Angela Criscoe

Angela Criscoe is Executive Director of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at Georgia College & State University, where she leads six departments dedicated to expanding access to education and driving academic innovation in the communities GCSU serves.

Drawing on 25 years of experience in higher education and a foundation in communication, she brings both institutional knowledge and a forward-thinking approach to her leadership. Angela is committed to creating pathways for learners of all ages, from supporting afterschool programs that ignite curiosity in K-12 youth to delivering workforce development programs that meet the evolving needs of working adults and local employers. Through intentional collaboration with faculty, staff, and community partners, she is building on GCSU's legacy of academic excellence by extending its impact as a catalyst for opportunity and transformation across the region.

Eric Dickson

Dr. Eric Dickson is the Interim Dean for the School of Business & Professional Studies at Truman State University. In addition to his current role, he has served Truman as Associate Dean for the School of Arts & Humanities, Department Chair of Music, and Interim Department Chair of Theatre. He joined the Truman faculty in 2015 as the trumpet professor and Brass Choir director. Before moving to academia, Dickson was an active freelance musician and educator based in Indianapolis, IN. He was a member of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, and performed internationally with The Drowsy Chaperone, A Chorus Line, and as principal trumpet of the Hollywood Concert Orchestra.

Dickson has presented trumpet clinics to students around the country, including appearances at Auburn University, Ball State University, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is a guest faculty artist at the Midwest Trumpet Festival and was on the faculty of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp for five years. A strong advocate for mental health and wellness, Dickson is also a Certified Teacher with the Institute for Mindfulness Based Wellness and Pedagogy. He regularly presents lectures on using mindfulness practice to maintain mental health and to optimize performance in various settings.

Dickson holds degrees from Minnesota State University–Moorhead and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

Sarah Ellison

Sarah Ellison, Ed.D., is the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at Sonoma State University, where she leads a comprehensive portfolio including academic advising, equity and access programs, career services, disability services, and student retention. With over 12 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Ellison is a recognized expert in building equitable, student-centered systems that bridge the gap between academic success and career readiness. A fellow of the UC Berkeley Bridging Differences program, featured in Inside HigherEd, and a contributor to Education Technology Insights, she writes and speaks frequently on the intersection of AI, equity, and institutional performance. Sarah currently serves on the Board of Directors for the MBA Standards Board, Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board, and the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce. She remains at the forefront of educational innovation, dedicated to leveraging emerging technologies and data-informed strategies to create a more inclusive and future-ready higher education landscape. 

Holly Joseph

Holly Joseph (she/her) leads the Student Engagement, Equity and Support (SEES) team and brings over 30 years of higher education leadership to her work. She is a firm believer in the liberal arts, and the transformative nature of  education. Holly holds a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington and a BA in Religious Studies from Lewis & Clark College. Her experience in higher education includes work in admissions, student support, advising, and programming, and most recently as Evergreen's college budget officer.

Holly is passionate about creating a supportive environment where students can thrive academically and personally. Her leadership is characterized by a commitment to equity, inclusion, and holistic support, ensuring that every student has the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

Karen Moranski

Dr. Karen Moranski has participated in COPLAC since 2008, has served on the Executive Board, and currently serves as Chair of the Membership Committee. She serves as the inaugural Vice President for Regional Network Transformation for the SF Bay Region Network in the California State University, a three-year leadership role shared across San Francisco State, Sonoma State, and Cal State East Bay, building shared infrastructure in IT, HR, Procurement, Accounts Payable, and Financial Services. From 2016 to 2025, she served in a variety of leadership roles at Sonoma State, including the last 5 years as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Sonoma State, advancing equity and belonging, academic planning, interdisciplinary learning, and student success. Prior to that, she spent over two decades at the University of Illinois Springfield in academic and leadership roles, helping to facilitate the development of many face-to-face and online degree programs, creating general education programs, and building the Capital Scholars Honors Program. A scholar of medieval English literature and higher education, she holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval English Literature from UNC Chapel Hill.

Niti Pandey

Dr. Niti Pandey is the Dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies and the Graduate Division at Eastern Connecticut State University. She received her BA and MA in Psychology from the University of Delhi, India and her MS and PHD in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Prior to joining Eastern, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the Krannert School of Management, Purdue University. Dr. Pandey is a Professor of Management and has taught courses in the areas of human resource management, labor relations and employment laws, and corporate social responsibility at the undergraduate level and conflict and negotiations, small group dynamics, research methods, and leading change at the graduate level. Her research and publications are in the areas of employment relationships, organizational justice, and corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Dr. Pandey has participated in the COPLAC Beard Leadership Circle as a facilitator since 2024 and serves on the COPLA Membership Committee. 

Jeannette Smith

Dr. Jeannette Smith completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her research areas of interest include higher education administration, policy, supervision, and retention and persistence of students from traditionally underrepresented communities. Her doctoral journey was informed by a curiosity about decision-makers and led to a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study on policy. That work has infused every position she has held with a belief that approaching policy from an equitable lens can contribute to dismantling oppressive structures in post-secondary attainment. A first-generation college graduate, Dr. Smith is intentional in collaboratively working across the college to holistically support students through the curricular and co-curricular experience. Dr. Smith has worked in academic advising, residence life, financial aid, student unions and facilities, grant management, student engagement, and foundation stewardship. She currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She resides in western mass with her spouse, kids, and one puppy named Porkchop.