I have worked in higher education for the past fifteen years, but my desire to work in the university setting began much earlier. As an undergraduate student, I worked alongside my academic advisor to develop an interdisciplinary major that focused on education, business/CIS, and social work. As I look back on those formative years, I see that my academic program and student worker role in Residential Life/Student Activities were steppingstones for a future career in higher education.
The year following college graduation, I moved to Moscow, Russia to work with Russian educators in a private Russian IB school. My experience at the Moscow Economics School confirmed my desire to pursue a career that enveloped education, data, administration, and service. I then accepted a position as Assistant Registrar at Trinity International University. I worked closely with Admissions and Financial Aid to ensure a seamless student experience from recruitment to graduation for non-traditional students in the Chicago area.
I then joined Bacone College as a Financial Aid Counselor. I was able to integrate my registrar knowledge of degree completion and retention with financial aid. I began to see how recruitment and advising have a direct impact on student success, retention, persistence, graduation, and life after college. As the higher education landscape is rapidly changing, my experiences at Bacone taught me to always be mindful of the financial sacrifices students make to attend college. An opportunity then arose to work as an Assistant Registrar at Rogers State University. I had an opportunity to be part of the new SIS implementation team. I was the project manager for the Student and Advising/Degree Audit modules for the new SIS. After three years in my role as Assistant Registrar, I was promoted to Associate Registrar. I led the Registrar team to develop efficient transfer evaluation processes. I was able to work with campus leaders to improve transfer admission, course review, and degree completions.
After a move across the country, I accepted a position as Associate Registrar at Lawrence University. Alongside an Intentional Interim Registrar and a new Co-Associate Registrar, we were tasked to rebuild the registrar’s office to align with university priorities and best practices. Six months into this transitional season, Lawrence launched a national search for the Registrar position. I applied and was offered the position. With the encouragement of the administration, strong IT support, and an energetic staff, we have been able to improve processes and align our priorities with the university’s strategic initiatives.
My past experiences have helped me develop my understanding of how institutional processes, procedures, and technological tools can improve the student journey from prospect to life after college. I enjoy working with systems and data. However, even more than systems and data, I enjoy working with students, staff, and faculty in the higher education setting. I look forward to meetings with students to answer difficult questions. I enjoy collaborating with staff and faculty to think through problems, policies, ideas, and goals to better equip the institution to deliver a quality education to our students.
A life-long learner, Janell came from a family of educators. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Fisk University and her doctorate in higher education from the University of Denver. She has worked at several institutions including the Community College of Aurora and Community College of Denver where she focused on the success of First-Generation students. She currently works for Ellucian as a Solutions Consultant.
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals is a specialty biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmic products, with two commercialized products for serious eye diseases that can lead to blindness and an impressive pipeline of drugs to treat serious retinal diseases. Nancy, a veteran in the biopharmaceutical industry, joined EyePoint in September 2016 as President and Chief Executive Officer and is a member of the company’s Board of Directors.in 2023 she then semi-retired and became Executive Vice Chair of EyePoint. EyePoint has grown substantially under Ms. Lurker’s leadership, taking it from a small, research driven organization to one having several marketed ophthalmology products and a leading pipeline of extended delivery treatments for serious retinal diseases. Ms. Lurker has more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical services industries. Prior to joining EyePoint, Ms. Lurker was President and CEO at PDI a leading commercialization and contract sales company that commercialized hundreds of pharmaceutical drugs, devices, OTC and diagnostic tests in collaboration with their business partners through PDI’s 1100 sales representatives. In 2015, Nancy led the sale of PDI’s contract sales division to Publicis Touchpoint Solutions.
Prior to joining PDI, she was Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation where she oversaw a $6 billion product portfolio in multiple therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, CNS, respiratory and anti-infectives.
Ms. Lurker was also President and CEO of ImpactRx, a private equity backed market research firm servicing the biopharmaceutical industry. Prior to ImpactRx she was Group Vice President – Global Primary Care Products for Pharmacia Corporation, and a member of Pharmacia’s US Executive Management Committee.. She began her career at Bristol Myers Squibb, where she quickly rose from Senior Medical Representative to Senior Director of Worldwide Cardiovascular Franchise Management where she oversaw the global launch of Plavix, along with many other successful drug launches.
Ms. Lurker graduated magna cum laude with a BS in biology from Seattle Pacific University, and holds an MBA from the University of Evansville (Evansville, IN).
In addition to her Board Director role at EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Nancy also serves on the Board of Altasciences, LLC, a rapidly growing, private, contract research organization (CRO) focused on early stage drug development services. She is also a Board member of National Sanitation Foundation, a not for profit focused on improving the quality of water, food and human health. Ms. Lurker is a member of the Novo Advisory Group, which advises on large investments for the $200 Billion private equity fund of Novo A/S, Denmark. She is also a member of Stanford’s M-TRAM program (Masters in Translational Medicine).
