Caroline Laguerre-Brown is the Principal and CEO of Designing Equity, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in higher education. She offers comprehensive support to national associations, post-secondary institutions, and corporations, leveraging her seasoned expertise as a lawyer with deep knowledge in diversity, inclusion, and institutional compliance. Caroline's extensive experience includes leading the design and implementation of policies, educational programs, and risk management strategies for global organizations, focusing on a wide range of anti-discrimination laws. She has specialized expertise in sexual harassment policy, prevention, and compliance management. As an experienced facilitator and trainer, Caroline addresses various workplace discrimination and diversity issues, including unconscious bias and anti-racism training. She plays a key role in assisting senior leaders with strategic communications to manage crises and mitigate reputational damage.
Previously, Caroline was the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement at George Washington University (GW) in Washington, D.C. Her responsibilities encompassed overseeing departments that serve 26,000 students, including the Title IX/Sexual Assault Prevention office, the Multicultural Student Services Center, GW’s Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service, and the Office of Disability Support Services. Joining GW in August 2016, she led a significant review and overhaul of the university’s sexual harassment/assault policy and spearheaded the university’s first comprehensive diversity program review.
Before her tenure at GW, Caroline was the Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer at Johns Hopkins University, where she introduced the university’s first sexual harassment prevention training initiative, implemented unconscious bias training for faculty search committees, initiated a Race in America speaker series, and co-developed a faculty diversity program.
Currently, Caroline is active on several boards and committees. She serves as the First Vice Chair for the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) and teaches at NADOHE’s Standards of Professional Practice Institute, preparing and coaching future chief diversity officers. Caroline is also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Union Theological Seminary, as a charter committee member of the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity, and as an advisory board member for the George Washington University Online High School.
Amber Ovaska serves as the Associate Director of Admissions and Registration at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With nine years of experience in enrollment services within higher education, she has focused on admissions and registration in both private and public institutions. Currently, she holds the position of Vice President of Admissions for Rocky Mountain ACRAO and is a member of New Mexico ACRAO. Additionally, she is a member of the AACRAO State & Regional Relations Committee. Amber earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and will be graduating with her MBA from New Mexico Highlands University in December 2024.
Alex serves as Associate Registrar for Compliance at Marquette University, a position he has held for just over nine years. He is a self-confessed FERPA geek and also oversees enrollment reporting, policy interpretation and implementation, and is honored to work with Marquette’s military-connected population to utilize their federal and state education benefits.
Alex has been actively involved in his state association, WACRAO, since moving to Wisconsin from Florida in 2012. He has served on standing committees, as WACRAO Treasurer for two terms, and most recently completed the presidential cycle and now serves on the nominations and awards committee. In these roles, he has had numerous opportunities to collaborate with WACRAO’s neighboring association, the Upper Midwest ACRAO (UMACRAO) and is excited to share his experiences with AACRAO!
Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond, President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has been a member of the higher education community for over 30 years. Her professional career has included tenured and administrative positions in universities throughout various regions of the United States. She has held faculty and administrative positions at the University of Louisiana Monroe, California State University Dominguez Hills; Delaware State University; University of North Carolina Charlotte, Winston-Salem State University; and Coppin State University. Most recently, Dr. Jackson Hammond completed her tenure as president (Emerita) of Central State University in Ohio. She has appeared several times on Capitol Hill providing testimony regarding the status of 1890 Land-Grant institutions.
Dr. Jackson Hammond is a sought-after thought leader on accreditation, multicultural diversity, equity and inclusion. Her academic disciplines are Higher Education Administration and Curriculum. Dr. Jackson Hammond spent the majority of her career in administration serving as director of TRIO programs, academic dean, provost and president. Jackson Hammond has served on many national boards including Thurgood Marshall College Fund; NCAA Division II Presidents Council; American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; Fulbright Scholars Advisory and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Dr. Jackson Hammond was appointed in 2022 to President Joseph Biden’s Commission on Presidential Scholars.
Dr. Jackson Hammond is an ardent advocate for quality assurances and transparency in higher education and is committed to the advancement of college student success, equity and integrity in higher education.
Acclaimed for her powerful fusion of jazz, roots, and social commentary, Tucker uses her music as a platform for reflection and healing. With a growing audience of over a million followers, her evocative compositions and insightful social media presence uniquely connect with both jazz aficionados and new listeners. Her latest project blends original songs and innovative arrangements, showcasing her exceptional artistry and commitment to cultural equity.
Doug Lederman is co-founder of Inside Higher Ed. For 20 years he co-led the news organization's editorial operations, overseeing news content, opinion pieces, career advice, blogs and other features. Doug speaks widely about higher education, including on C-Span and National Public Radio and at meetings and on campuses around the country, and his work has appeared in The New York Times and USA Today, among other publications. Doug was managing editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education from 1999 to 2003. Before that, Doug had worked at The Chronicle since 1986 in a variety of roles, first as an athletics reporter and editor. He has won three National Awards for Education Reporting from the Education Writers Association, including one in 2009 for a series of Inside Higher Ed articles he co-wrote on college rankings. He began his career as a news clerk at The New York Times. He grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and graduated in 1984 from Princeton University. Doug lives with his wife, Kate Scharff, in Bethesda, Md.
