Dr. Alan Acosta

Alan Acosta is a passionate higher education professional whose work focuses on helping students become ethical global leaders. He currently serves as the assistant vice provost for student life and director of positive learning environments at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, where he collaborates with students, faculty, and staff on cultivating and nurturing holistic student support, engagement, and wellness.

Alan previously worked at Clark University and Florida State University managing numerous campus offices, including student conduct, housing, new student orientation, and accessibility services. He also coordinated institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, managed campus-wide student crises, and supported campus offices through transition and change.

Alan has been involved in ACPA and ASCA and served each organization in numerous roles. He has authored academic articles and chapters and was a co-editor of a book focused on student conduct in college residence halls. Alan is also an adjunct faculty member in the Salem State University HESA program.

Alan earned his BA and M.Ed. at the University of Florida and his Ph.D. from Florida State University. He believes in the power of education to uplift communities and change lives, which drives the work he does.

Dr. Amy Barnes is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program at Ohio State University and Director of the Education Doctorate. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in personal leadership development, group dynamics, case analysis, innovative leadership, strategic planning/strategic leadership, and equity-driven leadership. She is the Director of the inaugural HESA Ed.D. program at Ohio State, a program designed for working professionals in higher education. Dr. Barnes has been integral in aligning the program’s goals and objectives with the principles of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) and has created a culture of supporting scholarly practice. Additionally, Dr. Barnes oversees the management of HESA’s undergraduate leadership course offerings and curriculum associated with the university’s interdisciplinary leadership minor. Prior to her tenure as a faculty member, Dr. Barnes spent 14 years in administrative roles in First Year Experience, Residential Life, Career Services, and central student affairs administration. 

She is an author of the Innovative Leadership Workbook for College Students and Leadership Theory: Facilitator’s Guide for Cultivating Critical Perspectives and has published in numerous journals and practice-based publications.  Dr. Barnes also has consulted on leadership and organizational development locally, nationally, and internationally since 2005.

Tierney J. Bates, Ed.D currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of South Carolina Upstate. He oversees executive leadership and provides the vision, oversight, strategic planning, budget, motivation, innovation, and direction that comprises the Division of Student Affairs. He has established himself as a national thought leader, speaker, networker, career coach, innovator, and voice on diversity, equity, inclusion, and GENERATION NOW!

With over 20+ years in higher education, he has progressed from entry level to senior level administration with responsibility for strategic initiatives and solutions in student affairs, diversity & inclusion, career services/workforce development, recruitment, and fundraising. He has worked at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Special Projects & Executive Director and has served in leadership roles at Virginia Union University, North Carolina Central University, University of Louisville, University of Tennessee, and Bowling Green State University.

Dr. Bates is from Cleveland, Ohio and received his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Communications with a minor in African American History from the University of Akron, his Master of Arts in Higher -Education Administration from the University of Akron, and his MBA from Bryan College, and a Doctorate degree from Spalding University. Dr. Bates is a Proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated

Karen D. Boyd, Ph.D is a Professor of Practice in higher education administration, college student personnel and the undergraduate leadership studies with the University of Tennessee’s Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Department and the interim Executive Director of the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA). Her 30+ year career (predominantly spent in Housing, Student Conduct, Leadership Education and most recently as faculty) demonstrates a commitment to fostering learning and engagement in increasingly diverse and complex classroom, administrative, and associational settings. Her primary areas of inquiry explore how to most effectively educate for personally and socially responsible leadership and civic engagement. Most notable is her work collecting and applying the Dixon v. Alabama (1961) participants’ history of college-related leadership for social change. Across her career, scholarship, and leadership—including ACPA’s Commission XV Directorate, circuit and ASCA’s 10th Anniversary conference chair, past president, and Gehring Academy Director— she has been honored to receive ACPA’s Commission XV’s Teele Award; ASCA’s New Professional of the Year, Circuit of the Year, Gehring, and Dixon-McFadden Awards; NASPA Region 3’s Bob E. Leach Award for Outstanding Service to Students; and numerous campus recognitions. 

