Vice President Candidates (3-year commitment)

Becomes the president and immediate past president, steering the organization's mission of promoting excellence among learning center personnel.

Amanda M. Knapp, Ph.D.

POSITION OF INTEREST  Vice President

Dr. Amanda M. Knapp joined the UMBC community in May 2011 and is currently the Associate Vice Provost and Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Academic Affairs. Dr. Knapp works collaboratively with the Vice Provost and Dean in this role, providing leadership and vision in student retention, progression, academic success, and graduation. As a priority, Knapp is committed to bridging the equity divide, a topic that she has passionately spoken on with campuses across the nation, including a feature with the U.S. News and World Report. Additionally, Knapp is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of the Academic Success Center, providing centralized support services to all undergraduate students at UMBC across three broad areas: Academic Learning Resources, Academic Standards and Policy Administration, and Academic Advocacy. Knapp also works closely with the University's Undergraduate Student Success Committee (UgSSC) and its standing committees to communicate, facilitate, coordinate, and lead strategies that serve as a comprehensive approach to improve undergraduate student persistence, progression, and degree completion in support of key strategic University goals and measures by removing barriers to academic success.

Additionally, Dr. Knapp serves as the Student Success Execution Lead for the Strategic Enrollment Planning Process and serves on various campus groups, including the Undergraduate Council, Academic Conduct Committee, Academic Integrity Committee, Campus Systems Executive Committee, First Generation Network, and the S.A. Academic Advisory Committee. As Chair, Dr. Knapp also leads the Academic Standards Executive Committee and the Graduation Petition Committee, two campus groups committed to taking a proactive look at a broad range of policy issues impacting student success.

As a first-generation college student with a Ph.D., Dr. Knapp has blended a higher-education career with off-road motorcycle racing, a sport she is passionate about, to help students "stay on track." Dr. Knapp has traveled the country racing competitively and is the Women's Class Champion for the AMA East Hare Scrambles and the Sprint Cross Country Series. She has been featured on the cover of American Motorcyclist Magazine and in several other issues in which her love of Riding as a Family is the focus. Dr. Knapp's contributions to student success, fueled by work-life balance and motorcycling, has also been published in the Women Who Ride: Rebel Souls, Golden Hearts and Iron Horses book, highlighted in the Baltimore Sun-Howard Magazine, UMBC Magazine, Terp Magazine, Endeavors Magazine, Maryland Today, Learn Magazine, Buffalo Business Magazine, University at Buffalo Magazine, At Buffalo Magazine, and by Dirt Bike Girl Adventures for her efforts in "changing perceptions," "outracing stereotypes" and "pushing past obstacles." Most recently, Dr. Knapp was featured on NBC Sports Network and Race Day Live, where her story was highlighted by Toyota Makeup2Mud for Monster Energy Supercross.

Elizabeth Taylor

POSITION OF INTEREST  Vice President

Dr. Taylor's wide breadth of experience makes her qualified for an Executive Leadership position within the NCLCA. She has proven organization skills and experience in and outside of the classroom and has consistently proven her dedication to assisting students of all backgrounds in being academically successful.

Dr. Taylor is the Director of Student Success and Assistant History professor at Miles College, a liberal arts HBCU in Birmingham, AL. She received her Bachelor's Degree in History from Auburn University in 2012, a Master's in History from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2015, and a Ph.D. in History from Louisiana State University in 2020. Miles College is home to around 1,200 students with a faculty-student ratio of 17 to 1, making it a more intimate environment regarding connections made across campus. Dr. Taylor has been employed here since 2021. In this role, she has assisted in kickstarting a Humanities Lab, Writing Center, Online Tutoring, Peer Mentor, Peer Tutor, LLC, Supplemental Instruction, and Academic Recovery Programs. In the aftermath of COVID-19, many of the College's previous Academic Assistance programs suffered, as did many nationwide. When Dr. Taylor was hired at Miles College, she was brought on to revive these academic assistance programs and assist in the College's overall retention plan.

The Academic Recovery Program Dr. Taylor developed provides every student in academic jeopardy with an individualized academic recovery plan where they meet bi-weekly with their Academic Recovery Coach and must attend several tutoring hours weekly. Along with this program, she also started the Early Alert Program, where professors and staff report students struggling in their courses due to content, attendance, assignments, or other issues. She then reaches out to all these students individually to coach them through their academic issues and refer them to on-campus resources.

