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.
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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.
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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
Like you, Kevin Martin believes that education matters and transforms lives. As a first-generation and international college student from Canada, Kevin pursued B.A. from Calvin College and went on to earn an M.B.A. from Michigan State University. As a father of three, and volunteer youth athletics coach, Kevin is eager for opportunities great and small to make a positive impact on the lives of learners young and old. As General Manager of Higher Education and member of the Executive Team at Parchment, Kevin pursues Parchment’s mission to help turn credentials into opportunities. With direct responsibility for Parchment’s Higher Education portfolio, Kevin works with talented team members to achieve Parchment’s goals of new member acquisition, implementation, account management, business development, and providing leadership to the Parchment Advisory Board.
Outside of his leadership at Parchment, Kevin is a member of the Advisory Board for the Credentials As You Go initiative.
Bhavesh is the University Registrar at Temple University and has served in his role since 2013. Bhavesh's office supports students (current and former), faculty, and staff across 17 schools and colleges at the University, including Temple University Japan and Rome. He has participated in initiatives to forward learner records, including AACRAO's Guidance on the Review of the Comprehensive Learner Records (CLR) Standard, and The Veterans Compliance Reporting Re-Engineering Project. He was also an adjunct professor at Mercer County Community College, teaching international business. Bhavesh holds a Bachelor of Science and an MBA from the University of New Haven, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Rowan University.
Insiya Bream, Registrar & Associate Vice President at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), has 15 years of experience as a higher education administrator. She has experience working in Enrollment Management, Admissions and most recently experience working with Registration and Records. Insiya has a passion for working with adult students and finding innovative ways to improve the student and administrator experience by analyzing business processes and exploring technology solutions. Insiya has championed the creation of a Comprehensive Learner Record at UMGC and is passionate about crafting education for students that meets them where they are in their educational journey’s.
Chelsea Gregoire is the human behind Drinkable Genius, a cocktail and hospitality consultancy founded in 2015, that focuses on crafting innovative cocktails, supporting business owners in the hospitality industry in building new restaurant and beverage programs, managing profitability and service standards, or streamlining existing processes to maximize their efforts. They are a Baltimore native with a Bachelor of Science in Religion and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies. Chelsea is passionate about education in the hospitality industry, and has taught at international and national hospitality gatherings. They have received many accolades for their work, including being named America's Beverage Director of the Year (2019) by Esquire, an Eater Young Gun (2018), Best Bartender by multiple local publications, and having original cocktails featured in publications like Bon Appetit and Whisky Advocate.Chelsea was most recently profiled by Baltimore Magazine (2021).
Patty was born and raised in North Dakota. She received a full-athletic scholarship to attend Stanford, graduating in 1989 with a BA in Psychology. Patty was a 9-time NCAA All-American (Shot Put and Discus) and competed at the 1988 Olympic Trials. In 1995, she founded TimeOut Services, Inc.. Patty and her team were instrumental in designing the original wellness programs for Google, Cisco, Yahoo!, Safeway and KLA-Tencor. In 2009, Patty sold the corporate wellness division, and trademarked Community BootCamp© program, to Plus One of New York (now part of Optum). Patty's awards include: The Key to the City of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Business Journal Top Women in Business, and Top 50 Influential Women of Silicon Valley. Today, Patty supports the wellness initiatives across the Stanford Enterprise, which includes: Stanford University, Stanford Health Care, Stanford Children’s Health and Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC).
Gabe has 30+ years in higher education on campuses ranging from community colleges to top-tier research universities with more than 15 years as a registrar, 10 years in admissions, and 10 years in student systems. He brings vast organizational, operational, policy, and system experience for student life-cycle management including records, advising, curriculum, graduate education, financial services, admissions, and systems. He has exceptional ability to understand campus culture, align resources, optimize organizational design/operations, and leverage systems for improved service, outcomes, and efficiency. Gabe is a consensus builder, change agent, and thought leader.
With a relaxing and inventive compositional, acoustic fingerstyle guitarist Yasmin Williams specializes in lap tapping, a technique that involves playing the guitar with both hands over the fretboard as it rests face-up on the player's lap. Incorporating tapped harmonics, bowing, percussive strikes, alternative tunings, and even tap shoes into her sound, she landed on the Billboard Heatseekers chart with her debut album, 2018's Unwind.
Her newly released sophomore album, Urban Driftwood, has gotten high praise from outlets like Rolling Stone, NPR, Pitchfork, and the Washington Post.
Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott has represented Virginia’s third congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1993. Prior to his service in Congress, he served 15 years in the Virginia General Assembly.
Congressman Scott currently serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor. In this capacity, he is advancing an agenda that improves equity in education, frees students from the burdens of crippling debt, protects and expands access to affordable health care, ensures workers have a safe workplace where they can earn a living wage free from discrimination, and guarantees seniors have a secure and dignified retirement. In 2015, he was one of the four primary authors of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for the first time in 13 years and replaced the No Child Left Behind Act.
Congressman Scott also serves on Committee on the Budget where he is a leading voice on fiscal policy and reducing the deficit. As a former member of the Committee on the Judiciary, he is a leading advocate for reforming our nation’s broken criminal justice system. He has successfully worked to pass bipartisan legislation to reduce mandatory minimum sentences, reform the juvenile justice system, and require reporting and federal data collection of deaths that occur in police custody, jails, and prisons.
Congressman Scott resides in Newport News, Virginia. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Boston College Law School. He also served in the Massachusetts National Guard and the United States Army Reserve.
Joyce R. Phillip, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, brings more than 25 years HR experience in the healthcare industry to her role as president of her own training/consulting/coaching firm. She is a strategic, results oriented human resources professional, coach, trainer and consultant. Recognized as a catalyst for innovative initiatives in both acute care and practice management settings, Joyce has guided organizations to achieve their priorities through implementation of performance driven and customer focused processes that emphasize employee engagement, diversity and inclusion and superior training and communication. Formerly Chief HR Officer for University of Maryland School of Medicine Faculty Physicians, Inc. (FPI) and Vice President of HR for Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), she has presented at national and state wide workshops that cover a variety of topics to include, communication in healthcare, patient experience improvement, women in leadership, strategic planning and diversity, inclusion and implicit bias. She is certified by the Academy of Communication in Healthcare (ACH) as a relationship-centered workshop facilitator. She co-facilitates communication workshops for the clinical faculty for the University of Maryland School of Medicine.In addition, Joyce obtained several coaching certificates in 2019. From the Physician Coaching Institute, she was certified as a Physician Development Coach. Joyce holds a Masters in Liberal Arts from St. Johns College of Annapolis. She is a member of the Chesapeake Human Resources Association and International Coach Federation Maryland Chapter and the Society for Human Resources. Her present community commitments include member of the Board of Directors of Hospice of the Chesapeake (HOC) where she serves as secretary of the board and is on the governance and executive committees. This year Joyce became a member of the Luminis Health System Board of Trustees and the Luminis Health Clinical Enterprise Board of Trustees. Joyce is also active with the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County where she has served in a variety of roles, President of the Board, co-chair of the Safehouse Building Campaign and presently is the non-board member of the YWCA Finance Committee. She and her husband, Dr. Errol Phillip, M.D. have resided in Crofton, Maryland and have four adult children and 7 grandchildren.