Dr. Jeffery T. Burgin, Jr. has carried and embodied the message of learning, cultural growth, and service to others as his career in higher education has taken him to multiple universities throughout the U.S. A common thread during his career has been encouraging and facilitating multicultural appreciation and diligently overseeing many aspects of student wellbeing. Dr. Burgin currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Southern Illinois University. He has also served in the capacity of Chief Student Affairs Officer at Talladega College, Kentucky State University, Belmont University and Alabama A & M University. Other institutions where he served at the administrative level are Washington & Jefferson College and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Dr. Burgin holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati (BA- African American Studies/Pre-Law), Ohio University (MED-College Student Personnel) Talladega College (MBA) and the University of Alabama (EdD- High Education Administration).  He is an active member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, He serves as a board member for Boys & Girls Club of Southern Illinois, has served as a Member at Large of the University of Cincinnati Board of Governors, and is affiliated with several social and professional organizations:

-American Council for Education (ACE)

-Association for Student Conduct Administrators (ASCA)

-National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)

-American College Personnel Association (ACPA)

He was awarded the 2018 Erica J. Holloman Award by American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Pan African Network, a recipient of the ACPA Standing Committee on Multiculturalism’s Outstanding Contribution to Multicultural Education Award (2003) and the University of Cincinnati’s Mosaic award for contributions to diversity. 

He is driven to create opportunities for learning and fellowship with everyone in his reach, giving generously of his time, talent and treasure along the way. His movements are guided by a deep commitment to Christ, education, service, social justice, and actively engaging young people toward integrating these pursuits and principles into their lives. 

Dr. Christopher C. Catching has been committed to providing college students with access to transformative learning opportunities for nearly 25 years. He has served as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Stockton University (NJ) since February 2018. Stockton University was recognized in 2022 as one of the Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs by Diverse Issues in Higher Education and ACPA-College Student Educators International. 

Dr. Catching served at varied public and private institutions prior to his current role and contributed scholarship to the profession in publications that include: African American Men in College and Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Higher Education and peer-reviewed national presentations. 

A native of Newark, NJ and first-generation college graduate, Dr. Catching gained access to higher education through the Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF) at Montclair State University. 

Dr. Catching earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Montclair State University, Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs from New York University and a Doctorate in Education from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He is a member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated.

Robert N. Coffey, Jr., Ph.D. was a higher education consultant, lecturer, policy analyst, practitioner, and researcher. Until his passing, he served as Assistant Director for International Admissions at Michigan State University. 

Robert worked across multiple functional areas, including conflict management, multicultural/LGBTQ student services, residential life/housing, and undergraduate research. He presented at conferences in Canada, China, Indonesia, the U.K., and the U.S. Robert consulted with government agencies, policy centers, and postsecondary institutions in the U.S. and Canada. 

He used his international network to support ACPA and the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) collaboration, particularly as a member of the Program Team for the 2016 Montreal Convention, and through his involvement with ACPA’s Commission for Global Dimensions of Student Development. He served as Commission Chair, and continued to support its goals with a number of convention programs, focusing on international student higher education.

Robert held a Ph.D., in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University; a B.A. in Canadian Studies from the University of Vermont; a M.A. in History from the University of Maine; and a M.P.A. (Public Administration) from the University of New Hampshire.

Kellie M. Dixon (Dr. K) is the director of student affairs and staff development at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She is also a consultant who specializes in assessment, diversity/equity/inclusion/justice, institutional/organizational effectiveness, leadership development, program review, and strategic planning. Since 2011, Dixon has served in a variety of positions in higher education administration, including, area coordinator for housing and residence life, assistant director for multicultural affairs, and judicial affairs assistant. In addition, Dixon has held adjunct faculty appointments at the graduate level and serves on dissertation committees as a content expert. She has led the development of a division of student affairs strategic plan at her current institution an served as an external reviewer and workshop facilitator for multiple campuses. She was the NASPA Region III HBCU Division Chair from 2020-2022 and the national chair of the ACPA Commission on Assessment and Evaluation from 2021-2023. Dixon also serves an advisory board member for the University Benchmarking Project (Wisconsin – Stout), editorial board member for the Journal of Research and Practice in Assessment, associate editor for the ACPA About Campus Journal, and board director for The Woodson Foundation. She holds and EdD in organizational leadership from Grand Canyon University. In addition, Dixon holds a MS in community and college counseling and a BS in kinesiology from Longwood University. Outside of higher education, Dixon is a certified life coach, certified Core Strengths facilitator, author and on-air radio personality. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. 

