2014 Accelerating Academic Success Program Conference

Speaker’s Biographies

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Greg Burke Greg Burke, Director of Athletics, Northwestern State University Beginning his 19th year as director of athletics at Northwestern State, Greg Burke has received national acclaim for the job he’s done in his adopted hometown. Burke has been athletics director at Northwestern since Aug. 29, 1996, when his first day included speaking at the annual NSU/Independence Bowl Kickoff Luncheon. Burke is the longest serving AD at any Louisiana or Southland Conference institution. He has steered NSU athletics to many of its greatest accomplishments while overseeing a program that has fielded championship caliber teams in nearly all of the school’s NCAA Division I sports. Last February, he was presented the “Outstanding Contributions to Amateur Football Award” by the north Louisiana chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. Two years ago, he was included among 29 winners of the Under Amour AD of the Year Award presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Burke was the 2010-11 president of the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association. He has begun a term on the NCAA Division I Committee on Academic Performance; Burke previously served on the prestigious NCAA Championships/Sports Management Cabinet. He previously served a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Football Issues Committee (1999-2002) and concurrently served a term on the eight-member NCAA FCS Committee that administers the national playoffs. Burke has served as a site supervisor for Football Championship Subdivision playoff games across the nation and he is regarded as one of the country’s premiere advocates of FCS football. Burke’s 17 years as athletic director include 37 Southland Conference regular-season or tournament championships, 61 All-American and Academic All-American student athletes, and three U.S. Olympic competitors. Twenty NSU teams have taken part in NCAA or WNIT postseason competition. All of the school’s athletic facilities have undergone nearly $7

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million in improvements in the past four years. Burke spearheaded a $2 million series of sponsorships for new scoreboards installed for 2008-09 at all NSU athletic venues; the $700,000 Second Century Circle fencing project for athletic venues; and a $500,000 softball grandstand project completed earlier this year. NSU in 2004-05 became the first (and remains the only) Southland Conference member in the league’s five decades of history to sweep football, men’s basketball and baseball championships in the same athletic year. It’s been done only once in Southeastern Conference history, by Alabama in 1933-34, and only four times in Big Ten Conference history, the last time by Michigan State in 1979-80. Those accomplishments have come with one of the more modest athletic budgets in the state and conference. Burke’s management skill and fundraising ability have been pivotal. Burke has displayed a remarkable ability to hire dynamic head coaches. In just their second seasons, women’s basketball co-head coaches Brooke and Scott Stoehr guided NSU to the NCAA Tournament while baseball coach Lane Burroughs executed the best one-season turnaround in Southland Conference history and tied NSU’s school record. Anchors of the NSU department include current head coaches Mike McConathy, Louisiana’s all-time career basketball wins leader; 2013 Louisiana softball coach of the Year Donald Pickett; Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman, who just led the volleyball program to its best two seasons in the 31-year history of the program; and Patric DuBois, whose Lady Demon tennis program has two Southland Conference titles in the past four years. Several other Burke hires had great success at Northwestern State that propelled them to national prominence in subsequent positions. From his first day on the job, Burke has stressed the importance of having a balanced athletic program. To that end, tremendous competitive strides have been made in women’s athletics under his guidance. Along with the aforementioned volleyball surge, NSU’s soccer program was the first in Louisiana to reach the NCAA Tournament. Softball and tennis made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2013, the second in four seasons for Lady Demon tennis, and softball returned in 2014. Burke has established a high standard for NSU Athletics in academic achievement and community service.

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The academic accomplishments are reflected annually in the NCAA’s APR and GSR studies. Community service by NSU student-athletes, coaches and staff more than doubled to over 5,000 hours in 2009-10 and has remained at that level. Burke spearheaded the adoption of the slogan “Great Tradition, Brighter Future” for NSU Athletics, and the creation of NSU Athletics “Cornerstones” for student-athletes: “Academic Achievement, Personal Responsibility, Competitive Success … Every Minute, Every Hour, Every Day!” In 2005, Burke was one of three recipients of the All-America Football Foundation’s Gen. Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award and that same year, was also tabbed as one of two Natchitoches Parish Cenla Newsmakers of 2005 by the Alexandria Town Talk newspaper’s editorial staff. He received the 2006 “Outstanding Alumni Award” from his alma mater, Marlington High School in Alliance, Ohio, recognizing his community service and professional achievements. Burke became one of only 21 alumni honored since the award was instituted in 1982. Burke is a past president of the Natchitoches Kiwanis Club and remains active in that civic group. He has also been part of the steering committee for the Natchitoches Christmas Festival and is a former president of the Natchitoches Area Jaycees. He is involved with the American Heart Association and was 2010 March of Dimes chairman locally. His wife, Susu, is a Natchitoches native, NSU graduate and an elementary teacher. Their 20-year-old daughter, Catherine, graduated from St. Mary’s High School in May of 2012 and attends Louisiana Tech.

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Jennifer Bell Jennifer Bell has served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance for Tennessee State University since 2003. As the Assistant AD for Compliance, Bell is responsible for ensuring that coaches, student-athletes, administrative staff, and boosters abide by the NCAA, university and conference rules and regulations. Prior to stepping into the role as Compliance Director, Bell served as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team from 1991 to 2003. She coached on the two back to back OVC Championship squads. A graduate of Fisk University, Bell excelled in basketball, cross country, volleyball and track. As an athlete, she was a three-time CIAC conference selection in basketball and a member of the 1, 000-points club. A native of Clarksville, Tennessee, Bell received her B.S. in Political Science from Fisk University in 1991. She later obtained an M.A.Ed in Sports Administration from Tennessee State University in 2005.

