Dr. Ryan Travia has worked at the intersection of student affairs and college health for over 20 years. He is the inaugural associate vice president (AVP) for student success at Babson College, having previously served as Babson’s first associate dean of students for wellness. As AVP for student success, Travia provides leadership and strategic direction for a comprehensive portfolio that includes accessibility services; the campus assessment, response, and evaluation (CARE) team; counseling and psychological services; first-generation student success; health services; student advising and success; and wellness and prevention services. Prior to joining the Babson community in 2015, Travia spent a decade at Harvard University as the founding director of the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Services and founding director of the Department of Health Promotion and Education. He previously led the alcohol and drug education program at Dartmouth College.

Travia has written and presented extensively on framing and measuring well-being in a higher education context and is a frequent presenter and sought-after consultant. He currently serves on the International Advisory Board for Student Affairs at the Universidad de Monterrey. Travia holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and elementary education/moderate special needs and a master’s degree in educational administration, both from Boston College, as well as a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Thaddeus Mantaro serves as the dean of student health and wellness at Dallas College, where he leads efforts to enhance student well-being through integrated health services, counseling, and wellness programs. With over 25 years of experience in higher education, he has developed collaborative and holistic approaches to advancing student success. He has played a pivotal role in the integration of services at Dallas College, resulting in improvements in retention and mental health outcomes.

A counselor by training, Mantaro holds a PhD in higher education from Texas Tech University, where he studied well-being and leadership in higher education. He has led national and regional initiatives aimed at improving mental health, substance abuse prevention, and overall student wellness. An active member of several professional associations, including NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and the American College Health Association, Mantaro is the founder of the DFW Health Promotion Collaborative, the Community College Health Coalition, and the Basic Needs Task Force. His work is informed by a deep commitment to creating environments in which students, faculty, and staff can thrive.

Dr. Edward F. Martinez is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Campus Senior Student Affairs Officer at Suffolk County Community College, the largest multi-campus community college in the SUNY system. With 30 years of experience across diverse higher education settings, Dr. Martinez is a nationally recognized leader committed to bridging academic and student affairs to create transformative learning environments. A first-generation college graduate, his research focuses on the experiences of community college students and professionals. Dr. Martinez has served in national leadership roles, including on the NASPA Board of Directors and currently serves on the boards of the NASPA Foundation and The Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification. A SUNY Hispanic Leadership Fellow and recipient of NASPA’s prestigious “Pillar of the Profession” award, he is also the founder and principal of Level Up Consulting and Strategies, LLC, helping individuals and institutions elevate student success through inclusive excellence, coaching, and strategy.

Dr. Jhenai Chandler is the Vice President of Research and Policy at NASPA, where she leads efforts to advance student success and equity through research-based policy. She previously served as Senior Director of College Completion Policy at TICAS and has held leadership roles at Education Strategy Group and within Florida’s higher education systems. A first-generation college graduate and former parenting student, Chandler is committed to expanding access and support for diverse learners. She holds degrees from Florida A&M University, Nova Southeastern University, and a Ph.D. from Florida State University.

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.

Dr. Liliana "Lili" Rodríguez serves as Vice President and Managing Director of Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A), a division of Kelly Services, Inc. and premier executive search firm that's been helping educational institutions and related nonprofits find transformational leaders for over two decades. What sets Lili apart is her rare combination of psychological expertise, hands-on administrative experience, and genuine passion for the work. She thinks strategically about organizational culture, leadership dynamics, and what it really takes to drive meaningful change in higher education—with an approach that's both evidence-based and deeply human. Before joining GA&A, Lili held executive roles at some of the nation's most respected institutions. As Vice Chancellor of Campus Life at the University of Denver, she oversaw 20 critical departments spanning all aspects of student life. At Swarthmore College, she served as Associate Dean and completely reimagined student engagement and residential life. At Keeling & Associates, LLC, she led the executive search practice as Vice President and Senior Consultant while helping institutions implement sustainable organizational change. Throughout her career, Lili has built a reputation as a passionate student advocate who understands that great educational leadership isn't just about credentials—it's about vision, values, and the ability to inspire real transformation. This commitment earned her the NASPA Region IV James J. Rhatigan Outstanding Dean Award, recognizing her exceptional contributions to students, the student affairs profession, and higher education leadership. Dr. Rodríguez holds a PhD and MS in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and maintains an executive coaching certification with a focus in Positive Psychology. 

An accomplished higher education leader with over 25 years of experience in student affairs, alumni relations, career counseling, HR and university administration. Rana is known for fostering vibrant student life, strengthening alumni engagement, and developing inclusive support services. Her work centers on strategic program development, cross-departmental collaboration, clear communication, and effective conflict resolution.Throughout this session, I will discuss my journey as a Student Affairs professional, focusing on the challenges I faced and the obstacles I overcame while serving at a newly established university that adopted the “Open Learning System,” the first of its kind in Lebanon. I will also elaborate on the role of Student Affairs in fostering inclusion, shaping students’ experiences, nurturing confidence, responsibility, and innovative thinking, and ultimately witnessing their growth into confident and engaged alumni.

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.

Dr. Melinda Karp, Phase Two’s founder and project lead, has extensive research and thought-partnership experience in the areas of college access, student support, and completion strategies. She is a nationally-known expert on community colleges and strategies to support low-income, first-generation, minoritized, and otherwise under-served students in and out of the classroom. Dr. Karp has authored or co-authored over 70 articles, book chapters, and working papers and 35 practitioner-focused blogs, op-eds, and practical toolkits. She served as panel chair for the Institute for Education Science’s What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide on Effective Advising for Postsecondary Students and a reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education’s 2024 Postsecondary Success Recognition Program. She is also a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success and a coach for the NCII Rural Guided Pathways Project.  

Dr. Suzanne Lyons is a senior consultant with Phase Two Advisory, supporting their national research and practitioner learning networks related to college access, success, and holistic student support. In addition, she is an educator and systems-level social worker, with over 20 years of experience working in K-12, public and private colleges, and national non-profits, including work with The Posse Foundation, TRIO, and Promise programs. As a first-generation, low-income college graduate, Dr. Lyons has dedicated her career to focusing on policies, programs, and multi-sector partnerships across the K-20 pipeline that support college access and success. Among other publications, Dr. Lyons is co-author (with Dr. Karp) on a chapter in the Routledge Handbook on Higher Education, “Advising the whole student: Current approaches to integrating academic, career, and personal support.”  Prior to joining Phase Two, she led private and federal grants geared toward systems-level change to improve student outcomes in high schools and at Hispanic-serving community colleges. Dr. Lyons holds her Bachelor’s in Psychology & Spanish from the University of Notre Dame, her Master’s in Social Workfrom the University of Pennsylvania, and her Ph.D. in Higher & Postsecondary Education from NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

Eman Alsamara serves as a Graduate School and Career Advisor at NYU Abu Dhabi. In her role, she is responsible for supporting students and alumni from diverse backgrounds in career exploration and readiness and preparing for graduate school. Eman advises and supports students specializing in the social sciences and oversees career pathways in Law, Policy, Education & Social Impact. 

Eman is Arab American born and raised in Chicago in the US and is originally from Palestine. Eman has been working in higher education for a few years now in various capacities related to education, student programming, and student engagement. Prior to joining NYU Abu Dhabi, she served as the Assistant Director of Academic Advising in the Dean of Students Office at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago for three years where she oversaw academic advising and support programs, international student experience, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for graduate students.
Eman holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health with minors in Political Science and Public Policy (2018) and a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy (2019) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Eman has a passion for social justice and fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion in higher education.

Malak Elmoh is a Career Services Officer 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 Life, 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. 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.

Lamia Husseini is a part of the CTL team at the American University of Beirut. She has a BA political studies and an MA in educational administration and policy both from the American University of Beirut. The scope if her work is professional development and teaching excellence and innovation. She supports the work of designing and assessing policies and procedures of merit awards.

