Lorraine D. Acker, Ph.D., (she/her) is a distinguished leader in higher education and serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at SUNY Brockport. Known for her commitment to student advocacy and academic excellence, Dr. Acker provides strategic leadership in residence life, student activities, health and counseling services, campus recreation, and diversity initiatives. Her leadership is guided by a dedication to equity and inclusion, principles that inform her interactions with students and staff.

With over two decades of experience, Dr. Acker has held significant roles at institutions such as Bennett College, Iowa State University, UNC Charlotte, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the Institute for Shipboard Education (Semester at Sea). Her background in women’s and gender studies and higher education administration highlights her commitment to fostering critical thinking and civic responsibility among students. She currently shares her expertise by teaching Black Feminist Theory in the department of women’s and gender studies at SUNY Brockport.

Dr. Acker’s influence extends nationally through her involvement in College Student Educators International (ACPA) and the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). She earned her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Brockport, a master’s from Western Illinois University, and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University.

Dr. Brian Arao (he/him) is an innovative and passionate educator who excels at helping others grow more fully into their potential. Brian pursued this calling for nearly 23 years as a student affairs practitioner, most recently as the Associate Dean of Students & Chief of Staff at UC Santa Cruz. In this and previous roles, he led transformative equity-focused change in residential education, student conduct, student activities, student government, basic needs programs, non-clinical case management, advising student-run organizations, and social justice education. Now, as President & Co-Founder of Brave Space Leadership, he consults privately as a DEI strategist, educator, and professional certified diversity coach for colleges, universities, and both nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

Brian’s higher education leadership extends beyond his campus-based work. For example, in collaboration with Kristi L. Clemens, he co-created and continues to grow the renowned Brave Space framework for promoting courageous participation in social justice-focused dialogues. He also partners with resolv ED, a consortium of scholar-practitioners supporting the transformation of student conduct practice through the lens of inclusive conflict excellence. Brian currently serves as the Equity and Inclusion Chair for the ACPA25 Convention, building on his previous association service as a member of its first equity and inclusion advisory committee where he co-led the team that developed the bias incident response protocol; chairperson for the Commission for Social Justice Education; and Assembly Coordinator for Commissions on the Governing Board.

Dr. Monique C. Atherley (she/they) is an accomplished administrator serving the community through education for almost 20 years through K-12, Community Based Organizations, & Higher Education. Raised and trained by the World’s Borough (Queens, NY) – they are a child of immigrants that’s committed to the protection & joy of Black & Brown bodies and to work that supports the liberation and thriving of marginalized communities. She has worked in three major public educational systems in New York State as staff, faculty, and a trainer. She has also been a part of the Urban League movement since 2011 as a Young Professional, affiliate staff member of the New York Urban League (NYUL), and a National Urban League (NUL) Emerging Leader. Dr. Atherley is an emerging scholar, whose research interests include Equity and Racial Justice in Education, Caribbeans in Higher Education, connecting across the African Diaspora, professional staff Engagement and Sense of Belonging, The Multigenerational Workplace, and Support for Caregivers in the Workplace. She has served in ACPA since 2012 with Graduate Students and New Professionals, the Pan African Network, ACPA Awards, and in Association Leadership. Professionally, they serve educators through her work at the National Education Association (NEA), in their Center for Racial and Social Justice (CSRJ) as a Senior Program Analyst and Policy Specialist in the Human and Civil Rights (HCR) department.

Ivanna (Ivy) Colòn-Alverio (she/her) is the director of the TRIO Student Support Services program at the University at Buffalo. Additionally, she is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the Higher Education Administration program at St. Cloud State University. She is a two-time Binghamton University graduate with a master’s in Student Affairs Administration and a Bachelor’s in Human Development. Her research interests include post-secondary access and retention, first-generation students, and issues surrounding underrepresented students in higher education. Ivy is actively involved at her university and associations through volunteer commitments. At the University of Buffalo, she was the co-chair for the 2023 undergraduate research conference and is currently the president of the minority faculty staff association on campus. She is the chair of the Commission of Academic Affairs in ACPA, is an active member of the Latin@/x network, and has served on the planning committee for the 2020 ACPA convention in Nashville, TN. In 2016, she was recognized as the new outstanding professional by the Coalition for Multicultural Affairs (CMA) and received the Community Service and Advancement Award in 2017 from the Latin@/x Network.

Will J. Cribby (he/him) is currently serving as the Assistant Dean of Students at Bunker Hill Community College where he has worked since December of 2017. He has served in various roles in Residence Life and general Student Affairs, including multiple Dean roles, for over 20 years. Will has served in multiple leadership roles within ACPA over the years of involvement with the association, including serving as the President of the Massachusetts chapter (MCPA), serving on the former Standing Committee for LGBTQIA+, and most recently as the chair of the Commission for Two Year Colleges. He completed his BA in Communication at the University of New Hampshire and Masters of Education in Counseling with a focus in Higher Education at Bridgewater State University. He is currently completing his Ed.D. at Northeastern University in Higher Education Administration and is completing his research and dissertation on “LGBTQIA2S+ Sense of Belonging in Higher Education in the Community College Setting.” His anticipated completion is March 2025.

Antonio Duran, Ph.D. (he/him) is an associate professor and program co-coordinator of higher and postsecondary education in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. His research examines how historical and contemporary legacies of oppression influence college student development, experiences, and success. Connected to this central thread, he is also interested in how scholar-practitioners use the above knowledge in their practice. He uses critical frameworks (e.g., intersectionality, community cultural wealth, queer of color critique, quare theory, jotería studies) to complicate the field’s understanding of racism, heterosexism, trans oppression, and other forms of marginalization on college campuses. Antonio completed his B.A. in English and American Literature at New York University, M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Miami University, and Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs at The Ohio State University.

Adriel A. Hilton (he/him) currently serves as the Director of Programs, Transition, and Youth Success Planning for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. His career spans various roles in higher education and student affairs. Previously, he was Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and Associate Professor of Education at Southern University at New Orleans. At Seton Hill University, Hilton was Dean of Students and Diversity Officer, overseeing areas including Housing and Residential Life and Diversity & Inclusion.

Hilton’s extensive experience includes serving as Director of the Webster University Myrtle Beach Metropolitan Extended Campus, Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the President at Grambling State University, and Assistant Professor and Director of the Higher Education Student Affairs program at Western Carolina University. He also held the role of inaugural Assistant Vice President for Inclusion Initiatives at Grand Valley State University. At Upper Iowa University, Hilton was Executive Assistant to the President, Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees, and the institution’s first Chief Diversity Officer. His diverse background highlights his leadership in advancing student success and inclusion initiatives.

Dr. Lynn Hogan (he/him) is currently the Assistant Provost and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Professor at Florida State University. He has served as Interim Dean (Fine Arts), Department Chair (Studio Art), and Associate Dean (Fine Arts and Theatre). Prior to FSU, Lynn worked at the University of Georgia. Lynn holds degrees from Bowling Green State University, University of Georgia, and South Georgia College.

Lynn has been a member of ACPA since 1991. He has been active in the Commission for Academic Affairs much of that time. Lynn has twice served as Chair and is currently Vice Chair for Scholarship and Faculty-in-Residence. In 2016, Lynn’s edited volume Student Affairs for Academic Administrators was published in cooperation with the Commission.

Outside of work, Lynn shares his  life with his husband Robin, their Frenchie Dash, and a talkative African Grey Parrot Earl, who is a big UGA fan. Lynn and Robin enjoy travel and home improvement.

Dr. Ronald C. Jackson (he/him) is the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the City University of New York’s Brooklyn College. Originally from Southfield, MI, Dr. Jackson has over 25 years of progressively responsible supervisory and administrative experience in the field of Higher Education. Dr. Jackson earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a doctor of education degree in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to Brooklyn College, Dr. Jackson served as the Dean of Students at the Community College of Philadelphia and at Marymount Manhattan College. He was also employed in the Office of Student Development and Activities at Columbia University in the City of New York and in the Office of Residence Life at William Patterson University of New Jersey. Dr. Jackson has served on the Executive Council of ACPA as well as various other leadership positions within the association. Dr. Jackson has lifetime memberships in the University of Michigan Alumni Association and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Jana Lithgow, Ph.D. (she/her) is the Executive Director of Undergraduate Programs for the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. Previously, she worked in residence life, career development, and academic affairs administration at Illinois Wesleyan University, Loyola University Chicago, Emmanuel College, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Dr. Lithgow holds a BSBA from the University of Missouri, an M.Ed. in Higher Education and an M.S. in Human Resources from Loyola University Chicago, and a Ph.D. in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She was the recipient of an inaugural Center for Expanding Leadership and Opportunity (CELO; previously affiliated with The Aspen Institute) Impact Fellowship in 2022 and published a piece in CELO’s 2023 youth leadership development practice publication.

Outside of work, Dr. Lithgow serves on the Illinois 4-H Foundation Board of Directors and volunteers with Columbus Cake Celebrations to provide custom birthday cakes for families in need. She also enjoys sewing, reading, cooking and baking, and spending time with her family. Dr. Lithgow and her husband Bryan Truttling live in Columbus, Ohio with their son, Vincent.

Richard B. Marks, Jr. Ed.D (he/him) is a dynamic leader and advocate, currently serving as the Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Innovative Community Engagement and the Executive Director of the Cross-Cultural Center for Global Citizenship at Saint Louis University. A proud alumnus of Indiana University, Bloomington, Dr. Marks earned his Bachelor’s in African American Studies and Sociology, followed by a Master’s in Higher Education Student Affairs. He furthered his academic journey by obtaining a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.

With over two decades of extensive experience in higher education, Dr. Marks has held key positions in Housing and Residence Life, Student Activities, Greek Life, Student Conduct, and Diversity Education. He is a sought-after speaker and facilitator known for his expertise in race in higher education, LGBTQIA+ issues, toxic masculinity, gender roles and expressions, Greek life, diversity training, team building, leadership, intersectionality, and identity development.

Dr. Marks, recognized as the Outstanding LGBTQIA+ Honoree by the Saint Louis Business Journal in 2021, played a pivotal role in establishing the first annual Lavender Graduation at Saint Louis University. He also co-created the Saint Louis Regional Consortium of Higher Education Initiatives Supporting Black Male Success in partnership with United Way of Saint Louis. Additionally, Dr. Marks serves as a board member at Williams and Associates, contributing to efforts that address health disparities and promote equity for Black and marginalized communities, focusing on LGBTQIA+ populations.

Dr. Marks is actively involved in several organizations. He has served as the past Chair of the Pan African Network in the Association of College Personnel Association (ACPA), is an active member of 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Saint Louis, serves as the board chair of the YMCA – Bayer in Saint Louis, and has been the Vice President and charter member of the National Panhellenic Council of Orange County. He is also a proud Lifetime Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Dr. Marks owns RBM Diversity Consulting, an LLC dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion across various sectors.

Dr. Tryan L. McMickens (he/him) serves as an Associate Professor of Higher Education and Director of the M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Administration Program at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). NCCU is an exceptional Historically Black College and University (HBCU) with an innovative higher education graduate program.

Dr. McMickens’s research examines historically marginalized and underserved populations that suffer from inequities, particularly in higher education, and how these populations can live full and prosperous lives in and beyond higher education. Equity and liberation are central to much of his scholarship. His funded research portfolio exceeds $65,000 and he was awarded over $200,000 in fellowship awards from the Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholars Program. His research has led to several publications, including 4 books, and over 70 presentations, keynote addresses, invited talks, and speaker series discussions.

Dr. McMickens sailed around the world and developed cross-cultural and global exposure in 14 countries with the Semester at Sea program. He holds an educational doctorate in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a master’s degree in administration of higher education from Suffolk University and bachelor’s degrees in sales & marketing and business administration from Tuskegee University.

Dr. Amanda L. Mollet (she/her) has been involved with ACPA for nearly two decades and currently serves as ACPA’s inaugural Vice President of Volunteer Leadership. Amanda’s tenure with ACPA is marked by a long history of association involvement and leadership. She is a past-chair of the Coalition for Sexuality and Gender Identities (CSGI) and also previously served as CSGI’s scholar-in-residence, and in CSGI coordinator roles. In 2021 Amanda was named as an ACPA Emerging Scholar. She is also a past-chair for the Graduate Students and New Professionals Community of Practice and has served in a variety of ACPA roles including the Governing Board, and 2014 convention team.

Professionally, Amanda is an assistant professor in higher education administration at the University of Kansas. As a scholar, the goal of her research is to change existing norms by engaging studies that provide evidence-based implications for equitable changes in higher education. Her research focuses on LGBTQIA+ college students with a particular emphasis on asexual and aromantic students. She has more than 30 publications—including six in ACPA’s Journal of College Student Development—and she has given over 70 presentations; many of these works represent collaborations with students and practitioners.

