Conference Committee

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.

For more information about this year's Attendee Engagement Committee, visit ashe.ws/attendee-engagement.

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.

For more information about this year's Local and Community Engagement Committee, visit ashe.ws/lcec.

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.

For more information about this year's Program Committee, visit ashe.ws/program-committee.

Conference Committee Leadership Team

  • Shawna Patterson-Stephens
    Shawna Patterson-Stephens
    Vice President of University Engagement and Student Affairs Central Michigan University (989)774-3700
    Conference Committee Chair
  • Alicia Castillo Shrestha
    Alicia Castillo Shrestha
    Associate Director of Conference and Events Association for the Study of Higher Education (202)925-5935
    Staff Partner
  • Alex C. Lange
    Alex C. Lange
    Assistant Professor & Associate Director Colorado State University
    Attendee Engagement Committee Co-Chair
  • Susana M. Muñoz
    Susana M. Muñoz
    Associate Professor & Associate Director of Equity and Faculty Development Colorado State University (970)491-6812
    Local and Community Engagement Committee Co-Chair
  • Heather J. Shotton
    Vice President of Diversity Affairs Fort Lewis College (405)476-8286
    Local and Community Engagement Committee Co-Chair
  • Tonisha B. Lane
    Tonisha B. Lane
    Associate Professor Virginia Tech (540)231-9725
    Program Committee Co-Chair
  • Marissa C. Vasquez
    Marissa C. Vasquez
    Associate Professor San Diego State University (619)395-0474
    Program Committee Co-Chair

Attendee Engagement Committee

  • Alex C. Lange
    Alex C. Lange
    Assistant Professor & Associate Director Colorado State University
    Co-Chair
  • Alicia Castillo Shrestha
    Alicia Castillo Shrestha
    Associate Director of Conference and Events Association for the Study of Higher Education
    Staff Partner
  • Mary Bankhead
    Mary Bankhead
    PhD Student - Center for the Study of Higher Education The University of Arizona
    Member
  • Monica Hernandez
    Monica Hernandez
    Graduate student The University of Texas at San Antonio
    Member
  • Shetina M Jones
    Member
  • Beth E. W. Nahlik
    Beth E. W. Nahlik
    PhD Candidate Kent State University
    Member
  • Lissa Ramirez- Stapleton
    Lissa Ramirez- Stapleton
    Associate Professor and Programming Coordinator California State University, Fullerton
    Member
  • Sy Simms
    Independant Scholar The University of Arizona
    Member
  • William B. Walker Jr.
    William B. Walker Jr.
    PhD Student University of Georgia
    Member
  • Christine Marie Zabala-Eisshofer
    Visiting Assistant Professor Anne Arundel Community College
    Member

Local and Community Engagement Committee

  • Susana M. Muñoz
    Susana M. Muñoz
    Associate Professor & Associate Director of Equity and Faculty Development Colorado State University
    Co-Chair
  • Heather J. Shotton
    Vice President of Diversity Affairs Fort Lewis College
    Co-Chair
  • Alicia Castillo Shrestha
    Alicia Castillo Shrestha
    Associate Director of Conference and Events Association for the Study of Higher Education
    Staff Partner
  • James P. Barber
    Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Education William & Mary
    Member
  • Ashley Carpenter
    Ashley Carpenter
    PhD Associate Professor Appalachian State University
    Member
  • Sergio A Gonzalez
    Sergio A Gonzalez
    Assistant Professor University of Pittsburgh
    Member
  • Stevie Lee
    Associate Director, Native American Initiatives (DEI) University of Denver
    Member
  • Darin M.L. Stewart
    Darin M.L. Stewart
    Professor and Chair University of Denver
    Member
  • Justin Michael Weller
    Justin Michael Weller
    Fulbright U.S. Student Grantee - Foundation for Scholarly Exchange Michigan State University
    Member
  • Jenay Willis
    Jenay Willis
    Assistant Professor University of Mississippi
    Member
  • Patrese Atine
    Assistant Vice President for Indigenous and Native American Affairs Colorado Technical University
    Member

