Mona Agha Maktabi is a Lebanese educator and advocate for inclusive education, serving as Director of the Next Step Program at the American University of Beirut. Her work is driven by a commitment to ensuring that young adults with intellectual disabilities have meaningful opportunities to learn, develop independence, and participate in society. Through Next Step, she advances inclusive university experiences, vocational preparation, and pathways to employment, promoting a vision of inclusion grounded in dignity, opportunity, and belonging.

Elma Atic is a Student Affairs practitioner with more than 15 years of experience in higher education, with a particular focus on academic advising and student success. At Qatar University, she works closely with academic advisors, Student Affairs professionals, and university stakeholders to continuously improve advising services and the overall student experience. Her work also includes mentorship, staff development, assessment, and strategic initiatives supporting student success.

Beyond Qatar University, Elma is actively involved with MENASA NASPA, contributing to initiatives that connect, develop, and support Student Affairs professionals across the region. Her professional interests include academic advising, mentorship, student success, professional development, and the evolving role of data and technology in higher education.

"Passionate about empowering individuals to reach their full potential, Heba Shaheen is dedicated to supporting student leaders in creating meaningful and lasting impact throughout their experiential learning journey at The American University in Cairo (AUC) and within their wider communities.

With over 16 years of professional experience, Heba began her career as a Quality Control Analyst in a multinational company after earning a BSc in Chemistry with a minor in Psychology. She later transitioned into higher education, pursuing her passion for student development, leadership, and well-being. She currently holds two master’s degrees and is pursuing a PhD in Global Public Health at AUC, with research interests focused on policy management and workplace well-being. Heba holds an MSc in Organizational Psychology from the University of London, with a focus on women’s leadership, workplace gender equity, and well-being, as well as an MA in International & Comparative Education from AUC, concentrating on research and policymaking, with a focus on Education for Sustainable Development. She is also a Certified Student Affairs Educator from the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs, with a concentration in Campus Activities. She is also a professional trainer and practitioner in personality, interest, and strengths assessments.
Heba’s career journey from Chemistry to Higher Education reflects her belief in the power of perseverance, passion, and purpose. Through the challenges and rewards of career transition, she continues to inspire others to embrace growth, resilience, and lifelong learning."

Ms. Wadad Youssef El Housseini started her career as in higher education as Instructor of Social Sciences at Balamand University in Lebanon where she taught for a decade. In 2001, she joined the American University of Beirut as Director of Student Activities. In 2009, she joined Qatar University as Consultant to VP of student affairs where she resumed the responsibility of Acting Director of Student Activities till May 2012. Her role entitled her to get involved in various strategic initiatives to ensure the success of Qatar University students. She is the chair of the Student Affairs Professional Development committee at Qatar University.

Founding member and former vice president for the IASAS (International Association of Student Affairs and Services). Member of the MENASA-NASPA board for 2020-2023. Recipient of the Wisdom Award of the Commission of Women’s Identities – ACPA in 2021. Interested in Leadership of Higher Education and Student Affairs, assessment and women role in higher education.

Well known for having her finger on the pulse of the region, Wadad continues to be an engaged advocate of professional development, and student affairs leadership in the Middle East.

With more than 29 years of experience in education across international universities and secondary schools, Dr. Sara L. Montero has served as Dean of Student Affairs at the American University in Dubai since 2019.

In this role, Dr. Montero leads a broad range of student services and advocates for student well-being, engagement, retention, and success. Drawing on extensive experience guiding students and teams through change and uncertainty, Dr. Montero will share practical insights on navigating uncertain periods while continuing to support students. Dr. Montero holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership in Higher Education from Gwynedd Mercy University and a master’s in human relations from the University of Oklahoma.

Malak Elmoh is a Career Services Program Manager in the Office of External Relations at Georgetown University in Qatar. In her previous role as a Student Development Officer in the Office of Student Affairs, she played a key role in designing and implementing student programming, while also mentoring and advising student clubs, the Student Government Association (SGA), and the broader student community. A proud GU-Q alumna, Malak also holds a Master of Public Policy from Hamad bin Khalifa University, where she concentrated on education policy. Her experience extends beyond academia, having worked on high-profile events like the Doha Forum and with Memac Ogilvy's Public Relations team, where she developed a robust network in Doha. In her current role, Malak focuses on supporting students and recent graduates through career coaching and graduate school advising as well as further departmental initiatives such as professional development workshops, employer events and career fairs.

