Before joining VCC, Dr. McNaughton was an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina and held decanal positions at Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, and Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was also Vice-President Academic & Research at the University College of the North in The Pas, Manitoba, for seven years. Prior to completing a doctorate in education at Arizona State University, Dr. McNaughton taught in Ontario and at community colleges in Saskatchewan, Nunavut, and British Columbia. Her research has focused on early childhood teacher education as well as international teacher education and has taken her to China, Trinidad and Tobago, Zambia, England, and the United States.
Marlene Kowalski has more than 20 years’ experience leading strategic business services and organizational transformation. She has spent the majority of her career as leader of financial operations and change in dynamic and complex environments, in both the public and private sectors. Marlene has experience in many industries including, post-secondary education (college and university), aviation, technology, manufacturing, forestry, retail and construction. Most recently Marlene was the Vice-President Administration, CFO and Business Development at Vancouver Community College (VCC). Marlene has a Charter Professional Accountant/Certified General Accountant (CPA/CGA) designation and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Royal Roads University. She has worked in the interior and lower mainland of British Columbia and spent a few years in Northern Alberta. During her career she had the opportunity to work on joint ventures in Chile, Panama and the United States and pursue business development opportunities in India and China.
Patrick Bredehoft is the Director of Alumni Interview Program at the University of Pennsylvania. In that capacity, he manages over 20,000 alumni volunteers who collectively support the Penn Admissions Office as university ambassadors. During the past eight years, he has helped to triple the size and scope of Penn’s Interview Program, while significantly improving the training, retention, and data collection practices of the program. Prior to this position, Patrick served as an Admissions Officer at Penn, and before that, as Head of Foreign Languages and College Counseling at high school for gifted and talented youth in Istanbul, Turkey. Patrick is a graduate of Dartmouth College, and holds a Master’s in Education from Lesley University.
Howard Gadlin retired after serving as Ombudsman and Director of the Center for Cooperative Resolution, at the National Institutes of Health since the beginning of 1999. Before that, from 1992 through 1998, he was University Ombudsperson and Adjunct Professor of Education at UCLA. He was also director of the UCLA Conflict Mediation Program and co-director of the Center for the Study and Resolution of Interethnic/Interracial Conflict. While in Los Angeles, he served as well as Consulting Ombudsman to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Prior to moving to Los Angeles Dr. Gadlin was Ombudsperson and Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Dr. Gadlin is past President of the University and College Ombuds Association and of The Ombudsman Association (TOA) and past Chair of the Coalition of Federal Ombudsmen. At present Dr. Gadlin is studying the dynamics of scientific teams and collaborations and developing new approaches to addressing conflicts among scientists. With colleagues he has written “Collaboration and Team Science: A Field Guide.” An experienced mediator, trainer and consultant, he has years of experience working with conflicts related to race, ethnicity and gender, including sexual harassment. He is often called in as a consultant/mediator in “intractable” disputes. […]
Laura Anderson provides leadership on the development and operational implementation of initiatives aimed at driving enrollment and supporting students in navigating their unique college pathways. She helped to establish the first-ever virtual recruitment strategy for World Camps Admission Services, including the development, execution, and management of webinars that grew from two webinars in AY 2013-14 to more than 20 virtual events in AY 2018-19. Laura earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in higher education with a focus in distance education, both from Penn State. She has a passion for online learning and exploring the ways in which technology can enhance the student experience and support institutions in solving critical issues.
Milton D. Cox is founder and Director Emeritus of the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching at Miami University where he initiated and continues to direct the annual Original Lilly Conference on College Teaching, now in its 39th year. He is also founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the Learning Communities Journal. He facilitates the Hesburgh Award-winning Teaching Scholars Faculty Learning Community, now in its 40th year. Milt has been project director of state and federal grants establishing faculty learning community programs at other institutions, is co-editor of the book, Building Faculty Learning Communities, and has visited over 100 institutions in the U.S. and abroad to consult on various issues in higher education. He is recipient of a certificate of special achievement from the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education in recognition and appreciation of notable contributions to the profession of faculty, instructional, and organizational development.
Eduardo Prieto is an enrollment management professional whose twenty-six year career in higher education has included service at both public and private higher education institutions in four different states. In his current role, he is responsible for all enrollment functions, including undergraduate admissions, recruitment, and financial aid. Eduardo has led or been part of record-setting enrollment efforts at five different institutions. He is also a member of several civic and professional organizations and has presented extensively at the regional and national levels. Prieto earned a BA in public relations, a BA in communication, and an MA in mass communication from the University of Oklahoma, and is currently working on his doctorate in higher education.
Jennifer Schoen is passionate about helping first-generation college students get into and graduate from college. Jennifer has spent the last 30 years in higher education working with underrepresented students in both admission and retention roles. Currently, Jennifer is the director of the Opportunity Scholarship and Outreach Office at Northeastern University in Boston. She coordinates an alternate admissions process for the Torch Scholars program that uses non-cognitive variables to indicate potential beyond SAT scores and GPA. Jennifer is currently working on her doctoral dissertation, looking at the motivational factors of first-generation students from low-income backgrounds using the framework of The Hero’s Journey. In addition to her role as educator and student, Jennifer is also an author and speaker, helping first-generation students and their parents understand the college admissions process.
Dr. Barrington Price is originally from Rochester NY and found his way to Chicago by enrolling at his alma mater, North Park University. There, Barrington graduated with a BS in Psychology and went on to pursue graduate work in clinical Psychology. His passion for Higher education was fueled during his one of his clinical rotations where he returned to his North Park as a counseling intern. It was at this point, he realized his desire and passion to work with college students. As a first generation college student himself, he cares deeply about creating pathways for all students to see college as an option. Ensuring students, like him, aren’t the exceptions but are welcomed and valued as contributors to the fabric of the institution. Dr. Price’s most recent research centers around the retention of “at risk” students in higher education. After having served in many roles from mental health counselor, student success coach, advisor, to Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement at North Park University, Dr. Price is now in his inaugural year of a new Division as the Vice President for Student Success and Engagement at Dominican University.
Alan has been working with youth and families for more than twenty years. Nineteen years ago—prior to moving into higher education—he wore several hats as an elementary school teacher, mental health professional, and coach. He also spent several years as the Associate Executive Director of a local council of Camp Fire USA where he oversaw the development and expansion of after school programs. Alan’s work in admissions has primarily been at small liberal arts colleges where he’s spearheaded the colleges’ diversity recruitment efforts. Mr. Paynter has been a frequent guest speaker and panelist around the country on various topics surrounding the college admissions process and college access work. Alan has enjoyed publishing several local and national articles including two featured in the New York Times’ Room for Debate. Alan’s maintained active involvement in the PA Association of College Admissions Counseling and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Today, Ala
