NACEP Welcomes Two Longtime Volunteers to Staff Roles

Raymond Chard and Katie Bowers bring deep experience in concurrent enrollment to support professional learning and accreditation efforts

The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) is excited to welcome two longtime volunteers into new staff positions. Raymond Chard joins as Professional Learning Coordinator, and Katie Bowers as Accreditation Specialist. Both bring extensive experience in concurrent enrollment along with a deep commitment to advancing NACEP’s mission.

“Whether reflected in growing membership, rising conference participation, or expanding student access, the field of dual enrollment continues to grow and evolve—and so does NACEP,” said NACEP Executive Director Amy Williams. “As the national home for dual enrollment programs and professionals, NACEP advances this work ‘for the field, and from the field’ by investing in knowledgeable, experienced, and passionate staff who support our members and the broader national community we have built together. With the addition of Katie and Ray, we are strengthening our ability to support a field that is growing in scale, complexity, and impact. But this is about more than growth—it is about how we deliver for our members and the field every day.”

Ray Chard joins NACEP with experience spanning both K–12 and higher education, most recently serving as Executive Director of High School Programs at Aims Community College. During his tenure, Ray has focused on expanding access and ensuring program equity, grounded in the principles of rigor, readiness, and relevance. A familiar face to many in the NACEP community, Ray has been an active NACEP volunteer, presenter, and facilitator. He has contributed to national webinars, conference sessions, and workshops, and co-authored the white paper “Strengthening Partnerships through Data and Communication.”

As Professional Learning Coordinator, Ray will support and expand NACEP’s professional development offerings, including Wednesday Webinars, preconference workshops, and NACEP U, NACEP’s hub for professional development content. His work will help ensure that members have access to timely, relevant, and high-quality learning opportunities. Ray is already engaging with members and can be reached at rchard@nacep.org.

Katie Bowers brings extensive experience in student support and concurrent enrollment program administration. After eight years as an academic advisor, she joined the Concurrent Enrollment Program at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) in 2018, where she deepened her engagement with NACEP’s mission, standards, and community. A longtime NACEP volunteer, Katie has served as a peer reviewer, contributed as a presenter—including a recent Wednesday Webinar—and is a graduate of NACEP’s Leadership Academy. As Coordinator of Academics & Accreditation at PNW, Katie developed the program’s accreditation systems from the ground up. Her work has been grounded in a commitment to clarity, consistency, and continuous improvement.

In her role as Accreditation Specialist, Katie will work closely with the Director of Accreditation, Andrea Roma; the Accreditation Commission; volunteers; and members to support the implementation of NACEP’s national standards. As the number of accredited programs continues to grow, Katie will help ensure NACEP can meet increasing demand while maintaining the consistency, integrity, and transparency of the accreditation process.

“We are thrilled to welcome Katie to our team,” said Andrea Roma. “Katie has already built strong relationships with commissioners through her work as a peer review team lead, and her hands-on experience with institutional accreditation at her university will be invaluable as NACEP continues to strengthen its own accreditation efforts. She joins the organization at a key moment, and her expertise will play an important role in advancing this work even further.” Katie is ready to connect with you and can be reached at kbowers@nacep.org.

Amy Williams said, “Together, Ray and Katie bring valuable experience, longstanding commitment, and a shared dedication to strengthening concurrent enrollment. Their work will further support NACEP members and advance the organization’s efforts to promote quality and equity in dual enrollment.”