Since Sept 2019 Steve Ast has been Senior Vice President of Partner Success at InsideTrack where he leads their growth strategy to increase impact. His passion is helping students achieve their education goals in a way that enables them to advance their career and life goals which leads to a noticeable impact on their family and community.
Prior to joining InsideTrack, Steve was Regional Vice-President at Ruffalo Noel Levitz growing their business in their enrollment and fundraising areas. He has also held positions with Wiley Education, Pearson eCollege, and Knowledge Factor.
Steve received his MBA from The University of Texas at Austin - McCombs School of Business. He lives in Evergreen, CO, with his wife and two high-school aged daughters, and their dog Bundles.
His statement for AACRAO's Asian-American and Pacific Islander Caucus: "Growing up as a second-generation Asian immigrant, a college education provided a way out of poverty and gave me the confidence needed to change my life. Throughout the years, I was fortunate to have mentors who helped shaped me personally, academically, and professionally.I am forever grateful and as a way to give back, I strive to continue to make a positive difference in the lives of the students that I encounter in my everyday work. I am committed to providing them with the same supportive mentoring relationships that my mentors provided me.
His statement for AACRAO's Asian-American and Pacific Islander Caucus: "Barack Obama said ‘Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek’, and that is why I am in education so we may be the change that our students can see and aspire to become, as well as assist in the professional development of our colleagues so they may grow and serve our students.I have been in academia almost all of my professional career, including as a member of the Faculty, and now as a Higher Education Administrator. Our goal as Educators and Leaders must be to enrich the lives of others through education, and through hard work be an example to our students who aspire to be something greater in a multi-cultural world that is continuously changing with new challenges."
Her statement for AACRAO's Asian-American and Pacific Islander Caucus: "I am forever grateful and honor my parents who immigrated to this country. They taught me the critical importance of kindness and compassion and the value of education. I have been fortunate to have had the support and help of family, friends, colleagues, and mentors and am committed to help and support others as they pursue education and career opportunities."
My name is Michelle Tsigaridas Weller (she/her), M.Ed. and I serve the New York Law School community in the role of Associate Registrar and Director of Academic Operations. I am the Communications Chair for the National Network for Law School Officers and a leader/advocate for the AACRAO Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus.
Daniel Weber is currently the Registrar and Director of Registrar Services at Oakton College. Dan has also served as University Registrar at both Aurora University and Northeastern Illinois University. Before joining NEIU, Dan served as assistant registrar, associate registrar and registrar at Rush University, and has also worked in undergraduate, transfer, and adult admissions positions at Monmouth College (IL), Eastern Illinois University, DePaul University, and Lewis University.
Dan is Vice Chair of the AACRAO Annual Meeting Program Committee, and past president of the Illinois ACRAO, past chair of AACRAO’s Federal Compliance Committee, past Nominations and Elections Committee member, and past Group VII Coordinator of the Annual Meeting Program Committee. Dan has also authored or co-authored chapters in the following AACRAO publications: 2016 Academic Record and Transcript Guide; Mentorship in Higher Education: Practical Advice and Leadership Theories; Recruiting and Retaining a Diverse Student Body; Registrar’s Basic Guide; 2019 Student Records Management: Retention, Disposal, and Archive of Student Records; and the 2020 Academic Record and Transcript Guide.
Monique L. Snowden, Ph.D., is interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Previously, she was Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment & Student Success and Professor Adjoint in the Department of Communication at the University of Colorado Denver. Dr. Snowden is also teaching faculty for the University of Southern California Race and Equity Center’s Equity Institutes. She formerly served on the AACRAO Board of Directors as Vice President for Access & Equity and currently serves on the association’s Professional Access and Equity Committee.
An Interview with Melanie Gottlieb
First-Generation College Students and Career Development
The Chesapeake and Potomac Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (CAPACRAO) was established in 2012 and serves institutions of higher education in Maryland and the District of Columbia. CAPACRAO is dedicated to developing and perpetuating a vibrant network of resources and learning opportunities. Like many other state and regional organizations, Covid-19 greatly affected CAPACRAO’s 2020 programming. The organization‘s leadership quickly identified new ways to connect and support its members and corporate partners in a virtual setting.
In the spring, CAPACRAO started offering weekly happy hours for various constituent groups including Admissions, Records, Financial Aid, and Transfer. CAPACRAO wanted to provide a platform for these groups to brainstorm and share how Covid was affecting their institutions and operations. Each meeting drew in diverse individuals from a variety of institutional types and filled a need that was clearly missing at that time. During the summer, CAPACRAO continued to host a weekly series, offering lunch and learn sessions in lieu of an in-person annual conference. Topics included professional development, employee management, virtual commencement management, best practices during Covid, change management for new systems and process integrations as well as several corporate partner speakers. The sessions were well-attended and promoted good dialogue. In the fall, CAPACRAO hosted monthly happy hours with virtual board games. The organization continued to distribute monthly newsletters with relevant content for members and increased engagement with members and vendors through social media.