In her previous position at Louisiana State University, Dr. Taylor was an S.I. Leader, S.I. Graduate Assistant, Head Graduate Assistant, and then the Supplemental Instruction Coordinator. In this position, she was cross-trained as a Tutor Coordinator, working alongside the LSU Shell Tutorial Center to supervise and maintain their CRLA certification. As the S.I. Coordinator, she assisted in expanding this program, maintaining the UKMC certification, and continuing to innovate upon an already excellent program. In this position, she assisted Melissa Brocato, the Assistant Vice Provost, and Executive Director for the Center for Academic Success, in her work with the NCLCA. As an Undergraduate at Auburn University, she served as an Athlete Tutor, Peer Tutor, and Supplemental Instruction leader, making her involved with academic assistance and learning techniques throughout her college career.

Dr. Taylor focuses on creating equitable spaces so diverse populations can learn to succeed academically and socially, become life-long learners, and obtain gainful employment upon graduation. As she has worked at LSU and Miles College, she has gained a wealth of experience building up academic programs, working with traditionally underrepresented students, working with established programs, and improving them even further. She presented at the 8th Regional Conference on Supplemental Instruction in 2017, the ACTLA Conference on Supplemental Instruction in 2019, and the ICSI Conference in 2023. She will be presenting again at the ACTL Conference on Supplemental Instruction.

Publications Officer Candidates (2-Year Commitment)

Runs the NCLCA Newsletter and works with the webmaster to ensure seamless communication with our members.

Keigh-Cee Bell

POSITION OF INTEREST  Publications Officer

I believe my experiences with marketing and learning assistance make me a strong candidate for the NCLCA Publications Officer role. As a learning center professional, my priorities have been communication and collaboration with colleagues and fostering a community of shared innovation. I intend to bring those same values to this role. I understand the importance of clear communication and engaging content and would work with the webmaster to ensure members have access to the content they need when and where they need it. I would also focus on creating a positive user experience on the NCLCA website, emphasizing accessibility and ease of navigation for new and veteran members. Being an NCLCA member has been an integral part of my career. I would be honored to give back to the organization and learning center community to serve as the next Publications Officer.

I am the Director of Tutoring and SI at Grand Valley State University and the Learning Center Professionals (LCP) Discord server creator. I received my B.A. in English from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and my MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis on writing pedagogy from American University; additionally, I have obtained my Learning Center Leadership Certification—Level 2. Before my career as a learning center administrator, I was an adjunct English professor for three years but stepped away from academia for a short time to pursue a career in marketing. I learned valuable content creation, web design, and UI/EX development skills as a content and marketing coordinator for Software as a Service (SaaS) companies. However, higher education remained my passion, and I returned to academia in the learning assistance field in 2018.

Over the last five years, I have been an active member of the Learning Center, Tutoring, and Supplemental Instruction communities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. While navigating uncharted territories, I began facilitating regular virtual conversations about technology and switching to virtual formats for the learning center community. Over time, the conversations evolved to include anti-racism and bias in learning centers, how to care for ourselves and our tutors, and more. I also created the Learning Center Professionals Discord server as an accessible means for collaboration, learning, and community, which is still running. In the fall of 2020, I was on the committee that planned and implemented NCLCA's first virtual conference. I was one of the members in charge of creating and maintaining the guide in Guidebook. In addition, I created and served as a first-line support to assist presenters and participants with technology issues to ensure a smooth and positive conference experience.