Norman Francis The classic Xavier student is someone who has heart, an appreciation for diligent work, the determination to use his/her talents to the fullest, and the courage to ask for help when it is needed. Nobody has embodied those qualities more so than NORMAN C. FRANCIS, whose administrative career at Xavier has spanned a half-century. A 1952 graduate, Francis returned to his alma mater in 1957 – following Loyola Law School and two years in the US Army -- to begin his administrative career as dean of men. Since his appointment as the University’s first lay president in 1968, Xavier has more than tripled its enrollment, broadened its curriculum, expanded its campus and received national attention for its award-winning academic initiatives. The tradition of academic excellence is consistent with the dreams of its founder, Saint Katharine Drexel and her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament religious order.

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Admired for his sharp mind, revered for his modesty, and praised for his dedication, Dr. Francis enjoys a prestigious national reputation. In December 2006, he received the nation’s highest civilian award – The Presidential Medal of Freedom – from President George W. Bush. Francis has served in an advisory role to five US presidents — including the historic National Commission on Excellence in Education, whose findings, published in the groundbreaking work A Nation at Risk, created a sense of urgency for bringing about educational reform in the nation’s school system. He has served as chairman or board member for numerous councils and foundations including Chair of the President’s Council for the United Negro College Fund, American Association of Higher Education, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; The College Board, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Educational Testing Service, and the Southern Education Foundation.

In 2007 the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education appointed Dr. Francis to Chair the HBCU Capital Financing Advisory Board, and in 2005, Governor Kathleen Blanco appointed Francis to serve as Chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, helping to oversee the state’s recovery following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita while he lead the University’s own recovery and rebuilding effort. He served in that capacity for 3 years. In New Orleans, Francis serves as Chairman of the Board of Liberty Bank and Trust; Co-Chair of the Committee for a Better New Orleans; member of the Advisory Board of The Times-Picayune Publishing Company; The Fleur de lis Ambassadors Program, the Executive Committee for the New Orleans 2018 Commission, as well as other local organizations.

Norman C. Francis’ legacy as the first African American lay president of Xavier is epitomized in his unwavering commitment to educational and social equality, spiritual enlightenment, and community service.

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Vivian L. Fuller Dr. Fuller was appointed Director of Athletics by Dr, Carolyn W. Meyers at Jackson State University on August 8, 2011. Dr. Fuller served as the Dean of Sojourner-Douglass College, Cambridge Campus. She had oversight for program development, strategic leadership, community initiatives, and program review assessment, articulates College contributions, liaison between faculty and students, fosters online education, assessment of degree requirements, review accreditation process, serve on academic committee and supervise Advisory Board leadership for the Cambridge, campus. In, 2000, President Dolores R. Spikes appointed Fuller as Director of Athletics at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In this capacity, she had oversight for program operations, fund-raising, alumni and community relations, marketing and promotions and supervision of athletic personnel for the Division I-AA program with 14 sports. Prior to joining UMES, Dr. Fuller served as Director of Athletics at Tennessee State University. With her appointment at TSU in 1997, Dr. Fuller became the first African-American woman and one of only seven women nationally to hold the position of Director of Athletics at an NCAA Division I institution with a football program. During her tenure, the football program led the Ohio Valley Conference and went on to compete in the NCAA Division I-AA championship playoffs. In 1992, Dr. Fuller was selected the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Intramurals and Recreation at Northeastern Illinois University. In this capacity, she supervised 14 sports and helped guide the university through a successful transition from Division II to Division I status. Dr. Fuller is a nationally known speaker on the topics of women in sports, academic support programs for student-athletes, academic advising, and women in senior management positions, gender equity, and the importance of networking in the profession. She began her career in higher education at Bennett College in 1978 as the Director of Intramurals and instructor of Physical Education. From 1984-87 she served as Assistant Director for Advisement Programs for Student Athletes eventually being promoted to Assistant Director of Athletics at North Carolina A&T State University. In 1987, she became Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she was responsible for internal operations of the program and developing the academic component for student-athletes. Fuller served as a Tenured

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Professor in the Department of Athletics. Dr. Fuller's accomplishments have been recognized by a number of organizations, including the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), the Boy Scouts of America and the Chicago Youth Success Foundation. Her achievements have been chronicled in national and local publications, including Black Issues in Higher Education, Jet Magazine, The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) News, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Athletic Business, Ebony, Black Women's Encyclopedia, The Chicago Sun-Times, and the Fayetteville Observer. She has published numerous articles and given presentations on the national and regional levels on a variety of topics related to athletics administration. In 1996, Fuller was featured in Athletic Management Magazine on receiving the Atlanta Award in recognition of her achievements as a role model in Athletics Administration. Dr. Fuller earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Fayetteville State University, a Master's of Education from University of Idaho and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Iowa State University. Her main two goals in athletics administration are to develop a competitive, broad- base athletics program that does not compromise integrity, academics, and the welfare of student-athletes, and to create an avenue to assist women and ethnic minorities who seek careers in higher education.

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Tamesha Greenlee Tamesha Greenlee was recently promoted to Associate Director of Academics, after being with the department for 6 years as an Academic Counselor and most recently Assistant Director of Academics. In the Office of Student Athlete Success, she is the Graduate Assistant Development Coordinator and serves on the Student Outcomes and Operations/Program Development committees. Prior to being hired as an Academic Counselor, she worked within Student Affairs at Arkansas as a Student Development Specialist for Student Support Services. She is a member of the National Association of Athletic Advising Association and serves on the Student Recognition and Awards Committee. She was an honor graduate of Arkansas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication. She earned her master's degree at the University of Arkansas in Higher Education and Leadership while serving as a graduate assistant in the Bogle Academic Center. She is an Arkansas native from Nashville, AR. Greenlee works with Arkansas' soccer, gymnastics and men’s track field and cross country teams.

