2026 Conference Committee
The Conference Committee fosters collaboration and alignment among committees and groups to enhance the Annual Conference experience and related events.
As the Annual Conference and related events continue to grow, coordination amongst the various committees and groups that impact the conference experience is imperative. As such, in-line with the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan, a Conference Committee was created beginning in 2023 to ensure alignment amongst the various events and projects connected to the Annual Conference. The Conference Committee serves to facilitate dialogue and communication amongst and between the various aspects of the annual conference.
Please e-mail conference@ashe.ws with any conference questions and the ASHE Staff will respond or direct your e-mail to the appropriate Leadership Volunteer.
Committee Structure
The Conference Committee consists of a Chair and Co-Chairs of the following in-group committees: Attendee Engagement, Local and Community Engagement, and Program Committee. Current members of these roles are listed after the following committee information.
Attendee Engagement Committee
The Attendee Engagement Committee will develop resources and opportunities for conference attendees to more fully engage with the conference and each other, and serve as ambassadors of the Association for the continuum of first-time attendees to long-time returners to the annual conference.
Local and Community Engagement Committee
The Local and Community Engagement Committee (LCEC) will guide ASHE in centering Indigeneity, space, place, and people by engaging with local Indigenous communities, local BIPOC communities, and higher education institutions in the location of the annual conference and by developing resources and opportunities for conference attendees to more fully engage with the conference location.
Program Committee
The Program Committee will be responsible for crafting the content for the peer-reviewed portion of the program for the annual conference by soliciting proposal submissions through the Call for Proposals and facilitating the peer review process including soliciting and selecting volunteers, and reviewing, and selecting proposals for the Annual Conference.
Conference Committee Leadership Team
-
Nichole M. Garcia
Associate Professor of Higher Education Rutgers University (801)867-5467Conference Committee Chair -
Alicia Castillo Shrestha
Associate Director of Conference and Events Association for the Study of Higher Education (202)925-5935Staff Partner -
Crystal E. Garcia
Associate Professor University of Nebraska-Lincoln (214)868-8038Program Committee Co-Chair -
Demetri L Morgan
Associate Professor of Education University of Michigan (561)271-9930Program Committee Co-Chair -
Theresa Jean Ambo
Associate Professor Higher Education Research Institute- UCLALocal and Community Engagement Committee Co-Chair -
Stephen Santa-Ramirez
Associate Professor of Higher Education University at Buffalo (716)645-5236Local and Community Engagement Committee Co-Chair -
LaShawn Faith Washington
Assistant Professor The University of Texas at Austin (972)809-3213Attendee Engagement Committee Co-Chair -
Natalie Rose Youngbull
Assistant Professor, Adult and Higher Education University of Oklahoma (405)464-0802Attendee Engagement Committee Co-Chair
Attendee Engagement Committee
-
LaShawn Faith Washington
Assistant Professor The University of Texas at AustinCo-Chair
-
Natalie Rose Youngbull
Assistant Professor, Adult and Higher Education University of OklahomaCo-Chair
-
Alicia Castillo Shrestha
Associate Director of Conference and Events Association for the Study of Higher EducationStaff Partner
-
-
-
Pam SuzadailAssistant Provost, Online Learning & Professional Education William & Mary
-
-
-
-
Amy Elizabeth Hawley Alvarez
MA, MEd Director of Strategic Partnerships & Part-time Instructor Teachers College, Columbia University -
-
Jordan Mitchell
PhD Student and Managing Editor of the Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement University of Georgia
Local and Community Engagement Committee
-
Theresa Jean Ambo
Associate Professor Higher Education Research Institute- UCLACo-Chair
-
Stephen Santa-Ramirez
Associate Professor of Higher Education University at BuffaloCo-Chair
-
Alicia Castillo Shrestha
Associate Director of Conference and Events Association for the Study of Higher EducationStaff Partner
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Devin Henry
Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis Doctoral Student University of Wisconsin-Madison -
Raymond Vidal Plaza
PhD Senior Director, Diversity and Inclusion Santa Clara University -
-
J. Audra WilliamsPhD Student, Educational Policy & Evaluation Arizona State University
-
-
Jodi Burshia
