education journey in her role at the Graduate School since August 2015, with a major focus on equitable access to graduate education for underrepresented minority students. Her research focuses on first-generation graduate students and their transition from undergraduate programs from a socio-cultural perspective as well as mental health.
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Dr. Ana K. Rodriguez serves as the Director of Freshman Recruitment at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Bringing over 19 years of extensive experience across various facets of higher education, she has served in areas including P-20 programming, housing, registrar services, athletics, admissions, recruitment, and enrollment management. Rodriguez's academic journey includes earning a bachelor’s degree in New Media Communications, a master’s degree in Digital Communications, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, all from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Driven by a deep-rooted passion for student service and a commitment to mentoring historically underrepresented student populations, Rodriguez’s goal was to earn this endorsement to continue her work in higher education as she continually seeks to maximize opportunities for student success and engagement within the university community.
SEM-EP 2024 graduate
Capstone: UTSA/SAISD Direct Admission Pilot (Research Study)
Leslie has served students, parents, colleagues and the community at large over two decades in higher education, at a 4-year private institution and, most recently, at a community college. As a higher education leader, Leslie is driven by a professional ministry that puts people first as the primary business value at the heart of a university's mission and strategic plan. As the Director of Financial Aid at Hostos Community College, Leslie leverages partnership, best practices, data & assessment, risk-taking, excellent customer service and staff professional development to create strategies designed to eliminate financial barriers to create a community conducive to access, student success, socioeconomic upward-mobility and sustainable enrollment management from recruitment to retention to completion.
In roles at Hostos, such as Interim Associate Dean of Student Development & Enrollment Management, chair of the New York State Aid Committee, co-chair of the Cross Divisional Advisement Committe, or as a member of the Senior Leadership Council, the Middle States Standard IV Subcommittee, the Retention Research Committee, Enrollment Management Committee, or the Strategic Plan Working Group for Access to Higher Education, Leslie has led and/or collaborated across campus to create access to higher education, improve the student experience and develop pathways for student persistence to graduation.
Although he has lived in New York since 2001, Leslie is a native of Detroit, MI, a graduate of The New School (BS in Liberal Arts & MFA in Creative Writing) and an Executive Leadership Coach pursuing ICF certification.
Slate Position: 2025-2026 Nominations and Elections Committee
Position Statement:
I am humbled to have received a nomination for NLC. I believe this represents an opportunity to continue serving the association in a different capacity. As an ASCEND Scholar, I hold dearly the value of leading and paying it forward for others. More than ever, AACRAO relies on the work from its membership to accomplish our mission, shape our vision, and advocate for our members, institutions, and communities we serve.
As a Mexican-American, first-gen educator, I have been shaped my experiences in volunteer roles with NASPA, ACPA, IACAC, among others where I have been able to contribute, learn, and advance enrollment management, student affairs, social justice, and fight against inequitable policies and practices within Higher Ed and the education system.I will continue to devote my efforts, initiatives, and approaches to fulfill my duties as Nominations & Elections Committee member.
Should I be given the honor to take on this role and challenge, here are some of my goals if elected:
- To diversify the field of enrollment management by soliciting and engaging with diverse professionals form all forms of identities, groups, and fields.
- To assist in developing and sharpening BIPOC professionals' skills by connecting them to other seasoned professionals, referring them to join committees and communities of knowledge, and to encourage them to run for leadership roles within AACRAO.
- To engage with AACRAO membership, PAC's and other communities of knowledge to identify and engage professional talent that can benefit the association by serving in roles and capacities that best matches their interest or qualifications.
- To serve as a connector by creating and fostering an environment of facilitating relationships, opportunities, and collaboration among AACRAO members and their unique needs and challenges.
Luis Alarcon, M.A.-M.ED., is a Mexican-American educator, SEM professional, and institutional agent. His work is centered on students’ learning, empowerment, and their individual and collective transformation through education. He is an avid DEI activist and ally to systematically excluded groups. He brings vast knowledge and expertise in admissions, recruitment, advising, Greek Life/Student Life, and leadership. Luis uses Intersectionality, Community Cultural Wealth, and Validation Theory to highlight, sharpen, and empower students’ determination, resilience, and persistence assets. Luis’ approach is student-centered/student-serving through recruiting, developing, retaining, supporting, and sustaining efforts.
Luis aspires to implement events, programs, and services designed to address students’ perceptions, experiences, campus climate, and cultural identities, which contribute to their learning and success. He deeply understands higher education and student affairs issues and challenges. Luis recognizes that relevant and up-to-date knowledge is key in serving students, so he networks and attends conferences and training opportunities (AACRAO, ACPA, HACU, NACAC, NADOHE, NASPA, etc.). He is working on his dissertation as part of the Doctor of Education degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He holds a Master of English from Eastern Illinois University, a Master of Education from DePaul University, and Graduate Certificates in Community College Leadership and Diversity & Equity from UIUC. Lastly, Luis recently earned a Certificate in Student Success Analytics from California State University.