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.

Dr. Jhenai Chandler is the Vice President of Research and Policy at NASPA, where she leads efforts to advance student success and equity through research-based policy. She previously served as Senior Director of College Completion Policy at TICAS and has held leadership roles at Education Strategy Group and within Florida’s higher education systems. A first-generation college graduate and former parenting student, Chandler is committed to expanding access and support for diverse learners. She holds degrees from Florida A&M University, Nova Southeastern University, and a Ph.D. from Florida State University.

With over 10 years of experience in student affairs, Dr. Tyger is passionate about creating inclusive and supportive campus communities that empower students to thrive. Currently serving as the Assistant Vice President for Student Life at the University of Florida, James oversees the Student Engagement Team, which includes the offices for Campus Engagement, Community and belonging, Sorority and fraternity Life, and Student Legal Services. 

Dr. Tyger is a proud double Gator, having earned both a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and a J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He also holds a Master of Education from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management from Virginia Tech. 

In addition to his role at the University of Florida, Dr. Tyger is the Director-elect for the Public Policy Division of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and serves on the Virginia Tech Student Affairs Advisory Council. 

Dr. Penny Rue is a Professional Certified Executive Leadership Coach and Consultant affiliated with the Association of Governing Boards. She is also Vice President and University Professor Emeritus at Wake Forest University, where she is a Research Professor for the Department of Counseling. She served as the Vice President for Campus Life and Professor of Counseling at Wake Forest University from 2013 to 2022, where she had broad responsibility for the well-being and safety of students and their education outside the classroom. Dr. Rue previously served for six years as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of California San Diego, and as a member of the Student Affairs Council for the University of California system.She served for eight years as Dean of Students at the University of Virginia. She served for twelve years in progressively responsible leadership roles at Georgetown University. She is nationally known for her creative leadership in strengthening campus communities,

leading for belonging, well-being and inclusion, and effective enterprise risk management. Earlier in her career, she held posts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Maryland. Dr. Rue obtained her Doctorate in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland, where her dissertation research focused on a conceptual study of the community on the college campus. She has a Master’s degree in student personnel services from The Ohio State University, from which she received the Maude Stewart Outstanding Alumna Award in 2011, and an A.B. Magna cum laude in English and Religion from Duke University. In 2011, she was named a Pillar of the Profession by the NASPA Foundation. A longtime NASPA Volunteer, in March 2017, she began a three-year term serving as Chair-elect, Chair, and Past Chair of the NASPA Board of Directors, which concluded in 2020. Outside of work, she loves swimming, yoga, gardening, and cats.

Looking for ways to continue to increase student engagement at your institution? 

Join this session for insights on trends and hear about ways that other institutions have solved the student engagement challenge. We’ll cover overarching trends we’re seeing in student engagement, how technology is shifting strategies, and ways that higher education institutions are using technology to take engagement to the next level. 

Leave the webinar with ideas that you can implement at your institution to enhance the student experience, learn how institutions continue to get students’ attention, and ways to encourage engagement throughout the year. 

Joining the team in July 2021, Jack serves as the event management and training coordinator. Within his role, Jack serves as the primary advisor to the Activities Board, while also assisting with other large-scale campus events and initiatives. He also aids student organizations through their development and event planning. Jack earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky.

Paige Cook serves as the Associate Director of Student Activities and Greek Life at Gettysburg College. In her professional role, Paige is responsible for the primary oversight of Gettysburg College’s CampusGroups platform, the large-scale social programming on campus, the Multicultural Greek Council, and more. Outside of the workplace, she enjoys drawing, reading, and spending time with her cats!

With over 25 years dedicated to the higher education technology industry, Christine McCormick Hall, M.Ed., has a proven track record of success working with colleges and universities. Holding an M.Ed. in Student Affairs, she brings a deep understanding of the student experience to her role as VP of Sales, Americas at Ready Education. She is passionate about leveraging technology to drive meaningful student engagement and institutional success.