Julie Murphy

POSITION OF INTEREST  Publications Officer

I am excited to potentially serve on the NCLCA board because I want to give back to an association that has helped me grow from a very novice professional to one competent to lead a thriving center. I have attended the Summer Institute and most conferences over the past eight years, and this has shaped my philosophy and my practice in leading our center. I have fallen in love with the campus learning center work and see it as a vital part of a student's experience. I oversee a large learning center that is constantly looking to benchmark and improve our services for the ever-changing needs of our student population. Sharing information and creating relationships across the country on what is working and what new initiatives we are starting is vital to keeping what we do relevant to today's higher education institutions. NCLCA provides year-round support for all learning center professionals, and I have had the privilege to see this in Texas while serving this past year as Vice-President of our TxNCLCA affiliate. My amazing committee and I were able to organize the first in-person conference for our affiliate held at UT Dallas this past February. Seventy-five professionals and students collaborated to share research, best practices, and laughs as colleagues. If chosen as the Publications Officer, I can help strengthen communication channels within the board and our wider NCLCA membership. I aim to work with the board to publicize the countless opportunities NCLCA makes available for all levels of professional staff and students to be involved and have a voice in this important professional development space.

Recording Secretary Candidates (2-Year Commitment)

Supports the president by maintaining accurate meeting notes and enhancing board communication.

Stephanie Walker (Incumbent)

POSITION OF INTEREST  Recording Secretary

I serve as the Associate Director of the Science Learning Center at the University of Michigan (U-M) since April 2019. In this role, I lead the Academic Programs Team, which includes professional staff supporting the Study Group and Tutoring programs. Before U-M, I served at Kent State University's (KSU) Academic Success Center (ASC) as Director and Assistant Director from May 2014-April 2019 and Exploratory Advising Center in the roles of Academic Advisor II and Graduate Assistant from June 2008-May 2014. 

I attended my first NCLCA Annual Conference in 2015 and have been hooked ever since! I've additionally participated in two Summer Institutes, facilitated a Conference Concurrent Session, two Pre-Conference Workshops, and a Webinar, co-authored a chapter for the Learning Centers in the 21^st Century publication, and attained Level 3 Learning Center Leadership Certification. Further, while working in my current role, our Center was selected for the Learning Center Website Excellence Award. While serving as Director of the ASC at KSU, our Center received the honor of the Frank L. Christ Outstanding Learning Center award. 

I have also had the privilege of serving as the inaugural President of the Ohio College Learning Center Association (OCLCA) regional affiliate, now the Heartland College Learning Center Association (HCLCA). Through this experience, I worked alongside remarkable Ohio colleagues to build upon the idea of a regional affiliate in 2016 to become a recognized organization just one year later. I held the Executive Board positions of President and Immediate President from January 2017-October 2020. During that time, we hosted two annual conferences, four webinars, and responded to shifting pandemic needs by transitioning to less formal but more frequent virtual membership discussions on timely topics. 

Since September 2021, I have served as the Recording Secretary for NCLCA. During my first year in the position, I worked to re-organize our organization's board meeting agendas and minutes, streamline our board meeting scheduling, and create a Record of Action document to track the board meeting motions. During my second year in the position, I have been taking a closer look at our bylaws to review how our organization has evolved in recent years and explore bylaw update considerations that best align with our current organizational needs and practices. It would be an honor to continue serving NCLCA as the Recording Secretary for another term in office. 

Stacey Blackwell

POSITION OF INTEREST  Recording Secretary

I began my career as a part-time academic coach while completing my graduate studies in education. This position redirected my passion for education from classroom teaching to learning assistance, and I eventually became the Senior Director of the Learning Centers at Rutgers University–New Brunswick in 2014. I began my involvement with the NCLCA in 2015. In 2018, the Learning Centers were awarded the Frank L. Christ Outstanding Learning Center Award, and I recently earned the Level 4 LCLC in 2023. I serve on the editorial board of The Learning Assistance Review and the NCLCA’s Conference Proposal Committee. I’m running for this position because I deeply value the NCLCA and the community I’ve found here. I appreciate how this organization continuously advances the professionalization of learning assistance and the sense of belonging it creates across our field. As recording secretary, I hope to provide meaningful, reliable support to the NCLCA and help advance its core mission while supporting the innovation and expansion I’ve seen.

