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2019 SEM-EP Graduate
Jeff Trapp is the Associate Director, Recruitment and Admissions with Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto (UofT). He previously held positions with UofT at the International Student Centre, Faculty of Arts and Science and Rotman School of Management. Prior to UofT, he worked in Japan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Manitoba. He holds degrees from UofT (MEd '98) and Brandon University (BEd '91).
Capstone Project - The Rotman Commerce Undergraduate Recruitment Plan provides a road map for yearly student recruitment activities. Overall Rotman Commerce staffing has grown significantly over the past two years (largely in Academic Services and Career Services) to better service the student population and it has become more important than ever to communicate strategic goals of individual work units for the Managing Director to ensure strategic alignment. The Rotman Commerce Mission "seeks to inspire and empower our students and alumni to become innovated leaders and engaged citizens who contribute to the success of organizations and the betterment of communities in Canada and around the world." The Recruitment portfolio is the first step to achieve this mission and flows into the work of other key units including Admissions, Academic Services, Student Life, Career Services, and Alumni Relations.
Brad Hales has worked with enrollment management for the last seven years. He has worked with BYU-Idaho and BYU-Pathway Worldwide in their Strategic Enrollment and Data Management areas. Brad really enjoys thinking about innovation and strategy in educational settings. He believes that through social entrepreneurship much can be done in the higher education setting to help others succeed in life.
Capstone Project - The Strategic Enrollment Management literature review comprised of looking at retention, advising online students, and the effects of the “Great Recession” on college enrollments. All of this research focused on how to help students obtain a college education while dealing with the challenges of life.
2018 SEM-EP Graduate
Nick currently serves as a Business Instructor at (CLC). Nick has held numerous positions in Student Affairs including serving as the Assistant Director of TRIO/Upward Bound, Registrar, Director of Admissions, and Director of Enrollment Management. Nick earned a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Metropolitan State University in Saint Paul, MN, a Master of Arts from the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, MN and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Bemidji State University in MN, and an Accounting Certificate from Northwest Technical College in Bemidji, MN.
Capstone Project - “A Strategic Enrollment Management Proposal for a Community College: How to Plug Enrollment Leaks"
Review of: Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal
An Interview with Marie Bigham
Stacy Maestas has over 14 years in higher education with experience in public two-year institutions. She has been the Registrar at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyoming since 2009. Stacy’s leadership experience includes records and registration, admissions, international admissions, enrollment management functions, graduation, academic planning, curriculum and program development, team building, advising, integrated services, technology implementations, and cross-functional collaboration. Stacy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Master of Science in Management from Bellevue University.
Capstone Project - “Improving Processes in Support of Student Retention" was a literature review that explored how changes in institutional processes achieved through student, staff, and faculty engagement and cross-campus collaboration can positively impact student success and retention.
Review of: Pre-College Programming in Higher Education: The Evolution of a Movement
Review of: The Demographic Drought
Aaron Sanns began working in higher education in 2000. He is currently the Managing Director of Institutional Planning at BYU-Idaho. His responsibilities include Strategic Enrollment Management, Space Management and Planning, and Data Analysis Services. Previously, Sanns worked as Director of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and Associate Director of Admissions. Areas of expertise include leadership, change management, organizational effectiveness, team building, and problem solving.
Capstone Project - “Shifting Institutional Scholarship Budget from an Emphasis on Grades to an Emphasis on Financial Need" was a longitudinal study utilizing balanced panel data over a several year period. He looked for potential enrollment effects from changing scholarship policy to affect retention among students with financial need at BYU-Idaho.
Faith LaShure has over 15 years of higher education experience and currently serves as the Dean for Admissions at Waubonsee Community College, in Sugar Grove, IL. Faith currently oversees the areas of Admissions and Campus Services and has managed the areas of Registration and Records, Financial Aid and Student Life during her time at Waubonsee. Her accomplishments include the creation of SEM plans and the implementation of a Customer Relationship Management System. Faith attended Elgin Community College, and graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Mass Communication and a Master of Science in Communication. Her master’s thesis focused on predictors of conflict resolution styles.
