Announcing the Fall 2025 Advising Success Network Student Fellows

Hello! My name is Lenora Argomaniz and I’m from Yuma, Arizona. I completed my undergraduate studies at Northern Arizona University, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a minor in Law, Rights, and Justice. Currently, I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, with an emphasis in Community College and Higher Education at Northern Arizona University. My academic and professional interests are centered around student success, leadership in higher education, and policy development. Upon completing my M.Ed., I plan to attend law school and am passionate about deepening my understanding of the legal field and its impact on education and society.

Greetings! My name is Michelle Bautista. I was born in Queens but currently reside in the Bronx, New York. I am an upper senior at the City College of New York, earning my Bachelor's and Master’s in Psychology with a concentration in CASAC. Being born and raised in the city, there were several resources and opportunities available for those who were made aware of them. It showed me that accessibility to essential information can change the quality of life, whether it be through social, economic, or educational means. I strive to ensure equal access to resources for all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic or legal status, and to give them the space to dream big.

My name is Mercedes Bright and I am from the Bronx, New York. I am currently a second-year student at the illustrious Black Ivy League, Hampton University, where I’m majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in Business. My passion for education drives me to work with children in grades K-5, and I aspire to become a principal after graduation. I love working with the younger generation because of the deep connection I share with them and the rewarding feeling I get from inspiring young minds. Throughout my journey, I strive to break society’s stereotypes that “black women can’t withhold high-level positions”. I am determined to fulfill the principal role and eventually pursue my Doctorate Degree.

Keyerrá Buckley is a Certified Pharmacy Technician working in EdTech as a Pharmacy Technician Program Director and Associate Product Manager. She discovered her passion for education as a Pharmacy Technology Assistant through Federal Work-Study and later served as Vice President of the Campus Activities Board and President of the Student Government Association at Vincennes University. With academic backgrounds in Pharmacy Technology and Healthcare Administration, she is dedicated to creating accessible pathways in allied health education that bridge certification and higher learning. Through the Advising Success Network Fellowship, Keyerrá aims to strengthen her ability to design equitable advising and learning experiences that empower students to achieve academic success, job security, and financial freedom.

Keyshuna Cole is a U.S. Army veteran from Mississippi and a graduate of a Business Management program, now advancing into the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology in her graduate studies. She currently works in employee engagement and workforce development, supporting military-connected communities and women professionals in building clarity, confidence, and career growth. A proud mom of three and a serial crafter, Keyshuna brings creativity and empathy to both her personal and professional life. She is fascinated by personality frameworks, particularly the DISC assessment, and how they can be used to strengthen relationships and team performance. Her long-term goal is to serve as an organizational psychologist, designing strategies that foster inclusive, high-performing environments where individuals and organizations can thrive. Through the ASN Fellowship, she is eager to apply research methods that elevate student voice, address equity in advising, and strengthen pathways to student success.

My name is Dillon Cook and I am a graduate of The University of Alabama where I completed a triple-bachelor's degree in Communication Studies, Human Environmental Sciences, and Criminal Justice with a triple minor in Women’s Studies, Global & Cultural Perspectives, and Public Policy. I am a current graduate student at the University of Georgia studying three master’s degrees in School Counseling, Workforce Education, and Communication Studies with intentions of pursuing a career in educational advocacy. A majority of my research has been focused on rural student and first-generation barriers and support. In my free time, I enjoy running and spending time with my friends. I am thrilled to be a member of this fellowship.

Hello! My name is Jaxon Farmer, and I’m currently a Junior at Georgetown University. Before coming to D.C. I grew up in a small town in Northeast Ohio. At Georgetown, I’m majoring in American Studies with minors in English and Sociology. I’ve developed a keen interest in pedagogy through my work as a tutor at Georgetown’s Writing Center. I’m particularly interested in epistemic justice, collective memory/historiography, and popular culture. I hope to be able to meld those passions through museum work in the future, central to my goal of bolstering public pathways to knowledge creation. In my free time, I love exploring new albums (I’m always reachable for a recommendation) and photo editing while I listen!

My name is Assata Gui’Chard, and I am a second-year Master of Public Health (MPH) student at Touro University California, concentrating in Community Action for Health. I am originally from San Francisco, CA, and a proud Spelman College alumna. My academic and professional interests center on advancing health and education equity through research, community partnerships, and policy development. As a first-generation college graduate, I am deeply committed to creating pathways that help underrepresented students and families access the resources and opportunities they deserve.

