Standing Committees

WACRAO Standing Committees are responsible for developing and planning the concurrent sessions for the annual conference and business meeting held in late October or early November each year. These committees also assist the professional development committee with workshops and other opportunities for WACRAO membership, and they conduct other appropriate activities assigned by the Executive Board. They are the organization’s program committee. Each committee has a specific focus area. 

At present, there are seven Standing Committees, as described below.  Each committee has six members, with two new members appointed each year to replace those who are rotating off.  Committee representation should include two- and four-year institutions, both public and independent, and a balance of members who work admission and registrar functions.

 

 

 

Access, Diversity, and Equity Committee

Focus on issues of diversity and inclusivity with attention to special populations (i.e., low income, minorities, non-traditional, etc.).

Chair

  • Angie Rankin,  Assistant Director of Admissions, UW-Eau Claire, 2022

Members

  • Becca Jazdzewski, Admission Counselor, UW-Stevens Point, 2024
  • Catie Koruba, Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions, Marquette University, 2024
  • Maya Rica Boren, Application Administrator II, UW-Green Bay, 2023
  • Trevor Sprague, Associate Director of Transfer Admissions, UW-La Crosse, 2025 
  • Arlene Tuler, Assistant Director of Admissions for Recruitment, UW-Green Bay, 2020

Admissions and Enrollment Management Committee

Focus on undergraduate, graduate, and professional admissions policies, practices, and processing; enrollment management and retention; financial aid and enrollment services; recruitment, college fair etiquette, and marketing; school-college relations; transfer, transcript evaluation, and articulation; and international admission and study abroad programs.  Additionally, this committee will attend to topics related to students’ access to college and initiatives to help ensure equitable treatment and services in higher education.

Chair

  • David Toles (chair), Associate Director of Admissions, UW-River Falls, 2023

Members

  • Lori Christianson, Assistant Director, Transfer, UW-Madison, 2024
  • Bridget Derge, Associate Director of Admissions for Recruitment, UW-Green Bay 2025
  • Michelle Ferry, Transfer Admissions Counselor, UW-Green Bay, 2025
  • Delaney Servais, Transfer and Articulation Coordinator, Western Technical College, 2025
  • Nate Tranel, Assistant Director of Admissions, UW-Whitewater, 2025
  • Aubry Tucker, Admissions Specialist Team Lead, Fox Valley Technical College, 2024
  • Aaron Zimmerman, Assistant Director, UW-Stevens Point, 2025

External Relations Committee

Focus on compliance, federal and state legislative issues, legislative updates, legal issues.

Chair

  • Rhonda Kimmel, Registrar, UW-Parkside, 2019

Members

  • Anne Eckenrod, Assistant Registrar, UW-Madison, 2025
  • Dyllan Griepentrog, Admissions Counselor, UW-La Crosse, 2025
  • Tony Pietsch, Residency Specialist, UW-Madison, 2024
  • Nicole Toerpe Mason, Law School Registrar, Marquette University, 2023
  • Dan Vande Yacht, Registrar, UW-Green Bay, 2024

Information Technology and Research Committee

Focus on technology, institutional research.  Conference sessions to include content such as:

  • Data reporting, institutional assessment, retention analysis and predictions
  • Student Information Systems, emerging technologies & best practices
  • Examine business practices and how they relate to the SIS
  • External software solutions
  • Technology as it relates to student recruitment, success, and retention

Chair

  • John Dyess, Registrar, UW-Superior, 2022

Members

  • Yasi Blackmon, Registrar Systems Analyst, Marquette University, 2023
  • Katie Block, Assistant Registrar for Student Services, UW-Madison, 2021
  • Kelly Norton, Assistant Registrar for Data, Reporting, and Eligibility, UW-Madison, 2024
  • Vacant
  • Vacant

Military Connected Services Committee

The primary task of the Military Connected Services committee is to plan and host the annual Veterans Certifying Official workshop, in conjunction with the Education Liaison Representative for Wisconsin and Wisconsin State Approving Agency.  The committee also serves to inform WACRAO of the issues facing military-connected students and acts as a resource for WACRAO to better assist these students in their academic pursuits.  Because this committee is so involved with training and implementing the regulations surrounding both federal- and state-level benefits for our military-connected students, committee members should have expertise in serving these students.  The committee’s membership should reflect the variety of WACRAO member institutions.