He is active in many Higher Ed organizations by serving on diverse committees. He serves on ACPA's Bias Incident Response Task Force and is a Region IV-E Regional Rep for NASPA's LKC. Luis has received several professional grants and scholarships from ACPA, CalState, NASPA, Phi Kappa Phi, and IACAC. Luis’ academic honors include memberships in Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Sigma Pi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Order of Omega, and Pi Lambda Theta. He is a proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He seeks opportunities to serve as a coach, mentor, or sponsor for other individuals who could benefit from his experiences and hardships. Luis welcomes the chance to learn from others and collaborate to create more equitable conditions and environments in the pursuit of social justice, transformation, and educational growth.
Luis' career and personal journey are driven by his belief in the transformational power of education and his commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). His core competencies include allyship, mentoring, diversity and inclusion, and counter-storytelling. Luis uses his personal story as a minoritized, first-generation, low-income, single-parent student who came to the U.S. at 19 years old with no high school diploma to inspire, empower, and improve the lives of others through education, learning, and knowledge. Luis enjoys reading, working out, nature walks, and road trips outside of the higher education world. Luis likes spending time traveling and ruin exploring with his wife, Courtny. He is the proud cat dad of Tiki, Merlin, and Crete.
Kristina is a dedicated higher education administrator with over a decade of experience in student records and academic affairs in both public and private higher education institutions. She is currently serving as the Deputy Registrar at Brooklyn College. In this role, she oversees daily operations for the Office of the Registrar, managing functions such as certification, degree audits, registration, grade collection, cross-campus registration, and academic records.
In her previous role, Kristina served as the Assistant Registrar for Registration and Scheduling at New York University, managing registration, course and classroom scheduling, and course evaluation operations across the NY, Shanghai, and Abu Dhabi campuses.
Her passion behind her work is driven by the importance of serving first-generation college students, primarily from minority and low-income backgrounds, which reflects her upbringing. Kristina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs from CUNY Queens and aspires to earn an EdD in Leadership, aiming to further enhance and influence her impact on public higher education administration.
Dr. Johnnie Johnson is a seasoned higher education professional with a demonstrated history of success in enrollment management, program development, and academic leadership. He currently oversees early college access programs and new student orientation as the Program Director for COAST and ECAP&O at Prince George's Community College (PGCC). Prior to his role at PGCC, Dr. Johnson held leadership positions at Webster University, The Catholic University of America, Trinity Washington University, and Marymount University.
Dr. Johnson's expertise lies in strategic enrollment management, marketing and recruitment, student success initiatives, and faculty development. He is a skilled communicator, presenter, and relationship builder with a proven ability to increase enrollment, develop new programs, and foster collaborative partnerships.
In addition to his administrative roles, Dr. Johnson is a passionate educator who has taught at various institutions, including Webster University, Southern New Hampshire University, and the University of the People. He holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of New England, a Master of Science in Management from Marymount University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Dr. Johnson is committed to advancing higher education and empowering students to achieve their academic and career goals. He is an active member of several professional organizations and has presented at national conferences on topics related to enrollment management and student success.
Del has over 15 years of experience in higher education, working at four-year public, private, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Her expertise spans collegiate strength and conditioning, academic services for student-athletes, admissions, scholarships, registrar functions, academic services, and enrollment management. Del is currently the Assistant Director of Academic Services at Tulane University Law School. In this role, she provides leadership and strategic direction for exams, registration, commencement, degree conferral, American Bar Association reporting, finalizing grades, and overseeing character and fitness verifications for bar admissions. As Assistant Dean, Del prioritizes streamlining processes and leveraging technology to enhance support for all constituents. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership Studies from Oklahoma State University. Del is also a Doctor in Educational Leadership with a focus on Leadership in Higher Education from Indiana State University.
Bridget Jones found her love for admissions as a tour guide in college and she has not left the profession since. For over 15 years, she's worked at both private and public institutions across Illinois, Colorado, California, and Oregon. She currently serves as the Director of Admissions and Recruitment for Portland Community College and is a member of PCC's Strategic Enrollment Management Council. She holds a Master's Degree in Higher Education Enrollment Management and an MBA in Organizational Leadership.
Briana Roades brings 10 years of higher education experience, specializing in online undergraduate, graduate, professional, and international admissions. As the Associate Director of UF Online Enrollment Services, she plays a crucial role in developing enrollment strategies and processes that support the university's online undergraduate programs. In her current role, Briana's leadership and strategic vision drive the success of UF Online Enrollment Services. She leads a dedicated team, guiding their efforts to recruit and support online learners. Her commitment to innovation and student-centric approaches has led to new initiatives that enhance the online learning experience and expand access to education. Passionate about higher education, she is committed to helping students achieve their academic and professional goals. Briana holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Central Florida and a graduate certificate in Public Administration.