Jenny is a leader in academic advising and coaching. She was recently featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education as a ‘revolutionary’ in higher ed. See an infographic detailing her work. Prior to her appointment at the University of South Carolina in August 2007, Jenny served as the associate dean for student affairs and the Medical Scholars Program at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. she was elected to serve as the 2007-08 president of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). She has co-authored three books: Appreciative College Instruction, The Appreciative Advising Revolution, and Career Aspirations & Expeditions: Advancing Your Career in Higher Education Administration.
In her current role, Claire Robinson oversees several academic support programs including academic coaching, academic recovery initiatives, outreach and early intervention, marketing and communications, cross campus advising, transfer student support, tutoring, and supplemental instruction. As a member of the university’s Planning, Assessment, and Innovation Council, Claire works with various units across the Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support to assist in their strategic planning. Claire trains and coordinates the Student Success Center’s assessment efforts along with the unit’s planning and performance blueprint. Externally, Claire has had an opportunity to serve as the lead quality enhancement plan (QEP) evaluator for three institutions and has co-facilitated several workshops on strategic planning at SACS-COC. Claire’s research interests surround academic coaching and advising in higher education. Serving as the Director of the Academic Coaching program since 2007, Claire uses the Appreciative Advising framework to train coaches and advisors offering individualized student support on campus. She has consulted at several institutions on academic success coaching, succeeded in getting the academic coaching program CRLA level-three certified, and awarded program winner of a bronze NASPA Excellence Award in academic support. Claire has written several articles on academic coaching and appreciative advising, co-authored the book Appreciative College […]
Matt Kuder is the community director and second-year experience coordinator in the Alcala Vista Apartments at the University of San Diego. Originally from Winter Haven, Fla., Matt received his master’s degree in counseling (focusing on college student development) from the University of San Diego and his bachelor’s degree in international studies with a minor in Asian studies from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Matt is in his seventh year working in residential life, and prior to becoming the second-year experience coordinator, he was the first-year experience coordinator for two years, helping to support first-year orientation, the preceptor faculty program, and the FRESH@USD sessions. For the past three years, Matt has been the second-year experience coordinator and helped pilot a number of programs including the Vista’s House Cup, geared toward the 670 second-year students living in his area. This past year, he also participated in USD’s inaugural SYE Abroad program, traveling as an integrated learning coordinator to Florence, Italy.
Keith oversees transition programming and services post- orientation for first-year, second-year, and transfer students. Previously, he served as the graduate assistant for student transitions and parent and family programs in the office of the vice president for student affairs, and the Coordinator for First and Second Year Programs. Keith is also an instructor in the President’s Leadership Program (PLP), Key Academic Learning Community, and for the Greeks Against Sexual Assault Seminar Course. He is also the chapter advisory board chairman for the local chapter of his fraternity.
John Lynch is an area director in the Office of Residence Life & Housing at Emory University. In this role, John supervises the Second Year at Emory (SYE) program and coordinates the assessment activities for the department. John has given a number of national and regional conference presentations on assessment; second-year students; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues in higher education. In the fall of 2011, John will begin his doctoral work in management at the University of Georgia. John received his Master of Arts in counseling and personnel services at the University of Maryland, College Park, and his Bachelor of Science in psychology at the University of Georgia.
Elise has spent her career in higher education at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Her tenure started with the annual fund, The Penn Fund, where she saw the opportunity to develop “Penn Traditions: Building Our Community,” a comprehensive student philanthropy and engagement program. Elise’s work in this area changed the culture at Penn and has had a significant impact on alumni giving, engagement, service, and leadership. Elise now serves as Senior Executive Director in the central Alumni Relations Office and manages a collection of the institution’s alumni relations efforts, including communications, lifelong learning, student and young alumni programs, first–generation alumni programs, and programs centering cultural, ethnic, gender, sexual, and multiple identities. Elise leads three intentional leadership pipelines for Penn focusing on women, alumni of color, and LGBTQ+ alumni so that all leadership structures have diverse voices at the table. Elise’s commitment to anti-racism and oppression and justice is a guiding light in all areas of her work and life. Elise presents at advancement conferences across the country and has consulted with numerous institutions on the growing and integral field of alumni relations.
A fundraising executive and consultant, Rick comes to the topic of evaluating alumni relations professionals with a broad background in advancement. Serving as a senior development professional for over 20 years, his expertise in designing metrics to evaluate advancement staff has led him to advise on the subject both domestically and abroad. Prior to his current role, Rick served on the development staff at the University of Evansville and as director of major gifts as well as managing director of capital campaigns for Michigan’s Interlochen Center for the Arts.
An educator and researcher with interests in blended learning, faculty development, and K-12 schooling, Dr. Norm Vaughan is a professor in the Department of Education, Faculty of Teaching and Learning at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. He is the co-author of the books Teaching in Blended Learning Environments: Creating and Sustaining Communities of Inquiry (2013) and Blended Learning in Higher Education (2008). He has also published a series of articles on blended learning and faculty development.
Chad has been working in alumni relations at Lehigh since 2007, with a focus on student and young alumni development. Currently, Chad, along with Lehigh’s Student and Young Alumni Team, is responsible for the annual giving and programmatic efforts of Lehigh’s undergraduate students and ten youngest classes, focusing on participation, scholarship dollars, volunteer engagement, and recognition. Goals include increasing donor participation, retention, education, and stewardship among students and young alumni, with the ultimate end of creating a feeling that giving back to your alma mater is fun, easy, appreciated, and rewarding.
Steve leads a company devoted to building user-friendly and intuitive software for higher education institutions’ alumni relations, fundraising, and athletics programs. CounterMarch has designed web and mobile applications for Lehigh, Cornell, and CASE (among many others) for advancement and engagement purposes. Steve is also a past president of the Lehigh University Young Alumni Council and current member of the Lehigh University Alumni Board of Directors. He can be followed on Twitter (@scrittler) if you don’t mind a hefty dose of Phillies commentary.
