Whitney Platzer O’Regan, Ed.D., serves as the senior director of prevention and safety initiatives, under the Health, Safety & Well-being team at NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Dr. O’Regan received her doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University where her doctoral research focused on student sense of belonging and engagement through a public health lens. Dr. O’Regan has over twelve years of experience working to reduce high risk substance misuse on college campuses with functional area expertise in student affairs, policy, student conduct, crisis response, peer education, and health promotion.

espalding@naspa.org

Dr. Gigi Secuban serves as the vice president for inclusive excellence and belonging at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland. She brings more than 25 years of higher education experience, including inaugural vice president roles for inclusive excellence at Texas State University and Ohio University. Previously, Secuban held leadership positions at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, where she oversaw the renovation of the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center, and at the University of Arkansas, where she served as senior associate director for the freshman engineering program, director of the multicultural center, director of student affairs and diversity services in the College of Education and Health Professions, as well as an assistant director of undergraduate admissions. Her work centers on advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB); promoting student success; and fostering campus environments where all individuals are valued, supported, and heard. She has led initiatives focused on cultural and resource centers, inclusive excellence planning, DEIB fundraising and branding, and campus climate assessment. Secuban earned her Doctor of Education in higher education administration, Master of Science in health science, and Bachelor of Arts in psychology—all from the University of Arkansas. A proud 32-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she is a charter member of the Phi Alpha Omega Chapter in Northwest Arkansas.

Dr. C. Spencer Platt is an associate professor of higher education administration at the University of South Carolina. He directs the Community College Leadership Alliance and previously led the university’s Center for Innovation in Higher Education. With more than 20 years of experience in student affairs, community engagement, diversity and equity, and academic affairs, Platt’s research focuses on access and excellence in education, particularly the experiences of underrepresented students, faculty, and staff at predominantly White institutions. He has secured over one million dollars in extramural funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. His publications include articles in numerous peer-reviewed journals and three books: Multiculturalism in Higher Education: Increasing Access and Improving Equity in the 21st Century (Information Age, 2020); Comprehensive Multicultural Education in the 21st Century: Increasing Access in the Age of Retrenchment (Information Age, 2019); and From Boyhood to Manhood: Deconstructing Black Masculinity Through a Lifespan Continuum (Peter Lang, 2015). Platt regularly presents at national and international conferences, including AERA, ASHE, the International Conference on Doctoral Education, and the International Colloquium on Black Males in Education. He earned a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin, an MS from the University of Dayton, and a BA from the University of South Carolina.

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. Danielle Miller-Schuster serves as Associate Vice President for the Division of Student Affairs at Illinois State University, where she provides leadership for division-wide strategic planning and oversees a broad portfolio of programs, services, and facilities that advance the success and well-being of the Redbird community. Her areas of responsibility include Campus Recreation, Career Services, Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality, Health Promotion and Wellness, Student Counseling Services, Student Health Services, and Student Affairs Assessment and Data Analytics, Advancement and Constituent Relations, and Professional Development and Staff Recognition.

A proud three-time Redbird, Danielle earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science, her master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration, and her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Foundations from Illinois State. With more than two decades of experience, she is dedicated to cultivating purposeful programs and services that foster growth, retention, belonging, and institutional excellence. Her leadership philosophy centers on nurturing growth through coaching, building connections through collaboration, and cultivating positive environments that empower staff, inspire innovation, and spark curiosity. 

Danielle is actively engaged with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), where she recently completed a four-year term on the AVP Steering Committee, co-chaired the 2023 AVP Symposium, and served on the faculty for the 2024 and 2025 New AVP Institute. She is currently contributing to volunteer and engagement efforts for the 2026 Annual Conference in Kansas City and is excited to be a member of the 2027 Conference Leadership Committee. 

Danielle lives in Bloomington, Illinois, with her husband, Andy, and their rescue dog, Starlight Louise.

Dr. Don Stansberry is a nationally engaged student affairs leader and higher education executive currently serving as Vice Provost for Student Affairs at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. With more than two decades of progressive leadership experience across multiple institutions, he has built a career centered on student success, belonging, and social mobility.

Throughout his tenure at institutions including Clayton State University, Old Dominion University, Western Illinois University, Towson University, and Defiance College, Dr. Stansberry has led transformative initiatives that strengthen retention, progression, and graduation outcomes. His leadership emphasizes aligning strategy with care—ensuring that budgets, staffing models, assessment practices, and campus partnerships work cohesively to remove barriers and elevate student achievement.

A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Stansberry is deeply committed to expanding access and opportunity for underserved and historically marginalized students. His leadership philosophy centers on asking bold questions, challenging assumptions, and helping teams envision what “could be” rather than settling for what has always been.

