Awards Winners
Award Winner Biographies
Distinguished Service Award
Virginia (Ginny) Johns
_johns.jpg)
Beginning as a programmer and manager in the information systems unit that supported Admissions and Records, Ginny has worked at UC Santa Barbara for her entire career of 35+ years. After 8 years, she went to work managing student systems in the department of Information Systems and Computing. Her stellar work and service gained her campus-wide respect and led her to accept the Associate Registrar position in 1995; and later accepting the Registrar position. At UCSB, she has been a part of the Mentor and Mediation programs and has served as President of the UCSB Professional Women's Association. She received her MBA from California State University, Northridge in 2000.
In that time, Ginny's passion has been and continues to be serving our profession by being an active participant within AACRAO and PACRAO. Having served in many roles and on many committees, Ginny is a never-ending source of energy and creativity, and her desire to provide quality work and programs is her hallmark.
Notably, Ginny has been a passionate advocate of the importance of professional development and mentorship, and has become a national expert in the field. She has served on the Nominations and Elections Committee, and she has served as chair of the Professional Development Committee and Mentor Committee. She has also authored a number of works, included “Degree Audit Systems – Are They Worth It?” published in College & University Volume 81, Issue #2, and a contribution to “Records Retention and Disaster Recovery,” Chapter 14 of The Registrar's Guide: Evolving Best Practices in Records and Registration. PACRAO has also benefited from Ginny's excellence, as she chaired Program Committee Chair for the 2009 PACRAO Conference.
Ginny's passion to give back to AACRAO and PACRAO, as well as many other community organizations, has allowed numerous individuals to benefit from her wisdom, encouragement, mentorship, and knowledge. AACRAO, PACRAO and UC Santa Barbara have benefited tremendously from her creative thinking, sincerity, work ethic, and overall professionalism. Ginny is an exceptional critical thinker, an excellent listener and always asks the right questions. She is truly a leader in our field.
Ginny has been a member of Soroptimist International of Santa Barbara since 1999, serving as its President for two years. She loves to sing, sail, and spend time with family including two granddaughters.
Richard Skeel

Richard “Rick” Skeel has served AACRAO as a member of the SPEEDE Committee for 16 years and as committee chair for three years. His leadership role has been formidable, especially in his promoting of electronic data exchange among higher education institutions. For the past four years, Rick has served as the AACRAO representative on the PESC Board of Directors, and he also serves as co-chair of the Course Inventory Work Group developing national XML standards for the exchange of course inventory and catalog information. He is dedicated to improving services to students through advancing technology exchange.
While serving on the SPEEDE Committee, Rick also represented AACRAO for six years on the Executive Committee of the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative, a voluntary partnership of postsecondary institutions, associations, government agencies, and organizations. During the past 25 years, Rick has done more than 50 presentations at AACRAO conferences, served as a member of the Academic Record and Transcript Guide task force, and in 2003-04 served as Chair of the AACRAO Nominations and Elections Committee. Within his regional association, SACRAO, Rick has served in two different Vice President capacities and is currently completing the three-year rotation of President Elect, President, and Past President. In 2000, Rick was awarded the Margaret Ruthven Perry Distinguished SACRAO Journalism Award.
Honorary Membership
Dennis J.Dulniak