Ms. Wadad Youssef El Housseini started her career as in higher education as Instructor of Social Sciences at Balamand University in Lebanon where she taught for a decade. In 2001, she joined the American University of Beirut as Director of Student Activities. In 2009, she joined Qatar University as Consultant to VP of student affairs where she resumed the responsibility of Acting Director of Student Activities till May 2012. Her role entitled her to get involved in various strategic initiatives to ensure the success of Qatar University students. She is the chair of the Student Affairs Professional Development committee at Qatar University.

Founding member and former vice president for the IASAS (International Association of Student Affairs and Services). Member of the MENASA-NASPA board for 2020-2023. Recipient of the Wisdom Award of the Commission of Women’s Identities – ACPA in 2021. Interested in Leadership of Higher Education and Student Affairs, assessment and women role in higher education.

Well known for having her finger on the pulse of the region, Wadad continues to be an engaged advocate of professional development, and student affairs leadership in the Middle East.

Chris Pastore joined the University of Arizona Office of the General Counsel in September 2019. His practice areas include employment (staff and faculty), compliance, student affairs, first amendment, and collegiate athletics. 

Prior to joining the University, Mr. Pastore was Of Counsel at Ogletree Deakins, an international labor and employment law firm, where he represented employers in state and federal lawsuits and in administrative investigations and litigation. Mr. Pastore also provided advice and counsel to employers on a wide range of employment law matters, with an emphasis on occupational safety and health. 

Mr. Pastore earned his law degree from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in 2008 and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Arizona in 2004. Mr. Pastore is a member of the State Bars of Arizona and Nevada and is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA).

Chrissy Lieberman is the Dean of Students at the University of Arizona. She joined the Dean of Students Office in 2012 as an associate dean overseeing Student Assistance & Accountability and was appointed Dean of Students in Spring 2025 after serving in the role as interim during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Lieberman plays a pivotal leadership role in campus health and safety and fostering an environment that emphasizes community and well-being. In her role, she offers leadership for the campus community in navigating the First Amendment, conflict management, critical incidents, behavioral intervention, student rights and responsibilities, restorative practice, and student well-being. The Dean of Students Office also provides recognition and support for hundreds of student organizations and leadership and engagement opportunities across the university.

A first-generation student and two-time University of Arizona graduate, Lieberman holds a B.A. in Education and an M.A. in Art Education. She is committed to fostering a campus culture where students can excel academically, socially, and personally.

Emily Gray is a new professional with experience in leadership education, transition and support programs, and First Generation student success. Emily currently serves as the Co-Lead for Professional and Scholarly Development on the NASPA NPGS leadership team. She is deeply passionate about supporting emerging professionals in finding their home within Student Affairs. Emily recently graduated from Texas State University with a Masters of Education in Student Affairs in Higher Education. 

Currently serves as a Residence Hall Director at the University of Connecticut since fall 2022. Originally from Praia, Cabo Verde, he attended the University of Rhode Island for his masters and Bridgewater State University bachelors.

Marte Marshall is the Director of Residence Life & Conduct at Concordia University, St. Paul. Additionally, he is an EdD candidate studying belonging among male students at a faith-based institution and Co-Chair-Elect of the NASPA Black Diaspora Knowledge Community

Charlie Sloop (He/They) is a second-year graduate student pursuing a master's degree in Student Affairs Administration in the College of Education at Michigan State University. They currently work as a Graduate Assistant for Registered Student Organizations in the Office of Spartan Experiences. Charlie is a graduate of Virginia Tech with two bachelor's of art in theatre arts: performance and public relations. Charlie first explored student affairs by becoming an orientation leader and working across multiple functional areas. Charlie's main role prior to graduation was serving as a Hazing Prevention Specialist & Project Assistant to Student Engagement and Campus Life. Charlie began exploring NASPA through the NASPA Undergraduate Fellowship Program (NUFP), and now serves as a co-chair of the Communications Subcommittee on the NUFP Steering Committee, and a member of the Graduate Associate Program (GAP). Charlie's philosophy toward student affairs is to let your art forge a change amongst people to be curious and serve in lifelong learning.

Dr. Asha’ Jones serves as the Associate Director for Community, Access, and Professional Pathways at NASPA, where she leads initiatives supporting undergraduate and graduate students and emerging student affairs professionals, including the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP) and Graduate Associate Program (GAP). With more than 17 years of experience across higher education and government, she is a scholar, speaker, mentor, and storyteller committed to creating pathways, cultivating community, and ensuring the voices and experiences of historically overlooked communities are heard. Dr. Jones earned her Ph.D. in Education, with research examining Black girlhood, Black womanhood, identity, education, and mentorship through critical autoethnography. Mentorship is at the heart of her work, and she is passionate about helping the next generation recognize their possibilities, find their voice, and bring somebody with them.