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Lauren Hansen Lauren Hansen joined the University of Arkansas athletic staff as the tutor coordinator in April 2012. She comes to the university with two years’ experience in athletic academics. Hansen is responsible for recruiting, hiring, and training new tutors. She also works with the academic counselors and learning specialists to provide student-athletes with tutoring sessions throughout each semester Under Hansen, the tutoring program received Level 1 CRLA (College Reading and Learning Association) International Certification in spring 2014. Hansen is also the academic counselor for softball and swimming and diving. Prior to joining the Razorbacks, Hansen served in the same role for a year at the University of Louisville while a graduate assistant. While at Louisville, the tutoring program gained certification under the international CRLA program. During her two years as a graduate assistant, Hansen worked with several teams as an assistant academic counselor, spending her last five months as the interim men's swimming and diving advisor. She also assisted with the student organization for international student-athletes. Hansen earned her bachelor's degree in accounting in 2010 and her master's degree of education in counseling and personnel with a concentration in college student personnel in 2012 at the University of Louisville. She is also a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics. Hansen is a native of Hebron, Kentucky.

Paula J. Jenkins Paula J. Jenkins, CFRE, currently serves as the vice president for development, Bloomington for the Indiana University Foundation where she provides strategic, active leadership for centralized advancement services and constituency-based development programs in the individual schools and units of the Indiana University, Bloomington campus; implements proactive consulting services to constituency programs to ensure that the most strategic, effective and efficient fundraising operations and best practices are in place and aligned with the overall goals and targets of the institution such as feasibility, resourcing, organizational structure and evaluation of current programs; and works in close collaboration and partnership with the provost of

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the Indiana University, Bloomington campus, deans and senior development directors of unit-based development programs to increase philanthropic support for Indiana University. She previously served as vice president of development for regional campuses at Indiana University where she distinguished herself as a superb fundraiser, strategist and leader working closely with the chancellors, senior academic leadership and advancement professionals to develop and implement a robust advancement model for regional campuses with the outcome of greater philanthropic support. She also served the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI as assistant dean for development and external relations, gaining considerable experience in all areas of development, including building comprehensive fundraising programs, corporate and foundation relations, and community/alumni relations. Jenkins also serves the nonprofit sector as a mentor and coach to young professional fundraisers, and those pursuing the CFRE designation. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona, and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She is a past board member of the International Board of Directors, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and as the CFRE Certification Chair, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Indiana chapter. She also holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive professional designation.

Valencia Jordan Valencia Jordan has served as the Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) at Tennessee State University since the summer of 2003. She also has other administrative duties within the TSU athletics department including her role as the head of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Jordan was involved with the Lady Tiger basketball program for 14 seasons, including the last three as head coach. She moved into the position as full-time head coach in 1999-2000 after serving 11 years as an assistant coach to Teresa Lawrence Phillips, who now serves the university as its director of athletics. In 1998-99, she took over the coaching reigns for the final 12

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games of the season. She guided the Lady Tigers to an 8-4 record and the team advanced to the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, upsetting a pair of two higher seeds along the way. A native of Nashville, Jordan attended Hillsboro High, graduating in 1980. She was a multi-sport athlete, playing volleyball, basketball while also participating in track and softball. She earned second team All-Nashville honors in basketball and earned All-Nashville, all-district, and all-region in volleyball. She played collegiate basketball at Fisk University before moving on to Austin Peay State University. As a senior for the Lady Govs, she averaged 13.0 points a game. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in health and psychology from Austin Peay in 1986. In 2007, Jordan was awarded the Woman of Achievement Award by the Women In Higher Education In Tennessee (WHET) Conference and was also named SWA of the Year by the All-American Football Foundation (AAFF). She earned her master's degree in health and physical education from Tennessee State. She carried the additional duties as TSU's head volleyball coach from 1990-92. Valencia has two children, son Cameron, and daughter Kamri.

Ashlie Kite Ashlie Kite was appointed Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator by Dr. Brandon E. Martin in August, 2013. She began her tenure at CSUN as an Associate Athletics Director on January 24, 2005. For the majority of the 2012-13 academic year, Kite was CSUN's Interim Director of Athletics. During this time, Matador Athletics launched its inaugural Front Row app and her efforts were also instrumental in the recent major renovations in The Matadome including the state-of-the-art video production operation. During her tenure at CSUN, Kite has guided the development of all administrative areas from compliance and business operations to game management. She also spearheaded the renovations to the Matador Sports Performance area, which included new

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equipment as well as an overall facility upgrade. Kite has served as sport supervisor for all CSUN sport programs, playing a significant role in guiding the development and success of the Matador intercollegiate sport programs. In her position as SWA, Kite works on equity and diversity issues directly with the Big West Conference office as well as the NCAA. In addition, she has been named Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the University and is a member of the university’s Sexual Violence Prevention Committee. Kite was instrumental in developing the proposal which resulted in CSUN receiving a $900,000 grant from the NCAA as part of a three-year pilot program aimed at increasing academic performance among student-athletes. As a result, all Matador Sport programs have substantially increased academic performance. Kite came to Cal State Northridge from James Madison University, where she served as the Director of Compliance from 1999-2004. In that role, she was responsible for the oversight and monitoring of the Athletic Department's compliance program for more than 750 student-athletes competing in 28 varsity sports. While overseeing the NCAA compliance program at JMU, Kite coordinated the eligibility and financial aid processes for the university's student-athletes and coordinated the athletic division's rules education program. In addition to her administrative duties in compliance at JMU, she also served as the director of a numerous NCAA and conference championship events. Kite arrived at JMU in 1990, where she worked for a year in the athletic division’s equipment operation and served as an administrative graduate assistant for two years. In 1993, she began assisting the associate athletics director with compliance-related activities, and assumed a full-time roll as the compliance coordinator in 1996. Kite is a native of Elkton, Va. and a graduate of Spotswood High School. She was a member of the softball team at Eastern Mennonite University, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Health, Physical Education and Coaching. Kite received her Master's degree in Kinesiology with an athletic administration concentration from James Madison University in 1993.

