MCCA is thrilled to welcome members from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) to join us as keynote presenters and session facilitators for the 2025 Summit. This year’s theme strongly resonates with the release of CCRC’s newly published book, More Essential than Ever, which explores the evolution and ongoing importance of implementing guided pathways, including:
- Aligning programs to good jobs and/or transfer opportunities within their major.
- Active and experiential teaching and learning.
- Career and college program exploration and planning.
- On-time and affordable completion support.
- Equitable on-ramps from high school.
Additionally, the Summit will feature up to 18 breakout sessions centered around these key frontiers for strengthening community college pathways.
Agenda and Resources
Preconference Session
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 9:00 am-11:00 am | Room 201 & 202
Transforming Dual Enrollment for Equity and Career Pathways
Join national experts from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) for an interactive pre-conference session focused on the Dual Enrollment Equity Pathways (DEEP) Framework. DEEP is a research-based framework for rethinking dual enrollment as a more equitable on-ramp to college and career success, particularly for students who have been historically underserved and might not otherwise continue their education after high school. READ MORE
Presenter Information:
John Fink | Senior Research Associate and Program Lead | Community College Research Center
Aurely Garcia Tulloch | Senior Research Assistant | Community College Research Center
Session Descriptions and Speaker Information
Summit Check-in Opens
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 10:00 am | Banquet Rooms 7-8
Brunch Available
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 10:30 am-11:30 am | Rooms 1-6
Opening Session
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 11:30 am-1:15 pm | Banquet Rooms 1-6
Summit Welcome and Remarks
Welcome and opening updates on MCCA projects and initiatives, with a focus on student success priorities for 2025–26, highlighting key areas of work and a preview of what lies ahead.
Presenter:
Evan Pauken | Director of Student Success | Michigan Community College Association | More Info
Keynote Address: More Essential than Ever
We are honored to welcome Davis Jenkins, Hana Lahr, and John Fink from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) as keynote speakers for the 2025 Student Success Summit. Their new book, More Essential Than Ever, is based on a decade of research on guided pathways reforms in over 100 colleges nationally since the release of Redesigning America's Community Colleges in 2015. They argue that to achieve stronger student outcomes-and to recruit and retain more students in a highly competitive market-colleges must not only remove barriers to completion but also strengthen pathways to student goals after graduation, thus making their investment of money, time, and effort worth it. This presentation will detail five next frontiers for how colleges can help all students explore, enter, and complete a program of value in a timely and affordable way.
Presenters:
John Fink | Senior Research Associate and Program Lead | Community College Research Center
Davis Jenkins | Senior Research Scholar | Community College Research Center
Hana Lahr | Assistant Director of Research and Director of Applied Learning | Community College Research Center
2024-25 Leadership Academy Fellows Graduation
Join us in celebrating the capstone achievement of our 2024–25 Leadership Academy Fellows as they take the stage to mark their graduation.
Presenters:
Erica Orians | Vice President | Michigan Community College Association | More Info
More Essential than Ever Concurrent Sessions
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 1:30 pm-2:30 pmFrontier 1 - Align Programs to Good Jobs and Transfer in Major
Room 201This session takes a closer look at how colleges can strengthen partnerships with employers and universities to ensure programs connect directly to good jobs and smooth transfer pathways. Participants will explore strategies for aligning curricula with labor market needs and four-year majors.
Frontier 2 - Active and Experiential Learning
Room 202Dive deeper into practices that bring learning to life by integrating hands-on, applied, and experiential opportunities across programs.
Frontier 3 - Career/College Program Exploration and Planning
Room 203This session focuses on reimagining the first-year experience so students can explore options, make informed choices, and develop clear plans of study. Participants will consider ways to help students gain early momentum in programs that reflect their interests and aspirations.
Frontier 4 - On-time and Affordable Completion Support
Room 204Explore course structures, scheduling models, and embedded supports that enable working students to balance commitments while finishing programs efficiently. This session will share strategies to reduce time and cost to completion without compromising quality.
Frontier 5 - On-ramps from High School
Room 205This session examines how rethinking high school dual enrollment can create stronger, debt-free pathways into career-connected college programs. Participants will discuss ways to expand opportunities for students who might not otherwise see themselves pursuing postsecondary education.
