Portfolio Manager/Academics, National Partnership Program, Communications Directorate, U.S. Census Bureau
Chief of Special Enumerations Branch, Decennial Census Management Division, U.S. Census Bureau
Assistant Division Chief, Special Enumerations Decennial Census Management Division U.S. Census Bureau
Research & Policy Division WILLIAM RAFAEL GIL Senior Director, Government Affairs, AACRAO In this role, he implements the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission officers (AACRAO’s) public policy agenda and oversees federal government relations, legislative, policy and regulatory matters that could possibly impact the AACRAO membership, which is comprised of 11,000 individual members at over 2,600 higher education institutions. He provides information and strategic advice regarding developments in education policy and regulations relating to college admissions, records, student privacy, financial aid and other issues impacting higher education at the federal, state and local levels. Prior to this position he was the Vice President of Programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) where he oversaw all day-to-day managerial aspects of CHCI’s leadership development programs and educational services including the Congressional Internship, Public Policy Fellowship, Graduate Fellowship, Ready to Lead, Scholarship award programs, as well as CHCI’s educational resources, activities and tools. He was also the Associate Vice President for Collegiate Programs and Federal Relations for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). In this position he was responsible for all aspects of the largest Hispanic internship program in the nation, which coordinates internships for over 600 individuals per year, and forged stronger relationships between the organization, the White House, Congress, federal agencies and member institutions, as well as other national applicable higher education and Hispanic organizations and associations. He also oversaw all regulatory issues that impacted Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) Other working experiences include serving as the Executive Director, as well as a Legislative Assistant, for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), an informal group of Hispanic Members of Congress that is dedicated to advancing issues that affect Latinos in the United States through the legislative process. He has also worked for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program of Arlington County, The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC). He was born in Venezuela and moved to the United States with his family at young age. He has a Masters in Public Administration from the George Mason University and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a double major in Economics and Spanish Literature. He and his wife Kelly reside in Arlington, VA with their two sons - Alexander Rafael and Dominic Vicente.
Bill manages and implements AACRAO’s public policy agenda and oversees federal government relations, legislative, policy and regulatory matters impacting the AACRAO membership.
William has more than 15+ years of student development and enrollment management experience spanning private and public universities and community colleges. He led undergraduate and graduate admission operations serving students in traditional, hybrid and online learning environments. William is passionate and purposeful in partnering with campus administrators in pursuit of successful technology adoption and change management initiatives.
Dr. Granston is an Education technology specialist and holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of South Florida. She joined the Caribbean Examinations Council® (CXC®) in July 2010 and is based at the Western Zone Office (WZO) in Jamaica.
Susan E. Hamilton, MA Ed, is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs/Registrar at the Rutgers Health division of Rutgers University in New Jersey. Before this role, she was the registrar at Saint Peter’s University where she also served as director of enrollment services and assistant dean. She has been in the profession for 34 years, written several articles for AACRAO, and held executive roles in both the Middle States Association of Collegiate Registrars and Officers and Admission and the NJ/NY Association. She has presented on many topics including FERPA, mentoring, record retention, and transcript notations.
Best Practices in the Role of the Registrar
My AACRAO experience overlaps neatly with my higher education career. After graduating from Johnston College, a non-traditional liberal arts program at the University of Redlands, I became registrar there, following in the footsteps of the first of many mentors. A few years later, I was appointed University Registrar at the University of Redlands. Although I wasn’t sure if this would be my life work, I found higher education to be compelling, challenging, and rewarding. I served as University Registrar at California State Long Beach for over five years, then accepted the position of registrar at Reed College. One of the benefits of working in higher education is the expectation that we are always learning – how better to model that for our students than to embody that learning in how we serve the missions of our institutions?
