Keri Walters is the Assistant Provost for Transfer Initiatives at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She previously served as the registrar at Columbia College Chicago, where she gained an interest in federal compliance issues in higher education and a deep appreciation for her talented colleagues in financial aid. Walters earned her Master of Science in college student personnel services at Miami University (Ohio) and her Bachelor of Arts in theatre and music theory at Ashland University (Ohio). Her current research interests are centered around building equitable, state of the art processes and operations that serve transfer students throughout all phases of the student lifecycle.
The Financial Aid Office as an Essential Strategic Partner in SEM
Betsy Tippens Reinitz is the Director of the CIO and Senior Technology Leader Program at EDUCAUSE where she develops resources to support CIOs and IT leaders as they navigate strategic issues and challenges. Her current areas of focus are digital transformation and analytics. She is also involved in a variety of partnership activities with other associations and organizations. Before coming to EDUCAUSE, Reinitz was assistant vice chancellor for information technologies at the University of Washington Bothell, where she led efforts to align technology planning, resource allocation, and strategic direction with the mission and goals of a fast-growing public university.
The Future of Data Governance: Bridging Institutional Silos
Kathe Pelletier, Ed.D., has spent the last 20 years in higher education innovation of some form or another. Pelletier’s entry point into higher education was in an adult-serving institution that was fully online, and most of her work since then has been oriented around combining evidence-based practice with innovative delivery models. She has held roles in many different areas including advising, curriculum and instructional design, competency-based education, and academic support. Pelletier earned her Ed.D. in educational leadership and management from Capella University with research exploring the utilization of appreciative inquiry to make improvements to cross-institutional collaboration in curriculum and course development processes. Pelletier is currently the director of the teaching and learning program at EDUCAUSE, a non-profit membership organization that serves higher ed IT professionals.
Jenay Robert is a senior researcher at EDUCAUSE. Previously, she worked at Teaching and Learning with Technology at The Pennsylvania State University, focusing on emerging educational technology and experimental learning spaces. Robert’s current research interests include strategic foresight and equitable and inclusive education and work. Robert received a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from The Pennsylvania State University.
Sasidhar “Sasi” Sista is India’s first Fulbright Scholar to pursue a Master’s in Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania. He has over ten years of experience in the global higher education sector. Sasi is Co-Founder and COO at GradRight, an Ed-FinTech company aiming to foster accountability and create a long-lasting impact in global higher education using the power of technology, data science and collaboration.
Sean O'Brien is the Senior Director of University Partnerships at GradRight, where he brings a background in making higher education accessible and affordable, having founded Affordable College PBC. His experience provided insight into the potential for GradRight to help international students dramatically reduce student debt while driving strategic enrollment goals for university partners. Sean enjoys partnering with university leaders by leveraging technology and data science to increase access and affordability, facilitating a bridge between students seeking valuable education opportunities, universities aiming to attract ideal candidates, and financial institutions offering efficient lending solutions. He started his professional career as a hockey player and is still happy to be on the ice in a pick-up game as often as possible.
Kristi Kaeppel earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership with a focus on Adult Learning from the University of Connecticut. She also has a Master of Education in Higher Education from Merrimack College and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Mount Holyoke College. Kristi’s academic interests include the development of learners’ critical thinking skills, intellectual humility, learner agency and self-efficacy, transfer of learning, and women’s friendships in the workplace. Guided by the belief that learning can be transformative, Kristi is drawn to work that involves designing and delivering inclusive, meaningful learning experiences.
With a career spanning over two decades at WSU Vancouver, Rea’s journey began as an Academic Advisor, and her unwavering commitment to students has been a constant throughout. In her current role, Rea provides strategic leadership for key departments including Admissions, Student Financial Services, Enrollment Technology, the Registrar’s Office, and Veterans Affairs, shaping the critical landscape of the enrollment management process.