Darryl B. Holloman, PhD, serves as vice president for student affairs at Spelman College. He previously held leadership roles as associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Georgia State University and as assistant vice president for student life at Columbus State University. With more than 30 years of experience in higher education, Holloman’s career spans a broad portfolio encompassing student affairs administration, institutional governance, and faculty engagement. He has held faculty appointments at Rutgers University–Newark, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Columbus State University, and Georgia State University. Holloman is a published scholar with numerous articles and book chapters to his credit. His research explores how educational environments are shaped by cultural identity and difference. A frequent conference contributor, he has presented more than 80 research papers at national and international meetings, including those of NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Divisions F and J, the Association of College Unions International, NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising, ACPA–College Student Educators International, and the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities.

Dr. Amelia Parnell is an accomplished higher education executive and an internationally recognized thought leader regarding current issues and emerging trends in the field. She is a passionate advocate for higher education as a tool for personal advancement and impact, and she seeks opportunities to partner with organizations and individuals who share her sincere commitment to centering students' needs.

In her prior role as vice president for research and policy for NASPA, Dr. Parnell led many of the association's scholarly and advocacy-focused activities and fostered partnerships with college administrators, researchers, grant makers, and other higher education professionals.

As a frequent keynote speaker at national and regional conferences, Amelia presents on topics related to higher education, student affairs, college affordability, student learning outcomes, and institutions' use of data and analytics. She has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and PBS NewsHour.

Amelia recently completed four years of service on the Board of Directors for EDUCAUSE, where she was Chair of the Finance & Investment Committee and the Audit Committee. She is also the past chair of the Higher Education Equity Network (HEEN), a collective impact network representing more than 25 organizations at the forefront of addressing racial equity in higher education.

Amelia enjoys opportunities to teach, and she is energized by making complex concepts easy to understand. She has had enriching engagements with students and peers as an adjunct instructor and lecturer and she is the author of the book, You Are a Data Person, which she wrote to encourage all higher education professionals to discover and embrace their unique data identity.

Amelia holds a Ph.D. in higher education from Florida State University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business administration from Florida A & M University.

Gavin earned their Ph.D. in Foundations of Education and Inquiry from the University of South Carolina’s College of Education and completed a graduate certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies. Prior to joining the faculty at Illinois State University, Gavin worked for several years as a university administrator in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at the University of South Carolina, where they led and supported social justice- and equity-focused initiatives. Earlier in their career, Gavin was an outdoor educator at Princeton University, leading youth in backpacking and other experiential education programs, work that continues to inform their approach to leadership, pedagogy, and community building.

SMF is the NASPA Region 2 Faculty Representative and co-lead for the NASPA Faculty Institute. With over 25 years of professional experience in res life, student life, and academic affairs, his scholarship focuses on mattering, belonging, graduate teaching, and graduate student services. Prior to Villanova, he was a visiting professor and faculty-in-residence at the University of North Texas.  A graduate of the University of Florida and The Ohio State University's HESA programs, he unofficially majored in college at Florida Atlantic University. He is a proud cat dad.

Kerry earned an Ed.D. in Counselor Education, Graduate Certificate in Gender & Women’s Studies, and M.S. in College Student Affairs from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Before joining the faculty, their career included practitioner experience in identity-based centers at private and public institutions, community college counseling, and public university academic advising. Drawing on this broad background, Kerry enjoys supporting students navigate graduate pathways and career progression in student affairs. Their work is rooted in mentorship and a commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging in higher education.

Anwar Cruter serves as the Director for Residential Education for Sophomore and Upper Division residential communities at San Diego State University. Anwar has over 15 years of experience working in higher education at both public and private institutions across the country focusing on student success initiatives , equity-minded practices and student life and engagement. 

Dr. Brooke Paradise, Ed.D. (they/them), is a dynamic higher education leader, educator, researcher, and advocate for inclusive excellence. As the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Inclusion and Engagement at Skidmore College, they lead initiatives focused on student belonging, leadership development, and transformative learning, including the development of Skidmore’s first residential experience curriculum. A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Paradise holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and brings a passion for advancing equity, fostering authentic leadership, and creating environments where individuals can thrive. Their research and professional work center on neurodivergence, inclusive leadership, social justice, and the retention and well-being of higher education professionals. Nationally, they serve in multiple leadership roles with NASPA, including National Chair of the Undergraduate Student Conference, Region II Communications Coordinator, and member of the NASPA Governance Task Force. Through their scholarship, leadership, and advocacy, Dr. Paradise is committed to reimagining higher education through creativity, care, and meaningful institutional change.