Ms. Lurker has also served on multiple other public and private Boards over her career, including Cancer Treatment Centers of America, a multi-billion-dollar private cancer treatment hospital system, Aquestive Therapeutics, a public, CNS commercial stage company, and Auxillium Pharmaceuticals, among others.
Ashley Hildebrandt, Call Center Manager and Records Specialist for CU Boulder, has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Wyoming and Master of Arts in Higher Education from the University of Denver. She has worked for the Office of the Registrar for three years.
Engaging Student Employee Development with Microcredentials
Rebecca Jones, Assistant Registrar for Client Services for CU Boulder, is a CU Boulder alum with both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Literature. She has worked for the Office of the Registrar for more than thirteen years.
Yosayra F. Solano, Ed.D., is the Assistant Dean for Academic Enrichment and Director of the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program at the Rutgers University School of Nursing. She has worked in higher education for over seventeen years and is passionate about helping underrepresented populations through support and mentorship. She earned her B.A. in Communication Arts from Ramapo College of New Jersey, her M.A in Education from Seton Hall University, and her Ed.D. in educational leadership/higher education from Rowan University. Her research interest focuses on first-generation students' academic and social success.
Choosing a Major: How the Experiences of African American and Latino Males Influence Retention and Persistence
Pierre Debaty has more than 20 years of experience in learning and development within leading intergovernmental organizations. He holds a Doctorate of Social Sciences from the University of Leicester (UK), a Master's in Laws from the University of London (UK), and a Licenciate in Law degree from the University of Louvain (Belgium).
Understanding the European Baccalaureate and the European Schools: A Unique College Preparatory Program
Decoding the European Baccalaureate Grading System: Operational Takeaways for Admissions and Credential Evaluation Professionals
Amml Hussein, Ed.D., LMSW, currently serves as the Director of Research at the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the premier accreditation body for the social work profession nationally. Beyond the conventional realm of education, Dr. Hussein's influence is expansive, marked by a forward-thinking approach that integrates cutting-edge technology and instructional methodologies to elevate student engagement. She consistently adapts courses to ensure they resonate with the individual needs of her learners, fostering an environment where learning flourishes.
In her pivotal role at CSWE, Dr. Hussein is at the forefront of the design and development of the Assessment Institute, a post-conference initiative showcasing her dedication to advancing education. This institute serves as a knowledge hub, empowering educators, researchers, and practitioners to refine teaching and evaluation methods, while enhancing the learning experience with the latest assessment best practices.
Another groundbreaking initiative is the Research, Policy, and Practice Student Summit, a visionary endeavor that Dr. Hussein spearheaded with her team at CSWE. This inaugural event, themed "Decolonizing Social Work Education: Moving Beyond Conversations," facilitated translational research, directly impacting communities and highlighting critical social issues. The four-day summit connected baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral student fellows with congressional offices on Capitol Hill, providing invaluable experiential learning opportunities as well as a platform for engagement in research and addressing social issues with a solid peer network.
Dr. Hussein's commitment to bridging the gap between research, practice, and policy is evident, as she nurtures a network of peers and mentors. Her drive to innovate and dedication to cultivating a dynamic learning environment underscore her visionary leadership and commitment to advancing the fields of social work research and higher education.
GPA Fixation: Performance Mindset during the Sophomore Year, A Qualitative Study
Jessica Alberhasky is the Senior Associate Registrar for Student Academic Systems at the University of Iowa. She has been a member of UMACRAO (Upper Midwest) and AACRAO since 2015. Alberhasky holds a B.S. from University of Iowa.
If You Build It, They Will Come: The University of Iowa’s FERPA Team
Kathryn Stoltenberg is a Senior Associate Registrar, Director of the Academic and Alumni Management Teams, Institutional Reporting, & Compliance at the University of Iowa. She has served postsecondary institutions for 27 years, 25 of them in the registrar field, and seventeen at the University of Iowa. She earned a B.A. (German) from St. Ambrose University.
Emily Tallant has served as the Director of Records and Enrollment at Emory College of Arts & Sciences since 2018 and has worked in higher education since 2008. Prior to this role, she most recently served Emory as an associate university registrar, leading a student support services team. Emily started her higher education career in the registrar’s office at a small, private liberal arts institution, learning the breadth and variety of registrar tasks in that small-scale office. Her passion is leading teams to work efficiently, cooperatively, and toward a common goal of excellent student service.
Bridging the Silos: Strengthening Connections Between the Central Registrar and Decentralized Academic Units
Stephanie Liebnick is the Registrar and Director of Enrollment Services at Yale University School of Nursing. She has a BA in Media and Communications, and Studio Art from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. She also has an M.Ed. with advanced study in Higher Education from The Pennsylvania State University. Her areas of interest and expertise include practicing and implementing policy as well as systems integrations. Stephanie has been a member of AACRAO since 2015 and is currently the vice-chair for the Young Professionals Caucus.
