Standing Committees

WACRAO Standing Committees are mainly responsible for planning the concurrent sessions for the annual conference and business meeting held in late October or early November each year. They are the organization’s program committee. Each committee has a focus.

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.).

Melissa Earnest (chair), Dual Credit Specialist, Gateway Technical College, 2026
Jaclyn McHugh, Residence Specialist, UW-Madison, 2025
Maya Rica Boren, Application Administrator II, UW-Green Bay, 2025
Mariana Sanabria, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Mount Mary University, 2024
Arlene Torres, Admission Counselor, UW-Green Bay, 2026
Misty Turnquest, Project & Process Analyst, Madison College, 2024

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.

Rachel Aldrich, Functional Analyst-Credit for Prior Learning, Fox Valley Technical College, 2024
Lori Christianson (chair), Assistant Director, Transfer, UW-Madison, 2024
Genna Mattioli, Admissions Operations & Events Coordinator, UW-Stevens Point, 2025
Lindsey Radloff, Transfer Representative, UW-Whitewater, 2026
David Toles, Associate Director of Admissions, UW-River Falls, 2026
Darren Ward, Associate Director of Admissions, UW-Stout, 2025

External Relations Committee

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

Rhonda Kimmel, Registrar, UW-Parkside, 2025
Heather Pearson (chair), International Articulations & Admissions Coordinator, UW-La Crosse, 2025
Tony Pietsch, Residency Specialist, UW-Madison, 2024
Nicole Toerpe Mason, Law School Registrar, Marquette University, 2026
Dan Vande Yacht, Registrar, UW-Green Bay, 2024
Julie Waldvogel-Leitner, Director of Enrollment Management, Moraine Park Technical College, 2026

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

Emilie Bailkey, Campus Solutions Coordinator, Northwood Technical College, 2024
Yasi Blackmon, Registrar Systems Analyst, Marquette University, 2026
Katie Block (chair), Assistant Registrar for Student Services, UW-Madison, 2026
Rachael Daniel, Director, Systems & Data Analysis, UW-Milwaukee, 2025
Kelly Higgins, Assistant Registrar for Data, Reporting, and Eligibility, UW-Madison, 2024
Lori Turner, Associate Registrar, UW-Parkside, 2025

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.

Debra Barrett (chair), Associate Registrar & Veteran Certifying Official, Marian University, 2025
Jackie Helgeson, Manager of Veteran Services, Western Technical College, 2025
Belinda Hull, Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (CEVSS) Program Coordinator, Herzing University, 2026
Angela Kaye, School Certifying Official, Gateway Technical College, 2026
Amy Moore, Veterans Benefits Coordinator/Office Manager, UW-Whitewater, 2024
Stephen Pepper, Student Veteran Specialist, 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.

Emily Kuhnen (chair), Academic Catalog Coordinator and Scheduling Assistant, UW-Milwaukee, 2024
Kate Kurek, Curricular Outreach Coordinator, UW-Madison, 2026
Kristy Sprung, Associate Registrar, UW-Milwaukee, 2026
Isabel Walters, Director of Admissions, UW-Eau Claire, 2025
Beth Warner, Deputy Registrar, UW-Madison, 2024
Abbie Windsor, Assistant Registrar, UW-Whitewater, 2025

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.

Ryan Bench, Associate Administration Program Specialist, UW-River Falls, 2026
Jennifer Bonack (chair), Registrar, UW Oshkosh, 2026
Joseph Haferman, Registrar, Nicolet College, 2025
Andrew Meyer, Assistant Registrar/Transfer Coordinator, UW-Green Bay, 2024
Victoria Rahn, Assistant Registrar, UW-La Crosse, 2024
Ritu Sachdev, Associate Registrar, Marquette University, 2025

Other Committees

Local Arrangements Committee – 2023

Ellen Clark, UW-Madison
Liz Conway, Waukesha County Technical College
Rachael Daniel (co-chair), UW-Milwaukee
Bridget Derge, UW-Green Bay
Melissa Earnest, Gateway Technical College
George Henze, Marian University
Travis Jansen, Gateway Technical College
Kim Jasper, UW-Platteville
Genna Mattioni, UW-Stevens Point
Andrew Meyer, UW-Green Bay
Sean O'Melia, UW-Oshkosh
Carrie Parworth, Gateway Technical College
Jonelle Przybylski, UW-Stevens Point
Ritu Sachdev, Marquette University
Rachel Siebers, UW-Stevens Point
Erica Spicer, UW-Oshkosh
Kristy Sprung (co-chair), UW-Milwaukee
Katelyn Strzok, UW-Green Bay
Mara Sylvester, UW-Green Bay
Naomi Tiefel, Carroll College
Lori Turner, UW-Parkside
Isabel Walters, UW-Eau Claire
Ashleigh Zarling, Marquette University

Nominations and Awards Committee

Alexander Joseph Frain, Associate Registrar, Marquette University
Corey Sjoquist, Assistant Vice Chancellor, UW-La Crosse
Beth Warner, Deputy Registrar, UW-Madison