Hi, my name is Fiona, and I am from Los Angeles, California. I currently live in Santa Barbara, where I am in my senior year at UC Santa Barbara as a sociology major with a minor in Applied Psychology. As a proud first-generation daughter and transfer student, I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside others who share my passion for student success and for fostering inclusive, supportive spaces where students from all cultural backgrounds feel empowered to engage in self-advocacy. In addition to my studies, I serve as a College Success Coach and Financial Aid Coordinator with Santa Barbara Cal-SOAP, where I work with underserved high school students and guide them through the college process, including admissions and financial aid advising. I also work as an Academic Programs Assistant with the Office of Summer Sessions at UCSB, where I support pre-college research programs for high-achieving high school students and bridge programs for incoming freshmen and transfer students. In this role, I engage in peer mentorship, program planning, and event coordination to help students feel supported as they begin their academic journeys. Looking ahead, I aspire to be the kind of reliable and resourceful mentor that I once wished I had—someone who can empower students to thrive academically, personally, and professionally.

Hello! My name is Sophia Ma, and I am pursuing a Master’s in School Counseling at CSU Long Beach. I earned my Bachelor’s in Criminology and Psychology from UC Irvine. Currently, I am a school counseling intern at an elementary and high school, supporting students from underserved communities. I am also a FACTSS Fellow, where I collaborate with education specialists to provide culturally responsive transition supports for students with disabilities. Previously, I have worked as an academic advisor, college aide, and researcher. I am passionate about educational equity as well as trauma-informed and culturally sustainable counseling practices. My goal is to become a high school counselor focused on college access, breaking down systemic barriers, and ensuring all students have the resources and support to succeed.

Eugene Mafah is a soldier in the U.S. Army National Guard and the first person in his family to go to college. He is studying Cybersecurity at Blinn College and plans to get an M.S. in Management & Leadership from the University of Houston. Eugene is an Ivorian child of immigrants who uses his cultural background and military training to fight for student success, sustainability, and fairness in education. He used to be a sustainability intern for the City of Atlanta and Georgia Tech, where he looked at waste management data to encourage environmental responsibility and make institutions work better. Eugene wants to make college more open and accessible to students from backgrounds that aren't well represented. Through the ASN Fellowship, he wants to study fair advising models that give students the tools they need to get around systemic problems. He wants to keep working at the crossroads of education, leadership, and policy to create a culture of opportunity and belonging on all campuses.

Hello, my name is Michael Munroe, I am an undergraduate from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL studying Biomedical Sciences and Economics, with a focus on Economic Problems & Policy (ECP). Some of my most notable involvements include working with Feeding Tampa Bay as a Student Ambassador, serving in various executive roles including 2024-25 President of the student organization Motivating Black Students into Medicine, and being a 2 year finalist of the Bob Graham Center’s Future of Florida Summit. In combining my interests, lived experiences, and future goals; I love being able to intricately evaluate problems and bridge gaps between them to find solutions. I am thrilled to be a part of the Fall 2025 ASN cohort, and am eager to learn from others’ diverse perspectives, maintaining a commitment to advancing scholarship to have a meaningful impact.

Hao Phu Nguyen is a Marketing Fellow and Student Advocate passionate about leveraging digital storytelling to advance inclusion, creativity, and student success in higher education. She currently serves as a Fellow for Adobe’s Marketers Creative Skills Academy and the Advising Success Network (ASN), where she leads equity-centered research to improve advising frameworks for diverse student populations. Hao is also the Founder of UNIGLOW: Multicultural Beauty Initiative, an educational platform promoting cultural awareness in beauty practices through data-driven content and cross-cultural dialogue. An Honors student at Lone Star College–Kingwood, Hao is pursuing an Associate of Arts in Business and Marketing and has been recognized with the Chancellor’s Scholarship, the Gilman Scholarship, and the Cody Award for Student of the Year. Her academic and professional goals are to transfer to a top university in marketing or creative visuals, continue studying global beauty and fashion branding, and eventually become a creative director in the fashion industry. Hao believes the ASN Fellowship provides an invaluable opportunity to amplify diverse student voices while contributing to innovative, research-informed solutions that foster belonging and academic achievement.

Martin Orea (he/him) is a second-year Public Policy and Communications student at Santa Monica College from Orange County, California. His experiences across state and federal government and youth-led nonprofits have shaped his interest in using research to inform equitable higher education policy. Martin is particularly focused on how advising, communications, and policy intersect to improve student success for first-generation, low-income, and marginalized students. He hopes to contribute to research that uplifts student voices and reimagines institutional systems through an equity-driven lens.

Hello everyone! My name is Carlos Rodriguez and I am from Porterville CA. I am currently an undergraduate at UCLA majoring in Economics and Sociology. I am the youngest of five, but I am the only in my family, including my parents, to have graduated from high school. Education has been the most empowering and freeing experience of my life, so I want to make it as accessible to as many people as possible. I am grateful for this opportunity to research an issue area in advising to find out how marginalized students can be served better in higher education. After UCLA, I hope to go to school for social work/public policy.

