Stephanie (Steph) Foran is theAssistant Director of CARE at Kansas State University. She is a nationally credentialed Victim Advocatethrough the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and has over 8.5years of field experience. She received her BA in Political Science from RiderUniversity in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and her Global MA in InternationalRelations from Webster University. Steph's areas of expertise include digitalinterpersonal violence and media literacy, and she is passionate about framinggender-based violence as a critical human rights issue.

Jennifer Lee began her higher education career in 1998 at the University of Oklahoma and joined Georgia State University in 2001. As Assistant Director in the University Advisement Center, she oversaw advising for the College of the Arts and College of Education and Human Development. Jennifer developed the UAC training manual, led office technology initiatives, and supported policy reviews, transfer equivalencies, and course demand. Currently, as Director of Student Success Engagement for the Transfer and Transition Center at GSU, Jennifer leads a team of advisors and transfer processors, ensuring smooth transitions for incoming students. She continues to manage technology and testing roles. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University and a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. Originally from Fairfax, VA, she enjoys playing tennis, volunteering at the zoo, and serving on her Sorority’s Foundation Board.

Dr. Priscilla Bell serves as the Associate Director for the NISS Incubator at Georgia State University where she oversees the development and execution of research and evaluation projects associated with the NISS. The Incubator team strives to advance the field of data-informed student success across the country through the generation and presentation of relevant, high-quality content. Priscilla worked in several student success roles prior to beginning at the NISS that focused respectively on access, transition, retention, and degree completion with a particular emphasis on supporting first-generation/low-income students. Priscilla earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Florida, her M.Ed in College Student Affairs from Penn State, and her Ph.D. in Schools, Society, and Culture from the University of Florida.

Lisa Schrader has worked for twenty years in higher education contexts, first as a health educator, then as a student affairs director, and most recently as a faculty member in the department of Health and Human Performance at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).While serving as the Director of Health Promotion at MTSU, she was concerned by the growing numbers of distressed students and felt inadequate to meet their needs. This sense of inadequacy launched her search for strategies that could be used by campus administrators, students, and other stakeholders without didactic backgrounds in behavioral health. That search led to her doctoral dissertation on flourishing and positive psychology interventions and their impact on student success and psychological distress. She currently serves as on the executive committee of the Coalition for Healthy and Safe CampusCommunities (CHASCo), a statewide higher education prevention coalition in Tennessee, and she provides technical assistance to colleges and universities that lack a dedicated health promotion or prevention staff person.

Amy Snyder is a 25+ year Student Affairs professional and currently serves as Director of Staff Experience in University Life at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.  Amy’s portfolio includes  UL HR Services, UL Professional Development, UL Central Administration, and divisional initiatives focused on the staff experience, learning and development, and workplace well-being. Amy has also served as Associate Dean of University Life, Director of Special Projects for the VPSA, Assistant Dean/Director of Student Activities,  Director of Orientation and Family Programs and Services, and Interim Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education.  Amy’s leadership work has focused on collaboratively developing more effective student transition and initiation experiences, increasing student engagement and academic success, and creating parent and family engagement and services at George Mason University 20 years ago.

Amy is a first generation college student whose mother was an immigrant educated outside of the U.S system.  Amy understands the challenges students and families face in the transition to college and has made her life’s work to have a positive impact on the student experience in higher education.  Amy Snyder now dedicates her work at Mason to the staff experience and professional development and preparation of graduate students to the field of student affairs and higher education.  She has presented widely on topics including supervision skills and strategies, the multigenerational workforce, creating a professional development cohort program, and the Mason graduate assistant academy.  Through learning and development, personal and professional enrichment and well-being and organizational health, Amy continues to contribute to the success of students and staff after 25 years in the field of student affairs.

Meeghan Milette serves as the Associate Director of Professional Development in University Life at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She provides leadership to divisional professional development initiatives and signature professional development programs coordinated by the Professional Development team. Ms. Milette has a background in professional staff training, building and facilitation of professional learning experiences, collaborative programming, along with supervision and staff management. Milette is committed to enhancing professional staff experiences through her work. Professionally, Milette worked in Housing & Residence Life for over 15 years in various professional roles gaining skills and professional competency in staff management, crisis response, leadership, and training development.