A. Lee Cope, II

POSITION OF INTEREST  Recording Secretary

Lee has been serving as the Executive Director of the Disco Student Learning Center at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, since June 2020. In this role, Lee provides strategic oversight to Academic Strategy Instruction, Academic Success and Resilience, University Tutorial Services, the University Testing Center, and the University Writing Center. Before being appointed Executive Director, Lee served as the Director of University Tutorial Services, providing oversight for tutoring and Supplemental Instruction. Before coming to Appalachian, Lee worked in the TRIO Student Support Services Program at Mars Hill University, a private liberal arts university in Mars Hill, NC. Additionally, while serving within TRIO, Lee coordinated the design and implementation of seminars and program initiatives focused on holistic student development. While at MHU, Lee also taught First Year Seminar courses to general population students and underserved populations focusing on academic success strategies and leadership development from a Christian worldview.

In addition to his direct service in a learning center, Lee has also served on the executive board of the Southeastern College Learning Center Association (at-large representative, Vice President, President, and Immediate Past President) and was honored to help host the SECLCA Annual Conference in June of 2021. Lee is an active member of NCLCA and has presented at the annual conference. Additionally, during the summer of 2022, he was humbled to serve as a mentor for the NCLCA Institute held in Nashville, TN.

Nicoly Y. Myles

POSITION OF INTEREST  Recording Secretary

I am interested in serving as the next NCLCA Recording Secretary.  I began my interest in the NCLCA by attending the annual conferences over the past six years. After my first conference attendance, I knew I wanted to be more involved in the organization, so I ran for various elected positions within the SECLCA affiliate.  These positions allowed me to learn more about what it takes to serve on the executive board.  My experience with the NCLCA and SECLCA will allow me to be an effective Recording Secretary. I am detail-oriented, with the desire to share informative information with others.  As the new Recording Secretary, I will be able to continue to learn more about the NCLCA while assisting the rest of the Executive Board in ensuring that the organization runs efficiently and effectively. 

I currently serve as the Director Center for Academics, Success, & Equity (CASE) housed in the School of Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISyE) at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA.  The Center was designed to provide ISyE students with the resources to perform well in their academic curriculum.

I have been in higher education for over 20 years, with the last 16 years in student success programming. I have served as the Director of Academic Support for six years and have been in my current position since December 2022.  While in my previous position, I created a CRLA-certified tutoring training program and an NCLCA Learning Center Designated Center.  I have a strong interest and background in learning assistance programming.

Professionally, my learning assistance involvement includes:

1. Southeastern College Learning Center Association (SECLCA) affiliate of NCLCA:  Georgia Member-at-Large (2020-2021), Vice President (2021-2022), President (2022-2023), and Chair of the Conference Planning Committee (2022)
2. College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA):  Certified Tutoring Training Program
3. National Learning College Learning Center Association (NCLCA): Learning Center Certification (2022-2027)
4. NCLCA Summer Institute (2022)
5. Association of Coaching and Tutoring Profession (ACTP)
6. Created and implemented the Bridge 2 Success and Early Start Bridge Academy summer bridge programs

Lucía R. Nemeth

POSITION OF INTEREST  Recording Secretary

As the Senior Director of Educational Effectiveness at Wilmington University, I have dedicated my career to improving student outcomes and advancing higher education. Throughout my over fifteen years of experience in the field, I have worked with some of the industry's most talented and dedicated professionals. As the recording secretary, I am excited to take on a new challenge and contribute to the National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA). 

The NCLCA is a professional organization committed to promoting the growth and development of learning centers in colleges and universities throughout the United States. As the recording secretary, I can work with like-minded professionals passionate about advancing the field of higher education and improving student outcomes.

One of the key reasons that I am interested in this role is that I believe it would allow me to make a meaningful impact in the field of education. In my current position at Wilmington University, I can collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to develop and implement strategies that improve student learning and success. NCLCA offers a similar opportunity to contribute to a larger conversation about how best to support students on their educational journeys. As the recording secretary, I would be responsible for documenting the proceedings of the NCLCA meetings, ensuring that accurate records are kept, and communicating important information to members of the organization. I believe my attention to detail, strong communication skills, and experience in higher education make me well-suited for this role. In my current position, I am responsible for collecting and analyzing data on student outcomes and communicating that information to various stakeholders. These would be highly valuable in the role of recording secretary. In addition, I am excited about the opportunity to work with other members of the NCLCA to develop and implement strategies that improve the quality of student learning and success. NCLCA is a community of professionals committed to advancing the field of learning center management. Serving as the recording secretary would allow me to learn from and collaborate with some of the best.