Leadership Academy Student Success Project Showcase
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 2:45 pm-3:45 pmLeadership Academy Breakouts
Advising and Student Supports + Data & Analytics
Room 201
Community Engagement
Room 202
Non-Academic Supports
Room 203
Student Basic Needs
Room 204
Credit for Prior Learning
Room 205
Reception and CCRC Book Signing
Thursday, September 18, 2025 | River Concourse/Riverstreet Pub & Banquet 7-8 | 4:00 pm-5:00 pmJoin us for drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and the chance to connect with colleagues at our annual Summit reception. This year’s gathering will feature a special book signing with our partners from the Community College Research Center, along with a prize drawing for several gift baskets.
Dinner on Your Own
Friday, September 19
Breakfast Available
Friday, September 19, 2025 | Banquet Rooms 1-6 | 8:00 am-8:30 amPlenary Session
Friday, September 19, 2025 | Banquet Rooms 1-6 | 8:30 am-9:30 amWelcome and Remarks
Join us as we kick off the second day of the Summit and set the stage for the sessions ahead.
Presenter:
Precious Miller | Program Director | Michigan Community College Association | More Info
The Inner Pathway: Purpose, Perseverance, and Progress
Former NFL Running Back and now The Reignmaker, Todd J. Duckett takes you on a powerful journey through Purpose, Perseverance, and Progress. At every phase of his life, he's had to rewire his inner pathway. Pushing through adversity, embracing growth, and redefining excellence while living the dream. Today, he continues to rewrite his legacy in real time, offering lessons that inspire both students and leaders to do the same.
Presenters:
Todd J. Duckett | CEO | Duckett Enterprises
Concurrent Sessions I
Friday, September 19, 2025 | 9:45 am-10:30 amBreaking Barriers: How OCC Embedded State Services to Empower Student Success
Room 201Discover how Oakland Community College partnered with MDHHS to bring state resources directly to students. This dynamic session explores how integrated support services are boosting retention, reducing barriers, and normalizing help-seeking. Walk away with real-world strategies to launch or enhance student-centered partnerships at your own institution.
Presenters:
Kristina Marshall | Director of Institutional Standards and Practice | Oakland Community College | More Info
Robin Ford | MDHHS Eligibility Specialist | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Betty Wheeler | MDHHS Eligibility Specialist | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
What We Know about Reconnectors
Room 202Explore insights from Michigan's Reconnect scholarship: a recent survey of 9,500+ applicants reveals adult learner needs and interests. This session will present findings from the Michigan Center for Adult College Success's analysis and share results from a digital marketing campaign that drove 12,300+ new enrollments. Muskegon Community College will share how their adult learner navigators design their work around adult learner needs. Learn how to leverage Reconnect marketing efforts and data for your institution.
Presenters:
Jeremy Hendges | Executive Director | The Michigan Center for Adult College Success | More Info
Michelle Cyrus | Student Success Strategy Manager | MiLEAP Office of Higher Education | More Info
Matt DeMonbrun | Research Director | The Michigan Center for Adult College Success | More Info
Dan Curtis | Vice President | CollegeAPP | More Info
Steve Sanocki, Ph.D. | Director of Student Success | Muskegon Community College | More Info
Alicia Goll | Project and Success Coach Manager | Muskegon Community College
Amanda Nixon | Student Success Navigator | Muskegon Community College
Alexis Springer | Student Success Navigator | Muskegon Community College | More Info
From Data to Impact: Aligning Financial Strategy and Analytics to Support Student Success (Part 1 of 2)
Room 203In an era of tight budgets and rising expectations, community colleges are seeking smarter ways to align financial strategies with student success goals. In this two-part session, discover how to leverage two free, practical tools-NACUBO Student Success Hub and the Change with Analytics Playbook-to help foster data-informed decision-making and operationalize student-centered financial practices. Through real-world campus examples and hands-on activities, participants will explore how to break down data silos, strengthen cross-functional collaboration, and build a culture of data stewardship.
