Dr. Lauren Kim is Director of Registration and International Student Services at Marshall B. Ketchum University in Southern California. She’s held the position since 2019. Prior to that, she was an associate registrar at Harvey Mudd College for 7 years. Lauren is a member of AACRAO’s AAPI caucus since 2017, and currently serves as the vice-chair. She received her doctorate degree from University of Southern California in Education in 2015.
2021 SEM-EP Graduate
Dmetri Berko has devoted his career to helping businesses and institutions achieve operational excellence. By breaking down complex systems, Dmetri has identified and enabled efficiencies, and provided clarity to the sphere of Recruitment and Enrolment Management.
Dmetri’s practical and forthright style has contributed to positive changes and increased productivity across the spectrum from public to private colleges and universities. His tenacity and constant questioning of operational systems results in transformational progress wherever he serves.
He currently serves as Campus Director, Online for the Visual College of Art and Design and Acting Regional Director of Operations, VCAD.
Dmetri has a Bachelors of Science in Geography from the University of Calgary, a Master’s of Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management, and internationally recognized professional designations in Human Resources (RPR, CPHR, and SHRM-SCP), Management (CMP), and Project Management (PMP).
Capstone Project: Focusing on Student Retention
I have been the Registrar at Metropolitan Community College (MCC) in Omaha, NE since 2011. Prior to that, I worked in the President's office for six years. Working in higher education was by sheer accident. After I graduated from my alma mater, the University of North Dakota, I never dreamt that I would ever return as a staff, let alone pursue a higher-level position at another institution. It was evident I found my true calling while working at MCC! I have been a member of AACRAO since becoming Registrar and have served a term on the Community College Issues Committee. I am also an active member of NACRAO, having previously served on its board and I continue to serve on a committee.
Her statement for AACRAO's Asian-American and Pacific Islander Caucus: "I became a member of the AAPI Caucus because I feel that I can positively contribute to its growth and advocacy, especially in light of the recent anti-Asian sentiments and acts against the community. A community that I am a part of, as I am half-Korean."
Dr. Allan Davis is the Manager of Admissions and Recruitment at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Medicine. He oversees the application process for the School’s four clinical and five non-clinical programs, including UMKC’s combined 6-year BA/MD program. In 2019, he was responsible for coordinating the expansion of summer pipeline programs designed to recruit students underrepresented in medicine. Before working at UMKC, Dr. Davis completed his PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. His dissertation examined how Anglo American women used amateur theatre to contribute to the racial formation of whiteness in the early 20th century. Outside of work, Allan enjoys listening to audiobooks while walking his dog and eating pupusas with husband.
John M. Braxton is Professor Emeritus of Leadership, Policy and Organizations, Higher Education Leadership and Policy Program, Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, Resident Scholar, Tennessee Independent College and University Association, and Affiliate Scholar, The USC Center for Enrollment Research, Policy and Practice.
Braxton has two major programs of research. One centers on the college student experience with particular attention focused on college student persistence. His work on college student persistence entails the assessment of theory on college student persistence, the revision and construction of new theory on college and constructs and empirical testing of revised and newly formulated theory on this phenomenon.
Braxton has published more than 110 publications in the form of articles in referred journals, books, and book chapters. He is a recipient of the Research Achievement Award bestowed by the Association for the Study of Higher Education and the Contribution to Knowledge Award given by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA)-College Student Educators International. Both awards are for outstanding contributions to knowledge that advance the understanding of higher education.
Professor Braxton served as editor of the Journal of College Student Development from 2008 to 2015. He currently serves as an associate editor for the Journal of College Student Retention: Theory, Research and Practice. He is also a past president of the Association for the Study of Higher.
