Archives: Instructors

Norma Guerra holds a doctoral degree and is trained as a research practitioner in school psychology and holds a faculty role as a professor within the educational psychology department. Dr. Guerra has served in numerous administrative positions throughout the university over her career, including Executive Director of Human Resources Management and Development, Associate Vice President for Administration and Planning, and Director of the university’s first student success and retention office, Tomas Rivera Center. At the College level she chaired the Department of Educational Psychology, was Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and oversaw the opening of the college’s Student Success Center. As Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Diversity & Inclusion, Guerra is a member of the Faculty Success team within Academic Affairs, where she works to advance institutional goals to increase faculty from underrepresented groups and to promote the success of faculty who identify as Hispanic/Latinx by implementing national best practices related to the recruitment, appointment, development, and recognition of diverse faculty. She is the co-chair of UTSA’s Inclusive Excellence Advisory Board, and Informal Networking Club to assist tenure track faculty preparing for tenure promotion. Dr. Guerra has a strong understanding of how faculty success supports […]

In her current role, Erika leads a multi-disciplinary unit of experienced faculty and staff in the health sciences professions of athletic training, emergency medical care, environmental health, integrated health sciences, nutrition and dietetics, and recreational therapy. She served as the Director of Strategic and Community Initiatives for the College of Health and Human Sciences for two years, supporting the development of health-related initiatives within the college and community. Erika began her career as a clinical athletic trainer in the university setting, and prior to her arrival at Western Carolina University, she was the chair of the Department of Athletic Training at the University of Charleston, where she led a collaborative department aligning athletic training education and health care services for athletes as one unit with an array of health providers. Most recently she was inducted as a Fellow into the National Academies of Practice in 2022.

Zach has developed and led Gray’s data analytic capabilities and tools. He has drawn together more than a dozen industry and proprietary sources to create a comprehensive education industry analytical tool. For leaders in the education industry, Zach has over 10 years of experience working on marketing, location, finance, operations, and program strategies. He also manages Gray’s technology resources, including its servers, databases, and software platforms. Zach will complete an Executive Leadership Program in Business Analytics from Harvard University in 2022. He received a dual bachelor’s degree from Bentley University in Corporate Finance and Accounting, and Global Perspectives.

In her current role, Dawn is focused on attracting, recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing a diverse, world-class faculty. Her responsibilities incorporate faculty affairs and faculty development efforts, including establishing and enforcing policy, developing and offering leadership programming, and leading DEI initiatives. Prior to joining the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2021, Dawn served as interim Associate Dean for Faculty/Student Development and Strategic Initiatives in the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences and as a Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Kennesaw State University. Prior to that, she spent 20 years serving in roles ranging from Director of Graduate Studies to Interim Chair in the Department of Sociology at Georgia State University. Dawn graduated with her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and her B.A. from Duke University in Sociology.

In his current role, Marcus oversees activities related to building upon the Senior Vice President for Finance & Administration’s (SVPFA) portfolio capacity to develop, collaborate, and sustain large cross-divisional initiatives that lead to organizational excellence and student, employee, and operational success. Lastly, he oversees the Performing Arts Center’s operations to ensure that academic and strategic entrepreneurial needs are met. Prior to his current role, Marcus spent 14 years in Student Financial Services, Enrollment Management, and Financial Aid. He has worked collaboratively to provide input in the College’s new strategic plan to incorporate the critical role that student financial aid plays in institutional goals. He also took the lead in creating a 5-year plan to support academic excellence, diversity, and access by providing students with the requisite knowledge and opportunities to finance their education. Additionally, he contributed insight from an administrative education support unit perspective to the college’s most recent Middle State accreditation process. Marcus is currently a doctoral candidate in the department of Urban Education (policy and leadership track) at the Graduate Center at the City University of New York (CUNY). His scholarly interests are rooted in the experience of Black and Brown students in higher-educational settings. The multi-theoretical lens […]

Dr. Stephanie Akunvabey currently serves as Pace University’s Associate Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer. As CDO, she leads a division that is committed to creating and sustaining a welcoming and just campus climate for all members of Pace University through inclusive policies, practices, and programming for the University and its three campuses — in New York City, Pleasantville, and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains. She also oversees the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX Compliance; Office of Sexual and Interpersonal Wellness; Office of Gender and Sexuality; Office of Multicultural Affairs; and The LGBTQA+ Center.  Additionally, Akunvabey provides thought-leadership and oversight at The Barry M. and Jackie Gosin Center for Equity and Inclusion, which in 2021 was established to support ongoing efforts at Pace in anti-racism and equity, expand work to elevate job placement and entrepreneurship among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students, and enhance academic scholarship in these areas.  Akunvabey joined Pace after holding leadership roles at colleges and universities throughout the region. Most recently, she served in a similar role at Roger Williams University (RWU) in Rhode Island where she provided strategic leadership and developed policies and […]

Dr. Michelle Filling-Brown currently serves as the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and is a Professor at Cabrini University. Her scholarship focuses on the Living and Learning Communities, best practices in teaching writing, social-justice education, and Body Studies. She has a passion for helping colleagues to build learning communities, strengthen assessment plans, and increase retention through high-impact practices. Through the support of three grants from the Katherine Alexandra Foundation, Michelle is the founding editor of the Body Studies Journal and the founder of the National Undergraduate Body Image Conference. She also serves as the co-director for both the “It’s on Us” and U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women grants at Cabrini, which support education and training to prevent sexual assault and provide trauma-informed services for survivors. Michelle earned a BSEd in English from West Chester University and an MA and Ph.D. in English from the University of Delaware.

Richie Gebauer is the Assistant Dean for Retention and Student Success at Cabrini University and serves as Faculty Director of the IMPACT Living Learning Community. As the founding director of the university’s First Year experience and Learning Community program, retention and persistence are at the center of his work. He is a past president of the National Learning Community Association and has served on the editorial review board for the Journal of The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition, Learning Communities Research and Practice, and E-Source for College Transitions. His research focuses on the impact of learning communities on the integrative learning practices of students. He has also authored publications advancing the research and practice of learning communities, academic and professional advising, First Year experience and First Year seminars, and academic recovery programs. Richie completed a B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College, an M.Ed. from James Madison University, and an Ed.D. from Cabrini University.

Vanessa Miranda is the Director for Transfer and Admission Enrollment Services at Loyola Marymount University. She is responsible for collaborating with community college partners and across the institution to create partnerships, programs, and initiatives that best support prospective and current transfer students. She is a strong advocate for transfer students in all stages of their academic journeys in order to ensure their success from the application process through enrollment. In addition to serving transfer students, she also assists continuing students who are navigating enrollment barriers during their time at the University by providing support and working with University partners on their behalf. She is passionate about creating and refining clear pathways for transfer student success. Vanessa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from Augustana College and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Loyola University Chicago.