Her vision goes beyond mere administrative duties; it's a commitment to fostering an environment of inclusivity and equity in the college experience. Rea holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Fine Arts and Information Systems, showcasing a unique blend of creativity and analytical ability. Her academic journey culminated in a Master of Fine Arts in Ballet from the University of Utah.
A trailblazer in higher education, Rea continues to make an impact, ensuring that every student under her guidance not only navigates the complexities of academia but also experiences a transformative and equitable college journey.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurel-rea-49743812/
Capstone: Literature Review on Enrollment Goals Setting
Polly has served as a Grant Administer and is currently the Dean of Student Access for the College of Southern Idaho, overseeing Admissions, Bridge to Success, Events and Outreach, Early College (Dual Credit and Transition Coordination), and the Off-Campus Centers. In addition, in the past, she has served in City Administration, managed an accounting firm, and fulfilled various roles within the banking industry. She earned her master’s degree in Management Organizational Leadership from George Fox University. She is currently a doctoral candidate in the Educational Leadership Ed.D. degree in Higher Education Administration through Idaho State University. She has been involved with the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) as a Peer Reviewer and a conference presenter.
Polly is a past graduate of the Harvard Senior Executive Program at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. In addition, she previously graduated from the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, as well as the Boise Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. She has completed the Northwest Community Development Institute (NWCDI), as well as receiving her Certification as a Grant Administrator for the Community Development Block Grant and Rural Community Block Grant programs.
Capstone: Review of the Strategic Enrollment Management Goals, Strategies, and Tactics
Meet Michele Strum, a remarkable individual who is currently serving as the Senior Assistant Director of Student Aid at Yeshiva University. Before joining Yeshiva University, Michele honed her skills as the Federal Work Study Coordinator and Financial Aid Counselor at Bloomfield College. Her experience in these roles allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the intricacies of financial aid , which she now applies to her current position. Michele's passion for education and her unwavering belief in its power to transform students and their families is truly inspiring. She holds a master's degree in Higher Education Administration from the prestigious Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College. Michele has made it her mission to streamline financial aid processes, making them more efficient and user-friendly for students and parents.
The challenges of growing up black and female in apartheid South Africa have been the foundation of the Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu’s life as a motivational speaker and activist for human rights. Those experiences taught her that our whole human family loses when we accept situations of oppression, and how the teaching and preaching of hate and division injure us all.The human rights activist’s professional experience ranges from being an economist and development consultant in West Africa to being a program coordinator for programs on Race and Gender and Gender-based Violence in Education at the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town. In addition, the Rev. Tutu has taught at the University of Hartford, the University of Connecticut and Brevard College in North Carolina. She served as Program Coordinator for the historic Race Relations Institute at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., and was a part of the Institute’s delegation to the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa.
Growing up the “daughter of Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu” has offered Naomi many opportunities and challenges in her life. Perhaps one of the greatest struggles was the call to ministry. She knew early in life that the one thing she would never be was a priest. She always said, “I have my father’s nose, I do not want his job.” It refused to be silenced, even as she carried her passion for justice into other fields. The call to preach and serve as an ordained clergyperson continued to tug at her. Finally, in her 50s, she responded and went to seminary. She is an Episcopal priest who most recently served as Associate Rector at All Saints, Beverly Hills. She currently resides in Atlanta where she is a priest associate at All Saints’ Episcopal.
As well as speaking and preaching, the Rev. Tutu has established Nozizwe Consulting. Its mission is to bring different groups together to learn from and celebrate their differences and acknowledge their shared humanity. As part of this work, she has led Truth and Reconciliation Workshops for groups dealing with different types of conflict. She is the recipient of four honorary doctorates from universities and colleges in the U.S. and Nigeria.
Brandon Busteed is the CEO of BrandEd, a family-owned education company that delivers relevant, experiential courses taught by industry experts from the world’s best brands including Sotheby’s, Conde Nast, The New York Times and City Football.
Brandon is a mission-driven education and workforce development leader who has been part of successful runs as an entrepreneur of an EdTech company and an executive at two large, well-known organizations. He is a huge champion of work-integrated, experiential learning who believes the future won’t distinguish between places of learning and places of work.
Prior to BrandEd, Busteed served as Chief Partnership Officer and Global Head of Learn-Work Innovation at Kaplan where he led all of Kaplan’s work serving universities and companies, leveraging the organization’s highly diversified, global educational offerings and insights.
Brandon has strong entrepreneurial roots as the founder and CEO of Outside The Classroom, one of the country’s first successful Ed Tech companies which was acquired by EverFi in 2011. Its flagship online courses on alcohol abuse and sexual assault prevention have been taken by more than 13 million college students.
An internationally known speaker and author on education and workforce development, he has published more than 300 articles and keynoted more than 200 conferences. He is a LinkedIn “Top Voice” and a frequent contributor to Forbes.com.
Brandon received his bachelor’s degree in public policy from Duke University where he was also a two sport Division 1 athlete. He received an honorary doctorate from Augustana College. He is a trustee emeritus of Duke and has served on the Board of Visitors of the Sanford School of Public Policy.
He serves on the board of directors for the Business-Higher Education Forum - the nation’s oldest membership organization of Fortune 500 CEOs and college and university presidents dedicated to the creation of a highly skilled future workforce. He also serves on the board of directors for the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U).
Casey Wallace began her higher education career in 2004 in admissions at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS. In 2014 she accepted a position at the University of Kansas in admissions with transfer students. She is currently the Assistant Vice Provost/University Registrar at KU. She has been active in regional and national professional organizations, including President of the Kansas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, and currently serves as Treasurer. She has presented on topics such as social media, recruitment and admissions, collaboration, and state and regional organizations.
Tim Dawson is a Principal Solutions Consultant here at Ellucian, and Tim recently celebrated his 10-year anniversary with us. And before coming to Ellucian Tim sat in your seat working at universities in Enrollment and Admissions. When you talk to Tim you can immediately feel his undeniable passion for Student Success.
Ean Freels is a Senior Solutions Consultant for Ellucian where he focuses heavily on financial aid and accounts receivable. He began working in the higher education industry in 2004 and has overseen the administration of student aid at both large and small institutions. He is a NASFAA Certified Financial Aid Administrator® and is proud to have facilitated several training opportunities to help others obtain NASFAA Credentials. Ean lives in Iowa with his wife, dogs, and banjos.
Kristin McDonald-Willey has over fifteen years of experience in higher education. She currently serves as the Director of Admissions and Registrar at Amarillo College. Kristin has previous experience with residential living, test proctoring, institutional effectiveness/program assessment, curriculum, teaching, and state reporting, but over a decade of her full-time professional responsibilities have been focused in enrollment management areas. Kristin holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology and Design from West Texas A&M University. Kristin is also an active TACRAO member who has previously served as the TACRAO secretary and currently serves as the Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS) committee chair.
Capstone:
Amarillo College Administrative Drop Retention Study
LinkedIn Profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinmcdonaldwilley/
Motivated by a desire to transcend his agricultural roots, he embarked on an educational journey that led him from the fields to the classrooms of Boise State University. Having earned his bachelor's degree, Caloca gained five years of professional experience before returning to his alma mater for a master's degree, showcasing his unwavering commitment to education. This commitment has become the cornerstone of his career, dedicated to facilitating access to higher education for others.
In November 2003, Caloca initiated his career in higher education at Boise State University. Later, in July 2008, he played a pivotal role as a founding staff member of the College of Western Idaho (CWI) before the institution enrolled its first students. Currently, he holds a role overseeing Admissions and One Stop Student Services. Caloca is an active participant in various professional associations, including the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling, National Association for College Admission Counseling, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and Idaho Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, where he served as President in 2012. Beyond his professional commitments, Caloca is deeply engaged in the community. He has served as a board member for the Idaho Latino Scholarship Foundation and the University of Idaho President’s Latino Advisory Council. Currently, he acts as the State Advisor for the Future Hispanic Leaders of America, a high school organization he co-founded in 1997. Caloca is also a board member for the Idaho Hispanic Business Association and an ambassador for the Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the Nampa Schools Foundation board and is a member of the Healthy Impact Nampa Coalition, reflecting his dedication to the city he proudly calls home.
Literature review on data-informed cultures in community colleges
LinkedIn Link:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/luiscaloca/
Nehlsen has an extensive background spanning over 20 years in higher education, with various roles within the registrar’s office, enrollment management, admissions and recruitment, and international education. She was recognized as a recipient of the NISOD Excellence Award in 2022 and previously served as president of the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs for two terms. Nehlsen has presented at several national, regional, and state conferences and symposiums, covering diverse topics such international education enrollment management, best practices in study abroad, and addressing challenges encountered by community college practitioners. Nehlsen holds a B.A. from Truman State University, an M.A. from the University of Westminster, and a Ph.D. from Illinois State University. Her global perspective and commitment to cultural diversity is enriched by living in countries such as Australia, Russia, England, and Canada, coupled with travel experiences to more than 25 countries.
Navigating the Enrollment Funnel: Analyzing Barriers to Student Enrollment at Elgin Community College
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenknehlsen/
When Michael Sorrell was selected to serve as the president of Paul Quinn College in 2007, it marked the beginning of a transformative and innovative era for the school. Dr. Sorrell has spearheaded one of the great turnaround stories of our time — leading Paul Quinn’s evolution from a failing institution to a higher education powerhouse. As the longest-tenured president in the college’s history, Dr. Sorrell has led the implementation of purpose-driven programs and initiatives that have improved graduation rates exponentially, reduced average student loan debt dramatically, and instilled a “WE Over Me” mentality in students, faculty, and the community at large. Dr. Sorrell has been revered throughout his historic tenure for his ability to reimagine organizations to better serve the needs of the people that depend on them. He is a testament to the power of purpose and vision.
Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Dr. Sorrell’s talks center on why the simplest approach to leadership is often the most effective one. As he engages the audience with the experiences that led him to Paul Quinn College, and the turnaround that followed, he introduces audiences to his values-based leadership formula. Dr. Sorrell emphasizes the importance of being authentic and establishing a vision as a leader and demonstrates how leaders can unite people around a shared mission. Sorrell is a polished storyteller who captures the audience’s attention from his first word and keeps it until the very end. His story of forgoing the opportunity to be part of an ownership group looking to purchase the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies — and serve as the team’s president — is one of sacrificing personal interest in order to serve and elevate others.
Prior to Dr. Sorrell’s tenure as president, Paul Quinn College was on the verge of permanent closure. He brought a vision for rebuilding the 151-year-old HBCU on foundations of problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and academic excellence. Dr. Sorrell’s revitalization plan began with rebranding the campus and partnering with PepsiCo to transform the college’s unused football field into the “WE Over Me Farm.” These initiatives were part of his broader mission to create a new urban college model and address the food desert in the surrounding community. Under Dr. Sorrell’s leadership, Paul Quinn College revamped its admissions policy to include the families of incoming students, established partnerships to increase academic offerings, and modernized operations leading to budget surpluses. By 2011, Paul Quinn had gone from struggling small college to being named the “HBCU of the Year.”
Among his most notable awards and recognitions, Dr. Sorrell has been named one of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders” by Fortune Magazine, received the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Bush Institute Trailblazer Citation, and is the only three-time recipient of the HBCU Male President of the Year Award. Dr. Sorrell has also been named by TIME Magazine as one of the “31 People Changing the South” and one of “America’s 10 Most Innovative College Presidents” by the Washington Monthly. Among his numerous board appointments, Dr. Sorrell has served as the chair of the Board of Governors for the Dallas Foundation and co-chair for the Aspen Prize. He has also been a trustee for the American Council of Education.
Before becoming president at Paul Quinn College, Dr. Sorrell served as a Special Assistant in the Executive Office of the President during the Clinton Administration, opened his own business, worked as a public affairs consultant, and practiced law.