Yá’át’ééh! (Navajo Greeting)My name is Winifred Bessie Jumbo and I come from a small community called Two Grey Hills, NM, well known for their Navajo rugs and textiles. My mother is Naakaii Dine’é (Wondering People Clan), my father was Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle People Clan), my material grandfather was Hashtł’ishnii (Mud People Clan), and my paternal grandfather was Táchii’nii (Red Running Into Water People Clan). I began my higher education career at Diné College in 2011. I have grown professionally and personally over 11 years within our institution. I value our purpose as Diné College and enjoy working with our communities, more importantly with our Navajo families. I’m passionate about making sure all students succeed in their higher educational journey, specifically our first-generation college students.I serve as the Director of External Campuses of Diné College. I’m excited for the new opportunity and I hope you join me in creating and developing innovative approaches to expanding and stabilizing our campuses, centers, and microsites to serve our students and communities. I appreciate our institution and its investment in growing our own to advance our professions and experiences. My previous roles at Diné College include Dual Credit Program Director, Recruiter, and Executive Assistant to the Office of the President. I am currently a graduate student at Baylor University pursuing a doctorate in Learning and Organizational Change. I’m an alumna of Northern Arizona University (M.Ed. in Educational Leadership) and Brown University (B.A. in Anthropology and Ethnic Studies). Ahéhee’ t’áá ánółtso! (Thank you)
Elijah Hopkins is a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate from the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota. He lives with his wife Samantha in Poplar, Montana on the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Reservation where he raises his eight-year-old daughter, six-year-old son, and four-year-old daughter. For the past ten years, Elijah has worked at Fort Peck Community College as the Vice President for Student Services. His passions include the cultural arts of the Nakoda/Dakota people. Elijah is also a part-time Dakota Language instructor at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus.
After receiving an AA in Business Administration from Fort Peck Community College, Elijah transferred to the University of Montana-Northern where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He later received an MBA from the University of Mary, ND. Elijah is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Montana for Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education.
Tyler Guenette, Ed.D., worked at the University of Michigan-Dearborn for more than eight years supporting the 100 percent-commuter population through his work in the areas of student success, student life, and student basic needs support. After finishing his doctoral work at Johns Hopkins University, he started a new role as Chief of Staff with the Michigan College Access Network, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to facilitating systems-level change to increase college attainment rates for Michiganders, particularly for low-income students, first-generation college students, and students of color.
Factors Affecting Transfer Commuter Student Persistence: A Literature Review
Transfer Commuter Student Sense of Connectedness and Perceived Support Networks: A Case Study
Barry Pollack is a former federal prosecutor and has practiced law since 1992, primarily in New York and Boston, and at his firm, Pollack Solomon Duffy LLP since 2013. He received a master’s in public health degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in August 2024, and is enrolled in a Ph.D. program at the University of Kentucky in studies in higher education, with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Inclusive Opportunities in Medical School Admissions Can Benefit Medically Underserved Areas
Joe Vainner is Director of Admissions at the University of Michigan-Flint. He has previously served in admissions positions at Eastern Michigan University and Cleveland State University, with additional experience at Sarah Lawrence College and Concordia College (New York). He holds a B.A. in English from Cleveland State University, an M.A. in educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University, and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College.
Champions for Access: How Ten Michigan Public Universities United to Assure Admissions
Mia Murphy is Chief Policy Officer of the Michigan Association of State Universities and Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Educational Administration at Michigan State University (MSU). Her research focuses on state governance of public universities and how constitutional autonomy for universities affects higher education policymaking. She earned a B.A. in political science and in history from MSU and an M.A. in international relations from the University of Chicago.
Shane Lewis is the Director of Admissions at Oakland University (OU) in Rochester, Michigan. Prior to his time at OU, he also served in the Office of Admissions at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Lewis received his Bachelor of Science in journalism from Bowling Green State University, and his Master of Education in higher education leadership from Oakland University.
Janna L. Oakes, M.A., Ph.D., is Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness at Rocky Vista University. An experienced, versatile higher education practitioner with an in-depth understanding of faculty and student needs, Dr. Oakes has proven expertise in instruction, leadership, team building, fiscal and strategic planning, budget management, personnel supervision, accreditation, federal compliance, and higher education administration. She is a values-oriented educator with 29 years’ experience working with college populations including undergraduate, graduate, and executive-level professional students. Her background includes experience as a faculty member, department chair, dean, executive leader.
Her experience as a Peer Reviewer and Federal Compliance Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and as an experienced Accreditation Liaison Officer have informed her success as a higher education consultant in instructional quality, funded research, shared governance, assessment, curriculum development, educational innovation, institutional sustainability, and collaboration. She has a solid track record of excellence in instruction, including curricular review and development, professional training, academic programs, executive leadership programs, student learning assessment, various instructional delivery modes and as a consultant in the areas of leadership development and strategic planning. Her diverse skills, experience, and MBTI® certification offer a well-rounded perspective to daily challenges and difficult decisions.
Dr. Oakes has a proven background in instruction, including curricular review and development, professional training, academic programs, executive leadership programs, student learning assessment, institutional effectiveness assessment, online learning, blended delivery models, and traditional instruction. As an instructor, she consistently earns exemplary student evaluations.