Board and Commission Candidate Profiles

NACEP Board of Director Candidates

Two-Year Public Institutional Representative

(Eligibility: The candidate for Two-Year Institutional Representative must come from a NACEP–accredited program)

Eugenia Hooker

Organization: Spartanburg Community College, SC

Job Title: Director, Dual Enrollment

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Spartanburg Community College (2-year public community college) - 2009 to present Director, Dual Enrollment and Program Director, Gateway to College

Provide leadership for dual enrollment/early college programs in a three-county community college service region.

Woodruff Community Center - 2006-2008

Executive Director: Provided leadership in support of the organization’s mission and programs, including after-school and summer programs for primary, elementary, and middle school youth.

Spartanburg Methodist College (2-year private college) - 1985-1989; 1996-2006 Sociology Instructor; Freshman Year Experience Coordinator; Director of Continuing

Education and Public Service; Executive Director for Academic Services: Taught sociology and advised students; coordinated freshman year experience program; event coordinator for public service events and programs; coordinated student advisement program.

Spartanburg County Department of Social Services; Department of Health and Environmental Control - 1989-1996

Recruited, trained, and licensed foster parents; created and implemented a community outreach and public information campaign.

Assessed children and families in need of services in child and maternal health area; identified and coordinated resource linkages throughout Spartanburg, Union, and Cherokee counties.

Brief description of nominee's work in concurrent enrollment and with NACEP:

I have served as dual enrollment program director at Spartanburg Community College in upstate South Carolina for 13 years, initially as the director of Gateway to College and

currently as Director, Dual Enrollment. Our program includes dual and concurrent enrollment and early college high school models. Over the past several years, I have served as a volunteer in various capacities with NACEP: annual conference proposal reviewer, annual conference planning committee member, and Engagement Commission member. Our concurrent enrollment program was approved for accreditation in April 2022. I will be serving as a peer reviewer during the upcoming accreditation cycle. I am an active member of our South Carolina Technical College System Dual Enrollment Peer Group.

Brief statement describing the nominee's interest in the position:

I have been a big fan of and advocate for NACEP's work since 2014 when I attended my first annual conference and have always been amazed at the quality work produced by such a small staff. The range of professional development opportunities available through NACEP for me and my team over the past eight years has been tremendous. I have enjoyed serving in various volunteer roles over the past several years and believe it is important to support this organization through volunteerism. I have a strong belief in the core mission of the two-year college and of NACEP and would love to have the opportunity to serve with others as a representative voice for both.

Presentations on concurrent enrollment given at NACEP or other conferences/workshops:

None

Any special background associated with the nominee’s responsibilities, other volunteer service, or awards and recognition:

Staff of the Year Award - 2019 - Spartanburg Community College

Thomas Gilmore

Organization: Iowa Western Community College

Job Title: Dean of High School Partnerships

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Thomas Gilmore has amassed a ten-year career in higher education working in both public two-year and private four-year institutions. Working primarily in admissions and partnership

relations, Tom has demonstrated an ability to connect with faculty and staff around the country building relationships and working towards meeting collective student outcomes. At Bellevue University, Tom led teams of relationship managers at partnering community colleges, strategically placed around the country, with his main focus being on New York state, and Central Michigan along with Nebraska and parts of the Southwest. In doing so, Tom developed a knack for understanding the different accreditation needs of various institutions utilizing regional accreditors. Tom Left Bellevue In the fall of 2019 to work as Dean of Enrollment Services at Iowa Western Community College, overseeing all of recruiting, admissions and registrar operations. One year ago he was asked by President, Dr. Dan Kinney to lead the High School Partnerships team with the focus being on building better relationships with the area high school districts and ensuring the institutions re-accreditation through NACEP. Tom holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Nebraska – Omaha, An M.S. in Leadership and Executive Coaching from Bellevue University and has completed All but Dissertation (ABD) towards his Ed.D in Higher Education Leadership at Baker University.

Brief description of nominee's work in concurrent enrollment and with NACEP: Thomas has worked with concurrent enrollment as the Dean of High School Partnerships at IWCC for over one year, and has been with our institution for 3 years.

Brief statement describing the nominee's interest in the position:

Thomas is excited about furthering IWCC’s partnership with NACEP to deliver high-quality concurrent enrollment opportunities to the students of Southwest Iowa through application of NACEP standards, and would enjoy the opportunity to serve with NACEP moving forward in the new academic year.

Presentations on concurrent enrollment given at NACEP or other conferences/workshops:

Thomas will present at the 2022 National Conference in Minneapolis. He is joining co-workers and high school partners in "Pathways, Partnerships & Progress: Strategically Aligning School Districts with Community Colleges to Enable More Completers."

Any special background associated with the nominee’s responsibilities, other volunteer service, or awards and recognition:

Through Tom’s leadership, and great efforts by the High School Partnerships team, IWCC was able to secure NACEP accreditation through the 2029/2030 academic year, and expand programing, opening up two new regional centers for the start of 2022/2023.