Presenters:
Lindsay Wayt, Ph.D. | Senior Director, Business Intelligence | NACUBO | More Info
Brian Lueth | Vice President for Finance and Business | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | More Info
MiLEAP OHE & Friends: Essential Transfer Success Efforts
Room 204Community college transfer is more essential than ever. This session will share updates on several statewide transfer success initiatives. MiLEAP Office of Higher Education (OHE) staff and involved college partners will share updates on MiLEAP OHE's Transfer Success Project, including introducing the State's new Advisory Council on Transfer Success and previewing new statewide transfer pathways to be developed in 2026. MACRAO leadership will share updates on MACRAO's ad-hoc committee on the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA).
Presenters:
Katie Giardello, Ph.D. | Transfer Success Project Manager | MiLEAP-Office of Higher Education | More Info
David Hopkins | Dean of Transfer Programs and Online Learning | Delta College
Stephen Siciliano | Vice President for Educational Services | Northwestern Michigan College | More Info
Deedee Stakley | Director, Office of Transfer and SecondarySchools Partnerships | Ferris State University | More Info
From Placement to Persistence: Strengthening Student Success Through Corequisites and Guided Self-Placement
Room 205Across Michigan, colleges are transforming how students enter and succeed in gateway English and math courses through guided self-placement (GSP) and corequisite supports. This interactive panel will feature national and state perspectives on what's working, common challenges, and strategies for continuous improvement in developmental education reform, while unveiling a new GSP toolkit designed to help campuses implement and refine placement reforms. Participants will leave with practical insights, data considerations, and actionable ideas to strengthen equitable student outcomes on their campuses.
Presenters:
Laurie Fladd | Owner | Edvolutions | More Info
Julie Adams | Site Strategist | Strong Start to Finish | More Info
Kathleen Almy Ed.D. | CEO & Founder | Almy Educational Consulting | More Info
Happily Ever After: Marrying Education and Work for Next-Gen Students
Governor's RoomFor today's students, success depends on more than just what happens in the classroom-it requires meaningful opportunities to connect learning with the real world. This session highlights how community colleges are creating powerful "marriages" between education and work through apprenticeships, internships, work-based learning, and volunteer experiences. A panel of innovative practitioners will share strategies for expanding these opportunities, strengthening employer partnerships, and ensuring students leave college both credentialed and career-ready.
Presenters:
Ashley VanHeest | Chief Strategy & Institutional Research Officer | Jackson College | More Info
Mark Dunneback | Associate Vice President Workforce & Community Innovation and Dean of Instruction | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | More Info
Michael Balsamo | Dean of Business, IT and Culinary, Transfer Services and University Relations | Macomb Community College | More Info
Keambra Pierson | Dean of Occupational Programs, Business, and Education | Schoolcraft College | More Info
Concurrent Sessions II
Friday, September 19, 2025 | 10:45 am-11:30 amChanging Student Success Outcomes and Culture with a Push/Pull Marketing Campaign
Room 201Becoming a student-centered college requires culture change and intentional strategies. This session features Oakland Community College’s marketing campaign that “pushes” evidence-based tactics to students while inviting them to “pull” by asking about available resources. Schoolcraft College will share complementary practices for promoting services such as Uwill, Disability Support Services, advising, and Learning Support Services. Together, presenters will highlight how clear communication and aligned strategies foster measurable student success.
Presenters:
Kimberly Hurns | Vice Chancellor for Student Services | Oakland Community College | More Info
Melissa O'Leary | Digital Strategist | Oakland Community College | More Info
Laurie Kattuah-Snyder, Ed.D. | Chief Student Services Officer/Title IX Coordinator | Schoolcraft College | More Info
Building Bridges: Collaborative Approaches to Equitable College Access
Room 202This session explores how student services leaders can partner with K-12 schools and community agencies to create equitable pathways to college success. Learn to leverage local data for targeted outreach strategies that remove barriers and ensure all potential students have meaningful access to higher education opportunities.