Ja’Miya Scott is a senior at the University of North Texas majoring in Industrial Distribution, graduating in Spring 2026. Her professional journey has been shaped by a passion for continuous improvement and leadership development. Ja’Miya has interned with companies like Tetra Pak and Climate Pros, where she strengthened her skills in process optimization and project management. On campus, she serves as President of both the Black Student Union and the Project Management Student Chapter, leading initiatives that foster community, growth, and professional excellence. As an Advising Success Network Fellow, Ja’Miya aims to continue advocating for student success and equitable access to opportunity in higher education.

Hi, my name is Brianna Marie, and I call North Carolina my home with a few roots in Austin, Texas. I consider myself a student of life and always love to learn. I also enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, and creating new things whether that be through painting, music, or poetry. I received my Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychology from North Carolina Central University. I’m currently obtaining my Masters of Education in Adult Education with a Concentration in Higher Education and Student Affairs from East Carolina University. I also serve as a Study Abroad Admissions Advisor which gives me a fun chance to see the world of advising each day. I hope to continue working with students of all ages as they navigate life as well as become a professor/educator.

Hello! My name is Santianna Yellow Horse. I am a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and am currently attending Oglala Lakota College, where I am pursuing my degree in Nursing. I am also a mother of two wonderful little girls who are the light of my world. I am extremely passionate about Indigenous representation in the healthcare field and believe that Indigenous healthcare workers offer a unique and needed perspective to the field. I hope to go on in my medical career and eventually hope to pursue my Nurse Practitioners license or something of the like so I can further my advocacy of Indigenous patients.

Bawaajigekwe Boulley is the founder of Dream Circle Consulting, where she mentors and coaches educators and fellows, supporting research projects that center Indigenous knowledge and foster equitable outcomes for students. A proud member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, she brings nearly 20 years of experience across public, tribal, charter, and Indigenous language immersion schools. Grounded in her cultural roots and shaped by a family legacy in education and justice, Bawaajigekwe guides teams in reimagining educational systems, cultivating inclusive learning environments, and empowering educators to grow professionally and personally. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s in special education, and is pursuing a doctorate in Indigenous education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, with research focused on creating conditions that promote Indigenous student success.

Taya Britten (she/her/hers) is assistant director for the Advising Success Network at NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Her work started with the ASN in the summer of 2023 and focuses on project management, writing grant reports, leading the efforts of ASN interns, and assisting with service assessments. Prior to joining the ASN team, Taya served as a graduate assistant for Leadership at the University of Georgia and has gained many other experiences within higher education including working with orientation, international students, and Greek life. She earned a master’s degree in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Lynneah Ciera Brown is the director of policy research for Young Invincibles. Lynneah leads our research portfolios on policy issues affecting young adults in the areas of higher education, health care, and workforce policy and financial health. Lynneah comes to us from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), where she worked on projects, such as state performance funding, state funding equity audits, college closures, college completion, direct admissions, free college, free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) simplification, and the SHEEO membership report. Through these projects she either conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis, such as gaining experience using large-scale datasets (e.g., Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the National Student Clearinghouse data); developed descriptive statistics; used and analyzed survey data; conducted, transcribed, and developed key themes from interviews from participants; assisted with convenings with state leaders; gained experience working with grant funders; and/or produced various publications. In addition to her experience at SHEEO, Lynneah has participated in the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Data Institute where she worked with the Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B: 08/18) data and using these data with a group of scholars to analyze student loan debt and the effects on adulthood. Prior to SHEEO and the NCES Data Institute, Lynneah was a graduate research assistant at The Pennsylvania State University (PSU), where she gathered data from the 1990s to 2021 regarding performance funding policies for the InformEd States project. The project was funded by the William T. Grant Foundation, Arnold Ventures, and the Joyce Foundation and resulted in multiple co-authored policy briefs and academic research papers. While at PSU, Lynneah was awarded the American Educational Research Association – National Science Foundation (AERA-NSF) Grant to support her dissertation entitled, "Impacts of Tennessee’s Performance-Based Funding Policy on STEM Degree Production at Four-Year Universities: A Longitudinal Analysis Using Difference-in-Differences Design.” Outside of work, Lynneah loves to spend time with her son, family, and friends. She loves to travel and binge watch tv series. Lynneah is originally from Elmira, New York and raised in Miami, Florida. She attended Florida State University where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in English Literature; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she earned a master’s degree in Higher Education; and PSU where she obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education.

