Advisory Board
Andrew Leavitt
Chancellor
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Dr. Andrew J. Leavitt, the 11th Chancellor at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, is focused on enhancing students’ success and engaging them in hands-on learning opportunities, promoting academic excellence, increasing the profile of undergraduate, graduate and faculty research and furthering the University’s commitment to sustainability. With the vision and guidance of students, faculty, staff, alumni and University partners, Leavitt is helping transform the three-campus institution by expanding community engagement, driving economic development and building an inclusive and supportive institutional environment. He is also helping position the University as a research-enhanced comprehensive university by elevating existing research projects at UWO, increasing opportunities for research and driving innovation in curriculum.
Kathy Collins
Vice President Division of Student Affairs
University of Rhode Island
Dr. Kathy Collins is the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Rhode Island. Kathy has worked in a number of capacities in higher education at different schools working in assessment, athletics, conduct, student activities, housing and residence life, student activities, and parent and family programs. She has presented and consulted internationally on student learning across the university and published on assessment in higher education. She was Co-Editor with Dr. Darby Roberts of Learning is Not a Sprint: Assessing and Documenting Student Leader Learning in Cocurricular Involvement. (2012). NASPA publication.
Teri Hall
Vice President of Student Affairs
Wichita State University
Dr. Teri Hall serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Wichita State University. In her 30 years of experience in higher education, she has worked at Towson University, Indiana University, and Southeast Missouri State University. Teri has a Ph.D. from Indiana University, a master’s degree from Western Illinois University, and a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Her professional interests include: student persistence, student engagement, student culture, assessment, and generational analysis to improve practice. In particular, during her time at Towson University she worked with many others to increase student engagement on campus and beyond the "commuter campus" label. At Wichita State University, she is working with colleagues to actualize the divisional vision of “connecting every student.
Scott Menke
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Scott Menke is a CPA with a diverse background in financial management. Prior to his tenure in higher education, Scott spent time in public accounting, private industry, and doing consulting. Scott’s experience includes responsibilities in all areas of financial management including financial modeling and analysis, budgeting, managerial accounting, and information systems. Management experience includes staff recruiting and development, department reorganization, and process re-engineering.
Will Simpkins
Vice President, Student Affairs
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Dr. Will Simpkins became the Vice President for Student Affairs at Metropolitan State University of Denver on August 1, 2018. In this role, Dr. Simpkins leads student engagement and wellness initiatives, enrollment management services, and career success programs for a vibrant, urban campus in one of the United States’ fastest growing cities. Dr. Simpkins’s previous experiences in higher education include career services, student activities, diversity initiatives, and civic engagement in both public and private institutions in New York City as well as serving on the faculty of the Educational Leadership in Higher Education program at Montclair State University.
Jim Lenio
Executive Director, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment
Walden University
Jim Lenio has worked in Walden University’s Office of Institutional Research & Assessment since 2006, first as a Research Analyst, then as Director of Institutional Research, and currently as Executive Director. In this role Jim leads a team that provides data, research, and insights focused on institutional improvement and student success to help leadership make data supported decisions. Jim’s expertise and work experiences are in the areas of adult and working students, as well as online, for-profit, and graduate education. He has particular interest in online student persistence and completion. Jim earned his B.S. in psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, his M.S. in applied psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Stout, and is currently working to finish his dissertation at Walden University.
Jason Nicholas
Director of Institutional Research and Analysis
Northern Michigan University
Jason Nicholas received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Minnesota State University Moorhead and his Master’s in Applied Psychology with a focus on program evaluation and industrial/organizational psychology from UW-Stout. He formerly worked in Wisconsin for Cooperative Education Services Agency 10 in Chippewa Falls, and also at the Applied Research Center, a branch of the Institutional Research office at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Jason is currently the director of the Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment (IRPA) Office at Northern Michigan University. The IRPA office currently oversees traditional IR duties as well as coordinating university accreditation efforts. IRPA also works closely with assessment in its many forms throughout campus.
