Conference Leadership Committee

Pam Agoyo, Executive Director for Student Support, Division of Student Affairs, The University of New Mexico

Pamela Agoyo (Ohkay Owingeh, Cochiti, Kewa Pueblos) is the Executive Director for Student Support in the Division of Student Affairs at The University of New Mexico. In a career that has primarily focused on student affairs and student development, Pam has served The University of New Mexico in a number of capacities including: Director of American Indian Student Services and Special Assistant to the President for American Indian Affairs, Director of Student Union Recreational Services, Recruitment Specialist for the Office of Admissions & Outreach Services, Director of Minority Recruitment and Retention, Scholarship Outreach Coordinator for the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, and Interim Co-Director of the Office of Advising Strategies. She is the founding Faculty Advisor for Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc and Beta Sigma Epsilon Fraternity at her institution, is the founding and previous Executive Director of the National Institute for Native Leadership in Higher Education (NINLHE), and is a former Special Education Teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Chicora Martin, Vice President of Student Affairs & Dean of Students, Agnes Scott College

Dr. Chicora Martin is currently the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students for Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA. Before coming to Agnes Scott, Chicora was at Mills College in Oakland, CA as the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students for seven years and at the University of Oregon for 14 years serving as the Assistant Dean of Students, Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Education and Support Services, Area Director for the Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence, and coordinator of the Bias Response Team.

Chicora received a doctorate from Colorado State University in Educational Leadership and a Master’s degree in College Student Personnel with a concentration in LGBTQ services from the Florida State University. They were honored as the 2015 ACPA Voice of Inclusion Medallion recipient and by the Consortium of LGBT Resource Professionals as the 2014 Contribution to the Profession award. Chicora has held positions as the co-chair for the National Consortium of LGBT Resource Professionals from 2003-2005, member of the American College Personnel Association’s Standing Committee for LGBT Concerns and ACPA Senior Student Affairs Officer Advisory board. They served as the Region V Knowledge Community Chair for LGBT Issues and 2018 faculty and 2020 Faculty Director for the Manicur Institute for NASPA. 

Chicora’s research and teaching interests include the intersections of higher education policy, gender identity, marine conservation, as well as emergency management and crisis response.  Past presentations have focused on gender identity, Title IX and policy development, multiethnic/queer identity, oppression and privilege, bystander engagement, and crisis and emergency preparedness. Chicora enjoys travel and adventures of all kinds including experiences to Everest Basecamp, rafting the Grand Canyon and scuba diving the world, as well as triathlons and serving as Red Cross Disaster Volunteer.

Jacob Chacko, Director of Dialogue Across Difference, Washington University in St. Louis

Dr. Jacob Chacko (he/him/his) serves as the Inaugural Director of Dialogue across Difference for Washington University in St. Louis. His prior student affairs experience includes serving as the Director for the Asian American Cultural Center at Rutgers University New Brunswick, inaugural Associate Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Santos Manuel Student Union at California State University, San Bernardino, interim coordinator for the Titan Dreamers Resource Center, and inaugural coordinator for the Asian Pacific American Resource Center at California State University, Fullerton. He holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership with a focus on Global Studies in Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, an M.S. in Teaching & Learning from Illinois State University, and a B.A. in Secondary Education & Spanish from Northeastern Illinois University. After undergraduate studies, he lived in South Korea for several years teaching English and traveling South/Southeast Asia. He speaks Malayalam, English, Spanish, and a bit of Korean. Jacob was born in Kerala, India and raised in Skokie, Illinois; he is a 1.5 generation Queer Indian American. He is also a member of Alpha Psi Lambda, ΑΨΛ, a Latino interest fraternity. During his doctoral studies, he worked as the graduate assistant of the Asian American Cultural Center and was immersed into the field of student affairs.