Lucía Nemeth, Ed.D, is the Senior Director of Educational Effectiveness at Wilmington University. Over the past two decades, she has championed online education in teaching, course development, and implementation. In addition, she works within the University's Academic Support Services to ensure students achieve academic and personal success. Under her umbrella are the offices of Student Outreach, the Student Success Center, and the Educational Effectiveness Coordinators. Together, the Department of Educational Effectiveness provides students with the resources and support they need to achieve their goals. Essential to this role is collaborating with various departments throughout the university. An Associate Professor, Lucía has been recognized as an Exemplary Level Instructor.

Before her educational career at Wilmington University, Lucía worked at the Catholic Leadership Institute in Philadelphia, where she collaborated with Hispanic communities to promote their involvement in diocesan activities. Before that, she worked as an assistant trust officer in the Wealth Advisory Department at Wilmington Trust Company. Philanthropy has always been integral to Lucía's life. She has over 20 years of extensive involvement and leadership in non-profit work. Lucía also served as a Board member of the Bill Raskob Foundation, which assists college and postgraduate students through interest-free loans. Lucía is active in her community. She initiated, coordinated, and implemented one of the largest fundraiser programs for a private Catholic school in Wilmington, Delaware. She is passionate about the role technology plays in pedagogy. Lucía, her husband – Major Scott Nemeth – and their three children recently relocated to Pennsylvania after he retired from military service, where he served multiple tours of duty in the Middle East.

Rebecca Piety

CURRENT JOB TITLE Director, Student Academic Resource Center and University Testing Center | University of Central Florida

POSITION OF INTEREST  Recording Secretary

I have spent most of my professional career volunteering with organizations such as NCLCA because it is rewarding to contribute to those organizations that have allowed me to grow and develop. My interest in serving NCLCA is to help to build a strong team of learning center professionals, cultivate a positive environment, and ensure the organization is well-positioned for future success. I can contribute to NCLCA by serving as the Recording Secretary and being committed to capturing and maintaining the legal and official minutes of organizational meetings, updating the historical information in archives, and ensuring due process of the Bylaws. I possess strong interpersonal skills, organizational skills, and attention to detail, all of which are essential to effectively performing the duties of this position.

Rebecca Piety has over 20 years of experience in the field of Higher Education, where she found her niche serving students at the University of Central Florida (UCF) as Director of the Student Academic Resource Center (SARC) since 2011 and University Testing Center (UTC) since 2008. In this role, Ms. Piety provides leadership to implement and maintain support services and learning opportunities that empower students to succeed academically. Her portfolio of academic support services includes peer tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, the Academic Coaching and Engagement (ACE) Program, academic success workshops, and standardized testing. Under Ms. Piety’s leadership, SARC and UTC have received several international and national awards and recognitions.

Ms. Piety is a long-time member of and has served in committee roles for both state and national professional associations, including NCLCA (National College Learning Center Association), FCLCA (Florida College Learning Center Association), NCTA (National College Testing Association), and FACTA (Florida Association of College Test Administrators). Currently, she has the privilege of serving in office as one of the SUS representatives and Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee for FACTA and as a volunteer with the NCTA Mentoring Program.

Ms. Piety earned her M.A. in English Language Arts Education from UCF, where she continues her work with student success.

Leah Shilling-Stoufer

CURRENT JOB TITLE Associate Professor of Mathematics Education; Director of the Quantitative Reasoning (Q.R.) Center

POSITION OF INTEREST  Recording Secretary

Jennifer Tilbury

CURRENT JOB TITLE Associate Vice Provost for Student Success | University of Alaska Fairbanks

POSITION OF INTEREST  Recording Secretary

Hello, I am Jennifer Tilbury. I am the Associate Vice Provost for Student Success at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where I have also been teaching writing, literature, and study skills since 2000. I direct the UAF Writing Center and oversee the design and construction of a student success center on our main campus. I also coordinate my campus's peer academic coaching program and lead our Retention Team. Previously, I directed the UAF Community and Technical College Learning Center and oversaw our receipt of NCLCA Learning Center certification this year. A passion project of mine is adding targeted support for dual-enrolled students. I have taught our middle college students study skills classes for the past three years. Our institution is unique in that our community college and 4-year programs are housed under one university, offering endorsements through PhDs. My work history and experience as a tutor, adjunct faculty, tenure-track faculty, and administrator provide valuable insights into my institution and our student body.