To further help our membership, all events and benefits were free to attend, and the Executive Board voted to offer 2020-2021 FY membership for all 2019-2020 member institutions at no cost due to financial hardships expressed by some member institutions. Additionally, the Executive Board voted to adjust its corporate partner cost structure by offering la carte pricing in lieu of traditional bronze, gold, silver, platinum level sponsorships. Throughout the calendar year, CAPACRAO was committed to offer diverse virtual programming while engaging a variety of members and corporate partners. The CAPACRAO Executive Board is grateful to its standing committee members, membership institutions and corporate partners for their continued collaboration and support of CAPACRAO and looks forward to offering more in-person and virtual professional development and networking opportunities in the year ahead.
Executive Board:
President: Shari Christie, Bowie State University
President-Elect: Reginald Garcon, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Past President: Johnika Nixon, Prince George’s Community College
VP for Communications/Secretary: Danielle Worsham, University of Maryland College Park
VP for Programming: DeMetra Crawford, Montgomery College
Treasurer: Otu Obot, Prince George’s Community College
Treasurer-Elect: Phaedra Brown, University of Maryland School of Nursing
VP for Membership & Technology: Sheena Jackson, University of Maryland School of Nursing
Standing Committees:
Legislation & Policy: Vacant
Awards & Resolutions: Vacant
Professional Development: Dr. Reginald Garçon, Washington Adventist University
Communications: Danielle Worsham, University of Maryland College Park
Local Arrangements & Program: Cassandra Moore, Anne Arundel Community College
March McConahay, M.S.E.S., currently serves AACRAO in the role of Digital Credential Coordinator. Previously, he worked for Indiana University as the associate registrar of systems for many years before becoming the associate vice provost and registrar. McConahay’s history at IU includes leading the implementation of student records component within an ERP, the implementation electronic (PDF) transcripts, automated workflow for drop/add and grade changes, the Grade Context Record, The Automated Course Exchange, Touchtone Registration, Degree Audit, and others. The Automated Course Exchange (1995-96) and the Grade Context Record (1998-99) projects each received awards from EDUCAUSE and CUMREC. McConahay served as the program director for the AACRAO Technology (now the Technology and Transfer) conference from 2009 to 2016. He also served on the AACRAO Board of Directors from 2017 to 2020 as the vice president for information technology.
McConahay previously received the AACRAO Honorary Membership award (2021), the Indiana University E. Ross Bartley award for service (2021) the IU Bicentennial Medal (2020), Thomas A. Bilger Award (2017) and the Indiana ACRAO Distinguished Service Award (2019). He holds a B.A. in math and an MSES from Indiana University.
From the beginning of my career, I recognized the importance of being involved in professional organizations. I understood that involvement on the state level would help me develop the knowledge and experience I would need to serve Kansas students and parents. Participation in KACRAO guided me to understand the value of professional and organizational relationships. Starting as a committee member, I learned from a wealth of wonderful professionals, who were wiser than I was. Eventually, as time and experience permitted and with encouragement from other professionals, it was time to step up and take on the role of committee chair. Eventually, I was blessed to become the VP for Admissions, the VP, the President (1995-1996) and the Past President of KACRAO. Being chosen as the recipient of the Laura Cross Distinguished Service Award (2003) was an honor and surprise. My KACRAO highlights include cherished times laughing and crying with the wonderful and caring professionals who make up the KACRAO family.
During this time, I was encouraged and, frankly, "voluntold" to become active with AACRAO as a committee member and to present sessions at the AACRAO Annual Meetings. Volunteering as the chair of the AACRAO Conference Evaluation Committee for five years (nobody else wanted the job) prepared me for roles as Committee Chair, Program Chair and for the opportunity to serve on the AACRAO Board of Directors as the VP for Leadership and Management Development. Once again, I was blessed to be selected as Vice President, President and Past President (2015-2018) of AACRAO. In 2012, I was humbled to receive the AACRAO Distinguished Service Award. It has been an honor to serve alongside so many wonderful professionals across the country. I have been truly blessed to meet hundreds of people who are passionate about serving their families, students and their institutions, with care, loyalty and compassion.
My dream career would not have been possible without the grace, mercy and strength from my Lord Jesus Christ. I have also been blessed with my wonderful wife, Sheryl, and my four children who have supported me as I have tried to faithfully and passionately serve college students in the state of Kansas.
Jerald Bracken has been active in AACRAO since 1992. Coming from a technical background, he found that innovation in higher education comes from the users of technology. His time with the Association has included a long-standing commitment to the AACRAO SPEEDE Committee, along with numerous presentations on emerging technologies at AACRAO workshops and meetings. Jerald also served on the Board of Directors as Vice President of Information Technology.
Jerald says, “I have found the key to real lasting innovation lies with the users of technology not the technologies alone. I have committed my entire career to helping users of student information systems leverage new technologies in strategic ways. AACRAO is uniquely positioned to provide leadership and clarity in the evolution of innovation in higher education."
