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Chris Dorsten

Headshot of Chris Dorsten

Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management & University Registrar

2025 ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Elections Candidate - Vice President for Access and Equity 

Position Statement:

Hello, I am Chris Dorsten. I am enthusiastically expressing my interest for the position of Vice President for Access and Equity on ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥’s Board of Directors. My professional experience, leadership skills, understanding of today’s higher education landscape, and commitment to the development and support of ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ members make me an excellent candidate for this vital position.

My professional experience has provided opportunities to navigate the challenging issues facing higher education today, including accessibility for the underserved, the essential need for diversity, and the imperative necessity for representation. As an openly gay male, I understand how important the role and conversations related to Access and Equity are to the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ membership. My time with ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ leadership as it relates to Group V (Access and Equity Professional Activities Committee) stems to my first leadership role as the Chair of the now named Community College Focus group. Additionally, I have recently concluded a five-year commitment as the Co-Chair for the LGBTQIA+ Caucus. Both roles have shown me the importance of representation for our members.

If elected, I would continue to bring my genuine self and work hard to support the membership. I will collaborate with the Program Coordinator to ensure that Group V is well represented in the sessions at the Annual Meeting. I would collaborate with the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ staff to ensure that throughout the year Group V is represented in webinars, panel discussions, web content, and articles. Intersectionality of the Group V constituents is also critical. I would ensure we intersect, when possible, to bring greater awareness of each group and highlight the connectedness, rather than silos, of the various groups. Lastly, I would strive to safeguard the voices and stories of our members who are being asked to be quiet are heard.

Currently for ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥, I am serving as the Co-Chair for Volunteers for the Annual Meeting in New Orleans in April 2026. See you there! I have also served as a Co-Chair for the LGBTQIA+ Caucus, Co-Chair of Volunteers for the Annual Meeting in Columbus (2024), and served as the Chair for the Community College Focus Group. I have presented at the Annual Meeting numerous times; I have been a guest on the “For the Record” podcast and have participated in Hill Day.

For Ohio ACRAO, I have served as the Vice President of Program, President Elect, President, Past President, Chaired Program committees. I am currently serving OACRAO as a faculty member for OACRAO’s Ohio Summer Institute which is held every other year and as a committee member on Local Arrangements for the 99th Annual Meeting for OACRAO. I will also be serving as the contact between Exhibitors and Vendors for the 99th Annual Meeting. Lastly, I will be serving as the Co-Chair for Local Arrangements for OACRAO’s 100th Anniversary in 2026.

I am a First-Generation College graduate. I received two associate degrees from Sinclair Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Park University, and a master’s degree from Cleveland State University. I serve as the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management & University Registrar at Kent State University. I have been with Kent State for the past four years and have over twenty-five years of experience in Higher Education. During my professional career in higher education, I have held positions in an Admissions Office, Registrar’s Office, College Information Center, and have I interned in a Financial Aid Office. Additionally, I have experience working at both University and Community Colleges. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my profile and your commitment to voting in the ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ election. I would be happy to answer any questions regarding my candidacy.

 

Bio:

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.

 





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