Jennifer Pagala Barnett, Associate Director, Student Equity Excellence and Diversity, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa

Jen Pagala Barnett (she/her) is a 1.5 generation Filipina immigrant raised in Vallejo, California. She has lived in Hawaiʻi since 1995 and as a first generation student earned her Bachelorʻs and Masterʻs degrees in Social Work and most recently her M.Ed. in Education Administration in Higher Education. As a social worker, she has worked with primary school students, students with disabilities, adoption and foster care youth. Her career in higher education includes serving as a Disability Support Counselor at Kapiʻolani Community College, and then as a Confidential Advocate and Program Coordinator at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She currently serves as the Associate Director of the Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity (SEED) Program. Jen is passionate about social justice, advocacy, mental health and wellness, and mentorship particularly in the area of student affairs. In NASPA, Jen has served as a Region VI Board Member and Awards Chair, KC sub-regional representative, NUFP Mentor, planning committee member in WRC 2015 (Oakland), WRC 2017 (Hawaiʻi), WRC 2019 (Portland), WRC 2022 (Anaheim) and as the Chair of the 2021 WRC in San Francisco, CA.

Charlotte Davidson, Director, Native American House, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Charlotte E. Davidson is Diné and a citizen of the Three Affiliated Tribes, also known as the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. She is the daughter of Nora (Yazzie) and Wilbur Wilkinson, Sr. Her maternal grandparents are Sally (Manygoats) and Kee Horseherder-Yazzie. Her paternal grandparents are Molly (Wolf) and Ernest P. Wilkinson. Concerning kinship relations, she is of the Tó'aheedlíinii (Water Flows Together People), born for the Waterbuster Clan. Her maternal grandfather’s clan is Kinłichíi’nii (Red House People), and her paternal grandfather is of the Flint Knife Clan. 

Dr. Davidson is the Director of the Native American House at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a lecturer in the Department of Student Affairs Administration at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. In NASPA, she serves as the Indigenous Relations Advisor, co-leads the President’s Implementation Committee for Indigenous Engagement and Inclusion, and co-chairs the Extended Learning Sessions Committee for the 2024 Conference Leadership Committee. Dr. Davidson is a co-founder of the Power and Place Symposium, guest editor of the Winter 2021 issue of Leadership Exchange, and member of the 2019-2022 NASPA SERVE (Supporting, Expanding, and Recruiting, Volunteer Excellence) Academy. Dr. Davidson is the recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Service in NASPA Award, an annual recognition bestowed by the Indigenous Peoples Knowledge Community.

Dr. Davidson earned a Bachelor of Arts in American Indian Studies from Haskell Indian Nations University and a Master’s and Ph.D., respectively, in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Heather French, Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, University of California, Merced

Heather French currently serves as Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students at University of California, Merced. In her role she oversees several campus departments that offer services to support students outside of the classroom, and she provides advocacy and direct support to students. Previously Dr. French held Vice President for Student Affairs roles at Fontbonne University and University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, served as Dean for Student Development and Engagement at Holy Names University, and held various roles in housing and residence life, first-year experience and multicultural services within the UC and CSU systems.

Dr. French has been active in NASPA and held several roles in Region VI and IV-W, including Northern California Representative for Region VI, Small Colleges and Universities Representative for Region IV-W and Senior Student Affairs Officer Liaison for Region IV-W. She is thrilled to now be part of the Conference Leadership Team for the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference. 

Dr. French received her B.A. in Human Studies from Bradford College,  her M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Humboldt State University and her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s College of California. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, reading, writing, travel, teaching Zumba (dance fitness) for students and colleagues, and spending time with her wife, Angela, grown-up child, Simon, and three pets. 

Māhealani Quirk, Director, Graduate Professional Access Program, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa

Jennifer Māhealani Quirk is Kanaka ʻŌiwi. Māhealani earned a Masters degree in Social Work and practiced in the social services field for 10 years prior to entering a career in higher education. Māhealaniʻs professional experience in academia includes serving as a staff and faculty member in Native Hawaiian Student Services, and she currently serves as the Graduate Professional Access Program Director in the Office of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity (SEED) at the University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa. She is a first-generation college student, who is completing her doctorate in the Educational Administration Program (EDEA) at UH Mānoa. In NASPA, Māhealani has served as a NUFP & GAP mentor, Co-Chair of NASPA Hawaiʻi, Scholar Activities Chair on the Indigenous Peoples Knowledge Community Leadership Team, and 2022 Power and Place Leadership Committee Member. Māhealani was awarded the Outstanding Professional in Service Award by the Indigenous Peoples Knowledge Community in 2021. 

