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.
Steve is beginning his 21st year working as a higher-education professional. He has held positions in Residence Life, Wellness, and Student Affairs. He is currently the Assistant Dean of Student Success for the School of Nursing at MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, MA. Steve received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Providence College, a Master of Arts in Counseling from Fairfield University and is currently enrolled in the PsyD in Leadership Psychology program at William James College, where he explores his interest in neuroleadership. Steve is an approachable problem solver and community builder who maintains positive collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, and students. He is especially proud of his ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Steve has unwavering composure in times of stress and is unflappable in a crisis.
Rebecca Gentry serves as the University of Houston’s Associate Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Leadership Gifts in the Division of Advancement and Alumni. She oversees the leadership/principal gifts program, including presidential engagement strategies, board and volunteer engagement, student philanthropy ambassadors, special projects and strategic planning. She serves as chief startegist for the UH Next Level Campaign, a $1 Billion Centennial effort, and serves on the Division of Advancement and Alumni’s leadership team and Centennial Celebrations Committee. She also manages fundraising and external engagement activity for the Centennial Master Plan and Systemwide Public Art Program. Rebecca joined the University of Houston in 2013 and was selected to participate in President Renu Khator’s inaugural cohort of leaders for the ProPel Leadership Program in 2019. She developed and managed the strategy, launch, celebration – as well as donor and volunteer engagement – for the University’s historic $1.24 Billion “Here, We Go” Campaign (2012-2020), its first in 25 years. Throughout her career, she has held executive advancement and campaign leadership positions in museums (Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design), historic homes (George Washington’s Historic Mount Vernon), non-profit organizations and foundations (National YoungArts Foundation) in Washington, DC, Atlanta and Miami. She […]
Before becoming Associate Provost at the University of Maine in February 2023, Gabe Paquette served as Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at the University of Oregon, where he oversaw faculty review processes, including those related to tenure and promotion. Gabe first joined Oregon as dean of the Clark Honors College in 2018 and moved to the Provost’s Office in 2020. A professor of History, he is the author of three books, including The European Seaborne Empires (2019). Gabe taught for almost a decade at The Johns Hopkins University, where he directed the Latin American Studies Program and served as a Provost’s Fellow. In addition to his scholarship, he contributes semi-regularly to publications such as the Times Literary Supplement, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and Times Higher Education. Gabe received his PhD from the University of Cambridge.
Cheryl is the Associate Vice President of Advancement Operations and Campaign Director of a $350 million philanthropic campaign at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA. She has 22 years of leadership experience in fundraising operations, which includes positions at MIT, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Bentley University. In 2014, Cheryl led the WPI Advancement Information Technology team through the University’s first Salesforce CRM deployment. Today, she is super-focused on campaign success and bringing the best strategies and resources to the amazing WPI University Advancement team. Cheryl is a graduate of the University of Richmond and a current student in the MBA program at WPI.
In addition to her current role, Sam has also been an active member of the Professional Development Committee at CMU since 2019, where she is charged with creating training opportunities for all advisors on the CMU campus. Prior to this role she served as an Academic Advisor in Statistics & Data Science at CMU, as well as in the Health and Kinesiology Department at Texas A&M University. Sam is passionate about creating an environment that is inclusive, as well as providing and developing resources to help those around her advance in their professional or academic lives. Sam holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Family Studies, and a Master of Science in Human and Community Development.
With nearly 17 years’ experience in higher education, Laura’s passion for and commitment to students remains her primary focus. She believes deeply in meeting students where they are and in supporting them fully so that they can get to where they want to be. At CMU English, Laura developed the Major Buddy Program, which connects prospective and newly declared majors with current students in the Department so that they can get an inside perspective on the student experience while meeting peers with similar interests and goals. She also serves as a representative of the CMUSafe Ambassador Program, where she assists the CMU community with emergency preparedness and safety measures. Laura is an active member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), and she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, plus Theatre Arts and a Master of Arts degree in English, both from Duquesne University.