Leticia Lynch (she/her) serves as the Assistant Director for Orientation and New Student Programs at Hofstra University on Long Island, New York. Her passion for student affairs began during her undergraduate studies at Ithaca College as she pursued a degree in applied psychology with a minor in counseling. Her experiences as an Orientation Leader, Resident Assistant, and other student leadership roles inspired her pursue the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP). Leticia continued to follow her passion for student affairs and earned her master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from New York University. Her professional experiences include student leadership, student club advising, campus-wide programming, orientation, and first year experience initiatives.

Jaquoi Dorsett (He/Him) was born and raised in Florida and graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Sociology. He is currently based in Buffalo, NY, where he serves as a Career Development Graduate Assistant at Canisius University while completing his Master's in Higher Education Leadership and Administration. Jaquoi is passionate about supporting student success and enjoys board games, R&B music, and hiking in his free time.

Charlie Sloop (He/They) is a second-year graduate student pursuing a master's degree in Student Affairs Administration in the College of Education at Michigan State University. They currently work as a Graduate Assistant for Registered Student Organizations in the Office of Spartan Experiences. Charlie is a graduate of Virginia Tech with two bachelor's of art in theatre arts: performance and public relations. Charlie first explored student affairs by becoming an orientation leader and working across multiple functional areas. Charlie's main role prior to graduation was serving as a Hazing Prevention Specialist & Project Assistant to Student Engagement and Campus Life. Charlie began exploring NASPA through the NASPA Undergraduate Fellowship Program (NUFP), and now serves as a co-chair of the Communications Subcommittee on the NUFP Steering Committee, and a member of the Graduate Associate Program (GAP). Charlie's philosophy toward student affairs is to let your art forge a change amongst people to be curious and serve in lifelong learning.

Dana Downey serves as the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at NYU Abu Dhabi, overseeing the Career Development Center and Civic Engagement & Service departments, as well as the assessment and communications portfolios of the Student Affairs division. She has worked in higher education on three continents, seeking to foster cultures of curiosity, impact, and lifelong learning. She aims to connect people with each other and with opportunities, build capacity on teams, and lower barriers to access when it comes to options.

Hammad Khalid is a seasoned education professional with extensive experience in academic leadership, student development, and alumni engagement. He currently serves as Senior Manager at Aga Khan University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, following over five years at The Citizens Foundation, where he held several leadership roles, including Head of College and Senior Manager of Alumni Programs. His professional background spans strategic communication, project management, career counseling, and employee engagement. He holds an MBA in HR and Marketing from the Institute of Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in electrical and Electronics Engineering from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST).

With two decades of experience as a career educator, Maha oversees the development and implementation of the full-range of career services and programs at The American University in Cairo (AUC)’s Career Center including employer engagement, career advising and experiential learning. Over the span of time, Maha was a catalyst of change designing and introducing new programs/services to increase the hiring venues of AUC’s Career Center offered to students/alumni and employers, enhance AUC’s employability rates and increase AUCians’ career readiness easing their transition to the world of work. 

Her purposeful passion is enabling Millennials and Gen Z's to become the best version of their  professional selves. She consciously shifted her career from advertising to career education with a focus  on coaching, training, capacity building and enhancing AUCians’ career preparation tool-kits. Maha got  certified as a Career Development Facilitator Master Trainer (CDF-MT) in 2024 and is a certified CDF Instructor (CDF-I) since 2010 by the National Career Development Association (NCDA). Maha has designed and delivered modules of the FCD curriculum to certify Career Service Providers (CSPs) in addition to coaching and mentoring CSPs across Egypt. 

Professional affiliations include memberships of the National Career Development Association (NCDA) and the National Association for Colleges and Employers (NACE). 

Maha graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a double minor in Psychology and Business Administration from AUC. 

Areas of Expertise: 

Career Guidance and Coaching | Career Readiness and Employability | Strategic Employer Branding |  Employer Relations/Engagement | Personal Branding | Experiential Learning | Capacity Building | Job Search | Psychometric Assessments

Malak Elmoh is a Career Services Program Manager in the Office of External Relations at Georgetown University in Qatar. In her previous role as a Student Development Officer in the Office of Student Affairs, she played a key role in designing and implementing student programming, while also mentoring and advising student clubs, the Student Government Association (SGA), and the broader student community. A proud GU-Q alumna, Malak also holds a Master of Public Policy from Hamad bin Khalifa University, where she concentrated on education policy. Her experience extends beyond academia, having worked on high-profile events like the Doha Forum and with Memac Ogilvy's Public Relations team, where she developed a robust network in Doha. In her current role, Malak focuses on supporting students and recent graduates through career coaching and graduate school advising as well as further departmental initiatives such as professional development workshops, employer events and career fairs.