Dennis Dulniak retired from the profession after 35 years, during which he served six institutions, most recently as the University Registrar at the University of Central Florida. His illustrious career began at the University of Rochester, followed by Montana State University where he earned his doctorate, then Ohio Wesleyan University, Lander University and Austin Peay State University. His short-lived retirement has returned him as an AACRAO corporate member in his new position as Vice President for Higher Education Services with Avow Systems, Inc.
Just last year, Dennis received the AACRAO Founders Award for Leadership recognizing his talents, contributions and commitment to our profession. His activities included participation on numerous state, regional and national committees, through his frequent service as a popular presenter, facilitator, and chair roles in each. In 1995, he served as President of Tennessee ACRAO, on the SACRAO Executive Committee as Vice President for Professional Development from 2002-2004, along with serving twice as Chair of the SACRAO Nominations and Elections Committee. More recently, Dennis served his second elected role on the AACRAO Nominations and Elections Committee, as well as Co-chair of Volunteers for the 2008 AACRAO Annual Meeting in Orlando. Among his other major AACRAO contributions included the period 1995 to 1998 when Dennis served as Chair and author of the Fax Technology Task Force that created professional Fax Guidelines for the acceptance of faxed documents as official documents. In the same line, his latest venture with Avow Systems is in providing the latest and most secure delivery mode for official electronic documents through certified PDF transcripts.
While many of us have been entertained, educated and benefited from his numerous contributions and guidance over the years, we seem assured that his presence at our annual conferences and local campuses will continue in a direct service role through his new career.Gloria Nathanson

Gloria Nathanson has served her entire professional career at UCLA. She was the Associate Director for Undergraduate Admission and Relations with Schools, providing leadership to the undergraduate admissions office until she retired from her full-time position. During her UCLA career she has been responsible for management of the admission of both domestic and international applicants. Most recently, her position focused on coordination of international selection, development of recruitment and marketing publications, organization budget and planning, policy development, and special project oversight and management. She also served on University of California system-wide policy and planning committees.
Gloria has been an active member of AACRAO for more than 30 years, having served as AACRAO Vice President for International Education from 2000 to 2003. Prior to that she served on numerous AACRAO committees, including the National Council on Evaluation of Foreign Credentials, the Advisory Board for the Post-Secondary Student Data Manual, the Milwaukee Symposium – Evaluation of Foreign Credentials, the International Admissions Committee, and the World Education Series. She was an author for a number of AACRAO publications and has participated in AACRAO conferences as a presenter on both international admission and management topics for most of the 28 Annual Meetings she has attended. She has also been an active member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, having served in leadership roles and as a presenter at national, regional, and local conferences.
Most recently, Gloria served on the AACRAO project that developed the electronic evaluation tool known as EDGE (Electronic Database for Global Education). This product serves the AACRAO membership as well as external organizations as a highly regarded source of information for the evaluation and understanding of world-wide international academic credentials.
APEX (Achieving Professional Excellence in Education Administration) Award
Margaret Bellon

Margaret Bellon began working for Utah Valley University in 1986 as a student in the Academic Advising Office. Twenty three years later, she is serving as the Director of Graduation, Transfer Services and Veterans Affairs.
Margaret has been involved in managing student information and creating student-friendly technology interfacing. When the University decided to move to the Banner migration process in 2003, Margaret was asked to build the Degree Audit Program (CAPP). She was able to launch both on the same day. Building CAPP quickly solidified her place as a great leader at UVU in addition to earning state-wide recognition.
In 2008 Margaret recommended the move from CAPP to the Degree Works system due to the latter's student-friendly design. Again, she took the lead in building and implementing this new system. When faced with road blocks, she persistently looked for solutions and always found them. In the fall 2009, the Degree Works system went live for students – known at UVU as Wolverine Tracks – and it has been a great success. Students, advisors and instructors find the new system intuitive and easy to use. Margaret's leadership was crucial to making this happen.
She has volunteered her time to assist other colleges and universities regarding both CAPP and Degree Works, and she has given presentations on these applications to Utah ACRAO members. She continues to train campus advisors on the system. Furthermore, Margaret spends many hours each week chairing and participating in committees with faculty, staff and administrators to further the mission of UVU as it serves an ever-growing student body that has grown to over 28,000 students.
Margaret has been a member of Utah ACRAO since 1990, serving as Treasurer in 2002-2003. She has also been a member of PACRAO and AACRAO since 1996.
Margaret is a natural leader, and is able to see both the big picture and tackle the details at hand. She has the respect of her colleagues on campus and across the state of Utah, and has established a network of Banner users across the country. Utah Valley University is very fortunate to have Margaret Bellon as a team member, and SunGard is honored to recognize Margaret with the APEX award this year.
Mary Koskan

