Rick Torres has served as president/CEO of the National Student Clearinghouse since 2008. Under his leadership, the Clearinghouse extended its mission through accessible, innovative technology-based services and data exchange solutions that enable institutions and organizations to focus on maximizing human potential and is a thought and action-oriented leader in helping to evolve the nation to an edu-workforce data-driven ecosystem. Torres serves on the boards of the Brightpoint Community College Foundation, Achieving the Dream and ACT and was a founding member of the Groningen Declaration Network Group, an international consortia dedicated to developing a trusted international data exchange ecosystem. He holds an M.B.A. in international finance from Georgetown University and undergraduate degrees from Manhattan College.
Archives: People
Randi Lynn Tanglen, Ph.D. became vice provost for faculty affairs at the University of North Dakota in January 2023. She has degrees from Rocky Mountain College (B.A., English Education), the University of Montana (M.A., English), and the University of Arizona (Ph.D., English). Previously Tanglen was a full professor of English at Austin College in Sherman, Texas and has served as the executive director of Humanities Montana. In her current role she provides leadership for all aspects of the faculty experience in order to create a culture of faculty excellence and opportunity at the institution.
Karyn Plumm, Ph.D., has served as vice provost for undergraduate studies and student success at the University of North Dakota since 2018. She oversees academic advising, tutoring & learning services, the Essential Studies (general education) Program, the Honors Program, undergraduate curriculum processes, the Experiential Learning Center, and Institutional Effectiveness & Accreditation. Previously, she served as associate dean in the College of Arts & Sciences and director of undergraduate programs in the Department of Psychology. Plumm received her B.A. in psychology, M.A. in general psychology, and Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of North Dakota.
Pamela McMullin-Messier, Ph.D., has served as professor of sociology at Central Washington University since 2009; she is also currently serving as department chair, co-chair of the Academic Department Chair Organization, and provost fellow with a focus on high impact practices and student success. McMullin-Messier received her B.A. in sociology from Central Connecticut State University, an M.A. in sociology from the University of Connecticut, and Ph.D. in sociology and graduate certificate in gender studies from the University of Southern California.
Janelle Kilgore has served as a financial aid advisor, Memorial Union business manager, director of financial aid, and in her current role as vice provost for strategic enrollment management at the University of North Dakota. As a first-generation student-athlete, she had to quickly adapt to life as a college student without family guidance. Kilgore values giving back to her professional communities where she has presented at state, regional and national conferences. Kilgore received a B.S. in sports management at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, and an M.S. in educational leadership at the University of North Dakota.
Bonnie Irwin has served as chancellor at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo since 2019. Chancellor Irwin previously served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University (CSU) Monterey Bay and served as dean of Arts & Humanities and Honors at Eastern Illinois University. She holds A.B., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in comparative literature from the University of California at Berkeley, where she specialized in medieval literature and folklore. Irwin serves on the boards of the Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce and the ʻIole Stewardship Center and is a fellow of the National Collegiate Honors Council.
Kiana Frank serves as an assistant professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and studies how microorganisms (the smallest forms of life that live on land and in water) shape the land for productivity and health by weaving contemporary western techniques with Native Hawaiian Science. Her work evaluates overall ecosystem health and informs current monitoring, restoration, cultivation, and management of Hawaiian resources to sustainably support the people of Hawaii. She has strong relationships working within communities using scientific hands-on experiences in native ecosystems, our natural laboratories, to inspire the younger Hawaiian generations to cultivate a connection to science through their culture.
Elizabeth (Liz) Dennison, Ph.D., has served in University of Alaska Anchorage’s College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office as an associate dean since 2019. She heads the college’s efforts in student recruitment and retention through scholarship campaigns. Career readiness initiatives, especially promoting internships, is a top priority. Dennison spearheads the CAS Summer Camps. As a professor of history, she teaches a wide range of courses, specializing in Russian culture and society. Dennison received her B.A. and M.A. in history at the University of Colorado Boulder and a Ph.D. in history at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has been at UAA since 1992.
Michelle DenBeste, Ph.D., served as provost at Central Washington University and previously served as dean and department chair at California State University, Fresno. Currently, she is working on a research project on women’s leadership as well as serving as a special assistant to the vice president for advancement. She received her Ph.D in history from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale with a focus on Russian women’s history. In her administrative work, DenBeste has focused on faculty development, high impact practices, student and faculty success and creating bureaucratic practices which consider equity, diversity, and inclusion as guiding practices.
Laura Decker, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of English at Nevada State University, where she teaches writing and literacy courses. She also serves the coordinator of first year composition at Nevada State and helped lead the implementation of a statewide corequisite English effort. Previously, she worked for a TRIO Student Support Services Program at the College of Southern Nevada. Decker is part of the inaugural WICHE Humanities Leadership Fellow cohort. She holds a B.A. in English, an M.F.A. in creative writing, and a Ph.D. in literacy education from University of Nevada-Las Vegas.