Milette currently serves on the NASPA Mid-Level Administrator Steering Committee and is on the Mid-Level Administrator Conference (MLAC) planning team.

Milette earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a focus in International Relations from the University of Rhode Island. She earned a Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration from Michigan State University. She has presented multiple times nationally and regionally on topics that include Supervision Skills and Strategies, Professional Development Design, the Multigenerational Workforce, Graduate Assistant Experience, Second-Year Experience, Inclusive Housing Practices, Leveraging Technology in Collaborative Work Environments, amongst others.

Dr. Eric Scott serves as Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of New Mexico. Prior to his current role, Dr. Scott held leadership positions at Boise State University and the University of Alaska Southeast. He has spent his career in service to students prioritizing the infusion of equity-minded and research-informed practices to support student success, with emphasis on practices that improve both outcomes and lived experiences for students with historically minoritized identities. Dr. Scott holds a doctorate in education from Oregon State University with research focused on how intersections between race, gender, and rurality with a focus on Alaska Native students, manifest in postsecondary outcomes for students from remote-rural Alaska. Dr. Scott also holds a bachelor of arts and a master of education from the University of South Carolina. As a proud first-generation college graduate and strong believer in the community mission of public postsecondary education, he believes that together we can build a stronger and more just society.

Nasha has been the Dean of Students at the University of New Mexico since 2016, with deep roots in northern New Mexico. As a two-time alum of UNM, she has a personal connection to the programs she now oversees, and credits these very programs for contributing to her success as an undergraduate. After earning her Bachelor’s in Business Administration, she advocated for students with disabilities in Southern California, ensuring full inclusion and access to mental health services, particularly for Spanish-speaking, Native American, and rural communities. Nasha then returned to New Mexico, where she earned her Juris Doctorate from UNM School of Law, specializing in education law and civil rights. With over ten years of legal practice, before becoming the Dean, her expertise covers critical areas like student grievances, academic appeals, due process, freedom of expression, Title IX, and disability rights. In addition to her deep legal knowledge, Nasha is a leader in conflict resolution, mediation, and crisis intervention, skills that make her an invaluable asset to students and staff alike.

Ashleigh Hala, MSW, LICSW is the Associate Dean and Chief Wellness Officer at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA. Within that capacity, Hala has oversight for counseling, health services, health promotion, prevention, peer education, and the CARE team. Previously, Hala was the Director for the Office of Wellbeing at Wake Forest University and the founding director for Wellness & Prevention Services at Babson College, leading Babson’s community health, health promotion, and prevention efforts. Hala previously served as the founding Director of Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Services at Babson College and as the Title IX Coordinator/Associate Director of Residence Life at Wheelock College. Hala is an engaged member of NASPA – Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education and the American College Health Association (ACHA). Recently, Hala served as the Co-Chair for the Wellness and Health Promotion Knowledge Community (NASPA), Faculty for the NASPA Advisors Academy and Advisors Institute, and an Advisory Board Member for NASPAs Culture of Respect initiative.

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Ruben Sança is the Executive Director for Recreation and Wellbeing at UMass Amherst. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from UMass Lowell, with dual concentrations in Finance and Management, along with a minor in Economics and an MBA from UMass Lowell. He previously served as the Founding Director of the Office of Student Life and Wellbeing at UMass Lowell while playing a pivotal role in guiding UMass Lowell to become the first institution in New England to adopt the Okanagan Charter. Sança currently oversees the strategic planning, budgeting, and operations of the campus recreation, wellness programs and facilities, catering to a diverse community of over 30,000 students, faculty, and staff at UMass Amherst. Committed to broader community impact, he currently serves on several leadership teams including the US Health Promoting Campus Network as the MarComm Manager and on the NIRSA Wellbeing Briefing Committee. Additionally, Sança is a member of the World Olympians Association and President of the Cape Verde Olympic Athletes’ Commission.

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Jessica Henault, MS (she/her) serves as NASPA’s program coordinator for the Culture of Respect Collective. Prior to joining NASPA, Jessica served as Kansas State University’s first violence prevention specialist, where she worked to develop and employ a university-wide violence prevention plan. Jessica is passionate about improving college campuses’ safety and well-being, earning her master’s degree in Counseling and Student Development with an emphasis in Administration. She is a current doctoral student in the Applied Family Science program at Kansas State, centering her research on prevention sciences.

