100 Credits: My First Job as Registrar
SEM Endorsement Program: Ten Years of Growing Enrollment Management Competency
Review of: SEM in Action: Implementing and Sustaining Your Plan
The Bermuda Triangle of the Iron Triangle: Three Angles, The Unholy Trinity, the Holy Grail, and the Triple Constraint (and a Tetrahedron)
Bulletins, Bow Ties, and Boards: An Interview with Jeff von Monkwitz-Smith
"We Have to Do Better than This": An Interview with Sara Goldrick-Rab
College Funding Specialists
Review of: Earning Admission: Real Strategies for Getting into Highly Selective Colleges
Review of: Pathways to Enrollment Management: A Financial Aid Perspective
SEM Core Concepts
Disney for Credit: The Presence of Disney in the Academy
Review of: College Planning for Gifted Students
Butts, Hearts or Dreams: What Do You See In Your Classrooms?
Certifying Enrollment Management Professionals
Agents of Change: Roles, Barriers, and Opportunities for College Admissions Professionals and High School Counselors
An Interview with Stanley E. Henderson
Network Leadership
College Access Marketing
Meritocracy: The Great American Myth? A Look at Gatekeeping in Higher Education
The Progression of the College Admissions Professional
Pride on the Other Side: The Emergence of LGBT Websites for Prospective Students
Admissions Office : Student :: Vendor : ? – The Reality of an Analogy
My First D.A.S.U.M.
Interview with Jerry Lucido
Interview with Julie Posselt
Review of: A Comprehensive Guide to Graduate Enrollment Management
Interview with Eric Hoover
Charting a New Course: The Birth of the Nation's First Enrollment Management Credential at the University of Miami
The Year of Milestones: A Look Back at 1925
2020 SEM-EP Graduate
Robyn Parr is the Executive Director in the Office of the Vice Provost at the University of Toronto. Most recently, they served as University Registrar at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). They have a MA (Leadership) from the University of Guelph and is a Project Management Professional (PMP). Outside TMU, Robyn has served in multiple officer positions, including President, of the Ontario University Registrars' Association (OURA).
Expertise: Continuous Improvement, Project Management, Service Excellence, Organizational Effectiveness.
SEM-EP Capstone Project: "Using Data to Inform SEM Strategies for Success at Ryerson University" introduces university stakeholders to the value of strategic enrollment management (SEM) as it relates to enrollment at the institution and outlines three strategies that leverage institutional data, research and effective practices across the sector. This paper served as a discussion point for formalizing the first strategic enrollment management plan at the university.
2025 ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Elections Candidate - 2026-2027 N&E Committee Member
Position Statement:
I became an ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ member in 1999 and attended an Annual Meeting for the first time in 2000. Over the past 25 years, and registrar’s office roles at four institutions in four different states, ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ has been my consistent connection and home within the professions. I have felt certainty throughout my career that ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ played an indispensable role in my preparation for each new professional step. Gratitude for that inspires my desire to continue to contribute to ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ and the membership in some way that may partially offset all I have gained from it. As indispensable as ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ has been for me throughout my career, I believe ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ is essential to the professions, and my desire is to contribute in ways that ensure ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ continues to demonstrate this to its members, our institutions, and through the success of students. I am committed to ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ and want to continue to be a servant leader within the Association. Thus, it would be a privilege to serve the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ membership as a member of the Nominations and Elections Committee. If elected, my goal would be to help identify and encourage future leadership from amongst the membership to ensure that ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ continues to serve and advance higher education through professional excellence and leadership in enrollment and academic services. I expect it would be particularly gratifying to work collaboratively with the members of the next Nominations and Elections committee to help identify the future leaders of the Association.
Bio:
Jonathan has served as University Registrar at the University of Pittsburgh since 2021. He holds a Master of Science in Education from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology). He previously served as Registrar at Baylor University (2011-2021), Associate University Registrar at the University of Virginia (2006-2011), and Assistant Registrar at the University of Missouri-Rolla (1999-2006). As the University Registrar at Pitt, he provides vision and leadership for the Office of the University Registrar. He collaborates across the University on issues related to academic policy and procedures, curriculum, scheduling, instructional space, registration, grades, graduation, academic records, systems, and compliance.
