Len Gutkin is a senior editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education, where he commissions and edits essays on academic politics and culture, and writes the Chronicle Review’s weekly newsletter.
Brian has nearly 30 years of experience in higher education. He leads enrollment and retention initiatives with a student-focused approach. A former IACRAO president, he holds degrees in Business and Communication, combining strategic leadership with a deep commitment to student success. Brian serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment and Retention Management at the University of Illinois Springfield.
Capstone: Retention at the University of Illinois Springfield
A seasoned leader in enrollment management and financial aid, Amy Cable has led statewide initiatives to expand access for adult learners and streamline student services. Amy recently partnered with ̽»¨Â¥ Consulting to guide LCTCS colleges in strategic enrollment management, furthering her commitment to student success and institutional growth. She is a Certified Financial Aid Administrator (FAAC) through the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators.
Capstone:
STRATEGIC ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THREE COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN LOUISIANA
2025 SEM-EP Graduate
Gregory Benedict, Jr., M.P.A., is Director of Undergraduate Recruitment at Auburn University. Prior to this position, he was the Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management at UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ. He has worked in higher education for fourteen years, the first ten years at his alma mater Kean University. Greg earned his B.A. degree in History and M.P.A. in Public Administration from Kean University and is pursuing his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration on Higher Education from Rowan University. At Kean, he began working as a student ambassador and became an admissions counselor upon graduation. He later was promoted to assistant director and recruited throughout New Jersey, as well as along the east region of the United States. At UCNJ, prior to becoming Assistant Dean, he served as the director of admissions beginning in 2021, where he started the development of strategic enrollment management (SEM) at the college and created and chaired the SEM plan. He currently chairs the SEM committee.
Uncovering ̽»¨Â¥, One Student at a Time: Utilizing a SEM Plan to Support an Everchanging Community
Stefanie Ivan is an Associate Faculty member in the Master of Arts in Higher Education and Leadership program at Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia. Ivan has an undergraduate Bachelor of Education degree, Secondary, from the University of Alberta, and a Master of Science in Education, Specializing in Enrollment Management, from Capella University. She started her career as a high school teacher in Red Deer, Alberta; however, her experience as a student leader and president of the Red Deer College (now RDP) Students’ Association made her passionate about higher education, so she made a move for employment at her former college as soon as she could.
Ivan was a faculty member in the adult upgrading and general studies programs, an academic advisor, coordinator of advising, then coordinator of student services. She moved to Grant MacEwan College (now University) as associate registrar, then registrar, and later associate vice-president student services. She consulted and was VP Consulting with Academica Group, traveling Canada speaking, leading workshops and enrollment management and related projects. She presented sessions at ̽»¨Â¥, WARUCC and ARUCC. Finally, she transitioned to her own consulting company and continues to teach with Royal Roads University. Ivan was awarded a Western Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (WARUCC) lifetime membership (2013) for her volunteerism as president and other roles, and the same for her time as an executive with the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC) (2012).
The Role of Preplanning in Organic Strategic Enrollment Management
Dr. Pearson (she/her) has over 10 years of experience in public, 4-year higher education institutions. She has experience in admissions, enrollment management, orientation, first-year experience, student accountability, retention, and academic advising. She serves as the Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Center for Orientation, Retention, and Exploration at Old Dominion University--overseeing the new student experience, exploratory advising, major exploration, and student success programs and initiatives. Dr. Pearson earned her Bachelor's and Master’s degrees from the University of Mississippi and her Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from Florida State University.
Isaiah Vance serves as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at The Texas A&M University System offices in College Station, TX, overseeing academic advising and transfer initiatives for the twelve universities that comprise the A&M System.
Vance is a representative to the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) for academic advising, and chaired NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising’s Assessment Institute Advisory Board.
He is the A&M System lead for nationwide projects with the National Association of Higher Education System (NASH) using improvement science methods to improve transfer student outcomes and the Artificial Intelligence Course Mappings Project (credit mobility). He is chair of the Texas Common Course Numbering System Board and a past president of the Texas Academic Advising Network.
His education includes studies at Abilene Christian University, Boston University and Texas A&M University.
I have over six years of experience in higher ed at the City University of New York (CUNY), working in the Central Office of the University Registrar. I support students, faculty and staff across CUNY’s 25 campuses, spanning all five boroughs of New York City. As one of the largest university systems in the country, the CUNY experience is truly unique. I’ve had the opportunity to work with community colleges, comprehensive colleges, and traditional four year institutions, giving me a well rounded view of how operations function across different types of colleges.
During my time at CUNY, I’ve helped lead implementations, supported system upgrades, and later served as system administrator for more than half a dozen student success applications used university wide. These include tools for schedule building, registration, curriculum management and enrollment reporting. I’ve also worked closely with the CUNY Central team to help streamline academic operations across the system, with a focus on better serving our students, faculty, and stakeholders.