Delineating A Practitioner-Defined Research Agenda for Enrollment Management
Developing the Two-Way Practitioner-Researcher Loop for Enrollment Management
Organizational Assessment to Improve College Student Persistence
Building Cultural Capital in First-Year Students At Residential Colleges and Universities
Fostering a Sense of Community in Residence Halls: A Role for Housing and Residential Professionals in Increasing College Student Persistence
The Pathway Toward the Institutionalization of Enrollment Management Departure from College: The Role of the Social Network of Students
A Professional Body of Knowledge for a Nascent Profession
Enrollment Management and Managing Enrollments: Revisiting the Context for Institutional Strategy
The Pathway Toward the Institutionalization of Enrollment Management
Interview with Don Hossler
Alexandra Cannell Wendt, is a Manager of Executive Projects in the Office of the Chancellor at Vanderbilt University. Wendt graduated from the higher education administration program at Vanderbilt in 2021. Since attending Vanderbilt in 2019, Wendt has worked as a graduate assistant in the office of the provost and in the office of the chancellor. Prior to attending Vanderbilt, Wendt worked in higher education in Arizona leading the AmeriCorps Program in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University and prior to that, leading the nationally recognized service-learning program at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Wendt holds an associate’s from Chandler-Gilbert Community College, a bachelor’s in human communication and a minor in global studies, and a master’s in higher education administration.
Andrew Peterson, Ph.D., is Vice President for Educational Innovation and Global Outreach at Western Seminary, Portland, OR. Andy received the Ph.D. in Educational Technology from the University of Pittsburgh.
The Coming of Age of Data Analytics in Higher Education
Robert Nisbet, Ph.D., is a retired data scientist who has written many books in the field of data analytics. Bob continues as an Instructor in the Predictive Analytics Certificate Program at UC Irvine teaching the Applications of Predictive Analytics and Effective Data Preparation courses in the program. Bob received his Ph.D. in Ecosystem Analysis and Modeling from Arizona State University.
Olga Komissarova received her Ph.D. in Higher Education, Leadership, Management and Policy from Seton Hall University in May 2020. Her quantitative research projects explore finances and enrollment patterns at universities in the United States. After graduation, she served as an Instructional Aide at the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. She currently works as a Data Analyst for a software technology company.
Exploring the Relationship between International and Minority Enrollment in MBA programs at Public Universities in the United States
Nicholas Dix is a Ph.D. student in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership program, and a graduate enrollment professional at the University of Northern Colorado. His research and professional interests include college student success and the analysis of current trends in higher education. He holds a Master of Science in Management from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Government from Illinois State University.
The Relationship between Institutional Budget Models and Graduate Strategic Enrollment Management Structures
Matthew Birnbaum, Ph.D., is a Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership in the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Northern Colorado. His research and professional interests include student affairs and higher education leadership. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Colorado College.
Joseph H. Paris is Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Delaware Valley University. As a scholar-practitioner, his research and practice focus on the intersections between college admissions criteria and selection methodologies, institutional finance, and access to postsecondary and graduate education.
Enrollment Management in the Context of Responsibility Center Management
Burnout and Working Conditions in Higher Education During COVID-19: Recommendations for Policy and Practice
Exploring Institutional Rationales for Holistic Review in Graduate Admissions
On why she joined the Black and Women's Caucuses: "I have worked in Higher Education for sixteen years. I began my career in Higher Education working on the front-line, processing applications for admission and maintaining student records. I am now an integral part of the Registrar team, where I focus on student degree progress and completion, and the interpretation and application of institute policy and procedure. I have gained the ability to think strategically when faced with any given scenario and the capability to work with and lead a team.
My educational and professional experience has made me a data-driven, strategic, visionary, and future oriented leader. I have the unique skills of being proficient in the use of various computer software; extensive knowledge of statistical research, analysis, and interpretation; program evaluation and assessment; internal and external institutional reporting; policy and planning functions within postsecondary education; state, federal, and accrediting regulations; and demonstrate knowledge, and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, sex, gender identity, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of the students I serve.
My plan is to continue the advancement of my career as a Higher Education Administrator, by utilizing the skills, knowledge, and passion I have to stimulate personal and group excellence. This will be facilitated by my willingness to learn and continuously improve. I look forward to assisting the advancement of the mission and vision of AACRAO's Black Caucus and Women's Caucus."
