Mark Simpson, Director of Student Affairs Strategic Initiatives at University of Utah, has been selected as the director of AACRAO’s Technology and Transfer Conference, and will be shadowing current director Mark McConahay at this summer’s conference before moving into full responsibilities by the 2017 meeting.
AACRAO posted the position in the fall and received many strong applications. The committee included Janie Barnett, AACRAO Associate Executive Director, chair; current director McConahay; AACRAO Board members Nicole Rovig and Paul Kyle; and transfer expert Lois Bishop, Director of Community College Partnerships at DePaul University.
“We had an excellent pool of highly-qualified people, making it a difficult decision,” Barnett said. “The passion and dedication Mark brings to the position will be a great asset to the conference.”
An engaged AACRAO member for about 20 years—including work with the SPEEDE Committee, C&U, and the Student Records Committee, as well as volunteering with his State and Regional Association. Simpson looks forward to his new role. “It’s really a chance to give back to this association—to reinvest what everyone has invested in me,” Simpson said. “I look forward to working with Mark McConahay to take advantage of his brilliance as we keep the momentum going.”
McConahay is stepping down after 8 years of serving as conference director. “It has been an honor to serve AACRAO and specifically to be associated with the Technology and Transfer Conference,” McConahay said. “Consolidating the program under a single director is a very positive step for the conference and will insure appropriate synergy and content. We are initiating the structural change this year for Anaheim with great assistance for transfer content from Seth Kreman. I look forward to working with Mark as he begins directing the conference and know his vision and talent will take the conference to a terrific new place.”
A place to connect and learn
“The conference is an opportunity to step away from day-to-day work and look at the big picture,” Simpson said. “It’s where we get a wider perspective and see different—and better—ways of doing things. And, perhaps most importantly, we make connections with other people, share information, and strengthen our professional community.”
The 2016 AACRAO Technology and Transfer Conference, where Simpson will work with McConahey, will be held July 10-12, in Anaheim, California—and the call for proposals is open.
“I’m grateful for AACRAO, the leadership, the relationships I’ve been able to establish and the people who have mentored me,” Simpson said. “I’m really excited to invite more people to join the conversation and help make this a really phenomenal conference.”
The 2017 conference—Simpson’s first year as director—will be held next summer in Charlotte, North Carolina.