Deb Hether serves as the Director of Enrollment Services at Western Technical College in La Crosse, WI. In this role, she is instrumental in the development of enrollment strategies and processes that support both recruitment and retention. Areas of oversight include Admissions and Recruitment, Financial Aid and Emergency Funding, Welcome Center, K-12 Partnerships and Dual Credit, Credit for Prior Learning, Transfer Credit Evaluation, Records and Registration, Regional Locations, and the Customer Relationship Management System.
2024 SEM-EP Graduate
Capstone: SEM Plan for Western Technical College
Capstone: Literature Review on Student Retention and Strategic Enrollment Management
Lorie Coachman is a first-generation higher education administrator and strategic leader. As Associate Vice President of Admissions and Enrollment Services at Seminole State College of Florida, she offers visionary leadership and oversees multiple key units including Enrollment management intake strategies, Admissions, Recruitment, Orientation, and International Student Services. With nearly fifteen years of extensive experience in post-secondary education, Mrs. Coachman excels in developing and implementing educational programs and support services. Her professional journey includes pivotal roles in admissions, enrollment services, student affairs, and academic support services at Valencia College, the University of South Carolina, Texas A&M University, the University of Texas-Arlington, and Florida International University.
Lorie earned her bachelor's degree and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration with a graduate certification in Conflict Resolution and Consensus Building from Florida International University. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree in Education Systems Improvement at the University of South Carolina (2024 Undefeated NCAA Women’s Basketball National Champions- Go Gamecocks!)
Lorie is a passionate advocate for higher education and believes in its ability to change lives. As a first-generation college graduate, she has experienced firsthand the transformative power of education she is committed to breaking down barriers and creating space for others to experience educational access. She is driven by a desire to make a positive impact on the world and empower others to do the same.
In her free time, Lorie enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and two cockapoo pups exploring festivals, Disney/theme parks, sporting events, food truck rallies, and engaging with their local church.
Over the past 6 years as the Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics at Ohio University, Loralyn has been leading the transition from a more traditional IR office to a more proactive and responsive decision-support unit. Developing both new data and information resources and promoting the data literacy needed to gain actionable insights, Loralyn’s team is also focused on supporting the institutional decision-makers at all levels of the university. A reformed registrar and director of analytics for student success initiatives, Loralyn has presented on student success, analytics, ethical use of data, change management, and data literacy for over 10 years both nationally and internationally. Previously, Loralyn designed and implemented a comprehensive student success program at Paul Smith’s College that won the 2015 University Business Inaugural Models of Excellence Program, the 2013 Lee Noel, Randi Levitz Retention Excellence Award and the Starfish 360 Student Success Award.
I have spent my entire career working in higher education, specifically in areas of advising and student success. I began my career at the University of Kentucky as a primary advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences where I spent three years and also began my work towards a doctorate in Educational Leadership. I left UK in 2018 to pursue a more centralized role in Enrollment Management at the University of Cincinnati – where I have spent the past 6 years.
Micol Hutchison, Ph.D., is Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for Policy and Instructional Support Services for the Virginia Community College System. In her prior roles as Director of Transfer and Director of Pathways, she worked with Virginia’s public and private two- and four-year colleges to ensure that community college students had the opportunity to identify and pursue their academic and professional passions, and follow a financially viable path to a bachelor’s degree. She also served as Director of Program Development and Student Success, Associate Director of the Interdisciplinary Studies program, and faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University. Pursuing her passions, her dedication to higher education and teaching, and an unconventional path, she has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mathematics and Russian, and received her doctorate in Education, focusing on first-generation college students.
Jared is currently the Director, Institutional Engagement & Initiatives for the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). His work focuses on engaging with institutions to further and enhance their understanding of SARA, the SARA policy modification cycle, and striving for an ongoing seamless experience for SARA participation. Prior to coming to NC-SARA Jared was the Director of SARA for the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) and served on the organization’s team of Senior Directors. While at NEBHE he also focused on “administrative holds”, seeking to understand and encourage institutions to adjust their practices for the benefit of student completion. Prior to joining NEBHE Jared spent a decade in mostly public postsecondary institutions focused on academic affairs, program and college leadership, and admission and retention efforts, first as an academic advisor and then as an Assistant Dean. He also taught and coordinated several undergraduate courses. Jared earned a BS degree in Human Development and an MS degree in College Student Personnel from the University of Rhode Island.
Alistair Bell Wylie is the founder and Managing Director of Bell-Wylie Consulting (www.bellwylie.com), a multi-disciplinary international education consulting and credential evaluation business. Prior to setting up the consultancy, he worked for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) for 18 years in senior roles overseeing some of the most significant changes in Scottish education in recent times. During a 30-year career in education, he has also worked as a teacher, lecturer, author, entrepreneur and internationally with a focus on the accreditation and regulation of vocational education across the Middle East. He is also an active non-executive director holding positions on several boards in Scotland.
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.Keep Running with Us: An Innovative Program at a Hispanic-Serving Institution Designed to Increase Graduate Enrollment of Hispanic/Latinx Students
Josie is the Assistant Registrar for transfer credit articulation at the University of Notre Dame. As a teaching defector, Josie "fell into" higher education and started out in the program of General Studies at (formerly) Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, a program that received a high number of returning students, adult students, transfers. Through her start in General Studies she found her niche in transfer articulation and has continued to move up, working specifically in transfer credit creating efficient processes to make students' transitions easier. As a registrar employee, Josie conscientiously advises and makes decisions knowing there are people behind the external college credits she sees in her work and strives to put those students' best interests first.
Catharine Punchello is a Vice Provost and University Registrar at Thomas Edison State University and was a 2024 AACRAO Congressional Hill Day Advocate.
Elvia Bow is a Assistant Director Registrar Office at Pima Community College and was a 2024 AACRAO Congressional Hill Day Advocate.
Amy Gleason is a Assistant Registrar at Duke University and was a 2024 AACRAO Congressional Hill Day Advocate.
Bryant Faust is an Associate Dean and Registrar at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and was a 2024 AACRAO Congressional Hill Day Advocate.
Audra McQuarie is a Vice President, Registrar at University of Phoenix and was a 2024 AACRAO Congressional Hill Day Advocate.