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Executive Director of Academic Policy Coordination & Strategic Initiatives

Rebekah (Becki) Lawhorn is the Executive Director of Academic Policy Coordination and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Dayton. With over 19 years in higher education, Becki has a proven record of enhancing student success, retention, and operational efficiency. In her role, Becki oversees the Transfer Credit Office and transfer-related initiatives, including supporting incoming transfer students and focusing on academic policy development and coordination. She also leads strategic initiatives designed to improve student success and operational efficiency institution-wide. Her expertise is instrumental in creating and updating policies that support both student and faculty success. Since January 2024, Becki has driven improvements in the registrar team’s performance through coaching and trust-building, resulting in streamlined processes and increased stakeholder satisfaction. Her role in policy development has also been essential in maintaining FERPA compliance, enhancing student privacy, and fostering institutional trust. Previously, Becki served as Director of Student Success Strategies and Operations, where she coordinated university-wide initiatives to improve retention and graduation rates. She spearheaded the university’s recruit-back strategy, achieving higher on-time registration, and collaborated with the Assistant Provost for Decision Support on research studies aligned with student success. In earlier roles, including Director of Student Success and Parent Engagement and Director of Enrollment Services and Student Success/Associate Registrar, Becki led initiatives to implement early alert systems, streamline administrative processes, and enhance data accuracy and accessibility. Her experience began at Edison Community College in roles such as Registrar, Financial Aid Counselor, and Veterans Certifying Official, laying a strong foundation for her expertise in student success and operational efficiency. Becki holds an MBA in Technology Leadership, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Franklin University, and an Associate of Applied Business in Business Management from Edison State Community College. She also holds certifications in advising for retention, enrollment management, FERPA compliance, and leadership, as well as more recent certifications in ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ Enrollment Management: Environmental Scanning, Core Concepts of SEM, Change Management, and Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt from the University of Dayton. Dedicated to fostering inclusivity and a purpose-driven approach, Becki empowers her team to embody the Catholic and Marianist values and mission of the University of Dayton, significantly impacting student success and retention.