Joni Wadley
Senior Director for Institutional Effectiveness
Ohio University
Dr. Joni Wadley is the Senior Director for Institutional Effectiveness at Ohio University. With over 26 years of experience in higher education in the areas of academic and program assessment, survey research and analysis, institutional research, program review and evaluation, continuous quality improvement and student support service, Joni has worked in Ohio University’s Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness since 2003. Leading the institutional effectiveness team, she provides strategic planning and oversight support for the University’s accreditation initiatives and leadership for the collection, reporting and use of assessment information in academic, co-curricular and administrative programs. The IE team assists University stakeholders to make improvements in programs and student learning through research and analysis focused on student outcomes, institutional improvement, and student involvement and engagement.
Kellie Dixon
Director, Student Affairs Assessment and Staff Development
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Dr. Kellie Dixon has been at North Carolina A&T State University since 2012 and a member of the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs executive team since 2016. Her current role encompasses student affairs assessment, strategic planning, strategic development, and staff development. Previously, Dr. Dixon worked in Housing and Residence Life as an Area Coordinator for North Carolina A&T State University. Her other roles in higher education at other institutions include student organization advising, judicial affairs, and multicultural affairs. Dr. Dixon received an associate degree in science from Danville Community College, her undergraduate degree in kinesiology and her Master of Science in Community and College Counseling from Longwood University and her Ed.D in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Dr. Dixon currently serves a Chair-elect for ACPA Commission for Assessment and Evaluation, HBCU Division Chair for NASPA Region III, and Associate Editor for ACPA About Campus Journal.
Peter D. Smithhisler
Vice President, Student Affairs
Valley City State University
Peter D. Smithhisler serves Valley City State University as vice president for student affairs (VPSA) where he directs the Student Affairs division, leading VCSU’s efforts in enrollment, retention, and financial aid; residence life and dining; cocurricular activities; counseling, career and diversity services; parent relations; student safety, government and judicial process; and new student orientation. Smithhisler previously served the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), most recently as president and CEO. At NIC, Smithhisler also served as the director of leadership education; vice president for media and community relations, and executive vice president of the NIC Foundation. His other higher education experience includes interim director of campus activities, associate director of campus activities and director of Greek life at Colorado State University; coordinator of Greek life at the University of North Dakota; and interfraternity council advisor at Western Illinois University. He is active in College Mentors for Kids, Gamma Sigma Alpha National Academic Honor Society, and NASPA.
Brent Carbajal
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Western Washington University
Brent Carbajal is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Western Washington University. He served as Dean of the College of Humanities & Social Sciences from 2008-2013. He earned his BA from Lewis & Clark College and his MA and PhD from the University of Washington. He has been at Western since 1997, serving as a professor of Spanish and for eight years as chair of the University’s Department of Modern and Classical Languages. Prior to Western, he was an assistant and associate professor of Spanish at Stephen F. Austin State University. He has published widely in the areas of Latin American literature and culture and Hispanic-American literature and culture. The Provost’s primary areas of oversight include: academic planning, academic policy, faculty and academic budgets, faculty affairs, assessment and outcomes, and institutional research. The Provost administers the seven academic colleges and academic support services, as well as all undergraduate and graduate programs.
Dr. Donna Souder Hodge
Chief Strategy Officer
Colorado State University Pueblo
Dr. Donna Hodge is the Chief Strategy Officer at Colorado State University Pueblo. She is a tenured Associate Professor of Rhetoric in the Department of English and World Languages, and she oversees programming for more than $14 million in federal Hispanic Serving grants from the Department of Education. She was the architect of CSU Pueblo’s #VISION2028 strategic plan and today she serves as the fiscal officer for the vision projects, and she directs the strategic planning team. She holds a Ph.D. in Rhetoric (2008) and Master Degrees in English and Women's Studies. She completed the MIT Sloan School of Management's Executive Program in Business Process Design Strategic Management and was accepted into the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Executive Leadership Program as an AALI Fellow. In 2021, she will join a cohort of higher education leadership in Harvard’s Institute of Education. Dr. Hodge is a member of the CSU Pueblo President's Executive Council, Cabinet, and the Budget Advisory Board.