Mary Koskan has dedicated more than 25 years to the University of Minnesota in the areas of registration, student financials, financial aid, veterans, and customer service. As Director of One Stop Student Services, she has innovated and embraced the use of information technologies in the feld and continues to improve student services.
Mary is most recognized by her successful implementation and development of the One Stop model. In 2000, she led the design of the One Stop Student Services Center, which uses student information systems, web technologies and telephone system capabilities to create a seamless approach for assisting students with issues and questions. She led an extremely successful project to redesign the One Stop website in the summer of 2008, further creating and stretching the capabilities of technological tools, and has presented the model to both regional and national organizations.
Since the 1970s, she has been an active member of the Upper Midwest Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions officers (UMACRAO), and received the Exemplary Service Award at the 2001-2002 conference. As a member of AACRAO, Mary has devoted herself to assisting colleagues and mentoring new professionals. She has been both member and chair of numerous committees, notably serving as program chair for the 2007 Annual Meeting in Boston and as chair of the Hospitality Committee at the 2002 Annual Meeting in Minneapolis. Mary is always willing to help and volunteer for the organization and has proven herself a model leader in higher education.
Founders Award for Leadership
R. Gerald Pugh

During his long tenure as University Registrar at Indiana University, Bloomington from 1978 to 2001, Jerry Pugh led innovative approaches to registration, student services, grading and the revolutionary creation of the "grade context" transcript, innovations that have become commonplace today. In 1985, Dr. Pugh co-founded the Association of American Universities (AAU) Conference for Registrars, which still exists today and has met annually since its founding. In 1993, Dr. Pugh also co-founded the Registrar's Summer Institute, which provided professional development to many in the Registrar's profession through an annual week-long intensive program in Aspen, Colorado. Today, Dr. Pugh holds many hats, and since 2001 has served Indiana University as Professor of Leadership Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, Professor of Continuing Studies and Associate Dean of the Faculties.
In 1975, Dr. Pugh first served on the Publications Committee with Indiana ACRAO. In 1989, he served as IACRAO's Fiftieth Anniversary Meeting Chair, while also serving on the IACRAO Executive Committee. From 1969 to 1990, Jerry participated in every IACRAO annual meeting, either in a leadership role or as a member of the organization.
Jerry's involvement grew to the national level as he began to participate in AACRAO, and attending every AACRAO annual meeting from 1970 through 2003. In 1977, Dr. Pugh assumed his first leadership position in AACRAO as a member of the Organization and Management of Registrar Responsibilities Committee, and served as chair in 1979-1980. In that year, Dr. Pugh also served on the Annual Meeting Planning Committee, and he followed this service by participating in the Enrollment Studies Committee from 1981 to 1984. When this AACRAO Committee service complete in 1984, Jerry moved to the Grading Policies and Practices Committee in 1985 and served as chair in 1987-1988. Dr. Pugh was honored by AACRAO with Honorary Membership and he was also designated a Distinguishing Hoosier and a Sagamore of the Wabash, the state's highest honors, by the Governor of Indiana.
Jerry also served as the Inter-Association Representative between AACRAO and CAUSE in 1989-1992 and in 1995-1997, and as the Inter-Association Representative to Educause on AACRAO's behalf in 1998-99. Finally, Jerry served on the AACRAO Professional Resource Panel from 1996 to 2000, and on the AACRAO Taskforce on Outsourcing the following year.
The impact Jerry has had at his institution and on many people in the profession today is profound. Whether by leading his Registrar's Office into new delivery methods of service as technology evolved, or by serving on and chairing numerous committees, or the new professional development programs he has founded, his impact on the profession has been visionary.
In 1995, under Dr. Pugh's leadership, Indiana University received a CAUSE Best Practices Award for applications and in 1998 EDUCAUSE recognized Dr. Pugh and IU with their Best Practices award. These two recognitions were followed by IBM's honoring of Dr. Pugh and Indiana University with a Best Practices Award in 1999.
Since 2001, Dr. Pugh has been Professor of Leadership Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, Professor of Continuing Studies in the School of Continuing Studies, and Associate Dean of Faculties in the Office of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculties, the latter position re-titled last year as Associate Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs. He will retire as emeritus faculty this summer with 42 years of service at Indiana University. He and his wife, Susan, who is Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment Services and Director of Student Financial Assistance at Indiana, have two sons, who are educators living in suburban Indianapolis, a daughter-in-law and three grandsons. Their future plans are to retain their home in Bloomington and spend more time with family and friends at their residences in Longboat Key, Florida and Aspen, Colorado.
Dennis J. Dulniak

