For the Record, An AACRAO Podcast

It’s conference season for the state and regional associations. I was recently invited to give a plenary presentation at the New Jersey / New York ACRAO Fall Conference, and I used that opportunity to learn more about NJNYACRAO from some of the officers and the conference chair. Their fall conference was held in Reid Castle on the grounds of Manhattanville University outside of White Plains, NY. It’s not every day you get to go to a conference in a castle, so I also followed up with the Manhattanville archivist to hear more about the history of the venue.        

Key Takeaways:

• Spending time working with and for a state and regional association is a great way to learn about the field, learn how conferences work, and get to know amazing people.  
• Do the thing, afraid. Being uncomfortable is part of growth, and especially when it comes to AACRAO or any of the state and regional associations, the people there are rooting for you and are invested in helping you succeed.
• Conferences are an amazing way to connect and reconnect with people who have similar values, commitment to higher education, and passion for the work. Getting to attend is a gift.
• Conferences held in castles are better than conferences held in conference centers. If you have access to a castle, use it!   

Host:

Doug McKenna, Ph.D.
University Registrar
George Mason University
[email protected]   

Guests:

Lauren Ziarko
Archivist and Special Collections Librarian
Manhattanville University
[email protected] 

Sue Hamilton
President - NJ-NY ACRAO
[email protected]

Eileen Romero
Registrar
New York Medical College
[email protected]

Michelle Weller
Assistant Dean of Academic Operations and Registrar
New York Law School
[email protected]

References and Additional Information:

Service Excellence

Leadership

The AACRAO Strategic Plan

The AACRAO Strategic Plan guides the organization in our efforts to advance and support higher education in the United States. The previous strategic plan was strong, but dated, so over the past year the AACRAO staff has worked with the Board of Directors to refresh the plan. In this episode we talk with AACRAO Board member Dr. Carrie Jeffers and AACRAO staff representative Quintina Barnett Gallion about the process of revisiting and refreshing the strategic plan, who was involved, how it unfolded, and what it means for the AACRAO membership.        

Key Takeaways:

• The AACRAO strategic plan was refreshed, reviewed, and approved by the Board to go into effect in October 2026. Please take some time to read the plan.  
• While there were no significant changes, there are three shifts from the previous strategic plan: From information provider to trusted interpreter; From membership organization to professional ecosystem; and From reactive association to authoritative, proactive convener.
• The process of refreshing the strategic plan was undertaken intentionally from a place of momentum, and member input directly shaped the revisions to the strategic plan.   

Host:

Doug McKenna, Ph.D.
University Registrar
George Mason University
[email protected]   

Guests:

Carrie Jeffers, Ph.D.
Vice President, Student Services
Macomb Community College
[email protected] 

Quintina Barnett Gallion
Associate Executive Director, Strategy & Planning
AACRAO
[email protected] 

References and Additional Information:

Service Excellence
Leadership
The AACRAO Strategic Plan

The death of a student can be a traumatic event on campus. Registrars play an important role in the necessary administrative actions following a student’s death, and can be instrumental in providing support and institutional outreach to the grieving family. In today’s episode, we talk with Kim Barber, University Registrar at Florida State University about some of the practices employed at FSU to navigate these sensitive situations.       

Key Takeaways:

• The posthumous degree policy at your institution can apply in specific, but narrow, cases. Institutions might consider other ways to recognize and celebrate the life of a student who dies prior to being eligible for recognition under the posthumous policy.  
• Student deaths affect the community in many ways. Institutions need to be sensitive to the feelings of students, faculty, staff, and the decedent’s family when making decisions about public recognitions at ceremonies like commencement. Working with your Dean of Students office (and others) is recommended to best reflect the culture and values of your institution.
• Dealing with student death is emotionally challenging. Make sure that you’re taking care of yourself and your staff, even as you conduct the necessary record-keeping work.   

Host:

Doug McKenna, Ph.D.
University Registrar
George Mason University
[email protected]   

Guests:

Kim Barber, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice Provost & University Registrar
Florida State University
[email protected] 

References and Additional Information:

Service Excellence

Leadership

Study Finds Depression, Suicidal Ideation Among College Students Increased Over Past 15 Years

Consequences | College Drinking Prevention

Causes of Mortality Among American College Students: A Pilot Study - PMC

Sometimes addressing a structural issue takes some out-of-the-box thinking. Northeastern University, under the guidance of Jessica Liebowitz, Faculty Director of  the Student-Administrator Partnerships Initiative, brought together technically-accomplished students to serve as Fellows to assist administrators in addressing a serious or intractable institutional problem. In this episode we hear about one project at Northeastern tackled by two Fellows and the Registrar’s Office staff focusing on student demand for classes, bottlenecks in the curricular pathways, and ways these data might be used to improve the student experience.       