Chair

  • Jackie Leon, Manager of Veteran Services, Western Technical College, 2022

Members

  • Angela Kaye, School Certifying Official, Gateway Technical College, 2023
  • Amy Moore, Veterans Benefits Coordinator/Office Manager, UW-Whitewater, 2024
  • Stephen Pepper, Student Veteran Specialist, Moraine Park Technical College, 2023
  • Christopher Smith, Veteran Services Coordinator, UW-Stevens Point, 2025
  • Elizabeth (Beth) Serwe, Financial Aid Specialist/Veteran Certifying Official, Moraine Park Technical College, 2026

Professional Development Committee

The Professional Development committee is all about building the skills and knowledge of our members in the areas of Registration, Recruitment, and Retention.  We want to expand our members’ knowledge base, boost confidence and credibility, and provide networking opportunities.  WACRAO wants to make sure our members are current on industry trends and help in future career changes.

Chair

  • Melanie Thor, Admissions Counselor, UW-Stevens Point, 2024

Members

  • Morgan Jackson, Assistant Registrar, UW-Whitewater, 2025
  • Sarah Perkins, Assistant Registrar of Student Services, UW-Milwaukee, 2025
  • Emma Pucker, Application and Residency Review Manager, UW-Milwaukee, 2025
  • Josh Rybaski,  Assistant Director for Counselor Training and Development, UW-Madison, 2024
  • Kristy Sprung, Associate Registrar, UW-Milwaukee, 2020 
  • Isabel Walters, Director of Admissions, UW-Eau Claire, 2023

Records, Registration, and Academic Services Committee

Focus on academic progress and support, commencement, graduation, retention, distance education, student academic records, study abroad, academic calendars, grading and GPA policies and practices, and records management and registration techniques.

Chair

  • Brittany Elandt, Curricular Specialist, UW-Madison, 2023

Members

  • Jessi Asmus, Records and Enrollment Specialist, UW-Madison, 2024
  • Ryan Bench, Associate Administration Program Specialist, UW-River Falls, 2017
  • Jennifer Bonack, Registrar, UW Oshkosh, 2022
  • Andrew Meyer, Assistant Registrar/Transfer Coordinator, UW-Green Bay, 2024
  • Ritu Sachdev, Associate Registrar, Marquette University, 2023


Other Committees

Local Arrangements Committee – 2026

  • Amy Holewinski, Nicolet College
  • Andrew Meyer, UW-Green Bay
  • Anne Eckenrod, UW-Madison
  • Aubry Tucker, Fox Valley Technical College
  • Bailey Schmid, Madison Area Technical College
  • Bridget Derge, UW-Green Bay
  • Brittany Elandt, UW-Madison
  • Callyn Diamon, UW-Green Bay
  • Catie Koruba, Marquette University
  • Curtis Turner, Gateway Technical College
  • Dakota Nehls, Gateway Technical College
  • Delany Sevais, Western Technical College
  • Dyllan Griepentrog, UW-La Crosse
  • Ellen Clark, UW-Madison
  • Erica Spicer, UW-Oshkosh
  • Genna Mattioli, UW-Stevens Point
  • Hope Bramm, Nicolet College
  • Jackie McHugh, UW-Madison
  • Jonelle Przybylski, UW-Stevens Point
  • Joshua Rybaski (co-chair), UW-Madison
  • Katelyn Strzok, UW-Green Bay
  • Maddy Dooling, UW-Green Bay
  • Melanie Thor, UW-Stevens Point
  • Michelle Ferry, UW-Green Bay
  • Nikki Hemmerich (co-chair), Madison Area Technical College
  • Patrick Gnerlich, Madison Area Technical College
  • Rachel Aldrich (President-Elect), Fox Valley Technical College
  • Ritu Sachdev, Marquette University
  • Ryan Bench, UW-River Falls

Nominations and Awards Committee

  • George Henze, Registrar, Marian University
  • Corey Sjoquist, Assistant Vice Chancellor, UW-La Crosse
  • Curtis Turner, Director of Student Express Services, Gateway Technical College