Su is a 1.5 generation Korean-American from Duluth Georgia. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Masters in Anthropology and a sociocultural anthropologist whose research interests focus on social changes, cross-generation and community studies, Asian Americans and Asian diasporas. In 2020, Su published a chapter in a book entitled "The 1.5 Generation Korean Diaspora: A Comparative Understanding of Identity, Culture, and Transnationalism.” At Asian American Advocacy Fund, Su is a Korean community organizer, addressing immigrant issues that directly impact the everyday lives of immigrant communities in Georgia and helping to bring awareness to the communities about potential points of advocacy.
Aleksandar Popovski has been working in the field of international education since 2006. He has held leadership roles at several public and private colleges and universities, most recently as Assistant Dean of the Graduate School at Binghamton University (SUNY). Alex is currently the president and senior evaluator at Ucredo, a credential evaluation company that is an Endorsed Member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Alex has presented at AICE symposia, NAFSA and TAICEP conferences, credential forums and webinars, and is a contributor to the NAFSA Online Guide to Educational Systems Around the World. He was involved in setting up the TAICEP certificate, a training program for new credential evaluators.
Dani has over 18 years of experience, working with staff, managers, and executives at all levels to improve organizational performance and capacity. She has worked in the central IT organization at Stanford University since 2001. Prior to joining Stanford, Dani performed a similar role at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
As the Senior Organizational Effectiveness Specialist for Stanford University IT (UIT), Dani creates, coordinates, and supports talent development programs for an organization of over 600 staff. Her role spans coaching individuals and teams; to devising curricula for leadership/management competency development; to planning and facilitating workshops aimed at increasing alignment and identifying strategic direction for workgroups. She coordinates a mentoring program for all UIT staff, and is the overall program lead for IDEAL IT, a program that promotes and advances the Stanford Presidential IDEAL initiative within the IT Community at Stanford. IDEAL stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access in a Learning Community, and is a cornerstone of Stanford’s diversity initiatives. The sub-programs that make up IDEAL IT reflect Stanford IT's commitment to providing opportunities where individuals with diverse backgrounds can collaborate, grow, and excel across different functions and disciplines.
On why she joined the Women's Caucus: "Is it failure? Or is it research? I love the idea that failure is only a perception. If an idea or project fails, it is a learning opportunity as now you’re one step closer to finding out what could work. The only failure is in giving up. With this in mind, there is a freedom to test new ideas, show courage and temerity, and above all continue learning.
My love of learning has made working in higher education an incredible experience. I have been able to translate my own research interests in motivation and organizational behaviour into tangible outcomes for my organizations and the amazing colleagues I work with in higher education. As a leader, I am continually focused on learning the best ways to build collaborative and transparent teams while advocating for equal opportunities and advancement for professional women, and I am honoured to be a member of the AACRAO Women’s Caucus."
On why she joined the Women's Caucus: "I have been fortunate in my journey in higher education to be mentored by a variety of women, not only from my own institution but from other institutions. With their encouragement I became involved in my regional AACRAO. At the same time, my female supervisors encouraged me as I took on more responsibility in the office, and eventually I succeeded the Associate Registrar when she retired. I am so grateful for their confidence in me; it is so important to have a network of trusting and supportive colleagues and without them I would not be in this career that I love. I hope the Women’s Caucus will provide you with the same support and mentoring that I was fortunate to receive."
Monique Wilson is an active member of the Black Caucus, most recently partaking in the February Book Club discussion about Oprah Winfrey's book The Path Made Clear. As part of the staff of the Office of the Registrar at UNC Charlotte, she was ecstatic to be part of bringing Dr. Angela Davis, a political activist, historian, Professor Emerita and acclaimed author to their campus and speak on the topic of resilience as it relates to systemic racial oppression.
The event was held at UNC Charlotte's library, with hundreds in attendance. The recording of the event will be posted on the UNC Charlotte's library website shortly.