Known for his energy, creativity, and brand-forward leadership style, Dr. Stansberry brings both strategic vision and authentic connection to his work—championing environments where students, staff, and institutions can thrive. 

Dr. Don Stansberry earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Education Specialist Degree from Old Dominion University. He completed his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education in College Student Personnel at Ohio University

Jeff Brown currently serves as the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at American University in Washington D.C. In this role he provides leadership for key departments that support the care and well-being of the student body including the Office of the Dean of Students, Student Accountability and Restorative Practices, the Student Health Center, the Center for Well-Being and Psychological Services and International Student and Scholar Services. He also serves in critical roles with crisis management, threat assessment, student activism support and neighborhood/off campus relations on the AU campus. 

Prior to this role, Jeff served for four years as the Dean of Students. In that role he has responsibility for undergraduate and graduate student care, support, and advocacy. He also served as the chief student conduct officer for the University. Jeff had responsibility on the AU campus for inclusion support, neighborhood relations, crisis management and multiple retention initiatives. 

Prior to his move to American University seven years ago, he worked at Clemson University for 19 years serving in a variety of capacities, most recently as the Associate Dean of Students where he over saw all orientation and transition programs, parent/family programs and support, the Student Veteran Resource Center, retention programs for underrepresented students and extended orientation programs. He also has extensive experience working in residence life and fraternity and sorority life. 

Originally from the Chicago area, Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations & Communications from Bradley University and a Master of Education in Student Affairs Administration from Clemson University. Jeff has held multiple leadership roles with NASPA, ACPA, and NODA.  Currently Jeff is serving as the Past-President for NODA after serving as a General Board Member and the Lead Faculty for the Orientation Professionals Institute (OPI)  for six years.  

Dr. Steve D. Mobley, Jr.’s scholarship focuses on the contemporary placement of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Particularly, his research underscores the understudied facets of HBCU communities including issues surrounding race, social class, and student sexuality. He earned his B.A. in Communication & Culture from Howard University. Upon graduating from Howard, he completed his Master’s in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania and earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Maryland.

Dr. Mobley, Jr. also has had extensive experience in the fields of Higher Education and Student Affairs. Prior to him beginning his career as an academic, he served as Associate Director of the undergraduate program at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. He also held appointments in academic affairs at the University of Maryland and taught courses in The College of Education, Undergraduate Studies, and the Academic Achievement Programs (A TRiO Initiative).

His scholarly work has also garnered national attention. Dr. Mobley, Jr. was named a 2022 Diverse: Issues In Higher Education Emerging Scholar, and a 2021 College Student Educators International (ACPA) Emerging Scholar-Designee Awardee. He is also the recipient of the 2018 Article of the Year Award from the American Educational Research Association’s (AERA) Queer Studies Special Interest Group (SIG), 2019 College Student Educators International (ACPA) Coalition on Men & Masculinities Tracy Davis Emerging Research Award, and the 2019 American College Personnel Association’s (ACPA) Coalition of Sexuality and Gender Identities (CSGI) Research Recognition Award.

Dr. Mobley, Jr.’s scholarship has also been published in Teachers College Record, The Journal of Higher Education, The Journal of Homosexuality, The Urban Review, the Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, and the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education.

As the Director of Innovation and Impact on the Quality Coaching team, Victoria Dunn manages work addressing scalable solutions for quality education-to-career coaching, especially technology-enabled or publicly available solutions. She also supports overall grant making and management across the team's portfolio including post-secondary education, transition coaching, and state-level supports. Victoria joined Strada in 2024. Previously, she led work in several national college access and success organizations, such as the Posse Foundation, Bottom Line, and KIPP Foundation. 

Elise Newkirk-Kotfila serves as the assistant vice president for strategy and partnerships at NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Her work focuses on student success research and partnerships, and she leads the Advising Success Network, a dynamic network of national organizations partnering to engage institutions in holistic advising redesign to advance success for all students, including Black, Latinx/a/o, Indigenous, Asian, and Pacific Islander students and poverty-affected students. The network provides technical assistance and resources to guide colleges and universities through advising redesign initiatives and has supported over 267 institutions in 30 states. Prior to her work at NASPA, Elise served as the director of applied learning for the State University of New York (SUNY), where she led SUNY’s 64 campuses through an applied learning initiative which culminated in providing at least one high-quality experiential learning opportunity to 460,000 students. Elise has served on national advisory councils and boards, including on the executive board for the Society for Experiential Education. Elise holds a master’s degree from the University at Albany where she studied Women’s Studies and Public Policy with a research concentration on community-university partnerships and a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies from The College of Saint Rose.