Catherine Wehlburg, Ph.D., is President of Athens State University, where she previously served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. With over thirty years in higher education, she has held roles including professor, department chair, dean, and provost, with a focus on enhancing student learning, strategic decision-making, and assessment.

Dr. Wehlburg has published numerous articles, books, and chapters, with her most recent book being The Courage to Learn: Honoring the Complexity of Learning for Educators and Students. She has been recognized for her work in student learning outcomes assessment, including serving as president of the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE) and receiving their Outstanding Achievement Award. She is the Editor-in-Chief for New Directions for Teaching and Learning and serves on multiple editorial boards. 

Debra J. Liebowitz is the Provost, Chief Academic Officer and a Political Science Professor at Quinnipiac University. Since 2020, she has driven major investments in faculty hiring and facilities, including a new School of Business and innovation, science, and technology building, as well as investments in student success. A champion of interdisciplinary collaboration and future-oriented strategy, she’s industry partnerships, including Quinnipiac’s wide-ranging alliance with Hartford HealthCare and a U.S. Small Business Administration-funded entrepreneurship program in collaboration with ConnCorp. Previously, she held leadership roles at Drew University, earning accolades for teaching and civic engagement. She holds degrees in political science from the University of Oregon and Rutgers University.

Frank Hribar is the Vice President for Enrollment & Student Affairs at Adrian College, where he has driven record enrollment and national recognition for innovative initiatives. A graduate of Siena Heights University, he earned a BA in Business Administration, a MA in Human Resource Development, and a Doctor of Business Administration from Bilkent University in Turkey. Frank began his higher education career at Siena Heights and later held leadership roles at Madonna and Kettering Universities, leading strategic enrollment growth and process improvements. His efforts have resulted in record-breaking enrollment and enhanced student experiences. In addition to his work at Adrian College, Frank serves as Chairman of the Board for Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Michigan. He and his wife, Tracy, reside in Adrian, Michigan, with their two children and granddaughter.

Jeffrey D. Senese, Ph.D., became the 10th President of Caldwell University on July 10, 2023, bringing extensive leadership experience in higher education. He previously served as president of Saint Leo University and held academic leadership roles at Cardinal Stritch University, Johnson & Wales University, and Penn State. Dr. Senese has conducted research with the U.S. Departments of Justice and Defense and has international experience in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and South Africa. He holds degrees from Penn State, Indiana State, and Michigan State, with additional leadership training from Harvard, Penn State, and Cornell. A published author and active board member, he has served on the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Florida, and the Urban League of Milwaukee. Recognized for his contributions, he has received honors from the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore, and the City of Tampa.   

Jenny left the corporate world where she worked with some of the world’s biggest brands including Dolly Parton, Family Guy, Harley Davidson, Phantom of the Opera & The Ellen DeGeneres Show and joined higher ed. a decade ago. 

She currently serves as the VP Marketing Communications, Experience and Engagement and Chief Marketing and Comm. Officer at the Univ. of Montana. In this role she oversees brand strategy, digital innovation, enrollment marketing, creative services, and strategic comm. 

Before coming to Montana, Petty was the Dir. of Enrollment Marketing at the Univ. of Wyoming, where she was a key, driving force behind The World Needs More Cowboys campaign. She finds joy in building teams and helping others grow, as well as flexing her creative muscles whenever she can. She’s a graduate of the Reynolds School of Journalism and the Univ. of Nevada and has a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga Univ.

Karlyn Crowley, Ph.D., is the Provost at Ohio Wesleyan University, a "Colleges That Change Lives" institution. Since 2020, she has led transformative initiatives, including the first comprehensive general education revision in 50 years, new academic programs, and the launch of a Teaching, Learning, and Innovation Center. She co-led a major transfer agreement, increasing transfer enrollment by 110%, and has collaborated with corporations and universities to expand educational opportunities. Crowley’s focus on student success includes co-leading the “Move the Needle” retention initiative, achieving a record retention increase.

A champion of innovation, Crowley has advanced career-connected learning by overseeing the dev. of a competencies-based model and launching the university’s first micro-credential in Constructive Dialogue. She has also worked in philanthropy, helping secure funding for an endowed center for belonging and academic programs and initiatives.

Kent Barnds leads enrollment management at Augustana College, overseeing admissions, financial aid, and marketing while driving strategic planning. Since joining in 2005, he has played a key role in record-breaking student enrollments and campus innovation. A respected voice in higher education, he serves on national advisory groups, speaks at industry conferences, and contributes to publications like Inside Higher Ed and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Previously, he spent 13 years at Elizabethtown College, advancing to dean of admissions.