Dr. Jeff King is Assistant Vice President for Transformative Learning and Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Transformative Teaching and Learning (CETTL) at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). He is a chief architect of UCO’s Student Transformative Learning Record (STLR), which is UCO’s operationalization of its mission to provide a transformative education to students. In addition to having served as Principal Investigator for a U.S. Department of Education $7.8M (US) grant supporting STLR, Jeff is also subaward Principal Investigator for a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant investigating the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to scan students’ critical self-reflective narratives to search for language and contexts within the narratives that correlate with transformative experiences as assessed by trained faculty using robust rubrics. This NSF grant work has produced findings that will help learners and job-seekers find better matches for their skills and desires in the workplace and/or for future education.
Dr. Gloria Niles, the director of online learning for the University of Hawaiʻi System, is a visionary leader in online education and a pioneering strategist and policy advocate. In addition to her collaborative efforts within the University of Hawai’i system, Dr. Niles plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of higher education on regional and national levels.
At the University of Hawai'i System, Dr. Niles leads strategic initiatives in academic technologies, micro-credentials, and generative AI, harnessing the power of emerging technologies to enhance the educational experience for students across all ten campuses. Her forward-thinking approach ensures that the University remains at the forefront of educational innovation, providing students with opportunities to thrive in the digital age.
Furthermore, Dr. Niles's influence extends far beyond the boundaries of the University of Hawai’i. As an active participant in national organizations, she contributes her expertise to shaping policy and best practices in online education, focusing on micro-credentials and generative AI. Her leadership and advocacy in these areas profoundly impact the future trajectory of higher education, paving the way for transformative advancements in teaching and learning.
Drawing upon her extensive expertise, Dr. Niles plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of higher education at the University of Hawai’i and nationally. As an accreditation peer reviewer, she ensures the highest standards of quality and rigor in higher education. Furthermore, her role as faculty for the 2024 Cohort of the Institute for Emerging Leaders in Online Learning, offered by the prestigious Online Learning Consortium (OLC), underscores her dedication to nurturing the next generation of online education pioneers.
Dr. Niles actively shapes policy and best practices in online education. Her membership in the steering committee for the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) and participation in the NC-SARA Institutions Advisory Committee exemplify her commitment to advancing the field and fostering collaboration across institutions.
Dr. Niles's multifaceted expertise, unwavering dedication, and passion for transformative online learning make her a driving force in shaping the future of higher education in Hawai’i and beyond.
Lesley Voigt, Director, Digital Credentials Institute (DCI) at Madison College, has established Madison College as a leader in the digital credentialing space by creating new pathways into the college, creating/extending partnerships with organizations, and now boasts a growing list of worldwide clients underneath the DCI portfolio. Lesley is the primary designer and oversees all digital credentials at Madison College. Additionally, she contracts with organizations globally to consult, implement, build, and administer scalable and sustainable digital credentialing programs. Lesley has become a sought-after expert on the subject of digital badging. Her work has won multiple awards nationally and internationally.
My career accomplishments are due to what AACRAO has provided me with lifelong friends and colleagues through the volunteer, conference, and publication opportunities provided. I have enjoyed sharing my knowledge, information, and laughs with all of colleagues. I'm so lucky that I have had staff that believe in making a positive difference in students' lives and they are so committed to AACRAO and all it has to offer. One of my proudest accomplishments was increasing the 4-year graduation rate by over 33% to 78%. I would not be receiving this award from AACRAO for my accomplishments and the years of service to the profession if it was not for all of you, my colleagues, friends and former staff members. Thank you all.
Mary Allen is a brand and experience-driven marketing and communications professional with over a decade of experience in various industries including high-profile sports and entertainment, higher education and most recently, association technology. Mary is currently the Senior Manager of Associations and Brand at Personify, leading a team of talented marketing professionals committed to helping associations and nonprofits optimize their operations and most-importantly, their member experiences. Mary is uniquely able to bring a background in fan experience for two nationally-recognized brands into her strategies for elevating brands through client and member experiences.
Jennifer Hedrick Castrovinci is a Senior Specialist for the National Student Clearinghouse’s Audit Resource Center. She brings a wealth of knowledge on all things Title IV Compliance and Enrollment Reporting derived from her more than a decade of experience helping the Clearinghouse’s 3,600+ participating schools reduce and eliminate a broad range of audit findings. On a daily basis, Jennifer is responsible for fielding a variety of enrollment reporting compliance questions and audit inquiries from postsecondary school administrators who typically fulfill registrar and financial aid administrative service roles for their institution. Additionally, Jennifer leads the Audit Resource Center’s efforts to create meaningful compliance reporting resources for our schools. She is also a frequent presenter for a variety of the Enrollment Reporting and compliance webinars the Clearinghouse hosts and serves as a primary content contributor for the Clearinghouse’s Compliance Central site.