Dr. Rebecca Rahschulte

Organization: Ivy Tech Community College, IN

Job Title: Vice-President of K-14 Statewide Initiatives

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Rebecca Rahschulte is the Vice President of K-14 and Statewide Initiatives at Ivy Tech Community College. Dr. Rahschulte has served in various leadership roles within higher education over the past 18 years to include Psychology Professor; Program Chair; Dean of Arts, Sciences, & Education; Campus Director of Operations; and Interim Campus Chancellor. In service to K-12 students throughout the state of Indiana, in her current role, Dr. Rahschulte creates and leads strategy toward the development of synergistic partnerships that lead to improved post-secondary readiness outcomes and robust college in high school programming. This includes efforts to lead the College toward NACEP Accreditation, overseeing the self- study and all change initiatives needed for our 18-campus institution to come into compliance with NACEP standards. Through partnership with over 450 Indiana high schools and career & technical education centers, Dr. Rahschulte and her statewide team (over 100 K-14 staff members and over 385 faculty liaisons) cultivate intentional dual credit programming focused on pathways to completion. Together, Ivy Tech serves over 69,000 high school students annually within both general education programming and career/technical education coursework. Dr. Rahschulte serves as a commission member on the American Association of Community College’s (AACC) Commission for College Readiness and at a state level on the Advisory Board for the Indiana Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship.

Brief description of nominee's work in concurrent enrollment and with NACEP: With over 18 years in higher education, I have had the honor of serving as a dual enrollment faculty member (psychology), a faculty liaison providing direct service/support to dual credit instructors, a developer of statewide curriculum and pathways, a grant writer and grant project director for K-14 initiatives (grants written and received have totaled over $7.6M over three years - all grants resulted in funding to support college in high school programming).

Brief statement describing the nominee's interest in the position:

Through the process of leading Ivy Tech Community College toward NACEP accreditation, I’ve grown quite fond of the organization – the mission, the drive to promote high quality concurrent enrollment programming throughout the country, and the policy efforts to advance our work at a state and federal level. As a champion for concurrent enrollment programming within the state of Indiana, I feel well positioned to represent community colleges throughout the country while also assisting 2-year institutions to build the foundations needed to create sustainable programming, build pathways to completion, matriculation, and career readiness for high school graduates, as well as create a culture rooted in standards of equity in access and academic excellence. NACEP is the gold standard – I hope to join the board to advocate on behalf of the organization and the needs of 2-year institutions throughout the country.

Presentations on concurrent enrollment given at NACEP or other conferences/workshops:

Rahschulte, R.L. (2022). Crossing the Finish Line: Leading High School Students to Meaningful Post-Secondary Completions. Session presented on the Keep Indiana Learning Network.
Turner, L., Schneider, M., & Rahschulte, R. L. (2022). Addressing Indiana's K-12 Teacher Pipeline & Dual Credit Faculty Credentialing. Session presented at the Higher Learning Commission 2022 Annual Conference.
Callahan, J., Rahschulte, R. L., Bearce, J., & Suffren, Q. (2022). Indiana GPS: Transforming the PreK-Career Continuum. Panel presented at the ASU+GSV Annual Summit.
Harrison-Hudson, D., Rahschulte, R.L., & Bothun, S. (2021). Creating a Connected Ecosystem Through Youth Apprenticeship. Panel presentation at the InnoPower Minority Business Conference.
McGrew, P.J., Harl, A.J., & Rahschulte, R.L. (2021). Rethinking & Revitalizing Indiana Career & Technical Education. Session presented at the Association for Career & Technical Education CareerTech Vision 2021 Conference.
Rahschulte, R.L. & Allen, B. (2021). Integrating Youth Apprenticeship into Traditional College Pathways. Session presented at the New America Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) Network Meeting.
Rahschulte, R.L. (2021). Teacher Sharing Models & Remediation Platform. Session presented at the CELL Network Meeting.
Rahschulte, R.L. & Shipp, C. (2020). Bridging the Gap Between K-12 and Post-Secondary Academic Planning. Session presented at the annual Indiana School Counselors Association Conference.
Rahschulte, R.L. & Birt, P. (2019). Indiana’s Graduation Pathways: Roadmap to a Seamless K-14 System. Session presented at the Indiana Commission for Higher Education Students Success Summit.

Any special background associated with the nominee’s responsibilities, other volunteer service, or awards and recognition:

American Association of Community College - Commissioner on the Commission for College Readiness
Indiana Department of Education Grant Award - Governor's Emergency Education Relief Grant
Indiana Department of Education Grant Award - Explore, Engage, and Experience (3E) Grant: Establishing Meaningful PK-12 Pathways and Opportunities for All
Indiana Department of Education & Indiana Commission for Higher Education Grant Award - Crossing the Finish Line 1.0
Indiana Department of Education & Indiana Commission for Higher Education Grant Award - Crossing the Finish Line 2.0

Four-Year Public Institutional Representative

(Eligibility: The candidate for Four-Year Public Institutional Representative must come from a NACEP–accredited program)

Dr. Mike Giazzoni

Organization: University of Pittsburgh, PA

Job Title: Director, College in High School

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

I have been honored to support student success in my 25+ years working at colleges and universities. After obtaining my BS in Physics from Penn State University and trying (and not liking) graduate school in the sciences, I decided to explore my interest in the humanities. I began an MA in English at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and began teaching, but took a day job at a college coordinating tutoring (and teaching science at night). I completed the MA and taught English part-time, but I realized through my day job that I would be finding my home in staff and administrative roles.

After coordinating tutoring, I became an academic advisor and fellowships director at the University of Pittsburgh's Honors College. At the same time, I began a PhD in the School of Education to help me more fully explore my interest in the praxis of higher education. The Honors College gave me a chance to support curious and motivated students across disciplines and across the socioeconomic spectrum. I also published in the fields of honors education and student support, and I graduated with my terminal degree in 2009.

For 10 years I have directed College in High School at the University of Pittsburgh, the largest and oldest CEP in Pennsylvania. In my position I serve as Senior Staff in our School of Arts and Sciences and served as acting Assistant Dean. Our rapidly-growing CEP enrolls over 4,000 students each year in over 45 courses. Our team has increased financial assistance for families by 190% and continuously adds courses to interest students from all academic levels. I have published in this field, received grants to support our work, and serve on boards at the NSF, the State of Pennsylvania, the Carnegie Science Center, and three high schools in our region.

Brief description of nominee's work in concurrent enrollment and with NACEP:

SERVICE TO THE FIELD OF D&CE

College in High School Alliance (CHSA) Ambassador Network NACEP National Conference Planning Committee

NACEP Leadership Academy Mentor NACEP Conference session introducer

Pennsylvania Department of Education STEM Advisory Committee Lobbied state and federal legislators to discuss issues in dual enrollment

SERVICE WITHIN MY INSTITUTION

In my current role I direct the College in High School (CHS) CEP (4,000+ students at 140+ schools) and the Accelerated High School (AHS) on-campus dual enrollment program (50 students). I led our team to obtain first-ever CE accreditation for CHS, grow CHS minoritized student enrollment by 200% (grow enrollment 43% overall), and increase scholarships by 190%. We also obtained free undergraduate applications for all CHS students.

GRANTS

Security-Assured Data Science Workforce Development in Pennsylvania. NSF #1730286. $476,000. September 2019. Collaborator. Principal Investigator: Dr. Balaji Palanisamy, University of Pittsburgh School of Computing and Information. This project expands upon existing partnerships with school districts to increase digital literacy & cybersecurity awareness at the secondary level & induce high school students to pursue cybersecurity & data science at the postsecondary level.

Justice Scholars Expansion: Pitt-Enhanced College Prep Support. Pitt Seed Project. $50,000. June 2019. Collaborator. Principal Investigator: Dr. Esohe Osai, University of Pittsburgh School of Education. Justice Scholars is a transformative program that provides a credit-bearing, college preparatory experience to students in local underserved high schools.

PUBLICATIONS

Osai, E.R., Huguley, J.P., Giazzoni, M. J., and Wallace, J.M. (2021). Developing Justice Scholars: A social justice intervention to support educational equity for urban-residing students. Children & Schools, 43(1), 55-59.

Giazzoni, M. J. (2020, January 29). It only takes five minutes to start [Blog post]. Retrieved From https://www.nacep.org/press-room/it-only-takes-five-minutes-to-start/.

Brief statement describing the nominee's interest in the position:

The Board of Directors is the legislative body of NACEP, and anyone considering a role on it should do so with prudence.

My work with the College in High School Alliance and NACEP over the past 10 years has given me a solid background to understand what NACEP needs to support all of its member populations. But 4-year public institutions have needs that definitely need their own representation. For example, these institutions offer programs that might cross state lines or involve several accreditation agencies. And their issues involving state support, which might engage legislators from several urban, suburban, and rural areas, can be myriad. If elected to this position, I would take the skills I cultivate in my professional life and apply them here: careful listening to broad audiences, steadfast guardianship of underserved populations, and assertive representation of those I serve.

Coincidentally, my first act in my role as Director of College in High School was to attend the 2012 NACEP Conference; at my director interview, I had explained the importance of NACEP to my interviewers, and my supervisor agreed to send me even though I hadn't even seen my office yet. I suspected from devouring the conference website and NACEP publications that the organization would be crucial to our program's development. My suspicions proved well- founded as, since my first conference, I have networked with programs at other 4-year public institutions, learning dozens of successful strategies which other fantastic programs have perfected. Additionally, NACEP's accreditation standards proved to be a roadmap for best practices, guiding us to our first-ever accreditation. In the past 10 years I hope that I have also given something back to the organization that has given me so much, and I would be honored to give more on the Board of Directors.

Presentations on concurrent enrollment given at NACEP or other conferences/workshops:

Giazzoni, M. J. (2021). Panelist. Environmental Education & Education for Sustainability Panel Discussion. Pennsylvania STEM Coalition Meeting. Online (November).

Giazzoni, M. J. (2020). Facilitator. NACEP COVID-19 Round-Table Discussions. Online. (March 31 and April 1).

Giazzoni, M. J. and Rizzo, M. (2019). Finding High-Quality Concurrent Enrollment Programs. Presented at Discovering New Perspectives for Learning, Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development 69th Annual Conference. Hershey Lodge (November).

Giazzoni, M. J. (2016). Offering an Authentic College Course in High School. Presented at Enriching World Language Programs through Community Connections, Pittsburgh’s World Language Connection. Fox Chapel High School (November).

Giazzoni, M. J., Asonevich, W., Botstein, C., Daugherty, M. (2016). Exploring Models of Dual Enrollment. Presented at Dual Enrollment in the Region: Innovations & Trends. National Alliance for Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships Mid-Atlantic conference. Philadelphia (July).

Any special background associated with the nominee’s responsibilities, other volunteer service, or awards and recognition:

Served on the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics Task Force on Equity in Dual Enrollment & Pre-Apprenticeship Programs (a policy working group focused on educational opportunities & career needs). Served on the University of Pittsburgh Community-Engaged Scholarship Forum (CESF) Planning Committees. Are you still reading this? Kudos to you! This was long!

Chelsie Rauh

Organization: Idaho State University, ID

Job Title: Director, Early College Program

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Chelsie Rauh has been the Director of the Early College Program at Idaho State University for 11 years. She started her journey at Idaho State as a student, earning both a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication-emphasis in Advertising and Public Relations in 2004 and a Master of Counseling degree with an emphasis in School Counseling in 2008. With a passion for higher education, she is dedicated to encouraging and inspiring high school students to continue their education post-secondary. She has served as a Peer Reviewer/Lead Reviewer on several accreditation applications since 2014, as a Commissioner on the NACEP Accreditation Commission (2017-2019) as well as the 4-year Public Postsecondary Institutional Representative on the NACEP Board of Directors.

Brief description of nominee's work in concurrent enrollment and with NACEP: Since my first conference in 2011 in Mystic, Connecticut I have been a tried and true supporter of NACEP. I have been the director of the Early College Program at Idaho State University for 11 years. There has been integral change both in my state as well as nationally to help promote the concurrent/dual enrollment policy, access and opportunities for students. I am proud to have been a part of this change and promotion.

Brief statement describing the nominee's interest in the position:

I enjoy being able to support the needs and voices of the 4-year public institutions and would love to be able to continue that for another term on the NACEP Board of Directors. It is important to me to give back to the organization that has supported me and my program- unconditionally.

Presentations on concurrent enrollment given at NACEP or other conferences/workshops:

NACEP Conference Presentations:

Related Presentations:

American Counseling Association, Honolulu, HI 2008 Idaho Counseling Association, Boise, ID 2008 IACRAO McCall, ID 2013
Council for Opportunity in Education, Washington, DC 2014 GEAR UP WEST Boise, ID 2015
Advanced Opportunities Conference Boise, ID 2016 GEAR UP WEST Portland, OR 2017
Advanced Opportunities Conference (virtual) 2020

Any special background associated with the nominee’s responsibilities, other volunteer service, or awards and recognition:

ISU Cares Division Star Award 2014 and 2015

President-Elect

(Eligibility: The candidate for President-Elect must come from a NACEP–accredited program and have served on the NACEP board)

Dr. Christine Denecker

Organization: University of Findlay, OH

Job Title: Associate Vice President for Learning and Innovation; Director of the Center for Teaching and Program Excellence

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Christine Denecker is Associate Vice President for Learning and Innovation and Director of the Center for Teaching and Program Excellence at the University of Findlay in Ohio where she also teaches in the Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing program. Her research interests include dual enrollment, digital storytelling, and feminist pedagogies. Denecker is the past-president of the Ohio Alliance of Dual Enrollment Partnerships (OADEP) and is a member of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnership’s (NACEP) Engagement Committee. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Dual Enrollment Collective for the Conference on College Composition and Communication. Her research on dual enrollment has been published in Composition Studies and Teaching English in the Two-Year College, and she has co-authored several dual enrollment issue briefs published by NACEP. Most recently, she contributed to “Research Priorities for Advancing Equitable Dual Enrollment Policy and Practice,” a study led by Jason Taylor that included NACEP participation. In August 2022, she published, “Utilizing Centers for Teaching and Learning to Enhance Dual Enrollment Partnerships,” with Teresa Focarile. Her edited collection with Casie Moreland, entitled, The Dual Enrollment Kaleidoscope: Reconfiguring Conceptions of First Year Writing and Composition Studies will be published by University Press of Colorado/Utah State University Press in September 2022.

Brief description of nominee's work in concurrent enrollment and with NACEP:

A former high school English teacher turned college professor, Denecker has studied dual enrollment since 2007. She has served as a faculty liaison to concurrent enrollment instructors teaching College Writing I for the University of Findlay since 2008. She has served on NACEP’s board in roles as private post-secondary representative, research chair, and communications chair. In 2013, she was awarded a NACEP research grant (with Nikki Diederich). She has represented NACEP at speaking engagements in Arizona, Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, Louisiana, Ohio, and Minnesota. She has also led NACEP pre-conference workshops and webinars.

Brief statement describing the nominee's interest in the position:

A large portion of my professional life has been devoted to better understanding the preparatory gaps between high school and college education. The dual enrollment landscape has provided me with opportunities to examine and remediate that gap. Just as importantly, the study of dual enrollment has allowed me to work with so many amazing and inspiring instructors on behalf of students. Integral to this work has been my relationship with NACEP. Through this organization, I have learned so much from others—through networking and collaboration. I believe in the mission of NACEP, and I would be honored and privileged to have the opportunity to give back to the organization through the service of President-elect.

Presentations on concurrent enrollment given at NACEP or other conferences/workshops:

Any special background associated with the nominee’s responsibilities, other volunteer service, or awards and recognition:

I am a former public-school teacher (12 years) and have spend nearly 20 years in higher education. I have taught at a community college and at two private four-year institutions. My husband is a school district superintendent, and my son participated in dual enrollment courses while in high school. I was honored with the University of Findlay’s Founders Academic Excellence Award in 2010.

Secretary

(Eligibility: The candidate for Secretary must come from a NACEP–accredited program)

Victoria Zeppelin

Organization: Tompkins Cortland Community College

Job Title: Director of College Now

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Victoria has worked at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) for over 15 years, after teaching middle and high school science. At TC3, Victoria started as the director of her college’s Tech Prep program, a Perkins-funded initiative to develop career pathways from high school to postsecondary education. Now, as Director of CollegeNow, she oversees one of the largest concurrent enrollment programs in New York State – a program that is twice the size of her college. In this role, Victoria is responsible for implementing policies and practices that ensure program quality and accreditation through NACEP. Under her leadership, CollegeNow has expanded beyond concurrent enrollment to include dual enrollment (online and campus courses for high school and homeschooled students) and Early College initiatives, such as P- TECH. Through a combination of CE and online courses, her office advises dozens of high school students in the completion of their Associate's Degree while in high school.

As part of her work to deepen connections between CollegeNow and the rest of her College, Victoria serves on her College's Guided Pathways and Strategic Enrollment Management planning committees. Victoria also coordinates NSF "Broader Impacts" grant partnerships with Cornell University in support of both concurrent enrollment and campus curriculum and professional development.

Brief description of nominee's work in concurrent enrollment and with NACEP: Victoria is familiar to most NACEP members through her current position as Board Secretary, as well as past service as Vice-Chair, and then Chair, of the Accreditation Commission. As a Commissioner, Victoria was a frequent presenter for NACEP’s Accreditation Institutes, webinars, and Conferences. As Chair, she was part of the process to expand service opportunities for NACEP members and to extend accreditation to non-CE models. She serves a NACEP Ambassador, sometimes called upon to speak at conferences for other organizations. Victoria has served as a Peer Reviewer (as well as Lead Reviewer or Mentor) for many applications, which has been a rewarding experience.

Outside of NACEP, Victoria is active in her state’s concurrent enrollment leadership group for community colleges (NYCEP) and is regularly asked for input on concurrent enrollment practices and policy in New York. Recently, Victoria served on a SUNY working group to guide her state’s CE policy framework.

Brief statement describing the nominee's interest in the position:

Serving on the Board has provided an invaluable opportunity for Victoria to be a part of a group of dedicated individuals eager to guide NACEP into the future, allowing her to draw on her experience as both a policy leader and concurrent enrollment practitioner in the community college setting. As a long-time community college educator, Victoria is passionate about the role concurrent and dual enrollment serve in expanding access and equity in both liberal arts and technical education. Victoria embraces this responsibility and is excited to serve an organization that has been so meaningful to her personally and professionally. A regular attendee and presenter at NACEP events, Victoria loves connecting with concurrent enrollment colleagues and sharing ideas around concurrent and dual enrollment, equitable access, career pathways, and student success. She looks forward to continuing to support NACEP members (and the communities we serve) through this position on the Board.

Presentations on concurrent enrollment given at NACEP or other conferences/workshops:

Many NACEP Accreditation Institutes, Annual Conferences, and Webinars (2011 to present)
As a NACEP Ambassador - Maryland Innovations in Educational Partnerships, NEASC Dual Enrollment Conference, and Wisconsin Career & Tech Conference (2012-2016)
ACTE Conference (2010)
League for Innovation in the Community College Conference (2008) New York State Tech Prep Conferences (2004-06)

Any special background associated with the nominee’s responsibilities, other volunteer service, or awards and recognition:

Service:

Victoria is an active member of her county's Youth Council (part of the WIOA) and serves on Advisory Boards for several Early College High Schools and BOCES (CTE schools) in her region.

Recognitions:

Honored by NACEP with a “Volunteer Spotlight” and plaque in recognition of years of volunteer service in support of accreditation and best practices among concurrent enrollment programs (2018)
Appointed as Co-Chair for our College's Middle States Regional Accreditation Self-Study (2016- 18)
Received a Town-Gown Award from our local county in recognition of partnerships with school districts (2017)
Elected Chair of our College Senate (2012-13); recently re-elected to serve a term beginning Fall 2022
Selected to participate in Chair Academy's Foundational Leadership program for community colleges (2009-10)

NACEP Commission Candidates

Advocacy Commission

Jessica Espinosa- Region 4

Region: 4

Organization: System office for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Job Title: Director- College Transitions

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Jessica Espinosa is the Director of College Transitions at the system office for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities providing support for dual enrollment programs, developmental education, course placement and other transition activities. Her K-12 experience includes secondary teaching, equity specialist, and dual enrollment specialist for the Minnesota Department of Education. She has also worked in college access programs in the community college and university settings. Her journey in education began as a middle school/high school Spanish teacher and integration specialist working with educational equity programs. Strengths: Ideation, Connectedness, Learner, Arranger, Empathy.

Briefly summarize the nominee’s expertise relevant to serving on the Advocacy Commission:

Jessica has served on the Advocacy Commission as Region 2 Representative for the past three years and has been an active and vital member of the Commission. For close to 15 years, she has supported system-level, statewide, and regional efforts to ensure Minnesota high school students have access to free, high-quality early college experiences through dual enrollment programs in Minnesota.

Briefly summarize the nominee’s engagement with NACEP and commitment to the NACEP mission, vision, and diversity and inclusion statement:

Jessica has served on the Advocacy Commission as Region 2 Representative for the past three years and has been an active and vital member of the Commission. She is fully committed to the ideals of NACEP, including its mission, vision, and inclusion statements.

Rosemary Lopez-Malagon- Region 2

Region: 2

Organization: Ivy Tech Community College, IN

Job Title: Executive Director of K-14 Initiatives

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

I began my career as an engineer in the private sector. I was employed as a project engineer for 10 yrs in 3 different companies. I decided to stay home to raise my family and then decided to enter the field of education. I learned that education was my passion. I was a secondary high school teacher for 14 yrs. During my tenure as a teacher, I was also a dual credit teacher. I decided to leave the classroom to make a bigger impact on the lives of students. I have been the Executive Director of K14 Initiatives at Ivy Tech Community College for 14 months. To me, this is my dream job. I am making a difference in the lives of students by providing them with opportunities to enhance their lives by ensuring that they have access to an affordable and equitable education.

Briefly summarize the nominee’s expertise relevant to serving on the Advocacy Commission:

I recently participated in a Policy Fellows Program for Ivy Tech Community College. The program was a 9-month program in which I learned about creating and supporting institutional advocacy at the local, state, and federal level. The program focused on 4 competencies: Leadership, Policy, Networks, and Advocacy. I gained experience by meeting with state and federal legislators to advocate for the short-term Pell grant and basic needs for students. In addition, I work closely with organizations such as Latinos Count, Indiana Latino Institute and Adelante. These organizations focus on mentorship programs, scholarships, registering students for the 21st Century Scholars program, and providing resources for underserved communities.

I currently work for Ivy Tech Community College (ITCC) which has recently received NACEP accreditation. My values align closely to NACEP's mission, vision, and diversity and inclusion statement. As the Executive Director of K14 Initiatives, I strive to provide equitable opportunities for students on our campus. I have created campus experiences for middle and high school students to support their post-secondary goals and to make college accessible for all students. I have partnered with various organizations and private industries to form cohorts in various pathways and have secured employment opportunities for our high school students.

As a 1st generation college graduate, it is important to me to provide accessible, affordable, and equitable opportunities for high school students. It is equally as important to provide resources to students to have successful careers.

Katie Lovera, M.S.Ed- Region 2

Region: 2

Organization: Columbus City Schools, OH

Job Title: Coordinator, College Credit Plus

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Katie Lovera is the Coordinator for College Credit Plus at Columbus City Schools, the largest urban district in Ohio. Previously, she worked in higher education for 18 years in enrollment managing domestic and international recruitment teams at both large public and small private universities. She also has experience working in a financial aid office and at a college access program which helps underprivileged inner-city students with the college search process. Katie is passionate about working with high school students to fulfill their goal of achieving a college education. She is also committed to staff development and enjoys developing her leadership skills, particularly through women in leadership organizations. Katie holds a master of science in education degree in College Student Personnel from the University of Dayton as well as a bachelor’s degree in Political Science also from the University of Dayton. She also has training in volunteer management and sales.

Briefly summarize the nominee’s expertise relevant to serving on the Advocacy Commission:

Katie has worked to promote and expand dual enrollment programs in her role at Otterbein University, a small private liberal arts college and now at a K-12 district. Having a perspective of dual enrollment from both the K-12 and college side, Katie can work to advocate for those on both sides of the desk. Katie's work experience frequently requires partnership development which lends itself to advocacy work with local, state, and federal governing bodies. Katie's undergraduate work in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration coupled with her experience in education will allow her to continue the work of advocacy for concurrent enrollment on behalf of NACEP.

Katie's personal philosophy is rooted in diversity and inclusion as she works tirelessly to ensure that equitable access to concurrent enrollment programs is a main focus to her daily work. Katie exudes excellence in her work and fosters open communication in order to advance the goals of providing opportunities for concurrent enrollment for all students.

Tanisha Seraphin- Region 2

Region: 2

Organization: Trident Technical College, SC

Job Title: Dean, Division of School and Community Initivaties

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Ms. Seraphin currently serves as the Dean of the School and Community Initiatives division at Trident Technical College, a local community college in Charleston, South Carolina. Her division provides oversight for local dual enrollment programs for high school students, as well as the student-centered component of the Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship Program for high school students. As the Dean providing oversight for this division, Ms. Seraphin serves as the liaison between the college and our local school districts, private high schools, virtual schools, home school associations, and adult education centers. Ms. Seraphin is a member of the 2022 class of NACEP Leadership Academy and was recently elected as the Chair-Elect of the SC Technical College System Dual Enrollment Peer Group.

Briefly summarize the nominee’s expertise relevant to serving on the Advocacy Commission:

As a member of the SC Technical College System Dual Enrollment Peer Group, Ms. Seraphin is often engaged with statewide leaders and works with the Peer Group Executive Committee to advocate for statewide improvements, changes, and updates to dual enrollment programs offered in the 16 technical colleges in South Carolina. Ms. Seraphin has also partnered with K- 12 and postsecondary leaders in SC to launch a NACEP state chapter for SC, with the goal of providing a unified voice in South Carolina to advocate for access, equity, and improved student success in dual and concurrent programs in the state.

Ms. Seraphin has served as an 2-year institutional member of NACEP on behalf of Trident Technical College since 2017 and has attended the National Conference every year, except in 2020 due to the pandemic. Ms. Seraphin is a member of the 2022 class of the NACEP Leadership Academy, and attended the 2022 Washington Policy Seminar in April 2022, in which she engaged with leaders from all over the nation and learned more about national policy, state policy, and ways in which we can all advocate for our dual and concurrent enrollment programs.

Engagement Commission

Nikki Gullion- Region 4

Region: 4

Organization: Eastern Iowa Community College, IA

Job Title: Interim Dean of Curriculum & Accreditation

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

I have been teaching & leading in various capacities for 18 years. I have a B.A. in Elementary Education, and an M.S.Ed. in Effective Teaching, Learning and Leadership with an emphasis in Curriculum Design. I am currently a doctoral student at Capella University pursuing an Ed.D. with specialization in Higher Educational Leadership & Administration. After spending a decade in K-12, I moved to higher education and spent the past six years serving as a District Program Developer and Associate Professor for Teacher Education. During this time, I had oversight of two additional departments and served as a NACEP Coordinator. I was a NACEP Peer Reviewer last year, and just completed training for the 2022-2023 cycle. I was awarded the Scott Community College Outstanding Faculty award in 2019, and EICC's Distinguished Faculty Award in 2022. I now serve as the Interim Dean of Curriculum & Accreditation.

Briefly summarize the nominee’s expertise relevant to serving on the Engagement Commission:

I am passionate about the mission of NACEP, the matriculation of students from high school to community colleges, and providing information on transferring to four-year institutions or seeking employment in the workforce. I have worked on state level teams to develop pathways for students who are seeking transfer, and have worked at a local level to engage and promote career and technical education for high school students. I have experience with Career Academies and have worked with advisors using data to support the mission of earning certificates, diplomas, and degrees beginning in high school. I have led professional development and developed informational guides and handbooks which describe NACEP standards. I enjoy sharing information with students, faculty, and stakeholders within the community in order to bring a deeper awareness of NACEP and the quality of instruction found within our concurrent programs.

I am committed to bringing opportunities to all students, especially those who are marginalized, during (and beyond) high school. Concurrent enrollment, career academies, and guided pathways are areas I work to improve at our institution every day. Working with advisors, counselors, parents, teachers, administrators, and college instructors, I work to promote equity and inclusion in all classrooms and spaces where students are engaged in rigorous college courses. Being intentional about processes, including all students in decision making, and educating families about opportunities before and during high school is what encompasses the mission of NACEP. We are here to support and guide students as they strive to reach their true potential, and it is a necessity to provide inclusive environments, sustainable and equitable access to quality college courses, and to support students as they transition to college or the workforce.

Jane Luethge- Region 4

Region: 4

Organization: Omaha Public Schools, NE

Job Title: Teaching and Learning Consultant for Secondary Partnerships

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Mrs. Jane Luethge serves the largest PK-12 school district in the state of Nebraska, The Omaha Public Schools, as the dual enrollment support for nine high schools with three post-secondary partners. She has supported the growth of staff becoming eligible to deliver dual credit classes, the number of courses eligible for dual credit in all OPS high schools, and the coherence surrounding the procedures to communicate with stakeholders over the last eight years. A former high school English teacher and curriculum specialist, Mrs. Luethge has spent 19 years in public education and cares deeply for ALL students and staff and wants to ensure that opportunities to earn college credits continue to grow and connect students and staff with their personal and professional goals. Mrs. Luethge is working on her Educational Leadership doctorate and is focusing on the topic of diversity in dual enrollment.