Doug has worked at the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC), a centralized admission application processing service for the 20 universities in Ontario, since January 1995, first as a software developer and, since September 2018, as Manager, eTranscripts. He was part of the original team which developed OUAC's EDI-based postsecondary transcript exchange system and also augmented that system for PESC XML transcripts (both high school and postsecondary). He has served as the ARUCC representative to the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ SPEEDE Committee from 1998 - 2005, and again from 2011 to present. Since October 2017 he has been a Co-Chair of the Canadian PESC User Group.
Jeff Elliott has been with the University of Missouri System for over 10 years. He is the Sr. Manager of Enterprise Data Warehouse and Reporting and is responsible for data warehousing, enterprise reporting, and the enterprise budget and planning software, Hyperion. His teams support the UM System and four campuses across the state. He represents the data domain on the Division of IT Enterprise Architecture Review Board and has been involved in electronic messaging and data exchange, first in Public Health and now in Higher Education, for over 15 years. He is a pas Chair for the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ SPEEDE Committee and represents ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ on the PESC Change Control Board. Jeff has served on the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ SPEEDE Committee for over 4 years.
Tammy Johnson, Ed.D., serves as Executive Director of Doctoral Programs and Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies in the College of Education and Professional Development at Marshall University. Prior to this appointment, she served as AVP of Enrollment and Dean of Admissions at Marshall, with oversight of UG, graduate, and international admissions, as well as immigration, international student services, and student financial aid. Dr. Johnson has served as an ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ caucus Co-Chair, taskforce member, and has twice served as chair of the national ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Admissions Policies and Practices Committee. She has presented at many state, regional, and national conferences, including ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥, WVACRAO, NAFSA, NASPA, WVASPA, SRCEA, ICEF, MUIPED, and AESA. Her areas of research interest include higher education administration and leadership, as well as issues broadly related to equity and access for historically underserved and/or marginalized populations. Dr. Johnson’s previously published work appears in The Chronicle of Higher Education, ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ SEM Quarterly, College & University Journal, NASPA and ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥-sponsored books and, most recently, in NACAC’s Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling textbook (2024). She holds earned degrees from The University of Charleston (B.S.), Texas Woman’s University (M.Ed.), and Marshall University (Ed.D.).
Review of: The Equality Machine: Harnessing Digital Technology for a Brighter, More Inclusive Future
2025 ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Elections Candidate - Vice President for Access and Equity
Chris provides leadership over the Office of the University Registrar. The Office of the University Registrar comprises of the areas of Academic Scheduling, Academic Records and Graduation, Credit Transfer, Graduation Planning System, Registration and Outgoing Transcripts, System Support and Compliance, and Reporting to State and Federal agencies. As a first-generation college student, Chris understands the significance higher education can have on student success. Chris has two associate degrees from Sinclair Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Park University and a master’s degree from Cleveland State University, and has completed coursework at the doctoral level. Chris has over twenty years’ experience in enrollment management and joined the Kent State team in May 2021. In addition to his work responsibilities, Chris has served as President of the Ohio Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, and currently serves as the Co-Chair for the LGBTQIA+ Caucus for the American Association of College Registrars and Admission Officers.
Former college president and top federal policymaker Ted Mitchell became president of the American Council on Education (ACE) on September 1, 2017.
Mitchell brings a wide array of experience and accomplishments from across the higher education sector to ACE, as well as a long-standing focus on helping more students gain access to a postsecondary education and complete their degrees. His background includes service as president of a private liberal arts college, senior administrator at a state university, and trustee of a major research insti​tution.
Mitchell was president of Occidental College from 1999–2005. He served as U.S. under secretary of education from 2014 until January 2017, reporting to the secretary of education and overseeing postsecondary education policies and programs.
Dr. Beverly Woodson Day is the Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management & Director of UG Admissions. Prior to 2013, Beverly spent over 18 years at Texas State University in enrollment. She is active in NACAC with GWI and committees, TACAC, where she served as President, and college Board as a Regional Council member. She has contributed to articles, professional development presentations and panels. She holds a Bachelors in Physics, Masters in Developmental and Adult Education and a Doctor of Philosophy in Adult, Professional, and Community Education (APCE).