Dennis Dulniak retired from the profession after 35 years, during which he served six institutions, most recently as the University Registrar at the University of Central Florida. His illustrious career began at the University of Rochester, followed by Montana State University where he earned his doctorate, then Ohio Wesleyan University, Lander University and Austin Peay State University. His short-lived retirement has returned him as an AACRAO corporate member in his new position as Vice President for Higher Education Services with Avow Systems, Inc.
Just last year, Dennis received the AACRAO Founders Award for Leadership recognizing his talents, contributions and commitment to our profession. His activities included participation on numerous state, regional and national committees, through his frequent service as a popular presenter, facilitator, and chair roles in each. In 1995, he served as President of Tennessee ACRAO, on the SACRAO Executive Committee as Vice President for Professional Development from 2002-2004, along with serving twice as Chair of the SACRAO Nominations and Elections Committee. More recently, Dennis served his second elected role on the AACRAO Nominations and Elections Committee, as well as Co-chair of Volunteers for the 2008 AACRAO Annual Meeting in Orlando. Among his other major AACRAO contributions included the period 1995 to 1998 when Dennis served as Chair and author of the Fax Technology Task Force that created professional Fax Guidelines for the acceptance of faxed documents as official documents. In the same line, his latest venture with Avow Systems is in providing the latest and most secure delivery mode for official electronic documents through certified PDF transcripts.
While many of us have been entertained, educated and benefited from his numerous contributions and guidance over the years, we seem assured that his presence at our annual conferences and local campuses will continue in a direct service role through his new career.Thomas A. Bilger Citation for Service
Dorene Root
As a long-time member of AACRAO, Dorene has contributed substantially to the programmatic offerings of AACRAO. She has guided the program committee through important transitions, and has offered to serve AACRAO on short notice when unanticipated vacancies presented difficult challenges. Furthermore, Dorene consistently does her work with thoroughness, grace, and a delightful sense of humor.
Dorene began her association service with her involvement in Michigan ACRAO. As with her involvement with AACRAO, there has not been a year since she first joined in which she has not participated in MACRAO in a meaningful way. Dorene's engagement with AACRAO began as a committee member in 1995, and since then she has served as Program Committee coordinator for Group IV: Leadership & Management Development, Program Committee Chair, Professional & Staff Development Committee Chair and member of the Nominations & Elections Committee.
During her tenure on the Program Committee, the program database was developed and refined, which required patience, attention to detail, and creativity on the part of committee members. In Dorene's year as chair of the Program Committee, the Board of Directors opened the session proposal process to the membership at large. The Program Committee was asked to ensure that 25 percent of the session proposals accepted for the program were submitted directly from AACRAO members. This change required developing a new vetting process, tracking the origin of proposals, dealing diplomatically with committees whose members were used to fashioning the program, and ensuring that the quality of the program did not suffer. Much of the responsibility for managing the transition fell to Dorene. The move was successful, and effectively included more members in developing the program of the Annual Meeting.
When a program coordinator had to resign unexpectedly last year, Dorene graciously agreed to step in for a year to ensure a smooth transition for the new vice president, and helped identify a qualified member to succeed her for a regular appointment. Watching her serve as a mentor to her successor has been a lesson in leadership to all around her.
Dorene Root exemplifies AACRAO service in her willingness to work where she is needed, her effectiveness in her many roles in the association, her focus on including as many members as possible in the activities of the association, and the unpretentious manner in which she accomplishes her work.
Robert Doolos

