Luisa Havens Gerardo

Dr. Luisa M. Havens Gerardo became Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Virginia Tech on August 1, 2017. Prior to Virginia Tech, she served as the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Services at Florida International University (FIU). She began her career as a student recruiter at her Alma Mater, the University of Idaho. She has served in leadership roles in the areas of admissions, recruitment, registration, international admissions, graduate admissions, financial aid and enrollment services.  Dr. Havens Gerardo is currently serving as President for AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers) and also served as Vice President for Access and Equity from 2010 to 2013 for AACRAO and is an institutional delegate to the College Board.

 

Originally from Honduras, she holds a BS degree in Radio and TV production, a Master's degree in Resource Recreation and Tourism and a Ph.D.in Education with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration from the University of Idaho.

 

Throughout her career, Dr. Havens Gerardo has worked with diverse, underrepresented and/or at-risk populations. Such experiences contributed to her doctoral research focus culminating in her doctoral dissertation titled “Academic integration and self-efficacy: An exploratory study of at-risk student persistence”. In her role at FIU and previously at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), both Hispanic Serving Institutions with strong commitment to access and student success, she diligently worked on initiatives aimed at serving transfer students, military veterans, low socioeconomic status (SES) populations and first generation college students. She frequently presents at local, regional and national forums on varied topics such as applying strategic enrollment management practices at urban universities, process reengineering in enrollment services, staff development and training and leadership/management development.