Dr. Woodson Day's capstone project for the SEM-EP included was titled: The Future of Enrollment Leadership. This literature review looked at enrollment management and the evolving concept of an enrollment leader, the challenges they face, the roles they play, and the impact they have on an institution. The research focused on attributes, skills, and issues that enrollment leaders face in the changing landscape of Enrollment Management and higher education. The foundational enrollment management concept is the evolution of the enrollment leader.
2020 ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Elections - Nominations and Elections Committee Candidate
Greetings ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Colleagues,
It is with great enthusiasm and humility that I accept the 2021-2022 ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Leadership nomination for the Nomination and Elections Committee.
This statement will speak to my qualifications to fill the role, and what I hope to accomplish if elected. The Nomination and Elections Committee requires an individual to have a keen grasp on working collaboratively with others while exercising integrity. Currently, I am the Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success at the Rutgers School of Health Professions. In my role, I understand the value of shared governance, and integrity while working collaboratively with others to accomplish organizational goals and strategic priorities. These skills are greatly needed for individuals serving on the Nomination and Elections Committees.
To add to my qualifications, I have been an active member of ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ for approximately nine years. During my membership tenure with ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥, I have had the pleasure of presenting a plethora of professional development sessions, and serving on a variety of Caucus/Committees including: the Vice Chair of the Black Caucus, The Vice Chair of the Women’s Caucus, the Co-Chair for the Student Success Taskforce, and a member of the Graduate and Professional Committee. This level of involvement has enabled me to network and build strong rapports and relationships with a multitude of ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ colleagues. Additionally, I have been honored to receive the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ emerging leader award that acknowledged individuals who have made exceptional contributions to ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ and shows promise a rising leader. Lastly, I am active in my professional association region serving as the President-Elect for the Middle States Association of Collegiate Registrars and Officers of Admissions (MSACROA).
If elected, my platform would be to ensure that the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ membership body receives an inclusive and diverse slate that serves as a representation of the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ professional body, and the student, faculty, and administrative constituents that we support at our respective institutions. Additionally, I would like to work to develop a best practice manual for nomination and elections committees that can serve as a model for other professional organization of higher education.
I sincerely thank you for your consideration.
Bianca is the Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management and Student Success and the Director of the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program at the Rutgers School of Health Professions. She has roughly twenty years of experience in higher education serving in a variety of leadership and academic roles. Prior to working for higher education, she counseled “at-risk” adolescents with career and educational guidance.
Fahduma joined ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥'s Communications team in 2018. She works actively with the Caucuses in promotional material and new initiatives.
Prior to ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥, Fahduma worked at the National Association for Broadcasters, and Asian-American Lead where she mentored and developed AAPI youth in the D.C. metro area.
Fahduma graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Global Affairs, and a concentration in the media, communication, and culture.
Kara has worked as the Assistant Director of Membership, Operations and Publications since 2018. She holds a Masters in Ethics in Peace and Global Affairs from American University as well as a Bachelors degree from The George Washington University in Human Services and Social Justice.
Before ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥, she worked with the Urban Alliance preceded by a year working in Monduli, Tanzania.
Laura Avitabile Wankel, Ed.D. retired from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts where she served as the Interim Vice Chancellor for Learner Engagement, Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Educational Innovation and the Vice President for Student Affairs
Prior to Northeastern University, Dr. Wankel was at Seton Hall University where she served as Vice President for Student Affairs from 1995 to 2011. While at Seton Hall she also held titles of Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Services. During her tenure she had been responsible for a variety of services and programs in enrollment management and student life. Before Seton Hall University, Dr. Wankel served as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and an Assistant Dean for Campus and Residence Operations at the State University of New York at Purchase. Prior to that she held student affairs positions at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Wankel has been active in NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education serving in leadership roles at both the regional and national level including Regional Vice President, Executive Committee and Chair of the NASPA Board. Dr. Wankel has also been on the editorial boards for the NASPA Journal and the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice (JSARP). She was honored by the NASPA Foundation and named a Pillar of the Profession in 2015.
