NASPA Online Learning Community

Join us to hear more from NASPA President, Dr. Amelia Parnell, AACC President and CEO, Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, and TACC Vice President and Executive Directer, Dr. Kimberly M. Lowry.

Amelia Parnell, Ph.D., President

Kimberly M. Lowry, Ph.D., Vice President & Executive Director

DeRionne P. Pollard, Ph.D., President and CEO

This session will highlight how Palm Beach State College is aligning technology, data, and cross-functional governance to support a more integrated and student-centered experience. We will discuss our approach to connecting core enterprise systems—including ERP, LMS, CRM, and analytics platforms—to improve advising, communication, and student success outcomes. Additionally, we will share how institutional research, Power BI dashboards, and collaborative governance structures are enabling more informed decision-making across enrollment, retention, and workforce alignment initiatives. The session will focus on strategy, implementation lessons learned, and practical considerations for institutions advancing digital transformation in a vendor-agnostic manner.

Russell E. Kaufman, D.B.A., Chief Information Officer

Peter R. Barbatis, Ed.D., Vice President, Student Services and Enrollment Management

This session reframes student parents from an often-invisible population to an invaluable cornerstone of higher education’s long-term sustainability. Participants will explore strategies and campus innovations that strengthen recruitment and retention of student parents in the face of the enrollment cliff, positioning them as essential to the future of our institutions.

Brooke Barrick, Associate Director of Parent Scholar Program

This session will explore how colleges in the Maryland-DC-Delaware area have approached implementing the Workforce Pell program from a Financial Aid perspective. The conversation will include strategies, successes, challenges experienced, and what comes next. Participants are encouraged to share their insights on how they are preparing for this new process.

Virginia Zawodny, Senior Director of Financial Aid

Brian Keister, Collegewide Director of Financial Aid

Katie Abreu, Director of Financial Aid

Amanda Messatzzia, Dean of Enrollment Management

Community colleges play a critical role in preparing students for successful transfer and bachelor's degree completion. This interactive session highlights how the Dallas College Transfer Department strategically supports Bachelor Bound Scholars through intentional programming, advising, and pathway design. Participants will explore the four distinct ways students can earn a bachelor’s degree through Dallas College, gain insight into transfer-centered practices that promote momentum and equity, and leave with adaptable strategies to strengthen transfer culture and student success at their own institutions.

Tim McDuffie, Associate Dean of Transfer Skills Development

Grant programs like the TRIO Adult Educational Opportunity Center and SUNY Reconnect are reshaping access for adult learners within community colleges in New York State. When adult learners enter or re-enter higher education, providing access means more than acceptance into a program, but also knowledge of college terminology, college and community resources, and financial empowerment. This session will explore tangible strategies that you can use within your community college to help recruit and retain adult learners.

Robin A. Van Dorn, SUNY Reconnect Student Success Coach

Christina Mortellaro, Director, TRIO Adult Educational Opportunity Center

As student mental health needs continue to rise across higher education, Student Affairs practitioners play a critical role in creating supportive environments that foster wellbeing, belonging, and student success. This session will explore current mental health trends affecting today's students and examine how institutions can move beyond reactive support models toward proactive, campus-wide strategies that elevate the student experience. Participants will engage in a discussion focused on strengthening cross-campus collaboration, identifying high-impact practices that support student well-being, and recognizing the role of Student Affairs in shaping inclusive, responsive support systems. We'll conclude with a call to action, encouraging practitioners to champion intentional initiatives, policies, and partnerships that prioritize mental health as a foundational element of student success and institutional effectiveness.

Jason Abreu, Ed.D., Vice President, Student Affairs

This president's panel brings together community college leaders to examine the most pressing issues confronting community colleges today. Panelists will share candid insights into how their institutions are responding to these challenges with innovation, resilience, and strategic vision. Join us to learn more.

Reyna Anaya, Ph.D., Vice President of Student Success

Jana Schwartz, Ph.D., President

Mordecai I. Brownlee, Ed.D, President

Tonjua Williams, Ph.D., President