Dr. Mollie M. Monahan (she/her) is an award-winning scholar-practitioner with over 25 years of service to the field of higher education. Dr. Mollie is Co-Founder, along with Fernell Miller (she/her) and Dr. J. Self (they/them), of The Racial Healing Project, helping justice minded leaders build strong, equitable, inclusive, diverse communities of practice. She is the Founder and CEO of Social Justice Kids, working with white parents and educators to co-create a more just and equitable world, with and for the KIDS we LOVE. As a consulting partner at the Equity Institute, Mollie is part of a diverse team fostering humanizing organizational practice. Her signature course, LOVE KIDS, gives white parents and educators the tools they need for raising justice-minded changemakers. Mollie credits ACPA, the Coalition for Women’s Identities (especially her years as Chair), her doctorate from Maryland, masters from UVM, undergrad from BGSU, and tenure as UMBC Women’s Center Director, for inspiring her to practice daily professional troublemaking. For downtime, you’ll find her with her two favorite co-conspirators, her kids, Kat (she/her) and Alex (he/they), and their rescue mutts, Daisy and Morty, hiking Pacific Northwest forests, rocky shorelines, or snuggling up for movie night at home.

Dr. Z Nicolazzo (she/her) is an associate professor of Trans* Studies in Education in the Department of Educational Policy Studies & Practice at the University of Arizona. She has served ACPA in various leadership roles, including serving as the current Executive Editor of About Campus. She is also the author of Trans* In College: Transgender Students’ Strategies for Navigating Campus Life and the Institutional Politics of Inclusion (2017) and co-author of Digital Me: Trans Students Exploring Future Possible Selves Online (2023). She started her membership with ACPA in 2005 as a then-graduate student in Western Illinois University’s College Student Personnel program. She also holds degrees from Roger Williams University (BA, Philosophy) and Miami University (PhD Student Affairs in Higher Education). Her recent scholarship focuses on discourses of gender as they influence college experiences for transgender students, the specific effects of transmisogyny, and grief and loss. She lives in Tucson, Arizona with her partner and Daisy, their 2 year old cattle dog/pittie mix.

Dr. Clint-Michael Reneau (he/him) is a nationally recognized educator, scholar, and consultant committed to social justice, equity, and inclusion. With extensive expertise in retention, equity gap-closing, and strategic DEI initiatives, he has significantly impacted institutions across the U.S. and abroad. As Vice President for Student Affairs at Northern Illinois University, he leads efforts at a campus where 56% of students are first-generation. Dr. Reneau’s tenure at California State University, Fullerton, saw the successful closing of equity gaps and the development of a strategic DEI framework. His academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Adult and Community Education and executive education certifications from Harvard and Stanford.

Dr. Reneau’s contributions to ACPA are profound, including serving as ACPA Foundation Trustee, Faculty Member for the Donna M. Bourassa Mid-Level Management Institute, and Vice-Chair of the Coalition on Men & Masculinities. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including the ACPA Harold E. Cheatham Innovative Practice Award and the ACPA Mid-Level Management Award. A first-generation gay college student with a disability and a product of the community college system, Dr. Reneau realizes how lived experiences have shaped his understanding of the critical importance of intersectionality and the assertion of human dignity. This perspective fuels his mission to empower individuals and organizations to achieve their full potential, creating spaces where they feel seen, heard, and know they matter. Dr. Reneau’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of higher education and the profound impact of compassionate, equity-driven leadership. His vision is clear: to inspire and enact meaningful change, fostering environments where access and inclusion thrive, equity is championed, and every individual’s dignity is honored.

Dr. Matthew K. Robison (he/him) currently serves as Associate Provost for Student Affairs at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, GA. Robison has 25 years of experience working on college and university campuses as an accomplished college administrator and tireless student advocate. As the Senior Student Affairs Officer at GGC, Robison leads a diverse portfolio of college offices, services and personnel, including Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Dean of Students, Disability Services, Health Services, Student Housing, Student Integrity, Student Life, and Wellness and Recreation.

Before coming to GGC, Robison served in leadership positions at various other University System of Georgia institutions. His service includes Dean of Students and Senior Student Affairs Officer at Gordon State College, Director of Cultural and Community Centers and Student Engagement at Kennesaw State University, Dean of Students at Georgia Perimeter College, and Assistant Dean of Students at Georgia State University. Robison served early in his career at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University in Boston, Massachusetts and St. John’s University–Manhattan Campus in New York, New York.

Over his career, Robison has received numerous accolades. In 2023, he was honored by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) with the Esther Lloyd Jones Award for Professional Service. The Georgia College Personnel Association recognized Robison with the Theodore K. Miller Outstanding Professional Service Award. Early in his career, ACPA recognized Robison with the Outstanding New Professional Award. Georgia State University honored Robison with the Dr. Carl V. Patton President’s Award for Community Service and Social Justice. In addition, Robison was selected as an educational policy fellow with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, served as a University System of Georgia Executive Leadership Institute participant and was invited as a Foundation Board trustee for ACPA.

Dr. Melissa L. Rocco (she/her) is Senior Lecturer and Program Director for Higher Education & Student Affairs Administration at the University of Vermont. As a leadership educator and scholar, Dr. Rocco seeks to advance leadership perspectives beyond dominant cultural narratives through the exploration, development, and implementation of transformative pedagogy. Her research, teaching, and practice focus on leadership identity development, liberatory learning, and leadership educator preparation.

Dr. Rocco’s professional contributions include roles as Faculty Director for the National Clearinghouse for Leadership Programs (NCLP), chairperson for Leadership Educators Symposium and Leadership Educators Institute, and representative to the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) in higher education. Her work has been published in the Journal of Leadership Studies, Journal of Leadership Education, New Directions for Student Leadership, and Journal of College Student Development. She is also a collaborating author on the National Leadership Education Research Agenda 2020-2025 and a contributor and reviewer for some of the most widely-used texts in leadership education. Dr. Rocco’s practitioner experience includes roles in co-curricular leadership programs, student activities, academic advising, and fraternity and sorority life. She holds a PhD in Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy from the University of Maryland.

Allyn R. Shaw, Ph.D. (he/him) is the Assistant Vice President for Student Development and Leadership and Dean of Students at Michigan State University. After serving nine years as the Associate Director, Office of Faculty and Organizational Development and Director of Leadership Development Programs in the MSU Provost’s Office, Shaw transitioned back to Student Affairs in 2013. Shaw has worked in several offices across MSU including residence life. He has also worked at the University of Richmond and the University of Tennessee.

Allyn has served as a volunteer for his fraternity as a foundation trustee and national councilor, and on boards for ACPA as a foundation trustee, commission chair, the MSU Student Food Bank, the MSU National Alumni Association Advisory Council, the MSU College of Social Science Alumni Association, the Community Relations Coalition, state boards, and the MSU Museum.

Shaw has published several articles, presented at national and local conferences, taught graduate and undergraduate courses, taught professionals in South Africa and consulted on several campuses.

Over the years, he has earned several accolades including the outstanding MSU Student Affairs alumni, the Jack Breslin service award and was a CIC Academic Leaders Fellow.

Dra. Karla Silva (she/ella) is a first-generation college graduate, Chicana, daughter to immigrants, mama, and scholar-practitioner with over ten years of experience in student affairs. She has spent her career working in the areas of access, equity, and inclusion. She currently serves as the Director, Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Initiatives at the University of Arizona (UA). In addition to her role, she also serves as an instructor for the UA College of Education and General Education.

Dra.Silva received her doctoral degree in higher education from the University of Arizona, a master’s degree in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Northern Arizona University. She is an active member of several professional organizations and holds leadership positions with the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators and AZ HSI Consortium. She is also a member of Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. Her involvement in the ACPA Latinx Network reflect her commitment to advancing the field of student affairs and supporting Latine professionals. Dra. Karla Silva’s career and research reflects a deep commitment to higher education and a focus on supporting historically excluded communities, advancing research on HSIs, and advancing student success and support.

Todd (he/him) currently serves as the Chief Leadership and Engagement Officer for the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania and is committed to building collaborative partnerships between political and educational systems. Having previously served as a Senior Student Affairs Officer, Todd remains committed to higher education via advocacy, teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, and serving as a peer reviewer for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Todd is passionate about contributing to his community and advocating for equity in education, the arts, and healthcare. He serves on multiple regional and statewide boards and consults for several justice-minded nonprofits in the Central Pennsylvania area.

Through his ACPA journey, Todd has previously been elected to the directorate boards of the current Coalition for Sexuality and Gender Identities and the Senior Level Community of Practice. Additionally, he participated with the ACPA@100 Committee, has served three terms as a trustee on the ACPA Foundation Board, and is proudly serving as the ACPA25 Convention Chair.

Todd was previously presented with the Athena Award by the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2014, was named one of Central Pennsylvania’s 40 Under 40 in 2020, and received an alumni leadership citation from Lebanon Valley College in 2021.

Dr. Dan Tillapaugh (he/him) is professor and chair of the Department of Counselor Education in the Graduate School of Education (GSOE) at California Lutheran University. He also serves as the associate dean for equity, outreach, and faculty development within the GSOE. With 10 years of professional experience as a student affairs administrator in a variety of settings, he completed his Ph.D. in Leadership Studies at the University of San Diego and his M.Ed. in Counseling and Personnel Services at the University of Maryland. Dan’s research focuses on intersectionality and social contexts of higher education, college men and masculinities, LGBT issues in higher education, sexual violence in higher education, and leadership development and education. His work has been published in the Journal of College Student Development, Review of Higher Education, Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, and Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. From 2012-2016, he served as the chair of ACPA’s Coalition on Men and Masculinities (CMM). Dan was recognized as an ACPA Emerging Scholar and was a past recipient of ACPA’s Annuit Coeptis Emerging Professionals Award. He currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with his husband, Martin Fernandez and their cat, Olivia.

Jordan Shelby West, PhD (she/her) is the Associate Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement at the George Washington University. In this capacity, Dr. West is responsible for creating and implementing justice-centered and equitable strategic planning, sustainable change, and educational opportunities across the institution that informs people, policies, and practices, in order to continue shifting the campus towards a more positive and just climate. Dr. West also teaches courses on Black Feminist Theory for undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. West identifies as a scholar activist and is a formally trained social justice, anti-racist educator and facilitator. Prior to joining GW, Dr. West was an inaugural diversity officer at Princeton University, where she created an 18-month certificate program on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice for leaders, faculty, and staff. Before joining Princeton, Dr. West worked in the Division of Student Affairs at Syracuse University and directed a dialogue program entitled Conversations About Race & Ethnicity (C.A.R.E.). On a national level, Dr. West is a consultant to institutions of higher education, organizations, and companies and serves on boards for education-based associations. Dr. West has been invited by the White House to speak at multiple events hosted by the President of the United States, Department of Education, and the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans. Dr. West remains engaged as a scholar practitioner through presenting, research, and publishing. Dr. West’s experience and continued research interests focus on campus climate, narrative and storytelling as a method, and how individuals from historically marginalized identities work towards liberation in higher education through the lens of Black Feminist Theory and Critical Race Theory, and through the process of disrupting systemic oppression.

Dr. Alexandria White (she/her) is a consultant and scholar-practitioner with 15 years of experience in higher education, specializing in diversity, inclusion leadership, and belonging. She has worked with colleges, universities, and Fortune 500 companies to advance these initiatives. Dr. White credits her career success to opportunities at Indiana University, Ivy Tech Community College, Ball State University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and the University of Mississippi.

She researches first-generation college students and the experiences of mothers working in higher education. Dr. White founded S.A.M.S. (Student Affairs Moms), the largest online community for mothers working on college campuses, with over 8,000 members. This community serves as a foundation for research and best practices, and she is currently documenting the lived experiences of S.A.M.S. members for an upcoming book. In 2023, she co-authored 50 Questions Inclusive Leaders Ask to help leaders create more inclusive spaces.

ACPA has been a professional home for Dr. White, where she has held leadership roles in the Pan African Network and served as a presenter and program reviewer. Dr. White earned her Doctor of Education in Higher Education from the University of Mississippi. She is the proud mother of Emory, who attends college in Indiana.

Jamie L. Workman (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Higher Education Leadership at Valdosta State University. Broadly, Jamie’s research focuses on student major and career decision making, student engagement, and supporting historically marginalized college student populations. Jamie is currently the Chair of ACPA’s Commission for Faculty and Graduate Programs and serves as an Associate Editor for the Georgia Journal of College Student Affairs. Jamie has been a member of ACPA since 1999 and is also a member of ASHE. Previously, she has also been involved in the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA). Prior to becoming a faculty member, Jamie was a residence life professional and involved with ACUHO-I and its Great Lakes affiliate, GLACUHO. In her free time, Jamie enjoys kayaking, going to concerts (especially the Dave Matthews Band!), and spending time with friends and family.