Robert has been worked at Louisiana State University for over 30 years, and has demonstrated excellent leadership, extending beyond his institution and throughout his state, region, nation and the world. For 22 years, he served as an officer in the United States Army Reserve, deploying with his unit to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. His colleagues say he has drawn upon his experience in the Army to help him with the logistical challenges of being a registrar.
Robert has been a member of the AACRAO community for the past two decades. Leading up to this New Orleans Annual Meeting, Robert served as a dedicated co-chair of both the Annual Meeting Volunteers and the Task Force on Association Governance. Robert also served for three years on the Information Systems Technology Committee, which he chaired in 2008. In 2000, he also chaired the SPEEDE Committee and the Annual Meeting Registration Committee. Robert has served on the Nominations and Election Committee (2004), and the Recruiting and Marketing Committee (1995-1997).
In addition to his duties at AACRAO, Robert has been active in his state and regional associations, Louisiana ACRAO and Southern ACRAO. He served as president of both associations in 2006. For four years, he led the LACRAO SPEEDE Task Force, and also made numerous presentations over the years on the Role of the Registrar and the implementation of SPEEDE.
Robert chaired the SACRAO Local Arrangements Committee in 2009, and served on the Evaluation Committee in 2000 and on the Nominations and Elections Committee in 1998. Robert has also has made several presentations over the years, including the poignant “LSU in the Eye of the Storm: A University Model for Disaster Response” in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2006.
Robert and his wife, Joann, live in Baton Rouge. They have two daughters and grandchildren who live nearby. Robert has assured the task force that it will surely “pass a good time” at Annual Meeting in New Orleans.SEM Award of Excellence
Scot Lingrell

At the University of West Georgia, Dr. Lingrell is the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management. He has direct responsibility for the offices of Undergraduate Admission, Financial Aid, Excel Center for Academic Success (Advising), Student Affairs Web and Technology, and the Registrar.
As West Georgia's first Enrollment Manager, Dr. Lingrell has overseen tremendous change at the University of West Georgia. His focus has been in three main areas: data-driven decision making; cross-institutional cooperation and collaboration; and comprehensive strategic foundations for all enrollment-related functions. His mantra is, "Everything at an institution either effects, or is affected by enrollment."
Dr. Lingrell has spent his time at UWG creating and leading the Strategic Enrollment Council (SEC) and developing programs, services, and technology to increase enrollment and retention. In 2006 the SEC developed institutional enrollment goals, and under the leadership of Dr. Lingrell the institution has exceeded those goals in each of the years since. This has been accomplished by employing a very comprehensive approach that combines effective recruitment and yield practices with an overarching initiative focusing on retention, progression, and graduation. Some highlights of these accomplishments include: an increase in New Freshman Enrollment by 20.65% in three years; Increase in overall undergraduate enrollment by 10.58% in three years; a 7 point increase in graduation rates and a 5 point increase in retention in three years.
Dr. Lingrell is married to Karen, an Assistant Director of Career Services at the University, and has two children; Hannah who is 16, and Drew who is 14.Jody Gordon

