2020 ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Elections - Nominations and Elections Committee Candidate
ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ has been a big part of my career for more than 15 years. I enjoy the people I meet and the colleagues with whom I am able to coordinate on work questions. ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ has afforded me the opportunity to work with the finest Admissions and Registrar people in the United States! Being a part of the N&E Committee will allow me to give back to the organization that has given me so much over the years.
My name is Pam Walden and I am currently the Associate Registrar at Illinois State University. I began my career at Illinois State University in July, 1992. I first joined IACRAO in 2009, serving as the Website Manager. Since then I have held several board positions within the association – Technology Committee Chair, President-Elect, President, and Past President. I had the pleasure of serving on IACRAO’s board from 2009 – 2017. Having served on the board for nearly ten years, I understand how important it is to have the right people in the right positions. Because of this experience, I understand how those positions work together to advance the association in the right direction. I would be honored to serve ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ on the Nominations and Elections Committee.
I have served for the past three decades in the higher education profession. My roles have included serving as the director of admissions for a graduate school, the director of an institution's one-stop shop for graduate and correspondence/online students and the registrar's office. In my current position as AVP of Academic Records/Registrar I oversee policy and procedure for both admissions and the registrar's offices throughout our 15 campuses.
Over my tenure in higher education I have seen a decline in the amount of participation when it comes to voting for officers in our professional organizations. I would like as much as possible to aid in the process of getting the word out and encouraging the membership to partake in this process. Now more than ever our colleagues need to partcipate in professional development and be directed by competent and professional leaders.
A little about myself, I have twenty years of experience in higher education within the registrar's office and have been a member of ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ for the past 12 years. I spent eighteen years at Montana State University and currently I serve as the University Registrar at Louisiana State University of Alexandria.
I believe to get the most out of your memberships is to be involved. I have had the distinct pleasure to serve both regional and national associations over the years, during my time with PACRAO; I served on the local arrangements committee, the nominations and election committee and secretary for the board. Currently, I serve as the chair for the Graduation Committee for ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ and this past year I had the pleasure of serving as co-chair for volunteers for the 2020 annual conference.
My experience in higher education and dedication to this profession is why I would be honored to serve on the Nominations and Election Committee. If you know me; you know I do not need a reason to start up a conversation with someone; I can pretty much talk to anyone. If you don't know me; don't worry, we will be friends shortly and I will have your name on the ballot to serve on a committee or board and work with you on a presentation.
ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ has opened up so many doors for me, I have presented at the conference for the past 6 years with colleagues around the country, and co-wrote an article for the College and University publication on Commencement. ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ has made it possible to connect with colleagues around the world leading to a network of associates, that are always willing to share ideas and experiences.
We are constantly being asked to do more with less and we have been living in one of the most unique times. We need people to serve our association that are willing to speak up, are passionate about serving students, and who can help guide us through these unprecedented times. I promise to help find the best candidates to serve us!
I am excited and grateful to be considered for the Nominations & Elections Committee. Participating in this committee is a way to serve the membership, give back to an organization that has benefited me, and shape the future direction of ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥.
My work in the registrar profession began when I joined Academic Support Resources at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2014. Since then, I have been active in my regional organization (UMACRAO), attended multiple ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ conferences, served on ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥’s Federal Compliance Committee, and presented at ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ conferences on topics including, trans-inclusive practices in a registrar’s office, FERPA, and academic policy development. I even ventured into the world of podcasts on For the Record. This year, I am chairing the Federal Compliance Committee.
Prior to my role in the registrar profession, I worked in higher education in two law schools, Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and the University of Minnesota. This has given me the perspective of working at a small private institution in professional education, in addition to my current experience at a large public institution. I intend to keep the broad range of ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥’s membership in mind as a member of the Nominations & Elections Committee.
I believe that my experience brings some key strengths to this role. First, I have a unique role within a registrar’s office that spans degree audits, academic policy, strategic communications, training on student records systems, and student data privacy. This role requires making effective decisions on a wide range of topics as well as collaboration, attention to detail, and change management. Second, my prior experience as a career counselor and coach will help me identify strengths of applicants for ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥’s leadership positions. I have reviewed countless resumes and cover letters and coached people to find their dream positions. Third, I have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, which are key values of ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥. I have worked in diversity recruitment programs for law students, served as an appointed Commissioner on my city’s Community Engagement Commission, and served our diverse student body in a variety of projects including co-leading a project to implement gender identity and pronoun fields in our student information system.
I hope to have the opportunity to serve ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ and its membership in this role. Thank you for your consideration.
Kristin Smigielski is the Dean of Enrollment Management at Parkland College, a community college in east central Illinois. She has been in Higher Education for 18 years. She is a member of the Illinois ACRAO (IACRAO) organization, where she has served as a district chair and President. Kristin currently serves on the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ State & Regional Relations Committee.
Aloha! My name is James Faustino and it is with great enthusiasm that I submit my candidacy for the Nominations and Elections Committee. I believe that my professional experience, training, demonstrated leadership capabilities, connection to the industry, and my commitment to the development of the ideals of the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ organization align well with the position. I feel that I am well prepared and qualified to contribute and provide a unique perspective given my background, culture, and associations.
I am currently the Director of the HoÊ»okele Department at BYU–HawaiÊ»i. Ho'okele is the Hawaiian word for navigation. It is this exact concept and philosophy of navigating, coaching, mentoring and enabling students for success that I envision and expect the department that I lead, will provide as a service for students. The Ho'okele department's organization is a novel organizational approach to uniting several traditional student services functions into a single department to improve the student experience from recruitment to post-graduation. These departments include Student Recruitment, Admissions, New Student Experience, Experiential Learning, Career Services, Financial Aid, and Alumni Relations.
I have been with Brigham Young University-Hawaii for the past 9 years and have over 14 years of experience in Higher Education. I have performed in a variety of leadership roles in Higher Education. My past positions and experiences have afforded me the ability to understand many facets of the university administration and student life. I have been involved in student data collection and analysis, strategic enrollment planning, student programming, and helped guide efforts for diversity, inclusion, and student success. I am passionate and possess a strong commitment to the education, development, and empowering of young people.
I received a Bachelors Degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Business. I also attended Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, and received a Masters Degree in Engineering Management. My professional experience outside of Higher Education administration involves work in Information Technology and Software Development.
I am passionate and possess a strong commitment to the education, development, and empowerment of young people. I have a strong understanding of student issues, legal matters, and trends that can affect the management of student-development programs such as patterns of student behavior and family dynamics.
I would be happy to provide further details or expound upon my viewpoints or experiences if necessary.
Here is a snapshot of my professional profile. I have also attached my CV for a more comprehensive outline of my professional experiences.
PROFILE HIGHLIGHTS:
Katie A. Schwienteck currently serves as the Campus Registrar at Penn State York and has 20 years’ experience in higher education. Katie’s experience spans admissions, enrollment management, student records, transfer recruitment, credit articulation, strategic planning, articulation agreements, partnerships, and transfer student advising. Being a transfer student herself, Katie has always been passionate and involved with transfer, and served as a transcript evaluator for nearly 10 years. Katie served as a past co-chair for ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥’s Technology and Transfer Conference committee and has presented several times at ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥’s Annual Meeting. Additionally, Katie has been quoted and published in ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Connect, The Successful Registrar, The Enrollment Manager, and Insider HigherEd on various transfer related topics. Katie earned her Masters of Art in Communication from Notre Dame of Maryland University and her Bachelors of Science in Public Relations from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She is also adjunct faculty in the field of Communications and Public Speaking.
Casey Bullock has been an Executive Director in Enrollment Services and University Registrar at Weber State University for the past eight years and has worked for the institution in other roles since 2006. Previous to his roles in the Office of the Registrar, he was the Transfer Coordinator in the Office of Admissions at Weber State University, which included recruitment of transfer students, advising, partnering with two-year institutions, and transfer articulation. Dr. Bullock has collaborated with higher education professionals in many capacities and at all levels in ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ as well as UACRAO. His research interests are in transfer student success and degree completion efficiency. He received his A.S. degree from Dixie State University, a B.S. degree from Utah State University in Business, Psychology, and Communications, and an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. In 2021 Casey became an SEM-EP Graduate and earned the SEM-EP badge.
Erin R. Mason, M.Ed., M.A., has almost 20 years of experience in higher education, including a diverse background in registrar functions, educational technology, and program development. Mason currently serves as the University Registrar at the University of Utah. She is an active member of professional associations, including ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥. Her ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ affiliation includes service on the Program Committee, Nominations and Elections Committee, as a PAC Chair and member of the Registration and Academic Support Services Committee, and as Vice Chair of Member Engagement. Mason was a founding member of the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Women’s Caucus.
She has presented and co-presented at numerous conferences, demonstrating her commitment to sharing knowledge and expertise within the higher education community. Her current research interests include legitimizing the expertise of professional staff in the academic governance environment and developing psychologically safe environments that foster learning, growth, transparency and continuous business improvement. Mason holds a Master of Arts in Adult Learning from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Education from the University of Hartford.
2021 ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Elections - Vice President at Large Candidate
In late 2020, the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ BOD adopted a vision and associated goals focused on "a community centered on learner success driven by professional excellence and leadership in enrollment and academic services." Rooted in collaboration, innovation, inclusivity, inquiry, and integrity, the associated goals are to be realized by 2026. Focused on these values before their current iteration, I have served as an ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ leader as chair and member of multiple committees, transfer conference director, ad hoc committee member, nominations and elections, author, and presenter at the annual meeting, webinars, tech/transfer, and SEM. Having addressed topics ranging from social media, access, transfer, policy, and professional competencies to data-driven enrollment strategy, my skills and experiences align perfectly with an "at large" position. I understand the organization and how we might address the challenges facing higher education today. If elected, my goal will be to meet those challenges and achieve ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥’s goals to benefit the membership and the learners we serve.
2025 ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Elections Candidate - 2026-2027 N&E Committee Member
Position Statement:
I am excited to express my interest in serving on the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Nominations and Elections Committee. My commitment to ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ is longstanding, and I have been a member for the past 19 years and actively serving in volunteer and leadership roles for the past ten years. I’ve been working in higher education for 28 years.
I have engaged in various leadership roles with ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ including Vice Chair of the Nominations and Elections (N&E) Committee, serving as the current co-chair of the Curriculum Committee, teaching REG 201 annually, and contributing as an author to several ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ books over time. During N&E, I learned many lessons and honed my skills in collaboration, decision-making, and fostering a sense of community among our members. While a new role and committee, the curriculum committee work has been really rewarding, and I’ve been able to contribute to the draft of our new professional competencies that ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ will release in the coming months.
I am passionate about ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥'s mission and values, and I am eager to continue contributing to the organization that has been an integral part of my professional life for nearly two decades. I believe my experience, dedication, and vision will enable me to serve effectively on the Nominations and Elections Committee, ensuring that we continue to uphold the highest standards of excellence and integrity in leadership selection and election processes. I love contributing to an organization that sets out high standards and best practices for our profession.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to further serve ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ and our esteemed members in this vital role.
Bio:
Rebecca Mathern, Ph.D., is Associate Vice Provost- Academic Affairs and University Registrar at Oregon State University where she leads both the Office of the Registrar and the Curriculum Management team. Mathern has worked in higher education for more than 25 years at both two- and four-year institutions. Her interests are in shared governance and policy implementation.
Putting on our Reality Glasses: Policy Review and Project Management through an Equity Lens
Julia Pomerenk has served as the University Registrar and Associate Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management at the University of Oregon since 2017. Prior to UO, Julia worked as the University Registrar at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington (for 14 years) and as University Registrar at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington (for five years). Participation with our professional organizations fuels Julia’s joy for our shared work. Julia serves as the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Vice President for Records and Student Services.
For PACRAO, Julia served as the dean for the faculty of the Leadership Development Institute for the LDI’s first four years. Over the past 30 years, ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ and PACRAO and state CRAOs have provided Julia with many opportunities to learn and contribute. Making connections and making contributions are the best part of her professional journey. Julia holds a master of arts in English from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University.
ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Leadership Roles
I am the Assistant Director of the Graduate Admissions Office at the University of Idaho. I also function as a Designated School Official (DSO) and as a Slate Captain for the University of Idaho CRM and Application System.
I have earned a B.A. in French from the University of Bucharest, an M.A. in Francophone Literature from the University of Cincinnati, and currently pursuing an M.A. in TESOL at the University of Idaho.
I have held conference presentations at ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ and the AICE Symposium. I have presented a pre-conference workshop on online verification of credentials at the NAFSA 2019 Conference. Contributor to NAFSA website and ACEI blog.
Francesca Villa is Academic Registrar Manager at Istituto Europeo del Design (IED) where she works as credential evaluator and manages the academic recognition policies and the admission processes for international degree-seeking undergraduate and postgraduate applicants. Born and raised in Northern Italy, Francesca graduated in Foreign Languages and Literatures from the University of Milan majoring in English Literature and Translation Studies. Recently she has achieved the first European microcredential for credential evaluators awarded by the European University of Rome and the Italian ENIC-NARiC centre CIMEA. With almost ten year experience in international admissions and credential evaluation in applied and visual arts HEIs, Francesca is now focusing on the implementation of the LRC and EHEA principles and standards into IED credential assessment policies, admission procedures and information provision. Driven by her compulsive passion for research and learning, she is also in charge of international admission training for advisors and registration staff.
Worked within enrollment management at Wichita State for the last 20 years. Twelve years in domestic admissions, four years as the associate registrar, and four years in International Admissions. Some areas that I have supervised include processing of domestic and international admission files, transfer credit for domestic and international courses, credit evaluation for international students, international scholarships, class room scheduling, enrollment verification, and many more.
Mary Blount has been at Georgia State University for 2.5 years in Graduate Admissions and is currently the Senior Foreign Credential Evaluator for Graduate Admissions in Georgia State University. She has a B.A. and M.S. from Clemson University as well as a DESCAF from Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Pau, France. Prior to entering the world of credential evaluators she worked as the Registrar at a local high school and before her children were born, she worked in International Marketing for AT&T
Diana Hense MA, is Head of Admissions at the University of Amsterdam and a senior in the international credential evaluating environment. She also serves as Vice President of Standards at TAICEP. In the Netherlands she acts as track chair internationalization and is a key mover in taking forward major initiatives supporting and improving the efficiency of international application processes.
Jeannie Yockey-Fine is General Counsel at NC-SARA. She analyzes federal and state regulations, SARA policies, and professional licensure issues and their impacts on SARA institutions, and related policy conversations.
Submit your profile update to communications@aacrao.org.