Sheryl Mauricio, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Washington University in St. Louis

Katie Treadwell, Assistant Vice Provost for Student Affairs, University of Kansas

Inspired by her own experiences with campus and community tragedy, Katie L. Treadwell researches and writes extensively about the aftermath of university disasters and higher education crisis leadership. Her research portfolio includes in-depth investigations of intentional violence, terrorism, natural disasters, and accidents that forever change a city or university community. Katie has over 15 years of experience in higher education administration, including significant roles in crisis response, residential life, sexual assault prevention, suicide prevention, and mental health outreach. She earned a Doctor of Education degree in Adult Learning and Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University’s graduate school of education. She also holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Baylor University. Katie serves as Assistant Vice Provost for Student Affairs at the University of Kansas, as well as the immediate past chair for NASPA’s Campus Safety and Violence Prevention Knowledge Community. 

In collaboration with higher education leaders across the country, Katie co-edited Crisis, Compassion, and Resiliency in Student Affairs, a collection of essays and recommendations for navigating crisis leadership responsibilities. Additional information on Katie's work may be found at katietreadwell.com.

Julie Berry, Assistant Director for Digital Engagement & Strategic Initiatives, University of Washington

Julie Berry is currently the Assistant Director for Digital Engagement & Strategic Initiatives with Student Academic Services at the University of Washington. In her role she supports the transition of first-year undergraduate students through timely communications and first year engagement initiatives. She joined the UW in 2018 after moving from the University of South Florida where she supported the student government. Originally from outside of Philadelphia, Julie received her B.S in Community Health at George Mason University and her M.Ed. from the University of South Florida.

Julie resides in Seattle with her husband and their corgi, Luna. She is in her third year of doctoral students at Seattle University where she will graduate with an Ed.D in Educational Organizational Learning & Leadership. Outside work and school, Julie enjoys cooking, exploring nature spots, taking a Peloton class, and reading on her back patio.

Rick Flores, Director of Student Equity & Inclusion, Skagit Valley College

Rick Flores (He, Him) is the Director of Student Equity & Inclusion at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, WA. He grew up in San Ysidro, CA along the US/Mexico border in South San Diego and often bounced between there and Tijuana, Mexico due to cost of living. After high school, Rick went on to study history at Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista, CA and eventually transferred to Washington State University, Pullman to study music education. While at WSU, was involved with various multicultural groups and the marching band, and was also part of the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP) and attended the Dungy Leadership Institute in 2019 at Old Dominion University. Rick graduated in spring 2019 with a B.A. in Humanities with focuses in Music and History. Upon graduation, Rick was an intern in the Division of Student Affairs before landing his first full-time student affairs position in the Office of Student Life as a Student Life Specialist at Skagit Valley College, then transitioning to the Office of Student Equity & Inclusion. During his first two years of full-time work, Rick went on to earn a Master’s of Science in Education in College Student Personnel Services from Arkansas State University. 

Rick likes to spend his free time attending WSU athletic events and professional sporting events in Seattle with his wife, Amber, and daughter, Esperanza Sofia. Rick also spends his free time fishing the various rivers in the area for salmon and steelhead as well as crabbing in Puget Sound.

Amy Wilson, Associate Professor and Chair, Buffalo State University

Amy B. Wilson, Ph.D. is an associate professor and chair of the Higher Education Administration Department, bringing 20 years of combined student affairs and teaching experience to the department. Dr. Wilson's research focus is on multicultural competence and inclusive supervision, equity centered professional practice, multicultural education and experiences, and leadership development. She earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University at Buffalo, a M.S. in college student personnel from Western Illinois University, and a B.S. in human development and family studies from Colorado State University.