With over 25 years of experience in higher education, Michelle brings a deep commitment to student success, institutional advancement, and strategic leadership. Her career has centered on student recruitment, customer service, and strategic planning—areas where she has consistently driven results through relationship-building and a student-centered approach.
Michelle currently serves as Director of Student Recruitment at Pima Community College, where she leads the development and execution of recruitment strategies aligned with institutional goals. Her work focuses on enhancing the prospective student experience, fostering partnerships, and implementing outreach initiatives that support enrollment growth. She emphasizes personalized communication and a responsive, service-oriented mindset, believing that recruitment is about more than numbers—it’s about creating meaningful connections and opening pathways to higher education.
Two years ago, Michelle became a member of the ̽»¨Â¥ (̽»¨Â¥), a step that has further enriched her understanding of best practices in higher education administration and helped her stay current with trends in enrollment management and student services.
Michelle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Arizona and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix. These academic foundations complement her professional experience and support her ability to lead with both strategic insight and operational efficiency
Kristin Simon brings over 15 years of experience in higher education, with more than a decade dedicated to serving in Registrar’s Offices across a variety of institutions. Her professional background includes work at public and private four-year universities as well as community colleges, reflecting a broad understanding of diverse academic environments.
Since 2022, she has served as the Registrar at Mid Michigan College. In 2023, she joined the MACRAO Registrar’s Practices Committee and has been selected to serve as Chair of the committee for the 2025 term, highlighting her commitment to professional development and collaborative leadership within the field.
She is exploring doctoral degree opportunities to further deepen her expertise and contribution to higher education administration.
Newsoul Deus, Ph.D. is the Program Manager of the TRIO Upward Bound Math-Science (UBMS) program at Florida International University. With extensive experience in enrollment services and management, she is dedicated to advancing college access and success for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Dr. Deus’ academic and professional journey is driven by a passion for supporting first-generation and low-income students. Her research focuses on the critical role higher education professionals play in improving access and retention for these student groups, underscoring her commitment to fostering their academic achievement and success.
Dr. DeOnte T. Brown is a higher education leader with more than 15 years of experience spanning student support services, academic affairs, and enrollment management. He currently serves as Assistant Dean and Director of the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) at Florida State University (FSU), where he leads comprehensive support initiatives for students who are first-generation, from limited income families or under resourced educational environments. In this role, Dr. Brown helps shape institutional strategy through his leadership in both the Division of Undergraduate Studies and the Division of Student Affairs. Prior to returning to Florida State, he was engaged in similar work at Clemson University to also include orientation and family programs.
He is an active contributor to professional associations such as NASPA and NACADA. He has been recognized nationally with the Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award and a NASPA Excellence Award for his programmatic leadership. Beyond professional association engagement, Dr. Brown has published works related to student success and student support practices.
He earned his Ph.D. in Learning Sciences from Clemson University, where his research explored how students’ personal, behavioral, and environmental factors shape academic and career trajectories. He also holds a Master of Education from Florida A&M University and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida.
Christian Winnewisser brings over a decade of experience in higher education leadership, with a focus on academic records, student services, and institutional compliance. As Registrar at the Colleges of Law, he also serves as the School Certifying Official for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Accommodations Coordinator, ensuring equitable access and support for a diverse student body.
Christian plays a central role in enrollment forecasting, applying data-informed strategies to support institutional planning and resource allocation. His insights guide cross-departmental decision-making, aligning enrollment trends with academic scheduling, staffing, and student services. He holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Change, which informs his collaborative and strategic approach to policy development, process improvement, and student-centered service delivery. Committed to operational excellence, equity, and innovation, Christian works closely with faculty, administrators, and external stakeholders to enhance student outcomes and institutional effectiveness.
An active member of ̽»¨Â¥, he values the opportunity to engage with colleagues across the field, exchange best practices, and stay ahead of emerging trends and challenges in higher education.
With over 20 years of experience in Higher Education, Jennifer Van Dyk has built a career grounded in a deep passion for student success and learning. Serving at a four-year public state institution in New Jersey, she began her journey in Student Affairs within Residential Student Services. She developed a strong foundation in student engagement and campus life.
Her path led to Academic Affairs in a Dean's Office and now to the Registrar's Office where she oversees class scheduling and registration, ensuring students have the access and structure they need to succeed. In addition to administrative leadership, she has taught various Reading and Freshman Seminar courses, bringing her passion for learning directly into the classroom. These experiences have shaped a holistic understanding of the student experience, both inside and outside the classroom.
Driven by a belief in education's power to transform lives, Jennifer uses her background to advocate for student needs, removing barriers, and fostering a supportive learning environment.
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