Renee Faulkner has 20 years' experience in direct student services, program management, and partnership development across the education spectrum. She has served in roles at highly selective liberal arts colleges, national non-profit organizations, and state and federal government agencies. Her professional experiences have focused on smoothing the transitions between high school, postsecondary education, and the workforce, particularly for underrepresented learners and workers. Renee most recently served as a director in the division of student life at Carleton College (Northfield, MN) where she designed strategic programs centered on the BIPOC student experience. She also worked cross-functionally to inform institutional-level DEI policy. Prior to Carleton, Renee was an associate director at Jobs for the Future, a national non-profit focused on improving education and workforce systems. In that role she coached leaders of school systems, county offices of education, and community colleges on developing initiatives, networks, and partnerships that promote economic advancement. Renee holds a bachelor's degree in public policy from Pomona College and a master's degree in higher education from Harvard University.

Dr. Adrian K. Haugabrook is a strategic advisor, systems thinker, and equity-driven innovator with over three decades of executive leadership in higher education, nonprofit, and social impact sectors. He has committed his career to expanding access, equity, and opportunity by leading innovative initiatives that align vision, strategy, and measurable impact. He brings a rare blend of organizational insight, strategic foresight, and a deep commitment to transforming organizations to be more inclusive, future-ready, and mission-aligned. is a nationally recognized leader in strategy, growth, policy, and transformational change across global higher education and the nonprofit sector. Throughout his career, Dr. Haugabrook has held senior roles at nationally recognized institutions and organizations, leading enterprise-level strategy, equity-centered change initiatives, and strategic partnerships. He is the Founder and Principal of Quinta Essentia Ventures, a consultancy dedicated to equipping social sector organizations with the tools and strategies needed to achieve meaningful impact, optimize performance, and build long-term capacity. Previously, Dr. Haugabrook served as Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Social Impact at Southern New Hampshire University, where he led initiatives that advanced equity and social mobility through innovations such as competency-based education, technology-enhanced learning, and cross-sector collaboration. A frequent speaker and thought leader on topics related to educational equity, systems change, innovation, and institutional resilience, Dr. Haugabrook was featured at TED 2021, where his talk, “3 Ways to Lower the Barriers to Higher Education,” received over one million views within its first six weeks of its release. Dr. Haugabrook currently serves on the board of directors of Upswing International (education technology company) and Complete College America, including its Equitable Artificial Intelligence National Advisory Council. His past leadership includes board roles with the Postsecondary National Policy Institute, Ascend at the Aspen Institute, and was selected into the inaugural cohort as Designer in Residence with the Education Design Lab (2021–2022). In addition to his professional commitments, he is a devoted husband, father of two, grandfather, and Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Haugabrook holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Boston, M.S. in Social Administration from Georgia Southwestern University, and B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of West Georgia.

Dr. Julie Johnson is founder and principal of StrategyForward Advisors, a postsecondary policy, strategy, and intermediary firm that is committed to transforming postsecondary education to help learners achieve their goals. Julie serves as a strategic partner to national foundations, policy organizations, associations, states, and institutions to drive meaningful change in higher education that will strengthen our communities. Julie is a higher education leader with 20 years of institutional, policy, and entrepreneurial expertise. She oversaw state higher education policy and advocacy for 42 states as Vice President of Strategy for Complete College America. She helped launch and lead a new community college as Deputy CEO of the University of the District of Columbia Community College. While at the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance in the U.S. Department of Education, she conducted policy research on college access, success, and affordability for Congress and the Secretary of Education.

Madeline Vitek Memenza is the Director for Mission Engagement, Main Campus, Retreat Design Specialist and Special Advisor to the Vice President for Student Affairs at Georgetown University. In this role, she works closely with our Residential Ministry and ESCAPE First-Year Retreat programs, the Division of Student Affairs, and advises our religious student organizations. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Madeline studied Political Science and Nonprofit Leadership at Seattle University (another Jesuit institution), before heading to Ohio to earn an M.S. in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Miami University. At Georgetown University since 2010, Madeline has worked in Student Affairs and Campus Ministry and enjoys connecting around the following things: coffee, Catholic Social Teaching, Seattle, belonging at Georgetown, race and racial justice, and LGBTQ faith journeys. She is most excited to talk to students who are loving college so far, who are struggling with some aspects of being at Georgetown, and everyone in between.

Dr. Kylah Torre is the Senior Director, Policy & Research at StrategyForward Advisors. Prior to that, she served as Senior Director of Digital Learning at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the state agency charged with oversight of universities and community colleges. With over 15 years of experience in education, she has led initiatives such as the creation of OERTX, a digital library of open educational resources that attracted over 500,000 users worldwide and was recognized by OE Global and the 88th Texas Legislature. Dr. Torre also has experience in educational research and teaching at the K12 and postsecondary levels. She has received numerous accolades for her work, including Texas Digital Learning Association’s 2021 Outstanding Commitment to Excellence in Distance Learning Award and the 2024 Sally M. Johnstone Award for thought leadership from WCET. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education from the City University of New York Graduate Center and a B.A. in International Development from McGill University.