Dr. Valerie Glassman (she/her) is the Senior Director for Student Affairs at the UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, where she oversees the full suite of student services including registration, financial aid, safety and compliance, wellness, and event coordination. She is a scholar-practitioner whose fields of research and practice include inclusive excellence and appreciative inquiry in response to student conflict, the impacts of judicialization and workplace trauma on student conduct administrators, and the intersections of student behavior and religious, spiritual, and secular identities. Dr. Glassman is currently developing a manuscript with a team of women scholars that emphasizes the inclusion of the voices and history of women and people of color as central to the development of student affairs as a profession.

Dr. Glassman has been a member of ACPA since 2001. In that time, she served for over 8 years on the Commission for Student Conduct and Legal Issues and was recognized with CSCLI’s Award for Student Impact (2017) and its Outstanding Research in Student Conduct Award (2020). She is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Salem State University and is a former student conduct administrator with over thirteen years of experience in investigations and adjudication.

Dr. Danny Glassmann (he/him/his) is an experienced, student-centered student affairs leader with deep background and expertise in creating and assessing strategies and programs that advance student learning, engagement, and success for all students.

As the Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Support and Dean of Students at The Ohio State University, Dr. Glassmann supports the areas of Leadership and Community Engagement, Ohio Union Operations & Events, Parent and Family Relations, Sorority and Fraternity Life, Student Activities and Orientation, Student Advocacy Center, Student Conduct, Student Philanthropy, and Student Sustainability Education & Engagement. His portfolio also includes focusing on collaboration with Ohio State’s regional campuses and strategic initiatives that advance the student experience across all Ohio State campuses.

A first-generation college student, Dr. Glassmann earned two degrees from the University of Central Arkansas, a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and a Master of Science in College Student Personnel Services and Administration. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counseling and Student Personnel Services from the University of Georgia. He came to Ohio State after having served as the Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at San Francisco State University.

Vennie Gore is the Senior Vice President for Student Life & Engagement at Michigan State University. He administers housing and culinary programs for 17,000+ students. In his role, Vennie also oversees various auxiliary units, and units within the areas of Diversity, Equity and Belonging, Student Involvement and Leadership, Student Development and External Relations, Student Health and Wellness, University Licensing, Digital Strategies, Human Resources, Assessments, Project Planning and Health and Safety.  

Vennie has been instrumental in expanding student support programs and on-campus mental health services among many other initiatives. Vennie’s efforts have been central to our student success efforts – both in academics, wellbeing, and leadership. 

Vennie is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and received his master’s degree in college student personnel from Indiana University. He received his Executive Management Certification from the Foster School of Business and participated in the Institute for Educational Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Vennie has served as a member of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Student Segmentation Advisory Board and been a member of the board of directors for the Capital Area United Way. He has also received many honors including the Robert F. Banks Award for Institutional Leadership. 

Dr. Ryan C. Holmes is Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the University of Miami (FL). Dr. Holmes’ areas of oversight include student conduct, Greek life, student crisis, alcohol and other drug education, veterans’ services, and the chaplain’s association. He presents and publishes in the areas of social justice, bias (as related to race, gender, and other unchangeable traits), conflict resolution, student conduct, diversity/equity/inclusion, and entitlement. Dr. Holmes has consulted with colleges and universities around the country and internationally and hosted numerous webinars at the national level. He is a past president of the Association for Student Conduct Administration – and was a driving force for the first African American Male Summit – past Vice Chair of Outreach for ACPA’s Commission for Social Justice Educators, past faculty director of NASPA’s New AVP Institute, and mentor in the 5000 Role Models of Excellence. Dr. Holmes completed a Master of Arts in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland-College Park, a second MA in Bilingual/Bicultural Studies from La Salle University and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration at UTEP. He also holds a BME from Loyola University – New Orleans in Music Education.