Capstone Project - “ Investigation of a Non-returning New Student Re-enrollment Strategy" examined the re-enrollment rates of new students who did not return following their first semester. These students were randomly divided into two groups with varying types of outreach: (1) students who received a postcard and (2) students who received a phone call in addition to a postcard. The goal of the project was to re-enroll 5% of students. The goal was met, 6% of students re-enrolled; however, the control group re-enrolled at a higher rate than the experimental group. The results also showed that 63% of students successfully completed the call to action for both the postcard and phone call, which was to make an appointment with a counselor or advisor.The Capstone Project originated from a larger investigation conducted by LaShure and Waubonsee Community College’s Institutional Effectiveness team (Dr. Stacey Randall and Henry Hinkle). The two areas partnered to answer the question, “How are students who re-enroll different from students who are not retained?” One of the findings was that new students were at a higher risk of not returning after their first semester, and this finding prompted the Capstone Project.
Erin Alonzo is the former Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at SUNY Buffalo State in Buffalo, New York. She led the admissions, financial aid, and registration processes. At her previous institution, Lone Star College, Fairbanks and Cypress Centers, Alonzo was responsible for all student service departments including admissions, advising, registration, placement testing, financial aid, tutoring, the business office, international student admissions, and the call center. She has a master of business administration from Indiana University Kokomo and a bachelor of science in business management from SUNY Geneseo.
Capstone Project - “Recruiting Stop-Out Students to Help Stabilize Enrollment.” Focused on analyzing stop out student records to determine the feasibility of returning. Identified cohorts and developed intervention and communication plans specific to the needs of the population. Use Degree Works and SIS tables to correlate student’s degree progress to course availability for the upcoming semester to attract them to return and complete their degree.
2017 SEM-EP Graduate
Over 20 years of experience in enrollment management, holding leadership positions in admissions, advising, orientation, registration, first-year experience, financial aid, registration, career services, and student affairs in multiple Ohio community colleges and university regional campus systems. Kristen has successfully led institutions in strategic enrollment management planning and execution, and in developing an enrollment management ethos centered within the academic context and mission of her institution. Kristen attributes her successes largely to the guidance of mentors, her dedicated team members, and her collaborative partners.
Expertise - Strategic planning, enrollment management, college access and student success, organizational communication, data analysis, leveraging technology for improved performance, relationship management, and transformative leadership.
Capstone Project - “Design and Execution of a SEM Plan: Focus on Academic Context, Collaboration, and Coordination.” Regional open access institutions face changing demographics, declining market shares, and decreased funding. The newly hired Senior Regional Director of Enrollment Management led Miami University Regionals in its first strategic enrollment management planning process and its execution. Within the Miami University Regionals Strategic Enrollment Management Plan are the academic, recruitment and marketing, student success, and data and finance plans. Focusing SEM on the academic context pf the mission achieved buy-in from every academic department and resulted in Enrollment & Completion plans for each degree program. Because of this comprehensive plan and subsequent plans, entering student enrollment is increasing and retention is improving.
Over 15 years of Student Services experience in Higher Education Administration for a four-year non-profit private university with a residential enrollment over 18,000 students. Currently serving as Director of Admissions leading a team responsible for recruitment and marketing strategy, processing and policy development, enrollment counseling, along with team building and development. Other significant experience includes financial aid counseling and processing, scholarship policy and awarding, statistical analysis, enrollment management, leadership, and collaborative decision making.
Capstone Project - “Managing for Outcomes” was a literature review that explored topics related to consistently achieving meaningful outcomes while learning strategies to get a competitive edge in attracting and enrolling students.
Christine Atkinson has several years of higher education experience and currently serves as the Enrollment Manager at Metropolitan Community College – Longview, a public two-year college in Lee’s Summit, MO. Areas of expertise include recruitment, admissions, one-stop enrollment services, and records management. Christine graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene University with a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Human Relations and earned her Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration at the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Christine is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Leadership in Higher Education.
Capstone Project - “Strategic Enrollment Management at Metropolitan Community College-Longview” analyzed institutional data, environmental data, and best practice research to recommend strategies to attract and retain students for optimal enrollment. Utilizing AACRAO’s SEM planning model as a framework, the five-year plan seeks to increase enrollment, persistence, and completion rates through a series of targeted strategies and tactics developed with representation from a wide cross-section of faculty, administrators, and staff. This capstone project was approved for implementation by the MCC-Longview President’s Cabinet in May 2017.
Susan Allan serves as the Director of the International Student Initiative at the University Of British Columbia. She has 21 years’ experience in HE internationalization focusing on strategic enrolment management, student recruitment, market development, and financial assistance and awards. She holds a M.S. in Project Management, is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds the SEM-EP certification through AACRAO. 2017 SEM-EP Graduate
Capstone Project - The Creation of a Campus Culture for Student Success, literature review. This review compares three articles by leading enrolment management professionals on retention and student success to my primary text, Strategic Enrolment Intelligence. The central message of the text on retention is bringing together stakeholders from across the campus to share responsibility for student success from enrolment through to graduation. I explored how the articles supported or contrasted the idea of a retention champion and how some their proposed strategies are currently being utilized at my institution and where we had the opportunity to further student success in future at UBC.
Dr. Studebaker is currently serving as the Director of Student Engagement and Safety Coordination for the Idaho State Department of Education. This role manages the Idaho Advanced Opportunities Program, Idaho GEAR-UP, Idaho 21st Century Community Learning Centers, 504 Support, Idaho Public Driver Education, Youth Suicide Prevention, Safe and Drug Free Schools, School Bullying Prevention, and College/Career Advising. Dr. Studebaker is a member of the Idaho Council on Suicide Prevention, the Board of the Idaho Office of School Safety and Security, the Idaho Criminal Justice Commission, the Governor’s Taskforce on Opioid and Drug Abuse Prevention, and the Idaho Post-Secondary Council of Academic Affairs and Programs. He is also an adjunct faculty and dissertation chair in the Ed Leadership program at Northwest Nazarene University.
Capstone Project - "A Comprehensive Strategic Enrollment Management Plan" examined internal and external environmental factors and developed a multi-year, inter-departmental work plan to leverage institutional resources in support of student enrollment success at a community college in the Northwest.
Dr. Toni Woolfork-Barnes currently serves as Director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Western Michigan University. Steeped in higher education experience, Dr. Barnes has worked for Western Michigan University for most of her career. She has been the Director of the federally funded Upward Bound Trio Program; Director of the King-Chavez-Parks Program; Research Associate for Science and Mathematics Program Improvement; an evaluation consultant; grant writer, and an adjunct instructor.
Capstone Project - “Seven-Year (2007-2013) Retention Study on Students Enrolled in Thematic and Non-Thematic First-Year Experience Seminar Courses” For more than 30 years, John Gardner has elevated the discussion about the importance of student success in the first-year of college, with a heightened emphasis on first-year seminar courses and their value. Many colleges and universities offer some version of a first-year experience seminar, which is true for the Midwestern MAC School discussed in this research study. The purpose of this seven-year retention was to assess impact first-year seminar had on retention rates for students enrolled in thematic and non-thematic sections; to assess student leader post-perceptions about the course; and to examine the extent to which first-year students’ perceptions changed over a seven-year period.
Overall, findings are positive and encouraging based on analysis of the data. Specifically, findings illustrate that the first-year seminar course has positively impacted student retention for both groups of students in the study, but more significantly for students enrolled in the thematic sections of the course. Additionally, the researcher’s findings also indicated that student leaders have positive post-perceptions about the course, and lastly, the First-Year Initiative survey findings show that over a seven-year period, students’ perceptions about the course have improved.
Over 30 years of higher education experience in Admissions and Registrar's areas at private and large public four-year institutions. Leadership in process improvement, streamlining student services, and building collaboration with faculty and information technology to facilitate enrollment and graduation. Experience in policy assessment, expanding advisement tools, and Quarter-to-Semester Calendar Conversion. Holds a Ph.D. in Education. As a scholar-practitioner, infuses cultural responsiveness in enrollment services.
Capstone Project - “Class Wait-listing: A Strategy for Managing Course Demand” examined class wait-list numbers after two separate time periods--General Registration and Add/Drop Periods. This project also gathered information on students’ behavior concerning wait-listing and assessed delayed paths to graduation. Findings from this study resulted in a set of recommendations for changes in the University’s wait-listing policy and processes, including the integration of the review of wait-list numbers in enrollment planning.
Michael McManus has 10 years of higher education experience, including academic advising, instruction, new student orientation, and enrollment management experiences. Michael graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.A. – Political Science and minor in Psychology, and earned his Master of Arts in Teaching - Secondary Education Social Studies from Rhode Island College.
Capstone Project - “Evaluating the Impact Proactive Full-time Registration has on Student Retention.” This research project sought to determine if proactively enrolling a specific population of students full-time in their first semester of courses would result in student success when compared to prior year data. Student success is defined as an increase in enrollment, persistence, and retention. Research done in collaboration with fellow Registered Enrollment Professional Darcy Briggs.
