OUR TEAM

Meet the people who make the Institute a leader in higher education.

Learn about the Gardner Institute’s esteemed

Staff, Fellows, Advisors and Technical Consultants.

I. Staff

II. Fellows

III. Advisors & Technical Consultants

I.
STAFF

Meet the members of the Institute

Featured

Betsy O. Barefoot

Senior Scholar
828-475-6018
barefoot@jngi.org

Betsy is directly involved in the development of instruments and strategies to evaluate and improve the first college year and collegiate transfer.

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Ethan Campbell

Assistant Director of Technology, Informatics, and Data Security

828-449-1072

campbell@jngi.org

Ethan joined the Gardner Institute in March 2016, and serves as Associate Director of Technology, Informatics and Data Security.

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Brittany Connor

Assistant Director of Marketing, Communications, and Engagement

connor@jngi.org

Brittany joined the Gardner Institute February 2022 as the Marketing Assistant and in June was named the Assistant Director of Marketing, Communications and Engagement.

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Brent Drake

Senior Vice President for Operations and Research

drake@jngi.org

Dr. Drake has worked in higher education since 2001 with positions focused on institutional research, educational assessment, business intelligence, and institutional effectiveness.

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Monica Flippin Wynn

Associate Vice President

828-449-8801

flippinwynn@jngi.org

Monica’s current research projects include student engagement and new media, online equity and post-secondary education.

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Stephanie M. Foote

Vice President for Teaching, Learning, and Evidence-Based Practices
828-449-8801
foote@jngi.org

Stephanie's scholarship and consultative work span a variety of aspects of student development and transition.

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John N. Gardner

Founder and Executive Chair
(828) 348-4820
gardner@jngi.org

John serves as the Executive Chair and Co-Founder of the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education.

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Betsy Q. Griffin

Vice President and Resident Scholar
828-449-8048
griffin@jngi.org

Betsy joined Gardner Institute in July 2008 as an Associate Director. She serves as an advisor to campuses that are conducting Gardner Institute ’s Foundations of Excellence self-studies.

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Christina Harris

Administrative Assistant

harris@jngi.org

Christina joined the Gardner Institute in 2021 and she serves as the Administrative Assistant.

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Drew Koch

Chief Executive Officer
828-877-3549
koch@jngi.org

Drew has substantive experience with undergraduate education administration, redesign of unjust education systems, strategic planning, fundraising, reaffirmation of accreditation, postsecondary access and success, and enrollment management efforts.

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Jill Kramer

Senior Fellow

(828) 435-2090

Kramer@jngi.org

Jill Robinson Kramer, PhD, is principal consultant at JRK Consulting in Indianapolis. In her consulting work, she focuses on strategic planning, network and meeting facilitation, grant facilitation and development, and metrics and outcome reporting. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Marian University in the master’s of education program.

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Katie Locke

Director of Marketing, Communications and Engagement
828-210-2408
locke@jngi.org

Katie joined the Institute in March of 2018, she currently leads the Institute’s marketing and communications efforts as well as working closely with the Socially Just Design Movement and all processes and events.

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Victoria McGillin

Associate Vice President
828-398-1587
mcgillin@jngi.org

Vicki is a Resident Fellow at the Gardner Institute, where she has served as an Advisor and Fellow since her retirement as Provost and Professor of Psychology at Otterbein University. She is the Process Coordinator for the Retention Performance Management process and Co-Project Coordinator of the Excellence in Academic Advising Process.

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Rob Rodier

Director of Technology, Informatics, and Data Security
828-449-8050
rodier@jngi.org

Robert is a seasoned network and IT security professional.

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Brandon Smith

Associate Vice President

828-388-7227

Smith@jngi.org

Brandon currently serves as an Assistant Vice President at the Gardner Institute. Formerly Brandon was Associate Professor of Theatre and as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Student Success at Brevard College.

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Sara Stein Koch

Institute Fellow and Senior Associate for Institutional Support
828-398-1586
saraj@jngi.org

Sara's current work with the Institute involves advising institutions on the Foundations of Excellence First-Year, Transfer, and Implement, Gateways to Completion, and Retention Performance Management processes.

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Angela M. Whiteside

Senior Vice President for Finance, Human Resources and Events
828-449-8053
whiteside@jngi.org

Angela been with the Institute since 2001. She oversees the finances, prepares and monitors the budget, and collaborates with the finance committee.

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Ed Willis

Senior Fellow

828-233-5874

willis@jngi.org

Ed Willis is a seasoned university administrator providing vision and leadership for diverse student-body environments while managing key internal and external stakeholder relationships involving student affairs.

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Kylie Thomas

Kylie Thomas (she/they) is a senior Multimedia major with a minor in Photography at Point Park University. They work as the Co-Features and Arts and Entertainment editor of the university newspaper, The Globe, while running their own photography business. From Youngstown, Ohio, Kylie takes a strong interest in diversity and equity. She hopes to specifically help increase opportunities for students in low-income situations. In their free time they enjoy reading thriller and horror novels and attending concerts.