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Genese A. Lavalais Genese A. Lavalais joined the Jackson State University family on October 14, 2014 as the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academics at JSU, after serving as the Director of Academic Enhancement at Grambling State University (GSU) where she played an instrumental role with improving the 2012-2013 APR scores. As the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academics, Lavalais’ responsibilities include oversight of the athletic academic enhancement center servicing over 320 student-athletes. Her motto: “Empower students, grow champions, and develop leaders,” confirms her dedication to the development of student-athletes through and beyond their matriculation. Lavalais enters her fifth year of serving on the NCAA Region 6 Post Graduate committee and is the past chair of the Life Skills committee for the N4A. Lavalais is the 2014 Region II recipient of the N4A Professional Promise award, reinforcing her position as a well-respected professional in athletics. Lavalais received individual certification in 2010 through the National Association of Academic Advisor for Athletics (N4A), and in 2014 received Title IX investigator certification via the Association of Title IX Administrators (atIXa). Lavalais is extremely dedicated to the field of athletics and seeks every opportunity to improve her skills, and is an Alumni of the following organizations: 2011 (N4A) Professional Development Institute (PDI), 2012 and 2013 NCAA Leadership Institute, and 2014 NCAA/NACWAA Institute for Administrative Advancement. After a combined six years of volunteering, Lavalais began her career in athletics in 2010 at Alabama State University as an academic advisor. Lavalais volunteered as a Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics at Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC), as an Athletic department intern at Louisiana State University (LSU), and as an Assistant high school girls’ basketball coach at Marksville High School. The Marksville, La. native was a member of the women’s basketball team at Southern Arkansas University where she graduated in May 2004. She later pursued a Master’s degree in

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Sports Administration at Grambling State University and graduated December 2007, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Brandon Martin Brandon Martin, Director of Athletics, California State University, Northridge. President Dianne F. Harrison announced Dr. Brandon E. Martin as the new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at California State University, Northridge on February 25, 2013. “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Martin to the Matador family,” Harrison said.“He has played a key leadership role in one of the country’s top sports programs. We look forward to him bringing his extensive experience to CSUN and taking the Matadors to the next level.” Martin, 40, joined a small number of elite African-Americans who head intercollegiate athletics program at universities and colleges in the United States. According to the 2012 College Racial and Gender Report Card from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports in all of Division I institutions, African Americans hold only 7.5 percent of athletics director positions. Martin is responsible for CSUN’s Division I athletics program that includes a $11.5 million operating budget and over 410 student-athletes in eight men’s and 11 women’s teams. Martin is passionate about the well-being of student-athletes and the championship experience. "We want to create an environment for our student-athletes to achieve comprehensive excellence, Martin contended. Intercollegiate athletics offers an unparalleled opportunity for young women and men to prepare for success in life." Martin's current leadership boasts 72 student-athletes recognized for earning at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA in 2013-14. Women’s basketball and volleyball programs winning Big West Championships in 2014; while men’s basketball, men’s soccer and women’s water polo teams each made an appearance in the Big West Tournament Final. The Women’s golf program finished second in the conference and was represented at the 2014 NCAA Golf Championship for the first time since 2004. Women’s Track & Field 4x100-meter relay team finished 10th at the NCAA Championships after posting the second-fastest time in school history and the women’s water polo program was ranked as high as #7 in 2014, the highest ever for the team.

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Additionally, CSUN student-athletes garnered attention at the national level by winning 42 All-Conference Honors, five All-Americans and several Academic All-American awardees. In Martin’s dynamic first year as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at the CSUN, he honored CSUN’s faculty, retiring jersey #58, symbolizing the year the university was founded (1958.) He initiated a new administrative structure within the intercollegiate athletics department, proposed a comprehensive vision and oversaw a series of historic moments in CSUN’s athletics history. Propelled by his mantra of comprehensive excellence, Martin pioneered the addition of Sand Volleyball as CSUN’s 19thIntercollegiate Sport, hired three new head coaches in Men’s Basketball, Baseball, and Women’s Golf. His highly coveted hire of Head Men’s Basketball Coach Reggie Theus in April was heralded as a “game-changing” hire by Fox Sports West. Martin sparked the creation of “Matadors Rising” a new visual identity and complete re-branding initiative within CSUN Athletics. “Our new images represents more than a logo or a brand, they represent an expectation, memories, relationships, and the pride that we all have in being Matadors, Martin claimed. In essence, our campaign represents a promise of what will delivered and experienced as fans, alums, and supporters of our goal of comprehensive excellence.” One unique feature of this campaign included an effort to connect with our Spanish-speaking students, fans, and alumni. “Matadores Ascendiendo” was developed as the primary messaging for Latino supporters. Therefore beginning summer 2014, all press releases, game day promotions, and social media communications were converted to Spanish. Since his arrival at CSUN, Martin has increased athletics donations by 138%. This fundraising success has resulted in several noteworthy athletics facility upgrades and enhancements including a new athletics conference room, a men’s basketball locker room expansion, new spectator seating, graphic displays, lobby renovations for basketball facility, and a redesigned concourse and plaza for the soccer complex. In addition to upgrading athletics facilities, Martin spearheaded a multi-year agreement with Providence Health as the“Official Healthcare Provider of Matador Athletics.”Martin also negotiated a Corporate Sponsorship agreement with Nelligan Sports Marketing (now Learfield Sports Marketing) resulting in sponsorship revenue increasing 963% during Matador Sports

