Keynotes and Special Sessions

Session Title: Diversity, Access & Inclusion in Higher Education...What Does the Future Look Like?

Presenters: 

Vern Granger - Director of Undergraduate Admissions; University of Connecticut

John Hollemon - Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; NACAC

Shameek Robinson - Partnerships Direct, Northeast; College Advising Corps

Keynote Abstract:

We will be looking into issues surrounding diversity, access and inclusion within higher education and  what  the future looks like for these communities. The Coming Together Conference is thrilled to have a panel of leaders in the field, both at the institutional and nation level, engage in an honest conversation about how we are to move forward in support of our communities past these decisions (and any future ones ahead), while also discussing the needs, and possible ways to sustain ourselves in this work. 

Vern Granger is the Director of Admissions at the University of Connecticut (UConn). In his current role, Vern works on UConn’s worldwide outreach to high-achieving and diverse students, its selection process, development of the university admission process and practices, the transition of new students, and the advancement of UConn’s position as one of the preeminent institutions in the country.

Previously, he was the Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions at The Ohio State University for seven years. Prior to that, he led the admission office of the University of Tennessee, and began his professional career at North Carolina State University, where he worked for eleven years. Vern received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and his master’s degree from North Carolina State University.

Vern is currently the Immediate Past Chair of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). He also previously served as president of both the Southern Association of College Admission Counseling (SACAC) and Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (CACRAO) organizations.

Vern has been a member, and actively involved, in a number of professional organizations related to education and access. He has presented at, and attended, a number of professional conferences including AACRAO, the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions, College Board, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and American Council on Education. Vern presented internationally to secondary schools, U.S. consulates and embassies several times as part of the College Board’s Overseas Schools Project, a program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State.  He received a Fulbright Scholarship in 2002 to study the educational system of Germany.

Dr. John S. Hollemon III is an experienced higher education and nonprofit administrator with a passion for driving student success and access. He currently serves as the Director of DEI and HBCU Initiatives for the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, where he is tasked with identifying, addressing, and accessing DEI priorities throughout the association's 27,000 members, 23 Regional Affiliates, 33 Special Interest Groups, media, and the public.

Before joining NACAC, Dr. Hollemon served as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer and Dean of Inclusive Excellence at Hampden-Sydney College. He also served as President of the Virginia Association of Student Personnel Administrators and held various leadership positions with Randolph Macon College, Ferrum College, and Louisburg College. Dr. Hollemon is an active and engaged community member and has held various roles on community boards. Dr. Hollemon currently serves on the Advisory Boards for the National Partnership for Educational Access and the Brother 4 Brother Network and serves on the Advisory Council for Randolph-Macon College.

In Dr. Hollemon’s spare time, he enjoys traveling, watching basketball, attending live music events, and spending time with family and friends. Dr. Hollemon received his Doctor of Healthcare Administration from Virginia University of Lynchburg with an emphasis in Health Equity, a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership from Liberty University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Randolph-Macon College.

As Partnership Director, Northeast, Shameek Robinson engages and supports programs across NY, PA, CT, and MA while developing impactful approaches for effective partnerships with local, regional, and national programs at College Advising Corps.

Shameek has over two decades of experience working in education across the K-16 pipeline in public and non-profit settings. His career in education, college and career readiness has spanned multiple organizations such as the College Board, the National College Access Network (NCAN), the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY) and Teach for America (TFA), to name a few. Shameek is a current member of and content contributor to the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), its New York affiliate (NYSACAC), Potomac affiliate (PCACAC), and NCAN. He has previously served on the board of College Access Consortium of New York (CACNY) and NYSACAC, and is currently an advisory board member of the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable (PCPR).

Shameek holds a bachelors in Biology from Rutgers University and an M.S.Ed. in Education Studies with concentrations on School Family and Community Collaboration and Education Administration from the Johns Hopkins University School of Education.

Session Title: The Enrollment Cliff

Presenters: 

Dr. James Lentini, President, Molloy University

Donna Linderman, Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Success, SUNY

Dr. Reine Sarmiento, Vice Chancellor Enrollment Management, CUNY          

Keynote Abstract:

Higher education stands at a critical juncture. The landscape is fraught with uncertainty, presenting both challenges and opportunities for institutions, educators, and students alike. As we navigate this complex terrain, resilience and innovation emerge as indispensable pillars for success.

This keynote address delves into enrollment issues and opportunities within higher education. Get a view from the top from three seasoned professionals within the SUNY, CUNY and private education sectors.

Dr. James Lentini began his appointment as Molloy University’s seventh president in 2020. Under his leadership, Molloy has moved from college to a university status and set a record for the enrollment of first-year students. He led the creation of Molloy’s new Strategic Plan 2028 and has developed partnerships to more closely connect Molloy’s curriculum to regional healthcare systems and businesses. Under Dr. Lentini’s leadership, record-setting levels of fundraising and grants have been achieved. He also created the first-ever position of vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Molloy that aligns with the institution’s history and mission as a Catholic institution in the Dominican Tradition. 

Dr. Lentini is a board member of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities and the Long Island Association and the Long Island Arts Alliance. He has been named to the Long Island Business News “Powerlist” as one of the “60 Most Powerful Influencers,” the Long Island Press PowerList, the Long Island Press “A-List,” and the Long Island Business News “Power 25 in Education.” 

In tandem with his achievements as a university leader, Dr. Lentini is an award-winning composer and classical guitarist and is a voting member of the Recording Academy’s Grammy Awards.

Donna Linderman is leading SUNY’s systemwide investment through the SUNY Transformation Fund, which is supporting many campus initiatives including the replication of the evidence-based ASAP|ACE degree completion model, upward mobility initiatives, multi-campus transfer partnerships, operational efficiency and essential student supports.

As Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Success at SUNY, Donna’s portfolio includes Enrollment Management and Financial Aid, University Life and Opportunity Programs, Transfer and Articulation, the Transformation Fund, Higher Education in Prison, and the Center for Professional Development. She is also co-leading the SUNY Transfer Task Force which was established to bring together experts from across the SUNY System to be assured that transfer opportunities are more fully realized.

Linderman also led the development and execution of CUNY Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE), ASAP at fouryear institutions, along with CUNY Start, a nationally recognized initiative to help first-year
students with academic gaps successfully enter and succeed in college. 

Donna holds a BFA in Drama from the University of Southern California, an MFA in Theatre from Brooklyn College, and will soon defend her dissertation for an EdD in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University.

Dr. Reine Sarmiento has achieved notable success in her 30-year career in the private and public sectors as an innovative and inclusive leader committed to higher education. Increasing enrollment and the college’s profile in her various leadership positions, she has served the City University of New York for the past 19 years as Assistant Dean for Enrollment Services at LaGuardia Community College and Vice President for Enrollment Management and Associate Provost at Lehman College. Currently, she serves as the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and is working on a CUNY admissions redesign, which includes launching the CUNY Reconnect and increasing access and opportunity for adult students.

Dr. Sarmiento received her B.B.A. in marketing from National University, an M.S. degree in urban affairs from Hunter College, and her Ed.D. in Education, Leadership, Administration, and Policy from Fordham University. She is also a graduate of AASCU’s prestigious Millennial Leadership Institute.

Truth Talking to Power: Student Perspectives for Directors and Executive Leadership

Please join us for a fireside chat aimed at reconnecting with the student experience and gaining insights to enhance the enrollment process. This session will feature a panel discussion with college students who recently navigated admissions and financial aid processes and are now on successful career paths with support from teams. Participants will engage in open dialogue, sharing experiences, challenges, and successes. We will explore actionable steps to improve enrollment experiences at our institutions and emphasize the importance of student-centered decision-making. The session will foster collaboration and reflection, aiming to bridge the gap between strategic priorities and student needs.

Session Title: Digital Transformation in Counseling and Admissions

Presenter: Dr. Tom Green, Salesforce

Session Abstract:

Education at all levels, especially in the transition time from secondary to college, is racing to meet student, parent, counselor, staff and faculty expectations.  We live in a world where information and transactions are at our fingertips, mobile-enabled, and personalized just for us.  How can the processes and experiences of applying to college meet and even exceed those expectations?  What does it look like and what is important in the experience?  This interactive session will examine digital transformation through the lens of the college exploration and admissions process, providing you a thoughtful reflection of where you and your institution are today, and the areas where additional focus may help you meet students, parents, and others where they are today.

Dr. Tom Green is the Director of Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) at Salesforce.  He brings 35 years of higher education experience to this role, including executive leadership roles in enrollment at seven universities and at AACRAO, where he directed AACRAO Consulting, was editor-in-chief of the SEM Quarterly research journal, and guided professional development content for all areas of SEM for its global membership.  Dr. Green has authored numerous articles and led hundreds of workshops on SEM.  He is a frequent speaker and presenter at higher education conferences in North America, Europe and the Middle East.

Dr. Green holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa, a masters degree from the American Conservatory of Music, where he began his higher education career as an instructor, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, Management and Policy from Seton Hall University.  Dr. Green is faculty in the graduate School of Education at Drexel University, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Felician University in New Jersey.