Program Committee

  • Tonisha B. Lane
    Tonisha B. Lane
    Associate Professor Virginia Tech
    Program Committee Co-Chair
  • Marissa C. Vasquez
    Marissa C. Vasquez
    Associate Professor San Diego State University
    Program Committee Co-Chair
  • Alicia Castillo Shrestha
    Alicia Castillo Shrestha
    Associate Director of Conference and Events Association for the Study of Higher Education
    Staff Partner
  • Travis C. Smith
    Travis C. Smith
    Assistant Professor Educational Leadership, Policy, & Law Alabama State University
    Community-University Partnerships and Praxis Section Chair
  • Danielle K. Molina
    Program Coordinator/Associate Professor of Student Affairs & Higher Education Mississippi State University
    Faculty, Administrators, and Staff Section Co-Chair
  • Chase J. Catalano
    Chase J. Catalano
    Associate Professor Virginia Tech
    Graduate/Professional Students and Post-doctoral Scholars Section Co-Chair
  • Karly Ball Isaacson
    Karly Ball Isaacson
    Postdoctoral Research Associate Michigan State University
    Graduate/Professional Students and Post-doctoral Scholars Section Co-Chair
  • Stephen Santa-Ramirez
    Stephen Santa-Ramirez
    Associate Professor of Higher Education University at Buffalo
    Graduate/Professional Students and Post-doctoral Scholars Section Co-Chair
  • Frank Fernandez
    Associate Professor University of Wisconsin-Madison
    International Higher Education Section Co-Chair
  • Matthew A. Witenstein
    Matthew A. Witenstein
    Associate Professor University of New Mexico
    International Higher Education Section Co-Chair
  • Jarett T. Lujan
    Jarett T. Lujan
    Program Manager - Research Development & Communications Texas Tech University
    Leadership in Higher Education Section Chair
  • Nicholas Robert Stroup
    Nicholas Robert Stroup
    Assistant Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs Ohio University
    Organization & Administration Section Co-Chair
  • Chaddrick D James-Gallaway
    Chaddrick D James-Gallaway
    Assistant Professor Texas A&M University
    Philosophy & Foundations Section Co-Chair
  • Reginald Blockett
    Reginald Blockett
    Assistant Professor Auburn University
    Philosophy & Foundations Section Co-Chair
  • Eric R Felix
    Eric R Felix
    Associate Professor San Diego State University
    Policy, Finance, & Economics Section Co-Chair
  • Lydia Ross
    Lydia Ross
    Assistant Professor Arizona State University
    Policy, Finance, & Economics Section Co-Chair
  • KC Culver
    KC Culver
    Assistant Professor University of Alabama
    Research Methods Section Co-Chair
  • Leslie Jo (LJ) Shelton
    Leslie Jo (LJ) Shelton
    Assistant Professor of HIED and HIED MEd Program Coordinator University of Arkansas
    Teaching & Learning Section Co-Chair
  • Jennifer M. Blaney
    Jennifer M. Blaney
    Associate Professor University of Georgia
    Undergraduate Students: Access Section Co-Chair
  • Jonathan Lewis
    Jonathan Lewis
    NA
    Undergraduate Students: Access Section Co-Chair
  • Tara D. Hudson
    Tara D. Hudson
    Associate Professor Kent State University
    Undergraduate Students: Contexts Section Co-Chair
  • Joseph Romero-Reyes
    Joseph Romero-Reyes
    Assistant Professor Iowa State University
    Undergraduate Students: Contexts Section Co-Chair
  • Amanda Simpfenderfer
    Amanda Simpfenderfer
    Assistant Professor for Research Design, Methods, and Analysis William & Mary
    Undergraduate Students: Contexts Section Co-Chair
  • Melissa Abeyta
    Melissa Abeyta
    Visiting Assistant Professor University of Nevada, Las Vegas
    Undergraduate Students: Developmental Theory Section Co-Chair
  • Roberto Carlos Orozco
    Roberto Carlos Orozco
    Assistant Professor University of Minnesota Twin Cities
    Undergraduate Students: Developmental Theory Section Co-Chair
  • Vincent D. Carales
    Vincent D. Carales
    Associate Professor University of Houston
    Undergraduate Students: Persistence, Resilience, Retention, & Outcomes Section Co-Chair
  • Nichole M. Garcia
    Nichole M. Garcia
    Associate Professor of Higher Education Rutgers University
    Undergraduate Students: Persistence, Resilience, Retention, & Outcomes Section Co-Chair
  • Matthew J. Smith
    Matthew J. Smith
    Lecturer Valdosta State University
    Faculty, Administrators, and Staff Section Co-Chair
  • Jue Wu
    Jue Wu
    Assistant Professor University of Florida
    Undergraduate Students: Persistence, Resilience, Retention, & Outcomes Section Co-Chair
  • Erin Doran
    Erin Doran
    Associate Professor The University of Texas at El Paso
    CAHEP Pre-Conference Chair
  • Charlie Amáyá Scott
    Doctoral Student University of Denver
    CEP Pre-Conference Co-Chair
  • HyeJin Tina Yeo
    HyeJin Tina Yeo
    Assistant Professor The University of North Dakota
    CIHE Pre-Conference Co-Chair
  • Charles Mathies
    Charles Mathies
    Assistant Professor Old Dominion University
    CIHE Pre-Conference Co-Chair
  • Christopher R. Marsicano
    Christopher R. Marsicano
    Associate Professor and Chair, Educational Studies Department Davidson College
    CPPHE Pre-Conference Chair