Throughout my career, my colleagues across the state, region, nation, and internationally have informed, inspired, and guided me through changes in technology, academic culture, and higher education legislation. Serving on local arrangements committees at the state, regional, and national level helped me engage in association work, as did serving on professional activities committees and making presentations. Serving on the boards of PACRAO and AACRAO demanded more strategic thinking and developing different skill sets. My work on AACRAO’s Governance Task Force was some of the most demanding and inspired work I have seen colleagues undertake so collaboratively. Visiting many of the state and regional associations during my tenure on the AACRAO board was a privilege and provided a perspective on how our shared goals and purpose were more evident than our differences. From bowling competitions, river cruises, to costume parties, AACRAO’ans share not only their knowledge but recognize that social connection enhances professional connection and support.
It has been delightful to share my professional world with members of my family, who have attended annual and other meetings over the years. I remember my mother regaling my colleagues with stories in the lounge at a PACRAO conference (what stories did she tell?) and I wondered if there was room at the table for me. Of course there was. And I am gratified that AACRAO, PACRAO, OrACRAO, and many state and regional associations have made significant inroads in their efforts to ensure that for our students and our campus communities, there is room at the table for everyone. It is our responsibility and privilege to make access to higher education a priority. We see the importance of welcoming and connecting with one another, and that spirit informs our work with our campus communities. Onward, AACRAO!
Dr Nicole Manning joined the staff of the Caribbean Examinations Council® (CXC®) on 1 February 2020 as Director of Operations, Examination Services.
Dr Manning possesses a Doctor of Education in Organization Leadership, from the Nova Southeastern University in Florida, a Master of Science in Computer Based Management Information Systems and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Management from the University of the West Indies, Mona. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Technology and a Post Graduate Certificate in Risk Management from the Institute of Risk Management (UK). Dr Manning is an industry professional with over twenty years of regional and international managerial experience in diverse industries from Test Development & Measurement to Quality Assurance and Strategic Management.
Dr Manning’s extensive experience in the fields of education and assessment have equipped her with the necessary tools to strategically manage the development of examinations services, which are delivered by the Examinations Development and Production and Examinations Administration and Security Departments.
Council at its 50th Meeting in St Vincent, on 7 December 2018, appointed Dr Wayne Wesley as Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), with effect from 1 August 2019. Dr Wesley joined CXC in June 2018, as Director of Operations, Examination Services. As Director, Dr Wesley assisted in providing strategic leadership and management to the organisation. In addition, he oversaw the planning, development and operation of the core examination services of CXC, to the organisation’s regional and international stakeholders.
The new Registrar/CEO is passionate about regional integration and development, particularly fostering Human Capital Development through education and training, having spent the last twenty-five years in both education and training in Jamaica, the region and internationally. His professional experience spans industrial engineering, technical education, consultancies, strategic leadership and executive management.
Prior to joining CXC, Dr Wesley led the Human Employment and Resource Training Trust/ National Training Agency (HEART Trust/NTA) in Jamaica, in the role of Executive Director and was Chairman of the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities (CANTA). During his professional career, he served at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica) and his time there culminated in his promotion and appointment to the academic rank of Senior Lecturer and Programme Director for the Industrial Engineering Programme.
As a member of various boards, Dr Wesley has given of his time and expertise to assist organisations in the field of education. These include the Council of UTech, Jamaica, the University Council of Jamaica, the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning and international committees such as, the Technical Committee of the International Labour Organization and the WorldSkills International Strategy Committee. He has also shared his expertise with regional project steering committees, namely, the CARICOM Education for Employment Programme and the Regional Labour Market Information System.
Dr Wesley brings to the role of Registrar/CEO, extensive knowledge gained through his Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Engineering from Florida State University, a Master of Science in Manufacturing Systems from Southern Illinois University, a Bachelor of Education in Industrial Technology with First Class Honours from UTech, Jamaica, a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Services Management from Jamaica Stock Exchange e-Campus, and a Level 8 Certificate in Strategic Direction and Leadership from the Chartered Management Institute, UK. As a strong proponent of continuing education, Dr Wesley also continues to delve into further study. He has successfully completed Executive Education programmes at Harvard University and Manchester Business School in Innovation and Leading Economic Growth, and Advanced Management, respectively.
A Fulbright scholar, Dr Wesley is a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, UK, and a Fellow of the American Society for Quality.