Dr. Jacqueline Huggins hails from the beautiful Caribbean twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago.  She holds a PhD. Sociology (2016), Master’s Degree Sociology and Bachelor’s Degree Social Work.  She is currently the Manager, Student Life and Development Department, at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Campus with responsibility for providing support to a diverse student body.  

Her passion for Student Services over the last seventeen years is evident in both her professional and voluntary work.  A member of CTLPA since 2011, she served as Membership Coordinator and President of both the local and regional bodies.  She made ACPA her professional home since 2015 and is currently a member of the Governing Board, Entities and Commissions.  Internationally, she volunteers with IASAS Global focusing on bridging the gap of student services among regions.

At work she focuses on championing the cause of students with disabilities and is involved in numerous organisations locally, regionally and internationally.

Dr. Huggins believes in holistic development and enjoys working in her kitchen garden, listening to steelpan and soca music, going to church and taking long drives around the country.  Her pride and joy is her 21 year old son Yohance, a University student in Canada.

Steven Johnson Jr., Ed.D., (he/him/his) is a dedicated scholar and practitioner with over ten years of experience with diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives. He serves as the assistant dean of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in the School of Business at the University of Kansas. In this role, he is responsible for leading diversity-related recruitment and retention, programming, outreach, community engagement, proposal development, fundraising, and evaluation efforts across the School for students, faculty, and staff. Johnson acts as the School’s leader in the strategies, policies, and administration for matters of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

In addition to his campus-related endeavors, Johnson has involved himself in regional and national associations, including his recent engagements with various committees and entity groups with the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). Johnson has taken advantage of opportunities to facilitate targeted social justice educational programs and initiatives. He has also presented at regional and national conferences on issues that affect individuals from marginalized populations. Johnson has experience with strategic plan development, organizational restructuring, and managing workgroups tasked with mission-alignment. He has had many progressive professional experiences and brings a passionate energy to the work he does every day.

Dr. Dana M. Malone (she/her) currently serves the field as an Independent Scholar. In this role, she partners with institutions on a contract basis; teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels; publishes research and scholarship; presents new ways to approach the work; and produces alternate forms of educational content. 

Dana began her work in student affairs as an undergraduate serving on the Student Leadership Council. Since then, her career spans residence life, academic support, program development and implementation, teaching and curricular design, and leading assessment and research initiatives. 

Dr. Malone enjoys critical conversations about the work of higher education especially around student success, strategic assessment planning, the intersection of gender, sexuality, and religious identities, and women and mothers in academe. She presents conference sessions, workshops, and webinars and publishes in About Campus and JCSD. Dana is also the co-creator of The Academic Life podcast on New Books Network, which unpacks academia’s hidden curriculum; and she is the author of From Single to Serious: Relationships, Gender, and Sexuality on American Evangelical Campuses.

Dr. Malone holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Evaluation Studies from University of Kentucky, an M.S. in School Counseling, and a B.A. in Psychology from Lee University. 

Dr. Jonathan A. McElderry is a practitioner, scholar and educator in higher education. He serves as the Dean of Student Inclusive Excellence and Assistant Professor at Elon University (NC). His research has sought to raise awareness of the experiences of historically excluded students at predominantly White institutions and provide strategies to increase their academic and social success. 

He is a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the area of Student Personnel and College Student Development. From a scholarship perspective, he has 14 publications in press or in print, from peer-reviewed journal articles to book chapters; numerous conference presentations; and he recently was awarded a contract for his first book, which focuses on varying ways students experience intersectional-marginalization in higher education. Additionally, he serves on the Governing Board of ACPA – College Student Educators International as the Director of Equity & Inclusion; is a Co-Lead Facilitator for the Leadershape Institute; and serves as an Editorial Board member for the Journal of African American Males in Education. Dr. McElderry also serves on the Board of Advisors for QUAD DEI Consulting Firm which is Black woman-owned and specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion training and education. Finally, he has been recognized with ACPA’s Annuit Coeptis Emerging Professional Award and was named University of Missouri – College of Education’s 2021 Alumni Outstanding Early Career award winner.