Over 18 years progressively responsible experience in higher education, with a breadth of experience in Student Affairs at two-year, four-year, public, and private institutions. Areas of responsibility have included admissions, recruiting, records / registration, graduation, prior learning assessment, First Year Experience program, academic advising, institutional research, assessment, financial aid, and curriculum and program development.
Expertise: Admissions, Enrollment Management, Registrar, Records and Registration, Process Improvement, and Leadership.
Capstone Project - “Evaluating the Impact Proactive Full-time Registration has on Student Retention.” This research project sought to determine if proactively enrolling a specific population of students full-time in their first semester of courses would result in student success when compared to prior year data. Student success is defined as an increase in enrollment, persistence, and retention.
Request Steven McDowell as a speaker
Eleven-plus years of higher education financial aid experience across varying levels, which has included system policy development, legislative and regulatory analysis, system and campus financial aid administration, strategic planning, budgeting, enrollment management, institutional research, and state government relations.
Capstone Project - “Connecticut Community College Strategic Enrollment Management Master Plan” was written as a pilot plan to bring strategic enrollment management to the twelve community colleges that reside within the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities system. The contents of the plan seek to develop a new culture based around SEM, with leadership provided at the system level, which is designed to work with system colleges in advancing enrollment, retention, persistence, and progress goals.
SEM-EP Poster Session
McDowell is the author of AACRAO's Basic Guide to Financial Aid book, released in 2022, and Financial Aid Eligibility: Fundamental Concepts for College Administrators, Your Piece of Financial Aid Compliance, and Financial Aid's Role in Strategic Enrollment Management.
Other work:
Review of: On the Basis of Race: How Higher Education Navigates Affirmative Action Policies
Jennifer McClure currently serves as the University Registrar at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois. Her 30 years of diverse higher education experience span two-year and four-year institutions in public, for-profit, and non-profit sectors. As a result, she offers comprehensive leadership experience in registrar services, enrollment management, student success, branding, administrative policy, collective bargaining, government relations, and accreditation.
Dr. McClure is a collaborator and creative problem solver. She is a results-driven professional with experience in leading complex project teams, relationship management, change management, driving initiatives and achieving outstanding results. Her proven track record of success includes developing and implementing innovative strategies to drive growth, improve customer service, and increase efficiency.
Dr. McClure is at her best when she is collaborating to build high functioning teams. Known for connecting ideas, facilitating difficult conversations, and driving resolution, she shows up with energy and expects to positively impact whatever comes her way. She cultivates belonging using a growth mindset and connects people to information and resources so that they can achieve their goals. Her signature strengths are Maximizer, Relator, Arranger, Individualization, and Strategic.
Dr. McClure earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago, a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a Master of Science in Higher Education from the University of Kansas.
"The Impact of Advisor Outreach on Priority Registration" - College & University Vol. 92, No. 3, Fall 2017
Review of: 14 Rules for Admissions Screening in Higher Ed: An Antidote to Bias
Review of: Higher Education on the Brink: Reimagining Strategic Enrollment Management in Colleges and Universities
2016 SEM-EP Graduate
Timothy Rees, Ed.D., is Vice President for Enrollment Management at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, MA, a SEM-EP graduate (2016), and a program evaluator with SEM-EP (2017-2021). Previously, he served as dean of enrollment management at Erskine College in Due West, SC.
11 Years of Higher Education Experience in Admissions and Enrollment Management at a Private Institution with an residential enrollment in excess of 12,000 students
Expertise in Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Leadership, Admissions, and Project Management
Capstone Project - "A New Student Study Regarding Effective Telephony Methods of Outreach to Formerly Non-matriculated Applicants" explored the efficacy of telephone enrollment campaigns to applicants who did not matriculate
Review of: SEM as a Connector: Principles of Practice
12 Years of Higher Education Experience in academic planning and enrollment management at a public institution with enrollment in excess of 12,000 students
Expertise in Accreditation, Admissions, Assessment, Enrollment Management, Integrated Services, and Records and Registration
Currently serving as Director for Student One Stop, leading an integrated student service responsible for records, registration, financial aid, and bursar functions
Capstone Project - "Using SEM as a Visionary Plan of Action" explores the transformational ways to address financial and enrollment challenges at public and private institutions while accounting for balance between the institutional mission and student needs.