Dr. Jessica Oyler is the Vice President for Student Access and Success and works with enrollment and student success areas. She's passionate about ensuring that everyone at Weber has the opportunity to be successful, and three of her kiddos attend or have graduated from Weber. Her bachelor's was in agricultural education, but she eventually got her doctorate in higher education administration, which goes to show the breadth of opportunities you have with your degree!

Heather Chapman is the Senior Director for Data & Analytics at Weber State University (WSU). She can read a spreadsheet, scatterplot, or line chart and loves finding ways to make complicated data problems easy for everyone to understand. She has a passion for creating visualizations that tell a good story to people who are afraid of or uncomfortable with all that data. Her team is responsible for providing operational reports, creating visualizations that explore student success, and predictive modeling at WSU. Heather is also responsible for teaching visualization best practices across her institution and for helping with the integration of new data sources into WSU’s data warehouse. Prior to joining WSU, Heather earned a Ph.D. in Experimental and Applied Psychological Sciences, with an emphasis in statistics from Utah State University. 

Dr. Michael Butcher is the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the College of Coastal Georgia (CCGA), as well as the Founder and President of the Center for Artificial Intelligence. With nearly two decades of experience in higher education, Dr. Butcher is a national leader in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to drive organizational and educational innovation. His expertise lies in integrating advanced technologies to enhance efficiency, communication, engagement, and assessment across various industries.

Dr. Butcher holds a Bachelor’s in Information Technology, a Master’s in Public Administration, a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, and a Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence Business Innovation. This interdisciplinary academic background provides a solid foundation for his deep understanding of AI and its practical applications in higher education.

Nationally recognized for his thought leadership, Dr. Butcher has delivered keynote addresses at EDUCAUSE, the Georgia Council of Human Resources (GCHR), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers (SoACE). He has also presented on AI ethics, accessibility, and its transformative impact on higher education at regional and national conferences, including NASPA. Most recently, he developed CCGA’s inaugural course, “Artificial Intelligence and Business Innovation,” preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Maria Dykema Erb, M.Ed. is the Inaugural Executive Director of the Boston University Newbury Center which was established to foster the holistic development and success of first-generation undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Maria has over three decades of higher education experience having worked at the University of Vermont, Elon University, Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and currently at Boston University. She has worked in a broad range of areas including Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging; student recruitment/admissions, enrollment management, academic advising, retention, and outreach; academic dean’s office and graduate/professional school program administration; and student affairs/life.

As a proud first-generation college graduate, Maria holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire and Master of Education degree from The University of Vermont (UVM). She is past president of the FirstGen Forward – Forward Thinkers group.

Maria has shared her scholarship through numerous presentations and book chapters. She has chapters in: Know That You Are Worthy: Experiences from First-Generation College Graduates; A Handbook for Supporting Today’s Graduate Students; A Practitioner’s Guide to Supporting Graduate and Professional Students; and Fostering First Gen Success and Inclusion: A Guide for Law Schools (in press).

Rashné R. Jehangir, PhD. is a learner, a scholar- practitioner and equal opportunity educator. She holds degrees from Lawrence University and two graduate degrees from the University of Minnesota where she is Professor of Higher Education and the Beck Chair of Ideas in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. She is also the founding Director of the First Gen Institute and was recently named the Inaugural Dean of Education Opportunity Programs at her college. She is the inaugural co-editor of the Journal of First-generation Student Success. 

She spent the first decade of her career in student affairs and has strong roots in the federally funded TRIO SSS and McNair Scholars Programs which provided fertile ground for key questions in her research inquiry. Her research focuses on equity and access with specific attention to structural constraints in the academy that impact the experience of poor and working class, refugee and immigrant students, and students of color many of whom are first in their family to go to college and graduate school. Her focus on access and persistence include attention to belonging, pedagogy, and curriculum that is affirming and humanizing, and provides opportunities for career preparation and avenues to enter graduate school and student affairs.

Her scholarship is featured in several journals including Journal of College Student Development, Innovative Higher Education, Urban Education and the Journal of the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition and the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education Her book Higher Education and First-Generation College Students: Cultivating Community, Voice and Place for the New Majority was published by Palgrave Macmillan.