Jody Gordon is Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Registrar at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia, Canada. She grew up in Ontario and moved to British Columbia, Canada, in 1987 completing a First Class Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992 and a Master of Arts degree in 1996 from Simon Fraser University.
Jody has worked in post secondary student services since 1992. She began her career at Simon Fraser University as an academic advisor and then as the manager for advising and front line services. In 1998, Jody joined what was then Kwantlen University College, now Kwantlen Polytechnic University, first as the Associate Registrar and then in 2001 as Registrar. In 2007, Jody became the Associate Vice President, Student Affairs and Registrar at Kwantlen. She is responsible for Enrolment Services (Educational Advising, Frontline services, Articulation and Student Awards and Financial Assistance), Registrar Services (Admissions, Graduation and Records) Enrolment Support (Scheduling, Registration and Enrolment Reporting) and Student Development and Success (Counselling, Learning Centres and Student Life). Jody also teaches first year Criminology students at Kwantlen.
Jody is a government appointed Director on the British Columbia Council on Admissions and Transfer (BCCAT) and the chair of the Admissions subcommittee for BCCAT. She is the Treasurer for the British Columbia Registrar's Association. In 2007, she was the organizing conference chair of the Western Association of Registrars for Universities and Colleges of Canada bi-annual conference. Jody currently represents the Western region of Canada on the Executive Committee of the Association of Registrars for Universities and Colleges of Canada and was appointed Program Chair for the 2010 Conference for the Pacific Region of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
Jody presents regularly at higher education conferences on such topics as cultural change in the delivery of student services, programming to improve student persistence, and evidence-based student centred scheduling.
Exemplary New Member Award
Luke Schultheis

In just five years as an AACRAO member, Luke has already served on the Admissions Policies and Practices Committee and the Nominations & Elections Committee, and is currently chair of the School-College Relations Committee. When Luke took over this committee it was in need of rejuvenation and an increase in its membership, and it is now a vibrant committee developing excellent sessions for the annual meetings.
During his five years as an AACRAO member, Luke has distinguished himself as an author by writing two chapters in the recently release College Admissions Officers' Guide, entitled "Low SES Students: How to Reach and Retain Them" and "Reaching the Adult Market." He also participated in a research project on Understanding Assessment and Research in Enrollment Management, which he has been invited to submit for publication in SEM Source and College and University.
Luke has given numerous presentations, including "Providing Quality Education to Low SES Students without Compromising Institutional Integrity," "Home Schooling," "Breaking Into Tough Markets," "Dispelling Myths About your School with the College Counselor" and "Recruiting First Generation College Bound Applicants."
Luke has been a presenter at AACRAO Annual Meetings, Strategic Enrollment Management conferences, as well as at Middle States ACRAO conferences.
Luke lives in Chappaqua, New York with his wife of 16 years, Magdalena, and their 5-year-old daughter Michelle. In his spare time, Luke plays the French horn, trumpet and drums and writes poetry. He is also a sommelier.
Lee F. Furbeck

Lee is an up and coming AACRAO member who has served the profession very well in her less than five years as a member of AACRAO. She has participated at the state, regional and national level in a number of ways. Those who know her are impressed by how quickly she has become so involved in service to those who share her profession.
Lee began her involvement with AACRAO in 2002 by attending the Annual Meeting in Minneapolis. Soon thereafter she became a member of the Transfer and Articulation Committee, serving admirably from 2003-2004. In 2004, 2005 and 2006 she was involved in the Institute for the Study of Transfer Students in Ft. Worth, co-sponsored by AACRAO.
As her familiarity with AACRAO grew, Lee began to get even more involved as 2004-2005 Chair of the Transfer and Articulation Committee, developing sessions for the Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, where she facilitated a workshop on Effective Leadership.
At the 2005 AACRAO Annual Meeting in New York, Lee presented two sessions and facilitated two sessions, and volunteered to staff the Committee Information Booth. That year, she also participated in the AACRAO Strategic Enrollment Management Conference in Chicago.
Also in 2005, Lee co-authored " The Transfer of Power and the Power of Transfer ", an article published in SEM Monthly.
Continuing as Chair of the Transfer and Articulation Committee for 2006-2007, Lee again led her committee as they offered sessions at the Annual Meeting in San Diego. While there she also presented two sessions and facilitated two sessions. Adding to her volunteer participation in 2006, she was appointed to and now serves on the new AACRAO Public Policy Taskforce. She also served at the Committee Information Booth, the Hospitality Booth and at the Newcomers' Workshop.
On Lee's plate for 2007 are her candidacy for the Nomination and Elections Committee, membership in the taskforce being formed to investigate an AACRAO transfer conference, and the AACRAO Annual Meeting in Boston. At the latter, she is scheduled to present sessions on Transfer Centers: Who? What? Why? How? Where? and Open Forum on Transfer Issues, as well as facilitate another session.
Besides the aforementioned service to AACRAO, Lee has served UMACRAO in a number of roles, including presenting sessions at annual meetings and as a member of the Newsletter Committee and the Finance Committee.
Having recently moved to Kansas, Lee hopes to be more involved in KACRAO, where she became a new member in 2006.
Award for Excellence in International Education
Cliff Sjogren

