Mark Pleiss is a Program Manager in Educational Leadership, Academic Affairs, and Research and Creative Output. Previously, Mark taught at the University of Colorado Boulder, St. Olaf College, and Metro State University of Denver. More recently, he worked as a graduate student educational development specialist at the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Colorado Boulder. Mark completed his BA at Simpson College (Indianola, IA) and his MA and PhD in Spanish literature at the University of Colorado Boulder. Originally from Omaha, NE, he now lives in Denver where he enjoys fishing, playing soccer, reading novels, and writing fiction, essays, and criticism. He also loves spending time with his wife and adorable Brittany Spaniel puppy, Buckley.
Moira is a seasoned coach (since 2005) and former academic (since 1994) who has mentored over 60 coaches since 2010 as director of coaching at Academic Impressions and other coaching organizations. She is a compassionate truth-teller, working with individuals and groups to deepen self-awareness; explore strategies, options, and opportunities; expand abilities and vision; and co-create systems of accountability. As Director of Coaching at Academic Impressions, Moira develops coaching programs to help individuals and groups become more intentional and self-aware through leadership and team development. She has been a Principal Investigator (PI) as well as a co-PI for a variety of studies and has been funded by a number of funding agencies, including the NIH, DOD, NSF, and SSRC. Her faculty appointments include George Washington University and Whittier College. She received her PhD in cultural anthropology from The University of Texas at Austin and has post-doctoral training in medical anthropology from the University of California-Berkeley and the University of California-San Francisco.
Dr. Todd D. Sevig earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from The Ohio State University and has been the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at the University of Michigan (U-M) since 2001, after having been at CAPS since 1989. He is the recipient of the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD) and the 2004 Mid-Career Achievement Award given by the Commission of Counseling and Psychological Services within the American College Personnel Association. He has authored and co-authored numerous articles and book chapters on student mental health, multiculturalism, spirituality, and student peer approaches to helping. He is also the co-author, with Mary Fukuyama, PhD, of the book Integrating Spirituality into Multicultural Counseling, published by Sage Publications. He is also on the editorial board for The Counseling Psychologist. He was active in the early years of the Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) and received a Founder’s Award presented by IGR. He has presented at the AUCCCD and ACPA national conferences many times and is a past co-chair of the Elements of Excellence Committee within AUCCCD. He is a site visitor for the International Accreditation of Counseling Services, which is the accrediting […]
Dr. Kristen Gray earned her Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from the Adler University in Chicago. She joined Hope College Counseling and Psychological Services In 1997 and became Associate Dean for Health and Counseling and Director of Counseling and Psychological Services in 1998. During her career at CAPS, she has developed the program to include a robust clinical team, a groups program, strong working relationships across campus, a campus-wide bystander training for suicide prevention, and explored new models of service delivery. In addition to her role within Health and Counseling, she joined the teaching faculty of the Phelps Scholars Program (a living and learning, first year seminar focused on diversity and social justice) in 2013. She has served on re-accreditation committee, campus-wide strategic planning committee, Human Subjects Review Board, the GROW inclusive excellence initiative, and countless program and committees over the years. When she is not counseling students, she can be found guest speaking in classes, presiding over panel discussions, providing trainings on mental health and suicide prevention both across campus and in her community, or traveling abroad with students as they seek to expand their horizons. In 2019, she was selected by the graduating class to serve as […]
Patricia Châu Nguyễn serves as the Senior Director of Diversity Programs for UCLA Alumni Affairs. For the past ten years, she has served in multiple roles in merging student affairs diversity, equity and inclusion work in higher education – ranging from intercultural living and learning communities, multicultural Greek life, summer bridge programs, multicultural centers, and social justice education. Nguyễn also consults nationally on issues related to interfaith conversations, ethics, meaning-making and intersectionality in practice. She serves as a founding member of Racial Aikido, an affinity-based identity retreat that equips students of color at predominantly white institutions. Nguyễn received her Master of Education in higher education and student affairs administration from the University of Vermont, and her Bachelor of Science in cellular and developmental biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She currently a doctoral student the UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Sciences researching diverse alumni engagement and philanthropy in higher education. Nguyễn’s experiences working with marginalized college students has fueled a commitment and passion to push institutions of higher education to build capacity towards diversity. She hopes to engage all members of the university, including alumni, to build inclusive campus communities and help new graduate manifests the […]
