Associate Director of Graduate Admissions, Sam Houston State University and NAGAP Director of Education
Associate Dean, Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies and Director, Graduate Enrollment (Interim) Georgia Southern University and President of NAGAP
Nathan Fuerst is the Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment at the University of Connecticut, where he leads a wide range of areas that shape the student journey—from Admissions and Financial Aid to Residential Life, Dining Services, Student Health & Wellness, and more. His work touches all UConn campuses and is centered on creating a welcoming, student-focused experience from first interest to graduation and beyond.
Nathan is driven by a deep commitment to putting students first. Whether it’s improving how students connect with services or strengthening support across the student experience, his leadership is guided by the belief that every interaction matters.
He joined UConn in 2011 as Director of Undergraduate Admissions and has held several leadership roles since. In 2018, he was named Vice President following a national search, and in 2023, his role expanded to bring student life and enrollment efforts together under one umbrella—strengthening UConn’s holistic approach to student engagement.
Originally from Nebraska, Nathan began his career at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and holds both a BA and MBA from there. He currently serves on the boards of the Coalition for College and New Haven Promise and is actively involved in a number of university-wide initiatives focused on access, inclusion, and student success.
Denise Wiggins, Ed.D., has over a decade of leadership in higher education, helping students with college readiness, career counseling, and obtaining certifications. She has supported various educational programs and led cross-functional efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion learning content. Dr. Wiggins also brings years of experience and expertise in adult learning and development.
Representing Diversity or Lack-Thereof: An Analysis of DPT and PTA Education Program Websites
Amy S. Nowacki, Ph.D., has seventeen years of experience as an applied biostatistician in the areas of basic, translational, and clinical biomedical research. She is an expert in study design, data collection, data analysis, data visualization, and interpretation of results. Dr. Nowacki is also a statistical educator and education researcher, where she explores the communication of statistical ideas/concepts by physicians in both research and patient care, as well as the development of educational resources that enhance statistical training and ease teacher workload.
Gregory M. Kline, P.鈥奣., D.P.鈥奣., Ed.D., M.B.A, is an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Program Director in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Hanover College. Dr. Kline is the current President of the Ohio Physical Therapy Association. He has presented at local, state, and national conferences on interprofessional education, education pipelines, and student success initiatives.
Rachel S. King, J.D., is the Director, Educational Equity, Title IX Coordinator, and Section 504 Coordinator at the Cleveland Clinic. She also serves as the Assistant Dean of Students for the Cleveland Clinic School of Health Professions. The first person in her role, Ms. King, addresses discrimination and harassment in Cleveland Clinic’s educational programs, and supports and leads engagement and belonging efforts across education. Ms. King has more than 20 years of experience representing institutions of higher education and serving in various policy-making roles. Ms. King has published and presented nationally on topics related to engagement and belonging, including microaggressions, providing feedback across identity differences, Title IX in academic medicine, and disability accommodations in healthcare settings.
Mari Knettle, P.鈥奣., D.P.鈥奣., Ed.D., is the Medical Director of Health Professions Education for Cleveland Clinic, the Dean of the Cleveland Clinic School of Health Professions, and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Knettle provides leadership for student education in more than 60 health professions across the Cleveland Clinic enterprise. Her primary areas of scholarship include engagement and belonging in health professions education, as well as education as a talent pipeline through partnerships between clinical and academic institutions.
Megan Murphy, M.P.A., is the Assistant Registrar at Harford Community College. She is in her third year of employment at HCC and previously worked for five years at the University of Delaware, where she served as an academic program coordinator and then an admissions coordinator in the College of Health Sciences. She currently serves on the college’s Curriculum Work Group and Advising 2.0 Committee, and is a Tri-Chair for Commencement. She has presented at the 109th 探花楼 Annual Meeting, the 94th Annual MSACROA Conference, as well as other local conferences. Megan received her master’s in Public Administration and her bachelor’s degrees in Art Conservation and Art History from the University of Delaware.
The Causes and Effects of Course Withdrawals
Jesse Boeding, Ed.D., is the co-founder of Education Assessment System, Inc., an innovative AI-enabled platform that aligns individuals’ knowledge with college credits and workforce contributions. With more than 25 years of experience in higher education and workforce development, Boeding has been an advocate for leveraging AI as a strategic growth tool long before it became mainstream. She is dedicated to dispelling the myth that AI lacks a people-centered focus, demonstrating its potential to enhance human capabilities and increasing the opportunities for people to help people.
Credit for Prior Learning: Who is Responsible for Its Success (or Failure)?
Maximos Popp began this study under the guidance of Dr. Rodney Parks in 2024. He has since transferred from Elon University to pursue other endeavors.
Why Stay? Students Voice the Reasons They Transfer
Kaitlyn Jurney is a Senior Psychology Major who will graduate in December. Miss Jurney agreed to complete the study following the original student author. Following her stellar four-year experiential education, Miss Jurney will start her M.N. at Duke University in the spring of 2026. Miss Jurney will continue to serve as a Student Assistant in the Office of the Registrar, helping students, faculty, and staff with a variety of campus challenges.
Kristy Tucciarone, Ph.D., is Program Chair and Professor, Advertising and Public Relations at Lindenwood University. She is actively involved with the American Advertising Federation (AAF) serving on the National Education Executive Council (NEEC). Prior to teaching, Tucciarone was employed with the world’s largest brewery, an advertising and public relations agency, and the largest direct marketing agency. Tucciarone holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. She has received accolades for her teaching, such as AAF Faculty Advisor of the Year and Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. She is an advocate for suicide prevention and certified Suicide Bereavement Support Group Facilitator. Tucciarone dedicates this study to her son Tristan who was the source of inspiration for this study.
Easing the Anxiety of the College Search Process Through the Use of Music in Its Digital Touchpoints
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