Retention Leadership Groups

Retention Leadership Groups

 

Student success is the priority of colleges and units across the University of Arizona.  The Retention Leadership Groups bring together staff and faculty to focus on undergraduate student persistence. 

The Retention Steering Committee was established in 2021, to ensure there is a focus on this student success and retention across the institution.  The committee works to advance and support retention efforts within colleges and units. 

MEMBERS

  • Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski, Assistant Vice Provost, Academic Advising
  • Laura Andrews, Senior Analyst, SSRI Strategy Team
  • Gail Burd, Senior Vice Provost, Academic Affairs / Teaching and Learning
  • Ron Marx, Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
  • Greg Heileman, Vice Provost, Undergraduate Education
  • Amy Kimme Hea, Associate Dean, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Sarah Kyte, Senior Research Scientist, SSRI
  • Chrissy Lieberman, Associate Dean Of Students, Dean of Students
  • Jen Ludwig, Director, Strategic Interventions and Data Management, SSRI
  • Mark Ray, Architect, Academic Data, UAIR
  • Christine Salvesen, Associate Vice Provost, Student Success and Retention Innovation
  • Alex Underwood, Registrar
  • Art Young, Executive Director, Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid

     

Student success is impacted by academic, social, financial, and wellness related factors. Therefore, supporting the persistence and completion of all students requires a broad network of partners across the university and in the colleges. This group will serve as an information hub and space to coordinate around issues and initiatives impacting persistence. Drawing on innovative approaches and also established, high-impact practices, the team will provide leadership around complimentary and effective practices to best support the persistence and completion of all University of Arizona undergraduates. Core areas of focus include student outreach, broadening participation in persistence efforts, and data-driven decision-making.

 

Co-Leads

Christine Salvesen, Associate Vice Provost, Student Success and Retention Innovation (SSRI)

Mark Ray, Architect, Academic Data, University Analytics and Institutional Research (UAIR)

 

Representatives

Aaron Barnes 

Director  

Counseling & Psych Services (CAPS) 

Aaron Davis Martinez 

Associate Director 

Student Engagement and Career Development  

Alex Robie Harris 

Senior Project Director 

Office of University Initiatives 

Alex Underwood 

Registrar 

Office of the Registrar 

Amanda Gluski 

Associate Registrar 

Office of the Registrar 

Amanda Kraus 

Interim Vice President 

Student Affairs 

Amy Kimme Hea 

Senior Associate Dean 

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences 

Andrea Gaub 

Director 

College of Public Health 

Arthur Young 

Chief Financial Aid Administrator 

Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid 

Ashley Hurand 

Assistant Director 

University Analytics and Institutional Research 

Betheny King 

Retention Specialist 

College of Applied Science and Technology 

Blanca Payne 

Associate Director 

College of Fine Arts 

Chrissy Lieberman 

Interim Dean of Students 

Dean of Students 

Christie Harper 

Vice President 

Campus Brand Engagement 

Christina Gargus 

Grant and Project Coordinator 

Native American Advancement & Tribal Research 

Danielle Flink 

Retention Specialist 

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences  

Darcy Van Patten 

Chief Technology Officer 

Student and Academic Technologies 

David Boulton 

Undergraduate Program Manager 

College of Fine Arts 

David Salafsky 

Assistant Vice President/Executive Director 

Campus Health Service 

Elliott Cheu 

Interim Senior Vice President 

Research and Innovation 

Emily McCarthy 

Interim Executive Director, SECD 

Student Engagement and Career Development  

Felisia Tagaban Gaskin 

Director 

Native SOAR (Student Outreach Access and Resiliency) 

Gabrielle Miller 

Assistant Vice Provost SSRI and Executive Director SALT Center 

SALT Center 

Gail Burd 

Senior Vice Provost 

Academic Affairs / Teaching and Learning 

Grace Hurd 

Associate Director 

Arizona Online 

Greg Heileman 

Vice Provost 

Undergraduate Education 

James Hunt 

Interim Associate Dean 

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 

Jamie Matthews 

Senior Associate Director 

Residential Education in Housing and Residential Life 

Jenna Rutschman 

Director Marketing Strategy 

Campus Brand Engagement 

Jennifer Hatcher 

Vice Provost, Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Inclusion Officer 