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Properties (MSP) first 9-month operating period of the 2013-2014 season. Under Martin’s leadership, CSUN Athletics also entered a multi-year partnership with Sport Chalet to be the“Official apparel and equipment provider” to the Matador athletic teams. Dedicated to tangible development, Martin designed and launched the Matador Excellence Fund—First Annual Giving/Priority Point Program in CSUN Athletics history. This program has been instrumental in reengaging former CSUN letter winners and alumni nationwide. Since his arrival at CSUN, annual giving donations have increased by 68%. Martin currently serves as the Chair of the Big West Men’s Basketball Advancement Committee and is a member of the Big West Conference Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Previous to his appointment at CSUN, Martin served as a Senior Associate Athletics Director for Administration at the University of Oklahoma. Martin was chiefly accountable for the day-to-day administrative and operational facets of the following sport programs—Men’s Basketball, Men’s/Women’s Track and Field, Cross Country, Women’s Soccer, and Rowing. His duties also include oversight of departmental Strategic Planning, Marketing and Promotions, Human Resources, Strength and Conditioning, Big 12 and NCAA Legislation, Risk Management, NCAA Certification, and all Diversity and Inclusion programming for the department. Additionally, Martin was actively involved in the athletics departmental facility upgrades and capital projects. He directed fundraising efforts for the University of Oklahoma On-Campus Practice and Storage Facility, Strength and Conditioning Complex Upgrades, and the Lloyd Noble Center Training Room. While at the University of Oklahoma, Martin also served on the President’s Graduation and Retention Task Force. At USC, Martin was also a Senior Associate Director of Athletics. As a member of the senior executive staff, he had oversight of strategic planning, policy evaluation, and sport oversight, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and capital projects. Martin managed the day-to-day operations of men's basketball, men's and women's track & field, men's and women's swimming & diving, and men's and women's water polo. Under his supervision, those sports won five national championships and had 55 student-athletes earn All American honors. He served as the primary administrator and liaison with the USC

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admissions office and student affairs division. In this role, he collaborated with the USC Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and the Dean of Admission on appropriate admissions standards and criteria for all incoming freshman and transfer student-athletes. Coupled with his athletic duties and pursuits, Martin served as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Education in the USC Rossier School of Education. Martin has presented more than 40 papers, symposia and workshops at national higher education conferences. His dissertation entitled “A Phenomenological Student of Academically Driven African American Male Student-Athletes at Highly Selective Division I Universities” won the 2005 USC Rossier School of Education Dissertation of the Year Award. In 2005, he also earned the National Association of Academic Advisors award for Student Athlete Excellence in Research. Martin is a distinguished member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity—Xi Boule. He has also proudly served in other service capacities including: Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Sports Council, San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission Advisory Board, Board of Directors for the CSUN Black Alumni Association, Board of Directors for the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, Board of Directors for the Norman Addiction Information & Counseling Center. Martin resides in Northridge with his wife Rosemary and three children Germany, Riley and Brandon Jr.

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Charlie Nelms Charlie Nelms, Ed.D, is a transformational servant-leader, a motivational speaker, and a consultant with expertise in higher education. He has more than 40 years of experience and leadership in student access, retention, and graduation; institutional effectiveness; and strategic planning. The former chancellor of universities in North Carolina, Indiana, and Michigan, Dr. Nelms serves as a board member for leading educational associations and foundations across the U.S. He is currently a senior scholar at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, providing leadership in assisting minority-serving institutions. Dr. Nelms has also been a consultant for a wide range of higher education organizations. Dr. Nelms is the recipient of numerous awards for his accomplishments in higher education, including two honorary doctorates and fellowships from the American Council on Education and the Ford Foundation. In 2012, President Obama honored Dr. Nelms with the MLK Drum Major for Service Award for helping to address the most pressing needs in our communities and our nation. Dr. Nelms is a founding member of the Millennium Leadership Initiative and Professor Emeritus at Indiana University. During his tenure as chancellor of North Carolina Central University, U.S. News & World Report ranked NCCU as one of the best public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the nation for three consecutive years. Dr. Nelms is the founder and director of the Destination Graduation Initiative, which aims to increase retention and graduation rates at HBCUs. In 2011, Dr. Nelms published, A Call to Action, a policy directive intended to spur a national dialogue concerning the revitalization of HBCUs as an important sector of American higher education. In 2013, Dr. Nelms launched a new initiative, Leading to Completion, designed to help minority-serving higher education institutions improve student degree completion rates.

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Binh Nguyen Binh has been a part of the academic and membership affairs staff for over nine years. Prior to coming to the NCAA, Nguyen served as the manager of events and legislation for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, where she was responsible for developing legislative educational materials, tracking legislation related to women's basketball and served as the association's liaison to the three NCAA governance structures. Nguyen earned her B.A. in early American history from the University of Evansville and her M.S. in human performance and sport studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In her current role as associate director of academic and membership affairs, Nguyen provides interpretive assistance on legislation to the membership; serves as a liaison to the NCAA Division I Committee on Academic Performance Subcommittee on Data Collection and Reporting and the Division I Legislative Council; and oversees the collection of Division I Academic Progress Rate and Graduation Success Rate data.