Dr. McElderry holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri, an M.Ed. in College Student Personnel from Ohio University, and a B.S. in Administration of Justice from George Mason University.

Darren Eric Pierre, Ph.D., is an educator, speaker, and author. From the blissful city of Mebane, North Carolina, Darren is anchored by two quotes: “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can come as we are and not be questioned.” This quote by Dr. Maya Angelou fortifies Darren’s work, scholarship and purpose as an educator within higher education and beyond.  Darren holds a B.S. from Wingate University, a M.A. in Higher Education, Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland-College Park (UMD), and a Ph.D. in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia. 

Currently, Dr. Pierre serves as a Lecturer in the Clark School of Engineering and Affiliate Faculty in the College of Education at UMD. Darren has published a book, over 25 peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters and edited volumes, keynoted numerous conferences, and consulted with universities and corporations across the U.S.  -With past leadership and involvement in associations/organizations including: AFA, NASPA, ACPA, LeaderShape and ILA. Dr. Pierre’s work has been cited in media outlets including The Huffington Post. Now and beyond, the second quote guiding Darren’s service is the African proverb, “when deeds speak, words are nothing.”

Raymond V. Plaza, Ph.D. (Ray) serves as Senior Director, Office for Diversity and Inclusion at Santa Clara University. As Senior Director, Ray plays a key role in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and works with the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and colleagues within the Inclusive Excellence Division.

ACPA has been Ray’s professional home for 25 years. He has held leadership roles within the Commissions, Coalition & Networks, with significant roles within the Latinx Network and with various Convention Planning teams (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) where he served as the ACPA18 Convention Chair. Currently, a member of the External Advisory Board and as the ACPA representative to the Council on the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), where he serves as the Member-at-Large for Standards. As a member of the CAS Governing Board, he oversees the management of the Standards and the Standards Management Committee.

Ray is a first-generation college student born to Puerto Rican parents. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English and History from the University of Florida, where he also earned a Masters of Arts in Student Personnel and Counseling. He earned his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech.

Stephen John Quaye is a Professor in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Program at The Ohio State University; Editor of The Journal of Higher Education; and Past President of ACPA: College Student Educators International. His research concentrates on engaging students in difficult dialogues about privilege, power, and oppression, and the strategies educators use to facilitate productive dialogues about these topics. His current work focuses on student and scholar activism, as well as the strategies Black educators and students use to heal from racial battle fatigue. 

Stephen values story-sharing and dialogue as vehicles for fostering change in society and prioritizes empathy and healing in his work as an educator. Numerous campuses have invited him to consult on campus climate, diversity, and equity issues, and he has given over 60 keynotes during his career in higher education. His work is published in different venues, including Teachers College Record, the Journal of College Student Development, and The Review of Higher Education. When not working, he enjoys baking, listening to audiobooks, running and walking, a good scary movie, and spending time with his son and partner. 

Molly Schaller is the Associate Dean for the School of Education and Professor of Higher Education Administration at Saint Louis University. She joined the faculty at Saint Louis University after retiring from the University of Dayton after 28 years. Schaller began her career in student affairs working for 10 years in roles including residence life, peer education, new student orientation and parent programs. She earned her Ph.D. from Ohio University and became a faculty member in the then College Student Personnel program at University of Dayton where she served as program director for many of the next 18 years. She has held faculty fellowships in faculty development, mission and identity. Schaller has taught master’s and doctoral courses in  Higher Education Administration programs for over 20 years. 

Schaller has published, presented, and consulted widely on the sophomore/second year college experience including serving as a faculty member at ten multi-day sophomore institutes. Schaller publishes on student affairs in Catholic college and universities, leadership, and the relationship between physical space and learning.

Schaller earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Ohio State University and an M.S. from Miami University in College Student Personnel.

Dr. Jenny L. Small is an adjunct instructor at Salem State University, an editorial consultant with Hillel International, and an independent researcher on critical theories of religion and college student religious, secular, and spiritual identities. She has authored or co-authored 13 peer-reviewed journal articles and published two solo-authored books. In 2015, Dr. Small worked with fellow members of the ACPA Commission for Spirituality, Faith, Religion, and Meaning (CSFRM) to publish the edited volume Making Meaning: Embracing Spirituality, Faith, Religion, and Life Purpose in Student Affairs through ACPA Books & Media. 

Dr. Small has been a member of ACPA since 2000. She helped found the CSFRM in 2008, serving on the first directorate team and later as the chair of the commission. She has served ACPA in a variety of additional capacities, including on the Task Force on the Leadership Pipeline, as a Convention 2019 Sponsored and Co-Sponsored Programs Co-Chair, as a Convention 2021 Presidential Spotlight Scholar, and as the Convention 2022 Curriculum Chair. 

Dr. Small has served as an associate editor of Journal of College & Character since 2014. She holds a PhD from the University of Michigan, an MA from Teachers College, and a BA from Brandeis University. 

J.T. Snipes, Ph.D is Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Prior to his faculty appointment he worked for over 15 years in higher education administration. Currently, his research interest focuses on religion and spirituality in higher education, African American collegiate students, and critical race theory in education. His research can be found in the Journal of College Student Development, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, and the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. His latest edited volume Remixed and Reimagined: Innovations in Religion, Spirituality, and (Inter)Faith in Higher Education invites readers to rethink religious scholarship and practice in higher education and student affairs. 

Rachel Wagner, EdD, is an Associate Professor in Higher Education and Student Affairs in the department of Educational and Organizational Leadership at Clemson University.  Rachel has presented on gender, racism, dialogue, and social justice education at universities around the country. The goal of her research is to understand how post-secondary environments can support human flourishing. Specifically, her scholarship centers critical and emancipatory perspectives of equity and social justice in higher education through two primary areas of inquiry: (1) gender aware and expansive practice in higher education, and (2) social justice approaches to student affairs practice. Along with Dr. Chase Catalano, she edited Advising and Supporting in Student Affairs. She received the Harry Cannon Outstanding Professional Award (2014) and the Outstanding Research Award (2015) from ACPA’s Coalition on Men and Masculinities. In 2020 ACPA named Dr. Wagner an Emerging Scholar. She lives, works, plays, and prays on the ancestral homelands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee and the Cherokee Nation that were seized through US diplomatic and military incursions. 

Jen Wells, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Higher Education in the Department of Educational Leadership at Kennesaw State University. Dr. Wells is a scholar in student development and higher education assessment and former administrator in institutional effectiveness and student affairs. Dr. Wells’ current research interests include the effectiveness and use of the CAS Standards, psychosocial development and belonging, and the role of health and wellness for leaders in education. She served with CAS for fifteen years, including since 2014 as Editor. Dr. Wells was a longtime faculty member for the ACPA Assessment Institute and has presented and published in the field of assessment. Dr. Wells earned her B.A. in German and History from Albion College, M.A. in Student Affairs Administration from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia. Outside of work, Dr. Wells is an avid reader and loves to stay active, especially through CrossFit, hiking, and pickleball. She is also a proud rescue dog mom.

Dr. Nicole Whitner (she/her/hers) serves as the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students at the University of San Diego (USD). The Dean of Students oversees areas such as Residential Life, Student Conduct, Community and Leadership Development, and the Center for Student Success. The AVP & Dean of Students is a key administrative leader for the division of student affairs in collaboration with the Vice President for Student Affairs.

ACPA is Dr. Whitner’s professional home, and her leadership with the association includes previous terms as the Director of Professional Development and later the President of ACPA’s largest state chapter, the California College Personnel Association (CCPA). She is presently serving on the ACPA Governing Board as Assembly Coordinator for State & Regional Chapters. 

Dr. Whitner earned her Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California and a Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership from Capella University. She earned her undergraduate degree in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.