Name: Natasha Beckett Undergraduate Institution: Savannah State University Master’s Institution: Georgia Southern University Master’s Degree: Higher Education Administration Current Position: Director, TRiO Upward Bound- Georgia Perimeter College Why did you choose UGA’s Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership (Ed.D. SAL) program? I chose UGA's Ed.D Student Affairs Leadership Program as an opportunity to increase my knowledge and diversify in the field of Student Affairs. Student Affairs Interests/Research Interests: First Year Experience Programs, Retention and Graduation of minority students Name: Amy K. Clines Undergraduate Institution: Regis College (MA) Master’s Institution: Georgia Southern University Master’s Degree: M.Ed. Higher Education Administration Current Position: Director of Undergraduate Recruitment, Columbus State University (Columbus, GA) Why did you choose UGA’s Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership (Ed.D. SAL) program? Having the ability to pursue an advanced degree while working full time was an attractive component to this program. The structure of the coursework, the blended delivery of content, and the small cohort size also appealed to me. Having worked in higher education for some time, I felt that the EdD SAL program would be an excellent way to bridge my experiences and observations with scholarly research and theory. Student Affairs Interests/Research Interests: Recruitment and admission practices as they relate to fit and under/over matching of students, gender deficiencies in enrollment trends and academic program selection, retention and progression, transfer students, college access programs for high school students. Name: Elizabeth Huggins Undergraduate Institution: Furman University, Greenville, SC Master’s Institution: The University of Georgia, Athens, GA Master’s Degree: M.Ed. in College Student Affairs Administration Current Position: Director of First and Second Year Experience, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA Why did you choose UGA’s Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership (Ed.D. SAL) program? I chose this program for two reasons: my familiarity with the University and the structure/prestige of the SAL Program. I have strong ties to UGA. My daughter is a student in Terry College of Business, my husband and I both attended UGA Grad School and lived in Family Housing, his parents lived in the same building in the 1960’s and my grandmother also graduated from UGA in the 1930’s! But the SAL Program is what really impressed me. Not only are my former professors still engaged with its curriculum, but the program’s structure is ideal for working professionals. The courses are apropos to what I need for my professional development and the Second Year students have already been so supportive. In every way I am looking forward to our cohort of practitioner-scholars! Student Affairs Interests/Research Interests: Student Retention and Progression, Study Abroad, Academic Programming that collaborates with Student Affairs and of course, First and Second Year Students. Name: Jonathan Lucia Undergraduate Institution: Spring Hill College - Psychology Master’s Institution: Appalachian State University Master’s Degree: Clinical Psychology Current Position: Director of Residence Life, Appalachian State University – Columbus Georgia Why did you choose UGA’s Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership (Ed.D. SAL) program? I chose UGA's Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership program because of the flexibility it provides while working full time. A mixture of the online and face to face experience is the right approach for me at this stage of my life and career. Student Affairs Interests/Research Interests: Mental health, Culture, Environment and Design Name: Frank Malinowski Undergraduate Institution: Armstrong State University Master’s Institution: Armstrong State University Master’s Degree: Computer Science Current Position: Interim Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management, Phi Theta Kappa Georgia Regional Coordinator, Darton State College Why did you choose UGA’s Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership (Ed.D. SAL) program? The opportunity that I've had to work with students as an advisor of a student organization has been some of the most rewarding work I've done during my professional life. This has drawn me to be more interested in the field of Student Affairs. I have wanted to pursue doctoral work but wanted the work to be meaningful and impactful on my professional life. When this program was created and I found out the details I knew it was the perfect fit for me. Student Affairs Interests/Research Interests: Strategic Enrollment Management, Advising, Retention, Impact of Student Organizations Name: Tjazha Mazhani Undergraduate Institution: Spelman College Master’s Institution: Argosy University Master’s Degree: Educational Leadership Current Position: Director of Student Life, Georgia Perimeter College (Newton Campus) Why did you choose UGA’s Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership (Ed.D. SAL) program? I chose UGA’s Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership program because of UGA's reputation as an institution, the cohort model, and the schedule flexibility. Research Interests: Multicultural/Diversity Issues, Retention Name: Demetrius D. Smith Undergraduate Institution: Georgia Southern University Master’s Institution: Georgia Southern University Master’s Degree: Higher Education Administration Current Position: Graduation Coordinator: Middle Georgia State College – Cochran Campus Why did you choose UGA’s Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership (Ed.D. SAL) program? UGA's Ed.D program is exactly what I was looking for. This is a program where I have the opportunity to develop close relationships with my cohort, enhance my knowledge of Student Affairs from an amazing faculty, and be able to complete majority of the program online because I work full-time. Student Affairs Interests/Research Interests: My research interests include 1st generation African- American males in colleges and universities, Adult Education at community colleges, and NPHC organizations impact on retention and graduation rates. Name: Ambra Yarbrough Undergraduate Institution: Furman University Master’s Institution: University of Georgia Master’s Degree: College Student Affairs Administration Current Position: Complex Director, Department of Residence Life & Housing, Emory University Why did you choose UGA’s Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership (Ed.D. SAL) program? I chose the new Ed.D. in Student Affairs Leadership program because I want to serve as a scholar-practitioner in the field, and this curriculum directly spoke to the areas of study that I am interested in as a professional. The faculty are renowned and talented, the blended format caters to my desire to pursue the degree while working full-time, and the program will enhance my current and future work. Student Affairs Interests/Research Interests: Residence Life, Living-Learning Communities, First- Year Experience, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation .