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.

Alexa Wesley Chamberlain is the director of research and strategy at NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Her research portfolio spans a variety of topics related to advancing student-centered redesign of campus policies, practices, and systems. Prior to joining NASPA, she focused on federal postsecondary education policy and institutional finance strategies through internships at Lumina Foundation, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, and the U.S. Education Department. Alexa holds a master’s degree in public policy and a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Dr. Kimberly J. Blea (she, her, ella) serves as Vice President for Student Affairs at New Mexico Highlands University, a regional public comprehensive Hispanic-Serving Institution. She has nearly 20 years of experience in both academic and student affairs, and notably developed NMHU’s CARES advocacy program in 2009 with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. Her current responsibilities span a wide range of student-focused services, including residence life, student conduct, career readiness, counseling, health and wellness, accessibility services, basic needs, student life, recreation, Title IX compliance, and initiatives supporting student success, particularly for first-generation and underserved populations. Dr. Blea also has significant experience managing federal, state, and private grants with a focus on service to vulnerable and under resourced communities. A long-time advocate for social justice, she is committed to creating more equitable systems and enhancing student well-being through service and community engagement. She earned a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Public Affairs from NMHU, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of New Mexico, where her research focused on how senior student affairs officers implement federal campus safety mandates. Dr. Blea has held several leadership roles within NASPA.

Stanley DeMerri bio: Dr. Stan DeMerritt currently serves as the vice president for student affairs at South Plains College. He earned is Ph.D. in higher education from Texas Tech University in 2011.  His career in the profession began in 1996 at Wayland Baptist University as a registration coordinator and VA certifying official.  After 8 years of progressing upward, including as the university registrar, he was promoted to associate academic vice president.  After serving Wayland for 20 years, he transitioned to South Plains College for a brief assignment as the dean of students in 2016 moving into his current position in August 2017. 

Stan has been actively involved in different professional organizations that not only assist with the development of the profession but also assist his institution in being on the forefront of ensuring student success.  Activities include AACRAO where he has served two terms as vice president for finance, on multiple taskforces and workgroups including the most recent revision of professional competencies and the association curriculum alignment, with TACRAO as the secretary, SACSCOC as an external reader for decennial reaffirmations, and NASPA as a James E. Scott Academy Board member, annual conference program reviewer, and participant in the development and review of the top issues in student affairs survey.