J.R. Pulido J.R. Pulido joined the University of Arkansas and the Office of Student Athlete Success as a Learning Specialist in July 2011. He worked with all 19 Razorback teams his first year. In 2012 Pulido began working as an Academic Counselor with women’s track and field and various sports. He currently works with Men’s Baseball and Women’s Track and Field Teams. He is a member of the National Association of Athletic Advising For Athletics and serves on The Office of Student Athlete Success Scholarship and Awards Committee and Health and Wellness Committee. Prior to joining the Razorbacks Pulido served two years as a Learning Specialist at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. During his tenure, Pulido assisted student-athletes with the learning process, helped with the creation of long and short-term goals through object based study hall, and trained student-athletes with effective student skills, learning strategies, note taking and organizational skills. In addition to his time in the academic center, Pulido was an assistant coach with the TAMU-CC track and field and cross

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country teams. Pulido’s other experience includes working as an intern counselor at the Antonio E. Garcia Arts and Education Center, and serving as a Case Manager with the Texas Correctional Office of Medical and Mental Impairments. Pulido earned his undergraduate degree in kinesiology in May 2008 followed by his master’s degree in education psychology in December 2010, from Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

Jennifer Quirk Jennifer Quirk was named Director of Student-Athlete Support Services in August 2002 and promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Academics in 2006. In this position, Quirk, supervises the academic advisement and monitoring of Fairleigh Dickinson student-athletes, advises the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and conducts wellness seminars aimed at improving the overall welfare of all student-athletes. She is also an adjunct professor in the departments of Sports Administration and Communication where she teaches a variety of courses. Quirk has served Fairleigh Dickinson since 1999 as an Academic Counselor in the Academic Advisement Center. She brings with her a great understanding of the University, its students, policies, philosophies and programs. In her role as a counselor, Quirk advises students on course selection, substitutions, off-campus verifications, determination of majors and the course validation process. She has developed a summer bridge program for the men’s and women’s basketball team as well as coordinates the meetings and policies of the Athletics Academic Review Board. Quirk is the primary contact for tutorial services, verifying continuing academic eligibility, registration of all student-athletes, course program planning, recruiting meetings and administering the intervention program for at-risk student-athletes. Quirk is a member of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) where she is currently serving on the Executive Board for the organization as well as chairing the Membership Committee. She has presented numerous times at regional and national conferences targeting succeeding in academics at a limited resource institution. In her time with FDU athletics, the student-athletes’ grade point averages have been risen to be over 3.0 cumulatively for 21 straight semesters.

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A native of LaGrange, Indiana, Quirk received her bachelor's degree in Communication/Sport Management with a minor in Recreation Management from Bluffton College (now Bluffton University) in 1997. She was a four-year member of the women's tennis team at Bluffton where she earned four straight All-Conference honors and participated in and developed NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills programs. In her senior season at Bluffton, she was named the Kathryn E. Little Female Athlete of the Year. She went on to earn a master's in Kinesiology with a concentration in College Student Personnel and Athletic Administration from Indiana University in 1998. While at IU, Quirk held the position of Athletic Academic Counseling Intern where she was responsible for verifying academic eligibility, registration of freshmen student-athletes, course planning, midterm reports and tutorial services.. She worked She also served as an associate instructor at Indiana while earning her degree. She is married to Brian Quirk, a physical education teacher, varsity women’s golf coach (2011 and 2013 coach of the year) and junior varsity girls volleyball coach at Ridgewood High School. The couple currently reside in Oakland, N.J. with their son Brady, age 11, and daughter Cammi, age nine.

Karen Schiferl Karen Schiferl is the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services and Senior Woman Administrator at Chicago State University. Prior to CSU, Schiferl spent nine years as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support at the University of Mississippi where her duties included overseeing all aspects of the Office of Student-Athlete Academic Support. Schiferl also spent four years as Senior Associate Director at the University of Maryland’s Academic Support and Career Development Office, and two years as Academic Coordinator in the athletic counseling offices at Northern Illinois University. Schiferl has served on several national and regional academic boards and has presented at academic conferences across the country. Current chair of NACADA's Student-Athlete Commission and member of the NCAA/NACADA Advisory Board, Schiferl is also a member of National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) and the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS). Schiferl has taught the NCAA/NACADA Academic Success and the Student-

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Athlete online course for seven years, has served on the editorial board for Houghlin-Mifflin’s Becoming a Master Student-Athlete, and is currently a consultant for the N4A Program Certification initiative. She has received the N4A's Professional Promise Award and in 2008, she received the N4A’s Distinguished Service Award. Schiferl graduated from Indiana University with her B.A. (Spanish and Afro-American Studies) in 1987, and her M.S. Ed (College Student Personnel Administration) in 1991.

Tim Seiler Tim Seiler is Director of The Fund Raising School at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and is also assistant professor of philanthropic studies in the graduate program. Dr. Seiler is an alumnus of The Fund Raising School and has been a faculty member since 1986 and the director since 1994. Formerly vice president of the Indiana University Foundation, Dr. Seiler was a major gifts officer for university development. As director of the foundation’s Indianapolis office, he coordinated the constituency development program for the schools and programs on the Indianapolis campus. He also led the comprehensive fundraising program for the Indianapolis campus, which included staff for corporate and foundation relations, major gifts, planned giving, annual fund, prospect research, donor relations, and stewardship. Dr. Seiler teaches core curriculum courses and customized contract programs for The Fund Raising School and regularly makes conference and seminar presentations nationally and internationally. He is an author and editor of fundraising publications and was editor-in-chief of the Excellence in Fundraising Workbook Series, author of the workbook Developing Your Case for Support, and co-editor of Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, Third Edition. Dr. Seiler also teaches in the graduate program in philanthropic studies, and has been voted outstanding part-time graduate instructor. Dr. Seiler serves the nonprofit sector not only as a fundraiser, author, and teacher, but also as a board member and campaign committee member for several nonprofits and serves as a mentor to young professional fundraisers. He earned a B.A. degree in English from Saint Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Indiana, and

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M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in English from Indiana University. He also holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive professional designation.

Jacqueline Hendrick Singh Dr. Jacqueline Singh is an Executive Evaluation Advisor to higher education and community-based organizations with over 25 years of educational research and evaluation experience. Dr. Singh is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Qualitative Advantage, LLC. She works with matrix organizations to help faculty and staff navigate educational research and program evaluation to foster a culture of “evaluative thinking.” In doing so, she builds organizational capabilities of personnel to engage in activities that support strategic learning and decision-making. These activities include: front-end evaluation planning, evaluability assessment, program and curriculum design, performance measurement and management, development of grants and proposals, strategic planning and policy analysis. Dr. Singh has served as Director for the Office of Evaluation and Program Excellence (OEPE), at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. Her accomplishments included the development of a knowledge resource platform, introduction of evaluation concepts, tools, and practical approaches that build capacity and develop capabilities of national office staff to engage in broader applications of evaluation across diverse NCAA programs and related interventions. Collaborations with NCAA’s key internal and external stakeholders resulted in exemplars of program evaluation, conceptual frameworks, survey instruments, the use of program theory and logic models, as well as performance measurement. While at Indiana University Purdue University (2006-2012), Dr. Singh held a dual appointment as an Assessment Specialist in the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and the Testing Center. During her tenure, she focused on: a) evaluation capacity building and served as an internal-external evaluator, b) consulting with faculty campus-wide, as well as to develop evaluation tools (e.g. rubrics, logic models, event surveys, knowledge surveys, question bank, etc.) for key programs and projects, multiple campus-wide initiatives, and c) worked with undergraduate work-study students. In addition, she created of a

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7-step methodological approach that examines end-of-course evaluation instruments to make explicit what gets measured, as well as to evaluate online coursework using program evaluation techniques. Her collaborative work undertaken with faculty and administrators is a NSF funded grant is published in the spring 2009 Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR.) Dr. Singh established an Office of Institutional Research at one of the nation’s six Work Colleges—Blackburn College, Carlinville, Illinois (DIII)—and, engaged in institutional research, strategic planning and evaluated a plethora of programs within the college’s Department of Education. She also piloted her concept of an experiential learning model known as “Academics-Work-Linkages” or “Skills Bridge” to aid college students and interns in reaching post-graduation aspirations. This model was widely implemented across the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis campus. Dr. Singh earned a doctorate in Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in Policy Development and Program Evaluation at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. She is an active member of the American Evaluation Association, Indiana Evaluation Association, and American Educational Research Association. Dr. Singh is passionate about education and its impact, while developing transformative approaches to evaluation.

Janet D. Spry Janet D. Spry, Ed.D., CRC, LCPC, CVE, MCRSP is a Professor and Coordinator of the Masters Rehabilitation Counseling Program (RCP), and Post Masters in Professional Counselor Licensure at Coppin State University (CSU). She has over 25 years of experience as a Rehabilitation Professional and practitioner. She provides counseling and assessment services to high school students, college athletes, individuals with physical and mental disabilities, as well as individuals with alcohol and substance abuse histories. As an approved Employment Network with the Social Security Administration’s Ticket-To-Work program she assists individuals with disabilities in developing

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career goals for their successful return to work. Her professional counseling includes mentoring, career evaluation, and assessment services to assist individuals with selecting college majors, identifying career interest, and developing career goals.

]

Nilzarrel Townsend Nilzarrel Townsend M.Ed. is currently in his second year as a Senior Learning Specialist, at the University of Maryland. He joined the Maryland athletic family August 2013. However, Nilzarrel has six years of experience with working with the “At-Risk” student-athlete population. Townsend’s responsibilities include managing the day-to-day operations of learning support services for the Olympic sport student-athletes. Provide direct supervision to the XFINITY Center’s learning specialist. Accurately and fairly complete performance appraisals. Provide guidance and assistance with the “at-risk” student-athletes as needed. Serve as the Educational Assistant (EA) liaison in the XFINITY Center. Assist with the budgeting, recruitment, training, evaluation and retention of EA’s. Serve as primary liaison to psychologist and Office of Disability Support Services for Olympic Sport student-athletes. Refer student-athletes for the completion of learning disability pre-screeners. Review all neuropsychology reports from psychologist for Olympic Sport student-athletes and assist with the implementation of Assistive Technology. Prior to arriving to Maryland, Nilzarrel served as the Academic Skills Specialist for the entire Olympic sport programs, at Saint Joseph’s University for one year (2012-2013). In addition, Nilzarrel served as the Academic Learning Specialist for Temple University for four years (2008-2012), for the football program. Nilzarrel earned his bachelor’s of science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Sports Management from Urbana University in 2003, and was a member of the men’s basketball team. Following graduation, Nilzarrel played semi-professional basketball for the American Basketball Association (ABA), before receiving his master’s degree in Education from Urbana University in 2005. Nilzarrel is currently pursuing his Doctorate degree in Higher Education Leadership, at NorthCentral University.

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Alisha Tucker Alisha Tucker is entering her ninth year working in the Norfolk State athletics department during the 2014-15 season. She is in her fifth year as the Associate Athletics Director for Student Services after serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance for the previous four years. In her current role, she provides oversight for the compliance and athletics academic support offices and also supervises the NSU bowling and volleyball programs. In addition to her duties at NSU, Tucker is involved in administrative activities on the national level. Tucker was appointed to the NCAA’s Amateurism Fact-Finding Committee in 2010 and will serve on that committee until 2014. She also is a member of the NCAA use of technology working group, NCAA Academic Performance Program Users working group. In addition, Tucker has served as a peer reviewer for the NCAA’s Division I Athletics Certification program. She is also instrumental in working with the NCAA’s Supplemental Support Fund and Accelerating Academic Success grant which provided monies to NSU in support of athletics academic initiatives. Tucker has beens been featured as a presenter at the NCAA National Convention and other NCAA presentations. In 2011, Tucker was selected to participate in the NACWAA (National Association for Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators) Institute for Administrative Advancement (West Class) as well as the NCAA Regional Rules Seminar Advanced Tract. Before coming to Norfolk State, Tucker served as the athletics eligibility specialist and curriculum coordinator at Marshall. She began her career as an intern at Michigan State in 2001. She was promoted to assistant compliance coordinator and then earned a promotion to compliance coordinator at MSU in 2003. Tucker has also worked in compliance offices at Villanova and Richmond. Tucker earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and composition from Virginia in 1996. She earned her master’s in sports management from Old Dominion in 2001 and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Old Dominion University. A Hampton native, Tucker was a track and field athlete at

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Hampton High School. She was also a sprinter and hurdler on the University of Virginia track team. Tucker was also the liaison between the student-government and the athletics department serving on various committees. She is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and currently resides in Portsmouth, Va.