Allen Ezell is a retired FBI agent who specialized in education fraud. He first worked at the Bureau headquarters as a clerical employee, before serving as a Special Agent from 1967 to his retirement in 1991. He was assigned to white collar crime cases, handling any violation of federal law that had an accounting aspect. Beginning in 1980, he specialized in education fraud. Between 1991 and 2010, Allen was the Vice President, Corporate Fraud Investigative Service (formerly Special Investigations Unit) for the Wachovia Corporation in Tampa, Florida. At Wachovia, he conducted internal and external investigations regarding all aspects of bank fraud, including embezzlement and loan fraud.
Allen has also presented numerous sessions at AACRAO meetings through the years, with his first presentation at the 1984 AACRAO Annual Meeting in Denver. Allen was one of the key speakers at the 2016 AACRAO Senior Leadership Symposium in Leesburg, Virginia. He is co-author with John Bear of Degree Mills: The Billion-Dollar Industry That Has Sold Over a Million Fake Diplomas. Allen has also authored and contributed to a number of AACRAO publications, including Accreditation Mills, Counterfeit Diplomas and Transcripts, a case study chapter in the 2016 International Guide, and a three-part series on diploma mills in College & University.
Axact, the World’s Largest Diploma Mill: A Glimpse Behind the Veil of Legitimacy
Kirsten is a lead solution engineer at Salesforce.org and has more than 10 years’ experience in higher education and business schools, including roles as Director of Admissions at both Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business and at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. She was responsible for the Smith School's enterprise-wide CRM platform across student recruitment, student success, alumni, and corporate engagement.
Diane has been with the Frank Batten school for 3 ½ years as the Salesforce Application Manager, and has recently been appointed as Director of IT. She was the Project Manager for one of the very first rollouts of Advisor Link, and has been using Salesforce tools very creatively in managing the Batten students, staff and faculty. Over the past 13 years, she has used Salesforce in private industry, with a non-profit organization, and now in Higher Education.
Kristine is the Assistant Director of Academic Programs and Registrar for the Batten School. She has been in this role for almost 4 years after spending 4 years working in admissions at the UVA School of Architecture. Kristine has an M.Ed. from the University of Georgia and has worked in a variety of higher ed settings. She enjoys assisting students through the enrollment management cycle from pre-admission to graduation and thoroughly appreciates the functionality of Advisor Link in managing the various stages.
Courtney is the Assistant Director of Admission, handling many admission operations at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, including planning recruitment events and prospective student visits. She joined the Batten team after completing her M.Ed. in Higher Education from the Curry School here at UVA. Courtney graduated from Christopher Newport University with a double major in History and American Studies and a double minor in Anthropology and Leadership Studies and served as Admissions Fellow at CNU after graduation. A big Wahoo sports fan, you will most likely see her at many UVA sporting events throughout the year!
After working as a student study abroad ambassador and interning in an Erasmus+ study abroad office, Rebecca started her professional career in higher education as a domestic admissions counselor. She made the move to international admissions in 2017, and currently works as a senior credentials evaluator focused on transfer credit and undergraduate dual degree partnerships. Rebecca enjoys making the transfer credit process more accessible for international students and finding new ways to improve operational workflows. She holds a BA in Sociology from Albright College and a postgraduate certificate from University of Essex.
My name is Hailey and I am the International Admissions Officer at Algoma University in Sault Sainte Marie, ON. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Global and International Studies and Political Science from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and have a strong interest in academic diaspora within the global education system. Working in higher education has allowed me to explore many academic trends within the global education system, leaving me with unanswered questions when it comes to translating these trends across borders. I understand the impact and importance of international education on the global economy, and I strive to ensure fair and valuable education for every international student who chooses to study abroad.
I am excited to learn from the ISEC’s group of seasoned professionals, and I look forward to the insight I will gain through our regular conversation and research!
2021 SEM-EP Graduate
Susan Lemma Weisman, who lives in New Jersey, is a dedicated college administrator, database expert with a track record of success, stability and progressive responsibility at St. Francis College. She is an expert with software applications and builds high-level interdepartmental relationships as part of SFC’s enrollment management team. In addition to her support and coaching of colleagues, she regularly interacts with students by disseminating information in her professional role and in the classroom (when possible). Prior to joining St. Francis, she served as Associate Registrar at New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY. She earned her Master of Science degree from Stevens Institute of Technology and her Bachelor of Art from SUNY College at Buffalo.
SEM-EP Capstone: A Literature Review on Transfer Students
An Interview with Nicole Lynn Lewis
Kenton grew up in Front Royal, Virginia, near the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology from American University and received a master's from George Mason University with a concentration in Zoo and Aquarium Leadership. Kenton is an Assistant Curator at the National Zoo's Small Mammal House where he oversees the day-to-day operation of the building. The Small Mammal House includes 40 exhibits, 150 animals, and 35 species, including golden lion tamarins. Kenton works closely with the golden lion tamarin Species Survival Plan, a group that manages the population of GLTs in captivity around the world. He’s had the opportunity to travel to Brazil and see GLT conservation work of zoos firsthand. Affiliations:Animal Care SciencesNational Zoological ParkSmithsonian Institution