AACRAO's dedicated past president Dr. Cliff Sjogren has truly distinguished himself through his service to international education throughout his exemplary career. For 15 of his 24 years at the University of Michigan, Cliff served as the Director of Admissions. Next, he spent four years as the Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at the University of Southern California. Throughout his career, he has diligently served students from the United States and abroad. After Cliff's successful term as President of AACRAO, he was asked to serve as Interim Executive Director during the search that brought current director Jerry Sullivan to AACRAO. Cliff was ready and able to step up to the plate and help AACRAO through this transition.
While his expertise extends to all students, it is perhaps in international education that Cliff has made some of his most significant contributions. As an author, he penned works on overseas educational systems, namely on the Scandinavian educational systems, co-authoring a book on Norway for The College Board and contributing to a Joint Committee on Workshops (JCOW) publication on Scandinavian countries. His stature in the field made him the logical choice to head a consultants' group on international athlete eligibility for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He served in that role for 25 years before stepping aside when the group became formalized as a standing committee of the NCAA in 2001. At that point, a new generation of experts, several of whom he mentored over the years, took over the position he created.
His accomplishments don't stop there. He has served as a consultant at for over 30 US colleges and universities and several foreign governments in addition to serving on the TOEFL Board of Directors from 2004 to 2008.
Cliff's many years of professional university positions demonstrate his expertise in many fields. He has made an impact on admissions, financial aid, and as an international consultant to both international universities and U.S. agencies in D.C. and The College Board. Cliff is widely known and has served as a leader in presenting U.S. education to countries throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Also, as an appointed member of the NCAA's Academic Requirements Committee, he crafted international student eligibility standards.
Now retired, Cliff continues to attend AACRAO and NAFSA conferences. He also presents on important international topics, serves on the TOEFL Board for the Educational Testing Service and still makes visits to schools wishing to implement the International Baccalaureate curriculum. Recently, he joined senior colleagues in a review of the new AACRAO EDGE data base. Cliff provided some critical input and suggestions on how to improve the database beyond the high level of functioning it has already attained.
AACRAO and international education has been very fortunate to enjoy the benefit of this wonderfully talented man. After you talk to Cliff you always have a clearer perception of the important issues, direction and how best to proceed. Moreover, he does it with wit and humor.Linda Kosene

Our colleague and dear friend, Linda Kosene, passed away suddenly on Friday, November 27, 2009. For the past three and one-half years, Linda has been serving as the Director of Marketing and Institutions Liaison with AACRAO's International Education Services (IES). Previously, Linda worked at Lynn University, Georgian Court College and Atlantic Community College, as well as with World Education Services. Linda was a dynamic speaker and presented at many regional and national conferences over the years. She received her Master's Degree in Counseling from Glassboro State College (Rowan University).
In her work with AACRAO IES, Linda networked and exhibited at many professional conferences; she visited with schools and colleagues, and solved the problems that confronted her. Her many colleagues over the years knew they could count on Linda to “get the problem solved and the work done.”
Linda was also involved in numerous community activities, including the American Red Cross, multiple Chambers of Commerce and the Little Palm Family Theatre. She loved to write, and had recently finishing a mystery novel. She also enjoyed traveling, especially on cruise ships, most recently on the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2).
We will all miss her work ethic, her way with the spoken and written word, as well as her smile and her big heart filled with love, friendship and kindness to all.