Dr. Wankel holds a bachelor’s degree in American History from SUNY Oneonta where she graduated magna cum laude. She holds a M.Ed. from the University of South Carolina and an Ed.D. in higher education administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Wankel also received a certificate from the Institute for Educational Management (IEM) from the Harvard Institute for Higher Education. Dr. Wankel has served in a consulting capacity to a number of education-related projects, including, Learn and Serve America and the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps), and the Lumina Foundation Comprehensive Student Record Project.
As Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Western Governors University, Dr. Marni Baker Stein leads all Colleges, supports academic and student success services, and manages their financial sustainability. Under her guidance, WGU develops, implements, and scales programs that improve access and affordability for students, without compromising academic quality.
Prior to WGU, Marni served as Chief Innovation Officer for the University of Texas System’s Institute for Transformational Learning. She was also Senior Associate Dean of Columbia University’s School of Continuing Education, where she oversaw the school’s academic portfolio and was responsible for the development, design, and evaluation of all online and hybrid programs.
In August 2016, Marni was selected by the Department of Education to serve as a member of the National Technical Working Group charged with expanding the 2016 National Educational Technology Plan and using technology to transform higher education.
Marni has a Ph.D. in Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum from the University of Pennsylvania.
Alex Kaplan is a nationally recognized innovation leader with a career spanning AI, blockchain, education technology, and public-sector transformation. He is also a thought leader in the application of AI for both education and workforce. Alex has decades of experience in consulting and strategic leadership, including breakthrough solutions that align advanced technologies with real-world impact in business processes for education and workforce.
After earning degrees from Columbia University and the University of New Mexico, Alex launched a consulting career in the technology sector that led to senior roles at IBM, including Partner in IBM Consulting and IBM’s most senior Global Thought Leader for Education. His work has shaped national conversations on digital identity, skills-based hiring, the future of learning, and the intersection between HR and Education technologies.
Notably, he co-led IBM’s Watson Education division at IBM Research, partnering with Apple, Sesame Street, and Pearson to apply AI in K-12 classrooms and higher education. He also helped launch the blockchain-based Learning Credential Network, designed to make it easier to connect people with jobs and New York’s Excelsior Pass, for COVID verification - one of the world’s largest blockchain-based digital credentials applications. Alex was an influential member of the team that created Learning and Employment Records and presented at the White House on this topic.
The White House has recognized Alex’s thought leadership, as well as the U.S. Department of Commerce and institutions such as Harvard and Columbia. He has advised on national workforce strategy and co-authored influential papers on LERs, AI and Blockchain in education, and digital identity. His approach blends strategic thinking with practical innovation, making complex technologies accessible and impactful.
Today, Alex continues his work as a consultant, helping organizations navigate digital transformation, AI adoption, and strategies for a future-ready workforce. He is a frequent speaker, author, and collaborator, known for connecting vision to execution in ways that advance institutional missions and unlock opportunity for individuals.
For more information about Alex Kaplan and to access webinars and papers about his professional work, please visit his LinkedIn account,
Andy Trainor is currently the VP of Walmart US Learning. In this role, Andy and his team are focused on the strategy, innovation, content development, and delivery of the training for all of Walmart US. This includes all training for the home office, supply chain, and the store academies, which he led in his prior role.
Previously, Andy spent 4 years as the Sr. Director for China Implementation for International Business Processes responsible for sharing and implementing Walmart global best practices within the China business. In this role, Andy and his team manage a locally based implementation team to work with the business in expanding the capabilities of the business functions within China through leverage and execution.
Prior to this, Andy was responsible for the International Logistics Engineering team where he was responsible for establishing, developing, and working with the logistics engineers in 28 countries to improve productivity and processes within the logistics and transportation businesses. Prior to his international roles, Andy worked in the US logistics division where he worked on the Grocery Industrial Engineering team designing mechanized grocery distribution centers, developing process improvement projects, and managing a team of field industrial engineers. Before Walmart, Andy worked as the Industrial Engineering Manager for Fred’s Inc, a retail store chain based in Memphis Tennessee.
Andy has 19 years with Walmart and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from The University of Memphis and a Master’s Degree in Business from Webster’s University.
While President & CEO of the National Student Clearinghouse, Rick Torres believed that we can begin to aggressively address our nation's education-to-workforce challenges with reliable, verified data and information in today's digitalized education and technical environments. The Clearinghouse provides trusted and private access to comprehensive academic data and other learning records that empower education leaders, employers, learners, and researchers to achieve their goals and aspirations. Data is key to opening the doors for learners of all backgrounds, races, and socioeconomic statuses, especially as we grapple with the millions of students from underserved communities who are striving to do better.
Since arriving at the Clearinghouse in 2008, Rick has grown the Clearinghouse by 600% today serving institutions that enroll 98% of the post-secondary population and 25,000 high schools and State Education Authorities in all 50 states. The Clearinghouse has become a convening point for education. By regularly convening academic and workplace leaders, Rick works to shed light on the pressing issues facing our higher education-to-workforce ecosystem, such as equity in education, closing workforce skills gaps, and creating lifelong learning pathways. Under Rick’s leadership, the Clearinghouse is developing a nationwide pilot program for an easier way to translate all education, training, and work experience to empower learners.
The organization is partnering with WorkCred to accelerate the capture of workforce credentials and their relative economic value. The Clearinghouse continuously looks to improve and make efficient regulatory data and reporting requirements. The latest of which was the GE/FVT rollout in late fall 2024.
Rick has been an active board member of the BrightPoint Community College Foundation for the past 20 years and also serves on the Board of Achieving The Dream. He also sat on the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Board from 2012 to 2016 as well as the Board of the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) for 9 years. He was a founding member of the Groningen Declaration Network, a multi-national group of leaders dedicated to developing a trusted international data exchange ecosystem, and currently chairs GDN's Advisory Council.
In 2017 and 2018, Rick was selected as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist for the Mid-Atlantic region. He was also a recipient of the Washington Business Journal's 2013 Minority Business Leader Award. He is married to Karen and has 4 adult children all in their 30's. He is a music and arts enthusiast and enjoyed playing tennis and golf (until his hip and shoulder gave out!)
Rick holds an MBA in International Finance from Georgetown University and undergraduate degrees in Marketing and Management from Manhattan College.
Dr. Kevin Pollock is an ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Senior Consultant. Dr. Pollock has 44 years of education experience at four-year private and public colleges as well as community colleges. His diverse roles include college administration, strategic planning, leadership, and enrollment management. He is recognized for his work in enrollment management and student success. A frequent national speaker, he has spoken over 150 times at conferences and colleges, and has authored more than 25 book chapters and articles. He was recently co-editor and contributor to the ACCRAO book SEM as a Connector: Principles of Practice.
He began his current presidency at Central Carolina Technical College in January 2021. During his time there the college has restructured its Student Service area, increased its enrollment, restructured the student class scheduling, conducted a program viability study, joined Achieving the Dream, and received $125 million in new funding, including funds for a new student services/academic building.
Prior to this role, he served as the fifth President of Montgomery County Community College and began his tenure on April 1, 2016. At Montgomery County Community College, Dr. Pollock oversaw the implementation of a new core curriculum, including math reform, and the creation of pathways for all College programs. During his tenure, the College created a new vision, mission, and strategic plan, and updated its brand and marketing strategies. The College implemented an integrated, holistic advising approach, developed through the Gates Foundation iPass grants. In addition, the College enhanced its student success models by creating short-term enrollment goals, moving to a virtual bookstore platform, and creating a 24/7 tutoring model.
Before arriving at Montgomery, Dr. Pollock served as President of St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Michigan, from 2009-2016. During his tenure, the institution experienced record enrollment, embarked on new student success initiatives, created early and middle college programs, increased its grant funding, became a leader in green initiatives, and strengthened its connections with the community. The institution also adopted a new vision, mission, and data-informed strategic plan that was tied to national best practices.
Prior to assuming a presidential role, Dr. Pollock spent nine years as Vice President of Student Services at West Shore Community College in Scottville, Michigan. He also held a number of leadership roles in admissions and recruitment, and he taught middle and high school English early in his career.
Dr. Pollock holds a Ph.D. in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts in Education and Bachelor of Science in Education from Central Michigan University.
Submit your profile update to communications@aacrao.org.