Active in his community, Barnds has served on multiple boards and consults on strategic planning and performance management. Originally from Gering, Neb., he lives in Davenport, Iowa, with his wife, Jennie, and their three children. He enjoys traveling, cooking, jazz, cycling, and remains a firm believer that "the option" is football’s most exciting offense.

Lisa Keegan is a strategic enrollment leader with nearly two decades of experience in higher education. In 2020, she joined Bucknell University as Vice President for Enrollment Management . Previously, she spent 15 years  at Elon University, most recently serving as Assistant Vice President and Dean of Undergraduate Admissions. She is known for her data-driven approach, which has led to record application pools and first-year classes at Bucknell. She holds a J.D. from Stetson University College of Law and a B.S. in business administration from Elon.

Dr. Michael Hammond, President of Gordon College since July 2021, brings 25 years of experience in Christian higher education, combining academic expertise, collaborative leadership, and a deep spiritual foundation. Before joining Gordon, he held leadership roles at Taylor University, Southeastern University, and the University of Arkansas. At Taylor, he served as provost and executive vice president, leading academic and operational functions during a presidential transition.

Hammond holds a B.A. in Christian education from Taylor Univ., an M.A. in biblical and theological studies from Wheaton College, and a Ph.D. in history from the Univ. of Arkansas. His scholarship centers on American Christianity, including evangelicalism, the Civil Rights movement, and the intersection of race and religion. 

 A native of Indiana, Hammond is a runner and baseball fan. He and his wife, Jennifer, have six children.

Dr. Monique Guillory, a New Orleans native, serves as President of Dillard University, bringing over 30 years of executive-level experience in higher education. Her career has been dedicated to HBCUs and MSIs, focusing on academic program development, accreditation processes, and STEM pipelines. Prior to Dillard, she served as Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President at the University of the District of Columbia, and has held leadership roles at Jackson State University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and the Southern University System. Dr. Guillory holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature and performance studies from New York University and is a former Mellon Fellow. She is passionate about the transformative power of education and committed to serving her community.

Nathan Ament is a strategic enrollment leader with over 20 years of experience in higher education. Since joining Knox College in 2023 as Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission, he has led key initiatives to strengthen recruitment, financial aid, and student engagement. Under his leadership, Knox has enhanced its reputation for innovation, access, and student success.  

Before Knox, Ament served at Loyola University New Orleans, where he championed affordability and access, making Loyola the first test-blind institution in the South. 

An Illinois native, Ament holds a bachelor’s in music education from Augustana College (IL) and a master’s in organizational leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He co-hosts *The Admissions Directors Lunchcast* with Teege Mettille. Ament drives innovation at Knox while enjoying life in Galesburg with his wife, Jaimie, and their sons, Noah and Charlie.

Paul McGinnis is the Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment at Bethel University, bringing over 25 years of leadership experience across diverse industries, including finance, higher education, and technology. His expertise lies in driving growth by harnessing the power of teams. Before joining Bethel, Paul served as the Vice President of Marketing and Sales at VOMO, a software company in Plano, Texas. He has a proven ability to lead through change, develop sustainable business models, and unlock leadership potential at all levels. Paul is also an executive coach and leadership consultant, passionate about developing Christian leaders and building high-performing teams.

Thom became SWC’s president in July 2024 after serving as president at Clarke University (IA) and Brookhaven College (TX), and holding academic and leadership roles at UT Dallas, Collin College, and other institutions. He holds degrees in Spanish, Creative Writing, and English Literature, and was an early adopter of student-centered, experiential, and service learning.

A mentor and coach to future leaders, Thom is known for his transparent storytelling on platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram. He values life/work balance, recharging outdoors through gardening, hiking, and biking, and indoors through cooking, craft beer, poker, and soccer.

His wife Noelle is a college educator, performer, and non-profit executive. They share life with two adult children and a houseful of rescued (and rescuing) pets.

Willem de Ruijter, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Geneva College, brings a wealth of experience in higher education leadership and strategic outreach. A 2015 graduate of Geneva's M.A. in Higher Education Leadership program, Willem previously served as Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Redeemer University in Canada. Currently he is working towards his Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership at Bethel University in Minnesota. His dedication extends beyond campus, demonstrated by his board service with the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP) as well as other charities and non-profits. With a background in political science, sociology, and international student recruitment, Willem is passionate about equipping students for faithful service and fostering a vibrant academic community.