Key Takeaways:

• Each of us in higher education has the opportunity and the responsibility to work toward improving the student experience. Sometimes that will require being creative about ways to bring together different individuals to think differently about a problem, and to carve out time to work on solutions. 
• The Student-Administrator Partnerships Initiative at Northeastern is a great example of one way to leverage expertise on your campus. Giving capable grad students access, guidance, and resources can open a world of possibilities. 
• With any project, be open to where the project might take you. Sometimes what you learn along the way is more important than what you originally set out to accomplish.  

Host:

Doug McKenna, Ph.D.
University Registrar
George Mason University
[email protected]   

Guests:

Jessica Liebowitz
Research Professor, Center for the Future of Higher Education and Work
Faculty Director, Student-Administrator Partnerships Initiative
Northeastern University
[email protected]

Ingrid Nuttall
(At time of recording): Deputy Registrar of Solution Delivery and Strategic Reporting, Northeastern University
(Current): Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and University Registrar
University of Virginia
[email protected] 

Satya Pulipelli
Graduate Student
Northeastern University

References and Additional Information:

Service Excellence

Leadership

Enabling Academic Innovation

Project Management

“University Registrar” isn’t usually included in the list of dream jobs for children. So how did we all wind up in these higher education leadership roles, and what have we learned along the way? In this episode, Andrew Marx, University Registrar at Clark University talks about his unconventional, yet not altogether uncommon path to the registrar’s office. Andy shares his reflections on becoming a higher education leader and gives advice to those moving through the process.     

Key Takeaways:

• Take the time to reflect and decide what kind of a leader you want to be. Try to do this as you’re moving through your career growth as time for self-reflection is at a premium when you actually get “the job.”
• Being able to communicate your vision and sell the story of your office is an important skill. There’s a way to say “no” that doesn’t shut down future conversations, and emphasizing the reason you’re involved can go a long way to making sure you’re included in future decisions. 
• The registrar’s role looks different at different institutions. And there is often tension between what the community expects of the registrar position or office and what the registrar brings to the table. 

Host:

Doug McKenna, Ph.D.
University Registrar
George Mason University
[email protected]   

Guests:

Andrew Marx, Ph.D.
University Registrar
Clark University
[email protected]  

References and Additional Information:

Core Competencies: Leadership and Management

Season 9 kicks off with a discussion about 90 credit degrees and how the University of Maine System is moving forward with three Applied Baccalaureate degrees as a way of bringing learners with some college but no degree back to the university system. Chancellor Dan Malloy and Vice Chancellor Jeff St. John join to talk about their process for developing the Applied Baccalaureates, the surprisingly little pushback from faculty, the enthusiastic response from employers, and their hopes for continued growth and engagement with these innovative credentials in the future.    

Key Takeaways:

• The 90-credit credential is an academic innovation designed to bring “some college no degree” learners back to school. The reduced credit threshold for awarding the degree may support easier access into the workforce in less time with less money spent by the learner.
• The University of Maine System will launch three “Applied Baccalaureates” in fall 2026, having worked with their accreditors, their trustees, and faculty at each of the system member institutions to identify and develop these programs. 
• Accrediting bodies may provide guidance for institutions about what must be included as part of a 90-credit credential, and may have requirements for how to name the degree and how to differentiate them from the full baccalaureate degree. 

Host:

Doug McKenna, Ph.D.
University Registrar, George Mason University
[email protected]   

Guests:

Daniel Malloy, J.D.
Chancellor, University of Maine System
https://www.maine.edu/chancellors-office/dannel-p-malloy-chancellor/ 

Jeffrey St. John, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor, University of Maine System

References and Additional Information:

Core Competencies: Leadership and Management

Welcome back to For the Record! After an unintentional hiatus (writing a dissertation), we’re back with one of my favorite people: Keisha Campbell. We talk about her fascinating career arc, her involvement with the AACRAO REG 201 preconference workshop, what life is like at an HBCU right now, and how she is staying grounded in the world today. It’s a wide-ranging and in parts funny, in parts serious conversation between friends. Plus, a discussion of karaoke.   