Assistant Professor of Indigenous Education New Mexico Highlands University
Program Committee
-
Crystal E. Garcia
Associate Professor University of Nebraska-LincolnProgram Committee Co-Chair
-
Demetri L Morgan
Associate Professor of Education University of MichiganProgram Committee Co-Chair
-
Alicia Castillo Shrestha
Associate Director of Conference and Events Association for the Study of Higher EducationStaff Partner
-
Ali Watts
Assistant Professor Bowling Green State UniversityAdministrators and Staff Section Co-Chair -
Gordon PalmerAssitant Professor University of Illinois - ChicagoEcosystems and Community Partnerships Section Co-Chair
-
Kamia Felise SlaughterAssistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Law Alabama State UniversityEcosystems and Community Partnerships Section Co-Chair
-
Christopher BroadhurstAssociate Professor University of Louisiana at LafayetteFaculty Section Co-Chair
-
-
Musbah ShaheenAssistant Professor University of Massachusetts at AmherstGraduate and Professional Education
-
Joshua WallaceAssistant Professor University of LouisvilleGraduate and Professional Education
-
Jarett D. Haley
Assistant Professor University of DelawareGraduate & Professional Students and Postdoctoral Scholars -
Jonathan J Okstad
Manager of Research Administration, Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern UniversityGraduate & Professional Students and Postdoctoral Scholars -
Danielle K. MolinaProgram Coordinator/Associate Professor of Student Affairs & Higher Education Mississippi State UniversityInterdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research
-
Lisa UnangstAssistant Professor Empire State UniversityInternational Higher Education Section Co-Chair
-
Hoyun Kim
Ph.D. Candidate University of California, BerkeleyLeadership in Higher Education Section Co-Chair -
Stephanie Aguilar-Smith
Assistant Professor University of GeorgiaOrganization & Administration Section Co-Chair -
Karley A. RiffeAssistant Professor University of CincinnatiOrganization & Administration Section Co-Chair
-
Ashton Ryan CooperAssistant Professor University of CincinnatiPhilosophy, Theory, and Foundations Section Co-Chair
-
Matthew J. Smith
Lecturer Valdosta State UniversityPhilosophy, Theory, and Foundations Section Co-Chair -
Daniel CorralAssistant Professor University of TorontoPolicy, Finance, & Economics Section Co-Chair
-
Paul G. Rubin
Assistant Professor University of UtahPolicy, Finance, & Economics Section Co-Chair -
Peggy Kerr
Assistant Professor Gwynedd Mercy UniversityTeaching & Learning Section Co-Chair -
Benjamin S. SelznickAssociate Professor James Madison UniversityTechnology Section Co-Chair
-
Dre'Sha Singleton
Assistant Director North Carolina State UniversityTeaching & Learning Section Co-Chair -
Daniel KlasikAssociate Professor University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUndergraduate Students: Access Section Co-Chair
-
Zyrashae Smith-OnyewuPostdoctoral Researcher University of FloridaUndergraduate Students: Access Section Co-Chair
-
Beth E. W. Nahlik
PhD Candidate Kent State UniversityUndergraduate Student: Context Section Co-Chair -
Lydia Ross
Assistant Professor Arizona State UniversityUndergraduate Students: Contexts Section Co-Chair -
Charisse Staine
Grand Canyon University Adjunct Professor Grand Canyon UniversityUndergraduate Students: Contexts Section Co-Chair -
Danielle SusiAssistant Dean, College Access & Community Engagement University of UtahUndergraduate Students: Contexts Section Co-Chair
-
Ebelia HernandezAssociate Professor Rutgers UniversityUndergraduate Students: Developmental Theory Section Co-Chair
-
Roberto Carlos Orozco
Assistant Professor University of Minnesota Twin CitiesUndergraduate Students: Developmental Theory Section Co-Chair -
Shonda GowardAssociate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Advising and Success California State UniversityUndergraduate Students: Persistence, Resilience, Retention
-
Chandler HawkinsVisiting Assistant Professor Purdue UniversityUndergraduate Students: Persistence, Resilience, & Retention Section Co-Chair
-
Jarrod Elliott DrueryAssistant Professor University of CincinnatiUndergraduate Students: Outcomes Section Co-Chair
-
Amanda Simpfenderfer
Assistant Professor for Research Design, Methods, and Analysis William & MaryUndergraduate Students: Outcomes Section Co-Chair -
Erin Doran
Associate Professor The University of Texas at El PasoCAHEP Pre-Conference Chair -
Ángel de Jesus GonzálezAssistant Professor California State University, FresnoCEP Pre-Conference Co-Chair
-
Mary Ann Bodine Al-Sharif
Ph.D. Adult & Higher Education Associate Professor of Higher Education The University of Alabama at BirminghamCIHE Pre-Conference Co-Chair -
-
Eddy Conroy
Senior Director, Communications National College Attainment NetworkCPPHE Pre-Conference Chair