Wendy Walters Ms. Walters has been with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) National Office since 1999. She began her career as an Academic and Membership Affairs intern and advanced to the Director level in 2004. As Director of Academic and Membership Affairs, Ms. Walters’ primary responsibilities included:

• Oversight of the Interpretation Leadership Team which resolved complex and high profile interpretative and legislative issues;

• Serving as a member of the Interpretation Management Team which developed the structure, strategies and direction of the interpretative philosophy and activities of the department;

• Serving as the primary liaison for the Division I Legislative Review and Interpretation Committee;

• Oversight of the emerging sports for women program;

• Serving as primary liaison to the Infractions Appeals Committees for Division I, II and III;

• Oversight of the NCAA Regional Rules Seminars; and

• Oversight of technology initiatives for the department. In 2007, Ms. Walters transitioned to her current position of Director of Membership and Student-Athlete Affairs – Infractions Appeals Committees. This transition created greater focus in the area of infractions appeals and provided the opportunity to work directly with Bernard Franklin, Executive Vice President of Membership and Student-Athlete Affairs. In this role, Ms. Walters not only provides oversight and greater direction in the infractions appeals process for each division, but

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also leads several projects. These projects include:

• Development, oversight and management of the NCAA Accelerating Academic Success Program.

• Management and oversight of the Youth Education through Sports (YES) program for two years;

• National Accreditation Working Group;

• Primary liaison for the Olympic Sports Liaison Committee

• Policies and Procedures Task Force;

• Clarifying Roles of the Infractions Appeals Committee and Committee on Infractions Task Force;

• Communication Task Force;

• Development of strategies for collaboration between the American Council on Education (ACE) and NCAA national office; and

• Serving as a member of the International Internship Program Working Group.

Prior to joining the NCAA national office staff, Ms. Walters was a staff attorney/IOLA Fellow with Legal Assistant of the Finger Lakes in Geneva, NY for 2 ½ years. She led the “Legal Assistance to Minor Parents Program” (LAMP) which provided free civil legal services to low income minors who were either parenting or pregnant. Ms. Walters received a B.A. in Political Science and minor in Economics from the University of Rochester (Rochester, NY) in May 1992. She received a Juris Doctorate from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law in January 1995. Ms. Walters is licensed in Illinois and New York.

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Ryan Westman Ryan Westman currently works as an Academic Advisor for Student-athletes at Seton Hall University, where he oversees the academic development of six Division-1 sports in addition to serving as the department tutor coordinator. Ryan also serves as a first-year mentor with the Freshman Studies department where he teaches sections of the first-year seminar entitled “University Life”. Along with Monica Burnette, he co-founded the SHU Tutoring Consortium in the fall of 2013, which unifies the efforts of all tutoring outfits at Seton Hall. Ryan earned two Master’s degrees from Rutgers University, in College Student Affairs and Elementary Education. Ryan is also a former track and field student-athlete and coach from Rutgers University. He currently resides in West Orange, New Jersey and is a Ph.D. candidate in the Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy program at Seton Hall University.

Celeste Williams

Dr. Celeste Williams earned a B.S. in Sociology from Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. Graduate work was completed at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee where she earned a Master's in Psychology and a Doctorate in Education (i.e. Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Curriculum Planning). Much of Williams’ early professional experiences involved working with at-risk youth. They were the children that many people did not believe could graduate from high school, much less graduate from college. Often times their behavior was at odds with behavioral expectations in school, but they were talented. From her experiences working with them, she came away with a few eye opening insights: 1. All children can learn, they just have to be met where they are; 2. A child's culture is not something to be ignored, but rather it is to be embraced; and finally 3. Even though she often found herself in the position of teacher, she learned so much from her interactions with students; lessons about teaching, learning, and what it means to be in the world with diverse groups of people. Dr. Celeste Williams currently teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. She is actively involved in teacher preparation at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition, she guides dissertation research. Williams is involved in research in the

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following areas: service learning, social justice, and barriers to culturally responsive teaching.

Chuck Wynne Charles (Chuck) E. Wynne is the Director of Employee and Community Initiatives for the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Ind. He is responsible for all employee communication, community outreach and NCAA presidential outreach. As a member of the Communications group leadership team, he also is involved with developing, implementing, and managing the Association’s issue-oriented communication strategies for the NCAA brand, responses to query, live-event platforms, membership outreach and Association messaging via NCAA.org. As such, he plays a role in almost all NCAA internal and public-facing communication efforts. Prior to this, he served almost 26 years in the Air Force retiring as a colonel. He was commissioned in January 1981 beginning his career as a nuclear missile launch officer. Following his transition to Public Affairs early in his career, he served at all levels of Air Force public affairs, including working directly for the Secretary of the Air Force and other 4-star generals. Some career highlights include being the primary author of the first joint-service strategic communication plan for the invasion of Afghanistan and follow-on invasion of Iraq, serving as the forward-deployed Air Force spokesperson following the capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003, and helping to draft the Congressional legislation that led to the building of the Air Force Memorial in Washington, D.C. He also has media trained spokespersons for appearances on Dateline, 60 Minutes, Outside the Lines and other international and national media. He began working at the NCAA in September 2006. EDUCATION 1979 Bachelor of Science in Communications, Univ of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ill. 1989 Master’s in International Relations, Troy State University, Troy, Ala.

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2003 Master’s degree in Strategic Logic, National War College, Washington, D.C.