Key Takeaway:

• The REG 201 pre-conference workshop would be a great opportunity to extend your network, reflect on where you are in your role, and work through some case studies about issues affecting registrars today.

Host:

Doug McKenna
University Registrar, George Mason University
[email protected]   

Guests:

Keisha Campbell
University Registrar and Executive Director, Morgan State University
[email protected]

References and Additional Information:

Core Competencies: Leadership and Management

This episode was inspired by Ryan Holiday’s book, Ego is the Enemy, and its applications of Stoicism to modern ideas of leadership and management. With everything that’s going on in the United States as a backdrop, this episode reiterates the importance of focusing on service over receiving recognition, on cultivating humility, and leading with wisdom. These practices can help you avoid developing an inflated sense of self-importance that hinders effective leadership and decision-making. Making a return guest appearance in this episode is Dr. Doug McKenna (the host’s dad!).  

Key Takeaways:

• Stoicism is an ancient philosophy of personal ethics that emphasizes wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance as a way of cultivating inner peace and strength, rather than being ruled by emotions or external circumstances.
• Stoicism encourages mindfulness, self-reflection, and exercises like negative visualization (imagining worst-case scenarios to build resilience), voluntary discomfort (practicing hardship to lessen fear of suffering), and journaling (as seen in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations).
• Learn about your Happy 10 Seconds, the Three Things List, and your personal mission statement.  

Host:

Doug McKenna
University Registrar, George Mason University
[email protected]   

Guests:

LTC (Ret.) Doug McKenna, PhD
Dean, Emeritus
Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico VA

References and Additional Information:

Core Competencies: Leadership and Management

In this conversation with Dr. Cié Gee from the University of Texas at San Antonio we explore the idea of leadership through the roles of line leader and door holder–familiar responsibilities from elementary school. Dr. Gee argues that the door holder is a less glamorous but potentially more important role than the line leader, and we discuss ways door holding opportunities present themselves in the normal course of work.   

Key Takeaways:

• Being the line leader can be fun, but being a door holder is a critical role for the success of any venture. 
• Leadership doesn’t require a title, and it doesn’t require grand gestures to convey care and concern for the people one is leading. As Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
• If you’re thinking about someone who held a door for you at some point in your career, reach out to them to let them know the effect they had on you.  

Host:

Doug McKenna
University Registrar, George Mason University
[email protected]   

Guests:

Dr. Cié Gee
Associate Vice Provost for Career-Engaged Learning, University of Texas at San Antonio
[email protected] 

References and Additional Information:

Core Competencies: Leadership and Management

Cie Gee

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciegee/   

In the very first official episode of this podcast, we explored the question of what even is a registrar. Now, with six more years of experience that included a global pandemic, it was time to once again take stock of our understanding of the role of the registrar. What do we do? And how do we explain what we do to people who work at our institutions or to people  all the way outside of higher education? Five brave souls responded to my request for input on the following three questions that guide this episode: 1) what do you think of when you hear the word, “registrar?” 2) How would you describe the registrar to someone outside of higher education? And 3) Why are registrars important?   

Key Takeaways:

• The registrar and higher education go hand in hand. Registrars were the second administrative position created, following only the position of president. Our title dates back to 1446 at Oxford. 
• Registrars play a variety of roles at our institutions, and there isn’t one right way to be a registrar. Because of the variety of institution type and missions, registrar responsibilities also vary widely.
• Registrars use a lot of metaphors to communicate how critical they are to their institutions; “plumbing,” “bridges,” “hubs,” “air traffic controllers,” “multi-tasking quarterback,” are all used. 
• Being a registrar is easy. It’s just like riding a bike. If the bike is on fire. And you’re on fire. And everything around you is on fire.  

Host:

Doug McKenna
University Registrar, George Mason University
[email protected]   

Guests:

Dr. Reginald Garcon
Associate Vice President/Registrar, University of Maryland - Eastern Shore
[email protected]

River Gordon
Registrar, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
[email protected]

Colleen Harms
Associate Registrar, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
[email protected]

Whitney Merinar
Registrar, West Liberty State College
[email protected]

Katie Rendon
Registrar, Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion
[email protected]

References and Additional Information:

Records & Academic Services (AACRAO Professional Proficiencies)

Quann, C. J., & And Others. (1979). Admissions, academic records, and registrar services. A handbook of policies and procedures. Jossey-Bass, Inc.

The Registrar’s Guide: Evolving Best Practices in Records and Registration. (2006). https://community.aacrao.org/CPBase__item?id=a1H1L00000BjYRJUA3