Nina Buchanan is a Clinical Associate Professor for the Ed.D. in Leadership for Educational Equity in Higher Education in the CU Denver School of Education and Human Development. Nina has more than 20 years of experience in academic and student affairs. Her work included many areas, including residence life; summer bridge programs; federal TRIO programs; academic advising; and leadership roles in undergraduate academic support services and the office of the registrar. Much of her work focused on advocacy and belonging for historically excluded college populations. She previously served as an associate professor and coordinator of Higher Education programs at Wilmington University in Delaware. Nina has been engaged with NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising for over 15 years, having served as a conference co-chair and coordinator for the mentoring program for the mid-Atlantic region. She is also involved with ACPA: College Student Educators International, and currently serves on the editorial board for the Research in Brief publication of the Journal of College Student Development. She is also involved with her local chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), which promotes college attendance for women in the United States through civic advocacy and scholarships. Nina holds a Doctor of Education from Widener University in Higher Education Leadership; a Master of Education from the University of Delaware in Student Affairs Practice; and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware.

Allie McGuigan (Ph.D. The Pennsylvania State University) is an associate professor of practice. She obtained her doctorate and graduate certificate in institutional research through Penn State, and her master’s in postsecondary educational leadership and student affairs from San Diego State University. Her research, which focuses on online education, examines relationship building, engagement, and connection for online learners. Allie’s professional interests span numerous student affairs offices, and she has had experiences in residence life, new student orientation, summer bridge programs, academic advising, student life and leadership, and more. She also served on the Board of Trustees for The Pennsylvania State University which developed her interest in university governance and administration. Allie enjoys teaching courses related to college student development, governance, higher education law, and more – and working with online students to help them integrate into their online campuses.

Dr. Kelly Slay is an Assistant professor of Higher Education and Public Policy in the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. Her research examines issues of race, diversity, and equity in higher education and is primarily focused in three areas: the factors shaping Black students’ college choice, completion, and career trajectories; the use and implications of enrollment management policies (admissions, recruitment and financial aid) aimed at improving campus diversity, particularly in post-affirmative action contexts; and racial and gender inequities in STEM in undergraduate and graduate education. Two of Dr. Slay’s current projects explore the relationship between enrollment management practices in elite contexts and the college choice decisions and transition experiences of Black students and students from low-income backgrounds. Her research is published in journals such as Teachers College Record, the Review of Higher Education, and Educational Policy.