Briefly summarize the nominee’s expertise relevant to serving on the Engagement Commission:

Mrs. Luethge is passionate about professional development for staff. Being truly engaged in the work of dual enrollment is important in her daily role as evidenced in her work with nine high schools and three pos-secondary institutions in Omaha, Nebraska. She is a member of the Metro Omaha Educational Consortium (MOEC) committee which supports collaboration among and between colleagues from several districts and post-secondary institutions and this work has been a springboard for her interest in this volunteer role with NACEP. Being on the Engagement Commission would further support her goals of connecting with professionals on a regional scale and bringing her collaborative spirit to the team as they share best practices and engage in ongoing work across the region.

Upon accepting her new role in district leadership, she consulted her partner post-secondary institutions about membership and its value and then attended her first NACEP conference. Mrs. Luethge joined NACEP in 2021-2022 as a new member for The Omaha Public Schools.

Connecting with colleagues who have a similar focus about inclusion and equitable practices for delivering opportunities to students, she is committed to the vision of NACEP.

Research Commission

Jenny Parks- Region 4

Region: 4

Organization: Midwestern Higher Education Compact, MN

Job Title: Vice President, Policy and Research

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Jenny Parks is Vice President of Policy and Research at the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). She leads the exploration, development, and implementation of projects that help Midwestern postsecondary institutions improve the way they serve students. Jenny has worked at all levels and in multiple sectors of education, including state and federal compliance, institutional research, and policy advocacy. This includes beginning her career as a high school history teacher in Wisconsin and a stint as a researcher with the Wisconsin Center for Educational Research. She earned her master's degree in Educational Policy and Research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently, she is writing her dissertation for the doctoral program in Higher Education from Northeastern University in Boston.

Briefly summarize the nominee’s expertise relevant to serving on the Research Commission:

Jenny Parks has worked since 2015 in the Midwest to help states, institutions, and other concurrent enrollment stakeholders understand and address the teacher credentialing issues brought to the fore when HLC adjusted the language pertaining to instructor qualifications. In that capacity, she has co-authored research and policy reports about the subject, hosted convenings to address the issue, and helped launch a website where graduate institutions can post courses teachers can take to help earn the graduate credits needed for them to meet HLC's expectations. Jenny continues to work in the area of policy research pertaining to concurrent enrollment practices and in doing so has established strong collegial partnerships with SHEEO agencies, institutions, and national organizations active in the concurrent and dual enrollment space.

Jenny collaborates with NACEP on many projects and presentations. MHEC is a member and consults NACEP leadership on all its concurrent enrollment work. One of the most pressing educational issues in the Midwest is the dearth of postsecondary options for students in rural communities. Concurrent enrollment provides an essential opportunity for such students to experience college-level instruction and earn college credits while they are still in high school. We know from research that these students are more likely to apply, enroll, attend, and complete a postsecondary credential. Thus, concurrent enrollment practices of the highest standards are vital to advancing diversity and inclusion agendas throughout the Midwest. This imperative paired with MHEC's new strategic emphasis on equity considerations in all its work create a professional alignment with NACEP's commitment in these areas and mirror's Jenny's personal commitment to and concern to address diversity and equity in all her work.

Mark Schneider- Region 2

Region: 2

Organization: Ivy Tech Community College, IN

Job Title: Assistant Vice President of K-14 Academic Initiatives & Support

Brief professional bio for the nominee:

Mark Schneider is the Assistant Vice President of K-14 Academic Initiatives & Support for Ivy Tech Community College where he helps support 19 regional campuses and over 68,000 concurrent enrollment students across the State of Indiana. Previous to his current statewide position, he was the K-14 Initiatives director for the Ivy Tech Columbus campus whose service area covered six counties with 22 high schools and 3 career centers where he partnered with over 200 concurrent enrollment instructors offering over 600-course sections and to nearly 6,500 concurrent enrollment students. Before joining Ivy Tech, Mark had a decade of teaching experience in the high school classroom in addition to having a K12 principal license. He currently is a doctoral student at Purdue University in the Higher Education program researching topics related to concurrent enrollment programming.

Briefly summarize the nominee’s expertise relevant to serving on the Research Commission:

Mark is a doctoral student at Purdue University researching topics related to concurrent enrollment programming. He currently has a pending qualitative manuscript that covers concurrent enrollment instructors who were affected by the HLC credentialing decision and their decisions to or not to complete the required coursework to maintain credentialing.

Pending the publication of that manuscript, future research could include a mixed methods study to create an instrument capable of providing quantitative data to validate the qualitative findings of the pending study. Other areas of research have included an examination of concurrent enrollment student prerequisite pass rates and their subsequent success rates following their first year of college.

Mark's new statewide position has allowed him to become more engaged with NACEP and NACEP-related policies and initiatives over the last year. In addition to helping lead Ivy Tech's NACEP accreditation process and application, Mark attended the national conference in 2022 and represented the College at the spring policy seminar in Washington DC. He also has submitted an application to be a peer reviewer for the upcoming academic year.

Mark's professional background, both at Ivy Tech and as a Ph.D. student at Purdue align well with NACEP's mission, vision, and diversity and inclusion statement. Both are exploring how to increase access, while maintaining rigor, for concurrent enrollment programing. He is seeking to become a voice in the concurrent enrollment community through statewide and national leadership and research.