Melissa Ganiere is a Research & Knowledge Management Evaluator and has been with ECE since 2006. She specializes in education from Sub-saharan Africa and South East Asia, along with refugee documentation and online verification.
Charlie Hoehnen has been an evaluator at ECE since 2011, specializing in countries from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe. His interests lie in systems in transition, and on the intersectionality of social change and conflict on education. He’s presented on secondary education in the Middle East and North Africa as well as on question of level in super-secondary examinations systems.
Tim Amyx has worked in higher education for over 20 years and is the Director of Admissions and College Registrar at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, TN just north of Nashville. Tim is a Past President and former Vice President for Information Technology and Publications for Tennessee ACRAO. Over the years, Tim has served on various AACRAO task forces and committees. He was the chair for the AACRAO Community College Issues Committee and was the Group V coordinator for the Annual Meeting Program Committee and served as Chair for the 2017 Minneapolis AACRAO Annual Meeting Program Committee. Tim is one of the original faculty for the AACRAO REG 201 workshop. He is a recipient of the Tennessee ACRAO Distinguished Service Award and the AACRAO Thomas A. Bilger Award. Tim currently served on the AACRAO Board of Directors as a Vice President at Large.
Felicia Martin became the vice president of the Eligibility Center in February 2017. Martin is responsible for the Eligibility Center’s strategic direction and leads a staff that each year certifies academics and amateurism credentials for approximately 100,000 Divisions I and II prospective college athletes. Before coming to the NCAA, Martin was the senior associate director of athletics for academics, student services and sports administration at Texas Tech University. She joined the Texas Tech athletics staff in June 1999 as a counseling specialist for the tutorial and mentor program. Martin also served as the assistant executive director at the D1A Athletic Directors’ Association, which now is known as the LEAD1 Association.
Martin is an active, long-standing member of the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A). She held various leadership roles within the organization and served as the 2017-18 N4A president. Currently, Martin represents the NCAA on the NACDA Executive Committee as an At-Large Representative. In addition, she is a member of Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA). Martin is a graduate of the NCAA Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute. She has facilitated several student- athlete development leadership conferences and is a frequent panelist, presenter and keynote speaker. A native of Bay Springs, Mississippi, Martin earned her bachelor’s degree in educational psychology and master’s degree in counselor education from Mississippi State University.
Leah McCormack is an emerging leader who has made an early mark on the profession with a commitment and passion to improve higher education. She won AACRAO's Emerging Leader Award in 2019. Leah joined the NAIA during the Eligibility Center’s inaugural year, helping to open the center as a Manager of Eligibility in 2010. She was instrumental in the creation of numerous policies and oversight of international eligibility. In 2012, Leah published the NAIA International Standards and in 2014 launched InCred, a credential evaluation service dedicated to assisting our member schools in recruitment of international students. She ascended to the role of Director of the eligibility center in 2014.
In 2017, Leah was named Vice President of Eligibility Services, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the NAIA Eligibility Center. She oversees 14 full-time and over 30 seasonal team members, allowing her to merge her business acumen and leadership skills.
Leah is passionate about helping others achieve access to higher education through sport. Never having had the opportunity herself to pursue college athletics (the sport of trampoline and tumbling is not yet a collegiate offering), she now works hard ensuring access to first-time eligibility for the 35,000+ student-athletes joining the NAIA for the first time each year.
Before joining the NAIA, Leah worked in finance as well as community literacy through the One Book, One Chicago and America Reads Tudors programs. Leah earned an M.B.A. with a focus in managing and leading people from the UMKC Bloch School and a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology from DePaul University.
Leah is active on committees with Women Leaders in College Sports, serves as Content Coordinator and is a published contributor and frequent presenter for AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers). Leah remains active in Kansas City’s entrepreneurial community as a mentor for the Regnier Institute’s E-Scholar program and she is proud to volunteer and support KC Scholars, a scholarship program dedicated to increasing postsecondary education attainment in the Kansas City low-income community. Additionally, Leah serves on the board of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra.