Rachel Rotunda is the director of government relations at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). In this role, she contributes to NASFAA's policy & advocacy efforts, representing the Association before congressional members and staff and working to enhance the advocacy capacity of its members at the federal and state levels. Before joining NASFAA, Rachel worked in higher education policy in Washington, D.C.. She began her career in higher education as a college advisor with the Carolina College Advising Corps, where she worked at two public high schools in North Carolina assisting low-income and first-generation students navigating the college application and financial aid processes. Rachel holds a master’s degree in higher education from the University of Maryland - College Park and bachelor’s degrees in public policy and psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Ashley N. Jackson is a seasoned professional in government affairs and policy, holding a Master’s in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies from the University of Maryland Global Campus. As the Director of Government Affairs at the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), she leads advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, focused on shaping policies affecting business officers including higher education reauthorization and tax policy. Her expertise includes extensive work with the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), where she played a crucial role in securing funding for significant research projects and managed critical legislative initiatives. Recognized as a 2020 Association Leading Lobbyist, Jackson's career is marked by her ability to analyze complex regulatory environments, strategize effectively, and cultivate strong partnerships. Her commitment to advocacy and program management has led to meaningful policy advancements and organizational successes in her field.
Rachelle Hernandez is a nationally recognized higher education leader with over twenty-five years of experience in the important work of student access and success through effective higher education leadership and administration. She serves as a frequent speaker at national conferences, conducting workshops in the areas of student success, strategic enrollment management, student engagement, and the effective use of data to support the achievement of both institutional and student outcomes. She has served in a variety of leadership roles across the field, including as faculty in residence for the Harvard Admissions Summer Institute, as a College Board Trustee, a member of the Access and Diversity Collaborative National Advisory Committee, and as a member of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO) Ascend Leaders in Enrollment Advising Diversity (LEAD) Leadership Development Program and Curriculum Committee. She currently serves as an instructor and coach for the AACRAO ASCEND Program and as the co-director of the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s (NACAC) Chief Enrollment Officers’ Forum.
Rachelle Hernandez joined the Johns Hopkins community as vice provost for student affairs in 2022. In her role as vice provost, Ms. Hernandez oversees a broad portfolio that focuses on student success and impacts all aspects of the student educational experience from student leadership and engagement to housing and community living, Hopkins dining, Department of Athletics, student conduct, and student success. The portfolio focuses its efforts on fostering student connection, belonging, and inclusion in the co-curricular and academic experience, through partnership and collaboration with faculty and staff across the university community to make it possible for students to take full advantage of all that JHU has to offer. The division’s key work, in collaboration with university partners, is student- and outcomes-focused, and centered on a foundation of equity, inclusion and belonging. Ms. Hernandez served previously as the senior vice provost for enrollment management and student success at the University of Texas at Austin. In this leadership role she was responsible for transforming the student services areas across enrollment management and student success, increasing student enrollment, retention and graduation rates, and leading the university’s work to becoming both a Hispanic Serving Institution and recognized with the Seal of Excelencia and designated as a First-Gen Forward university. Prior to her work at UT Austin, Ms. Hernandez served as associate vice provost for enrollment management and director of admissions at the University of Minnesota.
I have worked in several Higher Education Enrollment Student Services Division roles since 2001. My first position in higher education was with George Washington University as a customer service rep at the G-World Card Office in 2001. I then moved on to Graduation Coordinator at GWU in 2002. In 2004, my first role at Marymount University was as a Transcript Request Coordinator. In 2006, I was promoted to Transfer Credit Coordinator, in 2009 promoted to Assistant Registrar, and last but not least I was the Associate Registrar from 2011-2016 at Marymount University in Arlington, VA. In 2016, I took the role of University Registrar at the University of The District of Columbia, where I was responsible for the community college and the University Office of Records. In 2019, I accepted my current role at Prince George’s Community College as one of two Associate Registrars in The Office of Records & Registration. In 2024, I joined American University as the Associate Registrar for Policy and Operations.
I am Jessica A. Miller, a student success coach, advisor, with a passion for holistically developing collegiate students with an emphasis on special populations (Student-Athletes, Military. Adult Education, etc.). With a strong commitment to a student-approach, unwavering ethical standards, and a proactive approach to challenges. I am passionate advocate for building bridges to success for the diverse populations of students I serve. My expertise and unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in higher education fosters an environment where student voices are heard, and their needs are met.
My professional philosophy in higher education centers on fostering an inclusive and student-centered environment that values ethical work, solid commitment to student success, robust problem-solving skills, and a strategic approach to challenges.
Over the course of my career, I have served my students and my campuses in various capacities. I began my career in the Division of Student Affairs at Huston-Tillotson University (HT) in Austin, TX as the Women’s Hall Director. While in that role, not only did I oversee the day-to-day functions of a residential facility, but I was able to positively impact my students programmatically. I was responsible for recruiting and training a dynamic team of Residential Assistants and student workers, among whom, I am proud to say, I have a 100% graduation rate. During my tenure at HT, I also served in the Office of Admissions, Enrollment Management and Athletics where I served as liaison to the Men’s Basketball Team. Currently, I serve as Special Populations Student Success Coach for Dallas College. In this role, I am primarily responsible for the holistic success of students within a certain demographic such as military-connected, student-athletes, and F1 students. I also must privilege of working with various workgroups we continue to move the success needle for our special population students.
I am proud graduate of Huston-Tillotson University, in Austin, TX., where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. I obtained my Master of Science in Sports Administration from Arkansas State University, and currently I am seeking a Doctor of Education in Applied Learning Sciences from the University of Miami.
When I am not being a studious student, I enjoy serving the community through my various organizations such Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Order of the Eastern Star, and the HTIAA -Dallas Chapter. I enjoy singing, reading a good non-educational book, and increasing my web development skills.
I am building my professional career and legacy so that it is deeply rooted in service, integrity, and adaptability. By remaining student-centered, ethically principled, and solution focused, I aim to provide an environment where students can thrive, overcoming obstacles and achieving their academic and personal aspirations. It is through this approach that I hope to contribute positively to the advancement of higher education and the empowerment of students.
Prior to her career in academic affairs, Dr. Frierson coached college women’s basketball for almost 10 years. A first-generation college student from Belleville, IL, she received her associate’s degree from Southwestern Illinois College, her B.S. from Austin Peay State University, her M.A. from the University of North Carolina Pembroke, and her Ed.D. from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
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Delonte J. LeFlore (he, him, his) brings over a decade of leadership experience in higher education, primarily at large urban public research institutions. Recognized for his innovative and strategic acumen, Delonte has harnessed these qualities to address educational equity gaps, particularly in areas of college readiness, college access, and student success.
In his current role as the Director of Admissions for Recruitment and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Cincinnati (UC), Delonte leads the recruitment of domestic freshman and transfer students across UC's three campuses. His commitment to transformative change and his ability to harness collective impact have yielded impressive results. During his tenure at UC, he has held various positions, from assistant director and director to system director and interim assistant vice provost. He spearheaded the integration of the admissions offices across the flagship campus and two regional campuses, devising an organizational structure that effectively implements UC’s One UC Recruitment Strategy while bolstering recruitment efforts, developing strategic initiatives to increase access for traditional and nontraditional students, increasing racial and ethnic diversity, first-generation college students, students from rural backgrounds, transfer, and military students, while maintaining a strong academic profile of the incoming class.
Delonte's academic journey is closely aligned with his professional passion. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Arts in Educational Development from the University of Minnesota. His master's thesis delved into the topic of race in undergraduate admissions and the various strategies institutions employ to recruit a diverse and academically talented student body. Delonte is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Studies, specializing in Educational Policy and Higher Education, at the University of Cincinnati. His research mirrors his career objectives. He focuses on tackling the challenges posed by shifting demographics, educational equity gaps, evolving student needs, and increased competition. His dissertation spotlights the critical role of strategic enrollment management in surmounting these challenges and the imperative need for change management in effectively implementing strategic enrollment management.
Dr. Bethany Parmer is a seasoned professional with a rich and diverse career spanning roles in higher education administration and student support services. She has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from Wingate University in North Carolina, a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Purdue University Global. Most recently she earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University. Her doctoral studies equipped her with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead institutions through challenges and changes, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of educational innovation and effectiveness. Throughout her career, Dr. Parmer has held various pivotal positions in Florida and Idaho. She has served as the Program Advisor for the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation grant, demonstrating her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in higher education. Her experience as an Academic Advisor, specializing in student-athletes, dual enrollment, and honors program students, has showcased her ability to provide tailored support to a diverse range of students.
Dr. Parmer's tenure as the University Registrar at Ana G. Mendez University underscored her administrative prowess, as she oversaw critical aspects of academic operations, ensuring the smooth functioning of the institution. Her current role as the Registrar at the College of Southern Idaho is a testament to her leadership and her dedication to facilitating student success.
Throughout her career, Dr. Bethany Parmer has exemplified unwavering dedication to the advancement of education, a commitment to student development, and a passion for fostering inclusive learning environments. Her extensive academic background, along with her hands-on experience, positions her as a respected authority in the field of higher education administration.
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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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