Jill Desjean is the Director of Policy Analysis at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. In her role, Jill manages the policy analysis team, interprets federal student aid legislation and regulations for NASFAA’s members, works with NASFAA’s members to develop policy recommendations, and provides feedback to policymakers on legislative and regulatory proposals. Prior to joining NASFAA in 2016, Jill enjoyed a 20-year career in financial aid administration, having held roles in the financial aid offices at Tufts University School of Medicine, MIT, Brandeis University, and the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, as well as The New School in New York City. Jill joined NASFAA in 2016 and is based in the Washington, D.C. area. 

Dr. Scott Sheehan currently serves as the director of Advising and Career Communities at the Greene Center for Career Education and Connection at the University of Rochester. He is a proud alumnus of SUNY Plattsburgh, where he received a BA in History and Political Science and an MS in Student Affairs and Higher Education. Scott received his Ed.D. from the University of Rochester in Higher Education Administration. His professional interests include student well-being, the intersection of public policy and student success, and career and workforce development.  

Scott is passionate about higher education public policy and educating others about the implications of federal and state policy development and implementation.  He is the current Director of the Public Policy Division (PPD) at NASPA and is the youngest member of the NASPA Board of Directors in the history of the organization.  Through the PPD Scott has helped create and facilitate educational opportunities for NASPA members.  These educational opportunities include panel discussions among leading thought experts in campus free speech and expression, consideration of race in the admissions process, and Title IX regulations.  During the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference, Scott led the team that created the first Public Policy Division Case Study Competition.           

Darryl Holloman, Ph.D., has served Spelman College as the vice president for student affairs since 2018. Dr. Holloman supports a student life agenda that promotes every Spelman student's growth, development, and academic success. He oversees program development, financial management and personnel administration for all student development functions, including the Office of the Dean of Students, Housing and Residence Life, Counseling Services and Student Access Center, Student Health Services and Campus Wellness, Student Life and Engagement and Student Judicial processes.

Having worked in higher education for over 27 years, Dr. Holloman has an expansive portfolio that includes experiences in student affairs practice, higher education governance, and faculty life. Dr. Holloman has served on the Rutgers University-Newark, University of Arkansas-Little Rock, Columbus State University, Georgia State University and Spelman College faculty.  He has presented at various regional, national, and international conferences.

An Atlanta native, Dr. Holloman earned three degrees from Georgia State: a doctorate in educational policy studies, a master's degree in human resource development, and a bachelor's degree in English, with a concentration in creative writing.

Dr. Holloman has several articles and book chapters to his credit.  His research examines how an individual's cultural identities and distinctions shape educational settings. He is the coeditor of the book From Boyhood to Manhood: Deconstructing Black Masculinity through a Life Span Continuum through Peter Lang Press. He is working on an autobiography of the noted scholar and activist C. Eric Lincoln, entitled In Search of Camelot: The Life and Scholarship of C.[Charles] Eric Lincoln, 1924-2000 through Mercer University Press.

In 2023,  Dr. Hollowman was named a 2023 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Pillar of the Profession. "I am deeply and humbly honored to be chosen as a 2023 NASPA Pillar of the Profession. The culmination of my nearly 30 years of work in higher education, which includes my amazing journey at Spelman College, has contributed to this esteemed recognition," said Dr. Holloman. "As I always tell my team, Good Works Stand, so let that motto be your guide!"

Dr. Jhenai Chandler serves as the Vice President of Research and Policy for Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), where she leads efforts to advance student success and equity through research-driven policies. Previously, Dr. Chandler was Senior Director of College Completion Policy at The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), where she oversaw the organization’s advocacy and policy strategy aimed at improving college completion rates. Her work focused on enhancing institutional capacity to support student success, collaborating with state and federal policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to promote policies that advance equity in higher education.

Before joining TICAS, Dr. Chandler was a leader of Postsecondary Transitions at Education Strategy Group, where she worked with state and regional policymakers to improve advising practices, early postsecondary opportunities, and mathematics pathways. She also led business development in college and career advising, ensuring that advising systems addressed the holistic needs of all students. As the inaugural Director of the Florida-Caribbean Louis Stokes Regional Center of Excellence, Dr. Chandler conducted research to assess the impact of growth mindset interventions on STEM student success.