China Warren

China has recently begun her internship here at the Gardner Institute as of January 2023. China is currently enrolled at Purdue Global and is majoring in Communications. She is from Maryland and graduated from Frank W. Ballou H.S. (in Washington D.C). Upon Graduating college, China hopes to expand her skills as a writer and work in media and publishing as an Entertainment magazine editor.

II.
FELLOWS

Meet the Gardner Institute's Fellows.

Featured

Chaouki Abdallah

Fellow
828-233-5874
Abdallah@jngi.org

Chaouki T. Abdallah is the Executive Vice President for Research (EVPR) at Georgia Tech and a Gardner Institute Fellow.

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Catherine Andersen

Fellow
828-233-5874
Andersen@jngi.org

Catherine Andersen has served as an advisor to the Gardner Institute for more than ten years.

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Isis Artze-Vega

Fellow
828.233.5874
Artze-Vega@jngi.org

Isis Artze-Vega, Ed.D. is Vice President For Academic Affairs at Valencia College and a Gardner Institute Fellow.

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Kenn Barron

Fellow
828-233-5874

barron@jngi.org

Kenn Barron is a Professor of Psychology at James Madison University (JMU) and Coordinator of JMU’s Motivation Research Institute and a Gardner Institute Fellow.

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Josh Caulkins

Fellow
828.233.5874
Caulkins@jngi.org

Joshua Caulkins is the Director | Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Gardner Institute Fellow.

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Bryan Dewsbury

Fellow

(828) 393-5157

Dewsbury@jngi.org

Dr. Bryan Dewsbury is a Gardner Institute Fellow

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Peter Felten

Fellow
828.233.5874
Felten@jngi.org

Peter Felten is assistant provost for teaching and learning, executive director of the Center for Engaged Learning, and professor of history.

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Casey Green

Fellow
8282335874
greenc@jngi.org

Kenneth C. Green is the founding director of The Campus Computing Project, the largest continuing study of the role of computing, eLearning, and information technology in American higher education.

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Mays Imad

Fellow
828-233-5874
Imad@jngi.org

Mays Imad serves as a professor of Genetics, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Pima Community College as well as the founding coordinator of the Teaching and Learning Center and a Gardner Institute Fellow.

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Gregory (Greg) L. Heileman

Fellow

828-233-5874

Heileman@jngi.org

Gregory (Greg) L. Heileman currently serves as the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Arizona, where he is responsible for facilitating collaboration across campus to strategically enhance quality and institutional capacity related

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Resche Hines

Fellow and Advisor
(828) 393-5157

hines@jngi.org

Resche D. Hines, Ph.D. serves as a Fellow and Advisor to the Gardner Institute.

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Chris Hulleman

Fellow
828-233-5874
Hulleman@jngi.org

Dr. Chris Hulleman is Associate Professor of education, psychology, and public policy at the University of Virginia and a fellow at the Gardner Institute

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John Lawless

Distinguished Fellow
828-233.5874
lawless@jngi.org

John Lawless has served on the Gardner Institute Board of Directors for over 8 years. In October 2019 he became a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute.

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Susannah McGowan

Fellow
Mcgowan@jngi.org

Susannah joined the Gardner Institute in 2015.

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Matt Pistilli

Fellow

(828) 388-5558

Pistilli@jngi.org

Dr. Matthew Pistilli, PhD, is the Director of Student Affairs Assessment and Research in the Division of Student Affairs at Iowa State University.

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Yoi TIbbetts

Fellow
828-233-5874
Tibbetts@jngi.org

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Felita Williams

Senior Fellow

williams@jngi.org

Felita T. Williams, PhD is the Associate Vice Chancellor of Strategic Academic Initiatives at the University System of Georgia (USG). Her passion for education is best described by a quote from Texas congresswoman Barbara Jordan - “Education remains the key to both economic and political empowerment.”

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Brad Wuetherick

Fellow
828-233-5874
wuetherick@jngi.org

Brad Weutherick is a Fellow with the Gardner Institute.

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III.
ADVISORS & TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS

Meet the Institute's advisors and technical consultants.

Featured

Lou Albert

Advisor and Gardner Institute Board Member
albert@jngi.org

Lou Albert is a Professor of Practice in the Division of Educational Leadership and Innovation at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and has served on the Gardner Institute Board since its inception in 2007.

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Michelle Alvarez

Advisor
alvarez@jngi.org

Michelle Alvarez, MSW, EdD reached the rank of full professor of Social Work at Minnesota State University, Mankato after her time as assistant professor at the University of Southern Indiana and is a published author.

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David Graham

Advisor

graham@jngi.org

Dr. David L. Graham is currently a senior-level administrator at The Ohio State University, serving as the Assistant Vice-Provost for Student Academic Success and a 2013-2014 American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow.

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Karen Klumpp

Advisor
klumpp@jngi.org

Dr. Klumpp has held a variety of positions at Alma College, including College Registrar, Associate Provost, Vice President for Enrollment, Director of the Center for Student Opportunity, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and now Assistant Professor of Business Administration.

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Paul LePore

Advisor

Paul LePore, Ph.D., is an associate dean for Student and Academic Programs in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a Gardner Institute advisor.

Full Bio