Office of Diversity & Inclusion 

Jennifer Ludwig 

Director 

SSRI Central  

Jenny Nirh 

Director 

SSRI Central 

Jeremiah Paschke-Wood 

Department Head Student Learning and Engagement 

University Libraries 

Jeremiah Webb 

Specialist 

College of Humanities  

Jessica Chung 

Academic Advisor 

School of Information (iSchool) 

Julie Reed 

Academic Advisor 

College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture 

Kailey Glibert 

Associate Director, Academics 

Honors College 

Kasey Urquidez 

Chief Enrollment Officer and Vice President 

Enrollment Management 

Kendra Thompson-Dyck 

Director 

Assessment and Research 

Laura Andrews 

Senior Analyst 

SSRI Central 

Laura Horley 

Director, Marketing and Communications 

Honors College 

Laura Ullrich 

Senior Director of Academic Advising 

Eller College of Management 

Leticia Soto-Delgadillo 

Executive Director 

The A Center  

Letty Molina-Gutierrez 

Senior Academic Advisor 

College of Education 

Linda Denno 

Associate Dean 

College of Applied Science & Technology 

Lisa Elfring 

Vice Provost 

University Center for Assessment, Teaching and Technology 

Marisa Pope-Malings 

Director 

College of Engineering 

Marisol Quiroz 

Director 

CATS Academics 

Mark Barton 

Bursar and Director 

Bursar, Catcard Services 

Marla Franco 

Assistant Vice Provost 

Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives  

Marla Rodriguez 

Manager 

Arizona Online 

Megan Forecki 

Program Manager 

Student Engagement and Career Development  

Meredith Aronson 

Director, CRM and Digital Experience Services 

Digital Experience Technology 

Michelle McKelvey 

Senior Director 

Thrive Center 

N. Levi Esquerra 

Senior Vice President 

Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement 

Nancy Rodriguez Lorta 

Senior Director 

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences  

Nicole Kontak 

Assistant Dean 

College of Applied Science & Technology 

Noel Hennessey 

Director 

College of Engineering 

Noelle Sallaz 

Associate Director 

International Student Services 

Rachael Ronald 

Assistant Dean 

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences 

Rafael Eduardo Celaya-Gonzalez 

Senior Lecturer 

English 

Randy Yazzie 

Senior Academic Advisor 

College of Science 

Ravneet Chadha 

Chief Data Officer and Associate Vice President 

University Analytics and Institutional Research 

Rebecca Field 

Director 

College of Pharmacy 

Rupa Murali 

Assistant Director 

COM-T Comprehensive Education Center 

Sarah Kyte 

Senior Research Scientist 

SSRI Central 

Sarah Wieland 

Production Manager 

Digital Experience Technology 

Sean Kramer 

Director of Advising and Student Success 

School of Information (iSchool) 

Sharon Aiken-Wisniewski 

Assistant Vice Provost Academic Advising 

Undergraduate Education 

Shelley McGrath 

Director 

Transfer Credit and Articulation 

Stephani Kilby 

Director 

UAGC 

Stephanie Thiltges 

Senior Academic Advisor 

College of Nursing 

Tara Radniecki 

Associate Dean 

University Libraries 

Tessa Dysart 

Assistant Vice Provost 

Native American Initiatives 

Tina Deemer 

Director, Academic and Support Services 

Math Department 

 

 

 

 


 

Working Sub-Groups

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (led by Michelle McKelvey)

Persistence – Education and Training (co-led by Jen Ludwig and Amanda Gluski)

Trellis – Enhanced Collaboration (led by Darcy Van Patten )

Helping students stay enrolled and working towards their degree is a collective effort across the University of Arizona.