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. Jill Dunlap is the Assistant Vice President for Civic Engagement, Policy Research and Advocacy at NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Prior to her current role, Jill worked at three different campuses over a span of 15 years. Jill’s primary background is in equity and justice work, specializing in interpersonal violence prevention and response. Her expertise in interpersonal violence has allowed her to serve as a consultant at the national level, from participating in the federal rulemaking process, serving as a subject matter expert to the Department of Defense and a member of the Peace Corps Sexual Assault Advisory Council. Jill also teaches Political Science at both St. Xavier University and DePaul University in Chicago. She completed her PhD in Political Science and Public Administration at Northern Illinois University. Jill’s research has centered on the experiences of college students and student affairs professionals, and includes a range of topics from interpersonal violence, to advancing racial justice on campus. Her work can be found in several books including Contested Issues in Troubled Times: Student Affairs Dialogues on Equity, Civility, and Safety and Scandal and Corruption in Congress. Jill’s most recent research focuses on equity and social change efforts in higher education and she is proud to have co-authored the recent report, Advancing Racial Justice on Campus: Student and Administrator Perspectives on Conditions for Change.

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. 

Diana Ali is currently the director of policy research and advocacy at NASPA. Through her service at NASPA, Diana provides timely analysis of emerging policy issues at state and federal levels, creates tools for student affairs professionals to understand and respond to these issues, and organizes and supports NASPA advocacy and civic engagement efforts.

Since moving to the area, Diana has been a non-profit advocate, and is currently a mental health group facilitator in the Chicagoland community. She has served as an AmeriCorps volunteer for two years and graduated with a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

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.