One of the first things Carmen shares with people is that she is from northern New Mexico and where she is from is fundamental to who she is. She was a first-generation college student and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Spanish and Mexican American Studies with a minor in Communication Studies. She was involved in cultural centers, fraternity and sorority life, student government, and studied abroad. All of these experiences ultimately led her to explore a future in higher education. She started her career as an advisor for Upward Bound, a federal TRiO program, serving first-generation and lower income high school students. She continued working with TRiO and access programs for over 13 years. She also served as the Director of Student Experience at INTO Colorado State University, an LLC partnership between the INTO Corporation and CSU that specializes in training international students English and Pathway programs. While working, she earned both her Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education and her PhD in Higher Education Leadership at Colorado State University. Currently, she is the Talent Manager for Organizational Development for the Division of Student Affairs at CSU and also is a faculty […]
Mario Peraza is the Executive Director of Alumni Relations. In this role, Mario guides the vision and direction for the alumni programming and engagement of the over 67,000 living alumni, as well as provides leadership and support for the Alumni Association of UCSF. He also serves as the liaison between alumni relations and various campus partners. Mario leads a team of professional staff and alumni volunteers that together leverage and expand alumni relationships, connections, and networks across all areas of health care. Mario completed his B.S. in Chemistry at the University of Illinois and his M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration at the University of Maryland College Park. Prior to joining UCSF, Mario was the Director of Alumni Volunteer programs at the University of Maryland working with over 100 alumni volunteers nationwide.
Jay Skipworth works with the Employer Relations team to bring employers to campus to recruit UNC Charlotte students for various employment opportunities. This team coordinates with a wide variety of employers to find talent for the next generation of leaders in the workforce. Prior to joining the University Career Center, Jay worked at Auburn University as Assistant Director for Employer Relations in the Career Center and the Office of Professional and Career Development in the Harbert College of Business. Jay also worked for Troy University, Northwest-Shoals Community College and the University of North Alabama. His professional presentations and webinars include NACE, SoACE, SoACE Employer Relations Knowledge Group, NACADA (national and regional), as well as several state-level conferences. Jay received his Master of Arts in Community Counseling and Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the University of North Alabama. In addition to his work in higher education, Jay has held a variety of positions in journalism and broadcasting, hosted a top-rated Buffy the Vampire Slayer podcast, and was even in a band that produced a full-length album once upon a time.
Felisha Weaver serves the University’s Marketing and Communication office (MARCOMM) as the sole print designer. During her 10 years in this role, Felisha’s primary focus is prospective marketing, strategic initiatives, and the university’s biannual alumni magazine. A mom/bonus mom to three Gen Z-ers, Felisha began researching the attributes of Gen Z, so she could extrapolate the impact on higher ed marketing in order to make data-driven decisions. From this research, she presented “15 Tips for Designing for Gen Z” at the CASE District IV Conference in 2019, earning the Stellar Speaker award. After 13 years in higher education marketing and communication, Felisha blends form and function, because it doesn’t matter how pretty a design piece is if it is not effective. Felisha is a national award winner and has won awards from University & College Designers Association (UCDA), CASE, Educational Advertising and Educational Digital Marketing. She is a member of CASE, UCDA, and AMA. She is currently serving as Communications Chair. She is also on the 2020 CASE Executive Conference Team for CASE District IV and the Membership Growth & Engagement Committee for UCDA. She has been appointed for a two-year term on the UCDA Designer Magazine Advisory Board (2020-21), […]
Previously Roberta was the senior leader in the Office of Stewardship at Princeton University. Roberta was a founding member of the New England Stewardship Conference, the precursor to the Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP). Roberta served as inaugural Treasurer; content chair and chair for the 2014 and 2015 International Conferences, respectively; and Chair for GATHER@ADRP for senior donor relations leaders. Roberta volunteered as Donor Relations Best Practices Chair for AASP and Relationship Manager for ADRP/AASP. Roberta’s Princeton team won the 2014 CASE Circle of Excellence Bronze Award and the 2015 Gold and Silver Awards for donor recognition pieces, and Roberta received the 2015 CASE Quarter Century Service Award and 2019 ADRP Founder’s Award. A frequent speaker for CASE, ADRP, AASP, and other groups, Roberta has also published extensively on the subjects of donor relations, stewardship, events, surveys, leadership, and other fundraising-related topics. Roberta holds a BA in psychology and English from Rutgers University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and an MA in English Literature from Northeastern University.