Chandler Crean, Assistant Director of Chapter Services and Community Communications in Fraternity and Sorority Life, Virginia Tech

Originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Chandler Crean (He/Him/His) attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as a first-generation college student where he graduated in May of 2020 with a B.S.B.A. in Management with a concentration in Organizational Management. He grew his passion for student leadership development and student advocacy in the field of student affairs as he served various roles such as the Student Body President & Board of Trustees Member, Fraternity Chapter President, and campus tour guide. Immediately after graduation, Chandler worked with Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity until May 2021 as a Leadership Consultant & Chapter Relationship Manager where he supported 28 chapters from across the United States. 

Following his time on staff with Pi Kappa Phi, Chandler started in August of 2021 at the University of Georgia to pursue his masters degree. He served as a Graduate Assistant in the Greek Life Office and held other various internships and practicum experience in fraternity and sorority life, student conduct, university housing, and summer orientation at various institutions in Georgia and Florida. He graduated in May of 2023 with his M.Ed. in College Student Affairs Administration.

He is now serving as the Assistant Director of Chapter Services and Community Communications in Fraternity and Sorority Life at Virginia Tech where he is responsible for the overall administrative services area and communication efforts for the entire community that is home to 57 chapters which involves more than 5,100 students, 19% of the undergraduate population. Additionally, he is the advisor to the Panhellenic Council executive board and Recruitment Team, as well as serve as a chapter coach to a portfolio of fraternities and sororities across all four councils.

He spends his time volunteering with Pi Kappa Phi, Delta Sigma Phi, Delta Gamma Fraternity, NASPA, Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) and UNC Charlotte in various capacities. He loves to travel, cook, and spend time with family and friends!

Michele Kleeman, Assistant Director of Academic Initiatives, San Jose State University

Dr. Michele Kleeman has been in the higher education field for almost 15 years. Dr. Kleeman started in student activities at a small Christian institution and received two masters degrees in that time. During her time in student activities, Dr. Kleeman gained a passion for assessment. Dr. Kleeman then made her way into housing. For the next several years she served at Alderson Broaddus, UC Merced, and San Jose State University as a residential life coordinator. During this season Dr. Kleeman completed her Ed.D. and joined the NASPA Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community as a leadership member. Dr. Kleeman’s dissertation was in belonging as a skill set. She hopes to continue to work with belonging and helping students develop their skill of belonging. Dr. Kleeman then went to University of Arkansas and back to San Jose State University as an Assistant Director of Housing in both locations. During this time Dr. Kleeman served as ACPA’s ICA Faculty. Dr. Kleeman believes intentionality helps us serve our students best and helps build data-inspired, student-centered decisions. 

Jacinda Félix Haro, Dean of Students and Senior Student Affairs Officer, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Jacinda M. Félix Haro (she/her) has over 20 years of experience in higher education as a student affairs administrator. Her areas of focus are primarily student success, engagement, and sense of belonging, with a special focus on marginalized student populations. A first-generation college student and proud Nuyorican, Jacinda currently serves as the Dean of Students & Senior Student Affairs Officer at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the oldest institution of higher education in the city of Boston. MCPHS also has campus locations in Worcester, MA and Manchester, NH. As a senior student affairs officer, she is engaged in strategic planning for her division and her institution. Jacinda is a seasoned DE&I professional and brings an inclusive lens to her work. 

Jacinda received her B.S. in Communication Arts with a minor in Black Studies from SUNY New Paltz, her M.A.T. from Sacred Heart University, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the higher education program at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her area of research focuses on voice and silencing of women of color student affairs officers. She is a Lifetime Member of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and a member of Tri-Alpha Honor Society for first-generation college students.

A die-hard Yankees fan living in Red Sox nation, Jacinda loves all things related to sports, pop culture, cooking, horror movies, and true crime. A Bronx native, Jacinda has been living and working in the Boston area for over 17 years. She lives with her husband, two children, and three pets.