Dr. Chandler began her career in advising at Tallahassee Community College, later holding leadership roles within both the Florida College System and the State University System. As a first-generation college graduate and former parenting student, she is deeply committed to improving access to higher education and creating support systems that promote the success of diverse student populations.

Dr. Chandler holds an Associate of Arts degree from Florida A&M University, a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition Sciences, a Master of Science in Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Policy from Florida State University.

Ronjonette O'Bannon, Ph.D., LCSW, is currently the Dean of Strategic Initiatives at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. Previously, she served as the Director of Counseling at Spelman College and Assistant Professor at the University of North Alabama MSW program, overseeing the development of clinical course benchmarks focused on culturally informed trauma interventions and anti-oppressive approaches for review and approval by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation (COA).

Dr. O'Bannon is dedicated to supporting the well-being of ethnically and culturally diverse communities, particularly black women. Her work involves research, programmatic initiatives, and innovative strategies for informing physical and mental health interventions and policies. She holds a Ph.D. in social work from Smith College, an MSW from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and a BSW from Buffalo State College. She also received a postgraduate certificate in Trauma-Informed Organizations from SUNY Buffalo. Dr. O'Bannon operates a private practice offering online psychotherapy to women who have experienced workplace trauma, interpersonal trauma, and related symptoms of depression, anxiety, and imposter syndrome. Dr. O'Bannon is also a reviewer for the Journal of Social Science Research. Her professional experience and research interests include destigmatizing mental health care and help-seeking for women of color, as well as the interplay between childhood maltreatment and adult revictimization, and well-being in higher education, with emphasis on students and staff members at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Dr. Adena Williams Loston possesses more than 40 years of professional leadership experience including spearheading a national agenda for education, engaging communities in addressing economic development issues, and providing organizational and institutional leadership towards workforce readiness and academic preparation. Dr. Loston serves as the 14th President of St. Philip's College, our nation’s dually-designated Historically Black College and Hispanic Serving Institution. She serves as the Chief Executive Officer responsible for providing overall strategic leadership and management oversight, developing collaborative partnerships, implementing a performance budgeting model, implementing district priorities, and establishing and maintaining institutional effectiveness measures with an operating budget of over $80 Million, plus $100 Million in grant and DOE funds; over 17,000 students, 4 Early College High Schools, 12 P-Tech High Schools, a Veterans Outreach and Transition Center, 3 military installations, and over 800 full and part-time employees. St. Philip’s College was named among the Best Community Colleges in Texas in 2023, named among the Most Promising Place to Work in 2021, 2022 and 2024; and named #4 on the Top Best HBCUs in Texas in 2022.

Dr. Loston has provided leadership service in the academy and in the federal government. Previously, she served as the Chief Education Officer for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at its Headquarters in Washington, DC, and as Director of Education and Special Assistant for Suborbital and Special Orbital Projects Directorate for the Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility. Academically she has served as President of San Jacinto College South; Executive Dean of Valle Verde Campus and Transmountain Campus in the El Paso County Community College District; Dean of Professional Programs and Dean of Vocational Education, Budgets and Facilities at Santa Monica College in California; Associate Professor at Georgia State University; and instructor and supervisor at Houston Community College. She has also taught as an adjunct instructor at Texas Southern University and University of Houston-Downtown.

Dr. Loston received her bachelor’s degree from Alcorn State University 1973 and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Bowling Green State University 1974 and 1979. She attended the Leadership Journey at Wharton Business School 2005 and received certificates from the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard in 1996 and the Oxford Round Table at Oxford University in 2001. She received an honorary Doctorate of Science Degree from Wiley University in 2005.

In 2023, Dr. Loston was appointed to the White House Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans. She is a three-time appointee by U.S. Secretaries of Education to the HBCU Capital Finance Advisory Committee under the Bush and Obama administrations, a member of the National Strada HBCU Advisory Council, an Advisory Trustee for the Southwest Research Institute, and a member of the Presidents’ Round Table,  Quality Texas Foundation Board of Directors, KLRN Endowment Fund Board of Trustees, and the Alamo Collegiate Network Board. Dr. Loston is a Life Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Some of her awards and recognitions include being a member of the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame, the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, and being named One of The Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders of 2021. In 2024 she received the Pinnacle Award for Leadership Excellence, the Legend Award, The Trailblazer Award, and The Executive Leadership Award.  

She is the mother of one son, Gilbert Williams Loston, III and grandmother to Valentina Adena Loston!

Dr. Steve D. Mobley, Jr.’s scholarship focuses on the contemporary placement of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Particularly, his research underscores the understudied facets of HBCU communities including issues surrounding race, social class, and student sexuality. He earned his B.A. in Communication & Culture from Howard University. Upon graduating from Howard, he completed his Master’s in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania and earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Maryland.

Claudia Trevor-Wright, JD, MA, MCHES, is an attorney and health promotion professional focused on advancing health equity in higher education. Claudia is currently leading a project funded by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research Connect for Success Initiative and consulting for the American College Health Association (ACHA). Prior to these roles, Claudia led the Campus COVID-19 Vaccination and Mitigation Initiative at ACHA, and served as Director of Student Wellness at Wellesley College.

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As the Executive Director of the Marilyn Kent Byrne Student Success Center for the College of Education & Human Development at Texas A&M University, Kelley leads all retention and persistence efforts for the close to 5,000 undergraduate students enrolled in CEHD. This includes leading the programming for students on academic probation, first-generation student programming, and programming to support the leadership development of students within the college. With experience working with first-gen students and minoritized populations at a two-time ASPEN Award finalist HSI community college, a small private HSI institution, and now at a large Tier I Research Institution he has been involved in creating and implementing multiple programs to support students holistically. Kelley is a current doctoral student, the past Chair of the Advocacy Group for FirstGen Forward (NASPA - Center For First-Generation Student Success), the Co-creator of the Black First-gen Collective, and the Co-Chair for Professional Development for the NASPA Knowledge Community Student Affairs Partnering with Academic Affairs. 

Dr. Joseph Sanchez was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M-San Antonio, followed by a Master’s degree in Adult Education from Texas A&M-College Station, and an Ed.D. in Developmental Education Administration from Sam Houston State University. A third-generation educator, Dr. Sanchez has dedicated the past 14 years to higher education, contributing to enrollment management, recruitment, advising, and student success. Currently, he serves as the Program Manager for the Byrne Student Success Center, overseeing learning communities and academic coaching initiatives within the College of Education & Human Development. Dr. Sanchez is also a proud father of three daughters: Cecilia, Juliana, and Liliana.

Victor Alfonso Castillo joined CEHD as the Assistant Director for the Byrne Student Success Center in September 2024. Born and raised in Bryan/College Station, TX, Victor earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Texas A&M University (TAMU). After completing his undergraduate degree, he spent about ten years advising and managing programs for first-generation and low-income students in multiple roles at TAMU. During this time, he also earned a Master of Science in Educational Administration in Higher Education from TAMU. Victor is passionate about working with first-generation and low-income students because he identifies with their experiences. He draws on his own background to guide his students, helping them navigate their educational journey in ways he himself had to. My primary role is to support and promote student success both inside and outside of the classroom.

Therese Wales earned her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communication and Journalism from Texas A&M University in 2022. As an undergraduate student, she worked in Development as an Administrative Intern and Program Aide. She has planned and coordinated many large events for the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M. She now acts as the Administrative Coordinator and Student Success Advocate for the Byrne Student Success Center.

Destiny Andrews transferred from a community college, Temple College before earning a BS degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University. She received her Master’s in Adult and Higher Education from University of Houston-Victoria. She has worked in higher education for approximately 7 years with professional experience in scholarships and financial aid, recruitment & onboarding, advising & academic coaching, and worked as a Development Coordinator in the Foundation at the College of the Mainland. Her journey has now brought her back to Texas A&M University as she is currently working towards her PhD in Higher Education Administration and holds a graduate assistantship in the Byrne Student Success Center. “I have served in many different roles carrying one common goal, being of service to students."

Joycelyn Anderson, LPC-S, NCC, serves as the Embedded Professional Counselor IV in the Byrne Student Success Center. Joycelyn approaches therapeutic individual and group counseling from a multifaceted viewpoint, being both gentle and passionate when working with emerging adults at Texas A&M University. Her clinical interests include interpersonal awareness, holistic personal growth/identity development, self-worth/self-esteem, and performance issues. Understanding the competitive nature of credentialing examinations and the pressure applicants face, Joycelyn employs a behavioral blend of solution-focused brief, cognitive behavioral therapeutic approaches. She is dedicated to creating a positive, safe environment for all Aggies.

Her research focuses on examining active help-seeking behavior in first-generation college students, the experiences and outcomes of first-generation students, networking institutional resources for strengthened mental health support of college students, and organizational leadership within embedded mental health university counseling settings.

A proud first-generation college graduate, Joycelyn is pursuing a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership at South College and has earned an M.A. in Professional Counseling, an M.A. in  School Counseling from Amberton University, and a B.M.E. from Alcorn State University. She has completed clinical training in Counselor Supervision and has served as a doctoral internship administrative group supervisor.

Goody Howard, MSW, MPH is your favorite sex educator's favorite sex educator. She shifts the culture forward by expanding society's understanding of sexuality & health, while connecting people to pleasure with confidence! Goody has been a Sex Ed Superhero for over 17 years and has committed her life's work to normalizing sexuality as a social determinant of health. When she's not teaching RIDEology, or another one of her sexual skill building classes, Goody takes an intentional approach to sex, gender, orientation, and equity in collegiate and corporate spaces. She brings relatable and necessary content focused on everything from HIV prevention and healthy relationships to sensuality and pleasure. Get to know Goody Howard by connecting on social media (@askgoody everywhere "Likes" can be clicked) or joining the FREE Goody Gang email list at askgoody.com.

Peter Lake is a professor of law, Charles A. Dana Chair, and the Director of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy at Stetson University College of Law. He has spent 30 years in the classroom teaching law students and served as Stetson’s interim director of Title IX compliance in 2015. He is an internationally-recognized expert on higher education law and policy. He has been quoted or referred to in hundreds of newspapers and court opinions throughout the United States, including the Supreme Courts of California and Massachusetts in 2018. Professor Lake, an award-winning academic, has authored numerous law review articles, books, and other publications. Professor Lake is a highly sought-after speaker, and he has served as a presenter or keynote speaker at several hundred international, national, regional, and local meetings. He has trained thousands of campus personnel on student safety and other issues, including student mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, Title IX and sex discrimination, and First Amendment issues. Professor Lake is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and serves as a Senior Higher Education Consulting Attorney at the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC.

Elizabeth J. Allan, Ph.D., is Professor and Program Coordinator of Higher Education at the University of Maine and Director of StopHazing. Dr. Allan was the Principal Investigator for the National Study of Student Hazing (2008) and is currently directing the national Hazing Prevention Consortium (2012 – present) – a collaborative research-to-practice initiative of universities working to shift campus culture and build an evidence base for hazing prevention. An experienced researcher, Allan’s scholarship focuses on campus cultures and climates, including studies about campus diversity, equity, student engagement, and hazing in the context of higher education. She has authored three books and more than 30 research-based articles. Her award-winning scholarship has been featured in premiere journals including the Harvard Educational Review, The Journal of Higher Education, The Review of Higher Education, Innovative Higher Education,The International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, Qualitative Studies in Education, and the Journal of Interpersonal Violence

Megan DeShon-Runge is the Hazing Database and Outreach Coordinator for StopHazing. In this role, Megan supports the development and sustainability of HazingInfo.org, a database dedicated to creating transparency about hazing incidents. She also develops resources and training and leads communications and outreach efforts regarding the database. Megan graduated from the University of Missouri with a B.A. in Psychology in 2009 and has since been working in Higher Education. Over the course of her career, Megan has held roles in Residential Life, Athletics, Student Engagement, and Fraternity & Sorority Life giving her vast experiences that influence the multi-faceted lens through which she views hazing prevention. 

Devin Franklin, M.Ed. is the Doctoral Research Fellow for StopHazing and a Ph.D. student at the University of Maine. She engages in hazing prevention research, aids in resource development, and facilitates leadership development trainings. Devin earned her B.S. in Finance from the University of Alabama in 2021 and her M.Ed. in Student Development in Higher Education from the University of Maine in 2023. She served as a Research-to-Practice intern for StopHazing prior to transitioning to her current role. Devin continues to advocate for evidence-based hazing prevention, ethical leadership development, and the creation of more inclusive campus communities

Meredith Stewart, M.Ed., is the Operations Manager for StopHazing. In this role, she works to support StopHazing’s mission by cultivating partnerships with professional organizations, scholars, practitioners, policy advocates, and others committed to violence prevention. She oversees and manages StopHazing’s operations including programs and trainings, the expansion of StopHazing’s data-driven resources and trainings for hazing prevention; policy-related initiatives, and other activities of the Hazing Prevention Consortium (HPC), a signature research-to-practice project led by StopHazing. Meredith completed her B.S. degree in Secondary Education from the University of Maine, and later also completed her M.Ed. in Student Development in Higher Education from the University of Maine. During her graduate studies, she interned for StopHazing as a Research Assistant and upon graduation transitioned to a full-time role.

Dr. Kari Finley is a Research Scholar and the Director of the Center for Health and Safety Culture. Dr. Finley holds a Ph.D. in Human Services from Walden University and a master’s degree in Social Work (M.S.W.) from Colorado State University. At the Center, Dr. Finley’s key roles include research, scientific writing, and tool development, and she is a principal investigator for multiple projects.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Dr. Finley’s previous clinical experience in the mental health and addiction fields brings expertise in behavior change to research projects that seek to make a difference at the national, state, and community level on issues including substance misuse, child maltreatment, and traffic safety. She is a contributing author in the book: Traffic Safety Culture: Theory, Foundation, and Application, and is a published author in multiple academic journals. Dr. Finley has been a keynote speaker and has presented at national and international conferences.

Dr. Jess Kirby is an assistant professor of Health Promotion and Sport Psychology at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS), and Director of the Center for Critical Sport Studies. She completed her PhD in Sport and Exercise Science with an emphasis in Social Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity from the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Kirby is the program director of the Mountain Lion Strong program on campus, aimed at supporting the well-being, resilience, and mental health of all UCCS student-athletes through comprehensive peer wellness education and a community of support. Dr. Kirby's research focuses on exploring the sport and physical activity experiences of diverse individuals across the lifespan, as well as the impact of social connection and quality peer relationships on the psychological well-being of young adults. She is a certified QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper trainer and a GRIT Resilience Coach. She has 15 years of experiences in teaching, research, leadership, and program development supporting mental health and wellness in college students. Dr. Kirby specializes in professional speaking and consulting to educate athletes, coaches, leaders, and parents on how to enhance the mental wellness and resilience of student athletes to improve enjoyment, longevity, and achievement potential, while also reducing the mental health crises experienced by young people. 

Dana Carnes Pursley (she/her/hers) is a leadership educator committed to developing students who will create change by leading their organizations, communities, and the future. In her 15+ year career, Dana has experience in residence life, leadership development, campus organizations, student government, fraternity and sorority life, civic engagement and service, union management, large-scale programming, and campus traditions. Currently, Dana serves as the Director of the Alford Community Leadership and Involvement Center at Denison University. Prior to Denison, Dana served as the Associate Director of the Center for Leadership at Elon University. Dana's professional interests include organizational development, voter education/registration, hazing prevention, first-gen student support, LGBTQIA+ student support, and assessment. Dana's professional involvement includes ACPA, NACA, NASPA, and NCLP.

McKenzie Sorrells-Western is the Director of Wellness Services at Boise State University, where she leads the development and management of integrated wellness programs for the campus community. She holds a Master’s in Health Education from the University of Utah and is currently pursuing an MBA from Boise State University. As a Certified Health Education Specialist, Exercise Physiologist, and National Board Health and Wellness Coach, McKenzie brings a wealth of expertise in aligning university strategies, resources, and initiatives to enhance student health and well-being at a population level. She is adept at creating effective systems and roles that ensure wellness initiatives are impactful and sustainable. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, golfing, and paddleboarding.

Hannah Monbleau, M.Ed. is the Assistant Director of Student Life & Well-being at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. In this role, Hannah uses her knowledge as an RYT-200 Certified Yoga Instructor and Barre Above Instructor, as well as her experience in Student Affairs to support students in improving their holistic well-being. Hannah obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Endicott College in 2019 and her Master’s of Education in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2021. She formerly served the students of UMass Lowell as a Graduate Fellow in Student Conduct, where she learned first-hand the struggles students have related to their well-being.