I have been a member of NCLCA for the past three years. I presented at the past two years' conferences. In addition, I've attended numerous NCLCA webinars. NCLCA is the most valuable professional organization I've joined during my many years in higher education. The conferences exude collegial warmth, and the sessions are diverse and of high quality. The natural next step for me is to become involved in NCLCA leadership. I know I have much to contribute to this organization: I am experienced with community education and baccalaureate degree-seekers. Over the years, I've worked as a tutor, as a faculty member, and now as a student success administrator. Today's college students value student support services, and the COVID-19 pandemic put the role of academic support professionals front and center. NCLCA must continue to support its members as they engage with students, and I seek an executive board position to contribute to this important work. I am well prepared for the NCLCA Recording Secretary position as I have many years of board of director experience. I served as the secretary of the Fairbanks Montessori Board of Directors for three years; I was the secretary of the Fairbanks Literacy Council for over five years. Thank you for considering my application for Recording Secretary.

Elizabeth Taylor

CURRENT JOB TITLE Academic Recovery Coach and Assistant Professor

POSITION OF INTEREST  Recording Secretary

Dr. Taylor's wide breadth of experience makes her qualified for an Executive Leadership position within the NCLCA. She has proven organization skills and experience in and outside of the classroom and has consistently proven her dedication to assisting students of all backgrounds in being academically successful.

Dr. Taylor is the Director of Student Success and Assistant History professor at Miles College, a liberal arts HBCU in Birmingham, AL. She received her Bachelor's Degree in History from Auburn University in 2012, a Master's in History from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2015, and a Ph.D. in History from Louisiana State University in 2020. Miles College is home to around 1,200 students with a faculty-student ratio of 17 to 1, making it a more intimate environment regarding connections made across campus. Dr. Taylor has been employed here since 2021. In this role, she has assisted in kickstarting a Humanities Lab, Writing Center, Online Tutoring, Peer Mentor, Peer Tutor, LLC, Supplemental Instruction, and Academic Recovery Programs. In the aftermath of COVID-19, many of the College's previous Academic Assistance programs suffered, as did many nationwide. When Dr. Taylor was hired at Miles College, she was brought on to revive these academic assistance programs and assist in the College's overall retention plan.

The Academic Recovery Program Dr. Taylor developed provides every student in academic jeopardy with an individualized academic recovery plan where they meet bi-weekly with their Academic Recovery Coach and must attend several tutoring hours weekly. Along with this program, she also started the Early Alert Program, where professors and staff report students struggling in their courses due to content, attendance, assignments, or other issues. She then reaches out to all these students individually to coach them through their academic issues and refer them to on-campus resources.

In her previous position at Louisiana State University, Dr. Taylor was an S.I. Leader, S.I. Graduate Assistant, Head Graduate Assistant, and then the Supplemental Instruction Coordinator. In this position, she was cross-trained as a Tutor Coordinator, working alongside the LSU Shell Tutorial Center to supervise and maintain their CRLA certification. As the S.I. Coordinator, she assisted in expanding this program, maintaining the UKMC certification, and continuing to innovate upon an already excellent program. In this position, she assisted Melissa Brocato, the Assistant Vice Provost, and Executive Director for the Center for Academic Success, in her work with the NCLCA. As an Undergraduate at Auburn University, she served as an Athlete Tutor, Peer Tutor, and Supplemental Instruction leader, making her involved with academic assistance and learning techniques throughout her college career.

Dr. Taylor focuses on creating equitable spaces so diverse populations can learn to succeed academically and socially, become life-long learners, and obtain gainful employment upon graduation. As she has worked at LSU and Miles College, she has gained a wealth of experience building up academic programs, working with traditionally underrepresented students, working with established programs, and improving them even further. She presented at the 8th Regional Conference on Supplemental Instruction in 2017, the ACTLA Conference on Supplemental Instruction in 2019, and the ICSI Conference in 2023. She will be presenting again at the ACTL Conference on Supplemental Instruction.

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