Presenter:
Nkenge A. Bergan | Associate Vice President for Student Development Services | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | More Info
From Data to Impact: Aligning Financial Strategy and Analytics to Support Student Success (Part 2 of 2)
Room 203In an era of tight budgets and rising expectations, community colleges are seeking smarter ways to align financial strategies with student success goals. In this two-part session, discover how to leverage two free, practical tools-NACUBO Student Success Hub and the Change with Analytics Playbook-to help foster data-informed decision-making and operationalize student-centered financial practices. Through real-world campus examples and hands-on activities, participants will explore how to break down data silos, strengthen cross-functional collaboration, and build a culture of data stewardship.
Presenters:
Lindsay Wayt, Ph.D. | Senior Director, Business Intelligence | NACUBO | More Info
Brian Lueth | Vice President for Finance and Business | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | More Info
Early Predictive Measures of Associate Degree Completion
Room 204Community colleges face increasing accountability over their graduation rates, which already lag behind four-year institutions. Schools face penalties to their budgetary allocations and negative perceptions to the performance metrics of their students. Identification of early academic performance and accomplishments leading to degree completion can help schools and policy-makers orient programs and resources to encourage those early behaviors among their students in an effort to improve student completion rates. This presentation will provide results of a study of nearly 35,000 students that identifies measures of early academic momentum occurring in a student's first semester or first year that combine to help predict associate degree completion for students attending community colleges in Michigan.
Presenter:
Stephen Linden | Registrar | Oakland Community College | More Info
Connecting College to Career: Exploration, Experience, and Outcomes
Room 204This interactive roundtable invites participants from Michigan's community colleges to share experiences, challenges, and promising practices in academic and career exploration, career services, work-based learning, and workforce development. The facilitator is eager to learn from colleagues about effective strategies, lessons learned, and sustainable models that help students discover their paths, gain real-world experience, and achieve meaningful outcomes after graduation. Whether you're launching new initiatives or refining existing programs, join us to exchange ideas, build meaningful connections, and explore collaborative opportunities to strengthen student success across Michigan's community colleges.
Presenter:
Amy Gibbs | Director of Career and Workforce Development | Bay College | More Info
Much More Than "Reqs": General Education and the Journey to Career Success
Governor's RoomGeneral education and gateway courses are often seen as boxes to check-but they can be powerful spaces for sparking career exploration and helping students connect their studies to future opportunities. In this session, a panel of community college practitioners will explore how faculty can leverage classroom discussions, assignments, and projects to guide students in discovering career pathways. The conversation will also explore innovative ideas, such as awarding a certificate for completing general education, that can both recognize progress and create clearer connections between academic learning and career success.
Presenters:
John Thiel | Vice President of Academic Affairs | Kirtland Community College | More Info
Darby Johnsen | Dean of Arts and Sciences | West Shore Community College | More Info
Kris Zook | Dean of Arts and Sciences | Lake Michigan College | More Info
Jessica Van Slooten | Dean of Arts and Sciences | Bay College | More Info
Concurrent Sessions III
Friday, September 19, 2025 | 11:45 am-12:30 pmMental Health Matters: How Michigan Community Colleges are Promoting Student Success by Prioritizing Mental Health
Room 201This session highlights the role that mental health plays in student success, retention, and economic success, while illuminating innovative approaches taken by multiple Michigan community colleges to support student mental health. This presentation offers interdisciplinary perspectives from community college administrators, mental health providers, and researchers, interlocking data and best practices with practical strategies and tailored solutions. Participant interaction will allow community college leaders to reflect on actionable approaches for supporting student wellbeing and success.
Presenters:
Timothy Rhodes, MSW, MPH | Researcher, Mental Health Improvement through Community Colleges (MHICC) Initiative | University of Michigan School of Public Health Department of Health Management & Policy | More Info
Amy Rusch, MPH | Doctoral Candidate | University of Michigan School of Public Health Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity | More Info
Leslie Navarro, MSW | Director of Student Well-being and Accessibility | Lake Michigan College | More Info
Melissa Ware, MSW | Director, Center for Counseling and Well-Being | Grand Rapids Community College | More Info
Amy Reddinger, Ph.D. | Vice President of Academics and Educational Equity | Bay College | More Info
Travis Blume, MS, PhDc | Vice President of Student Affairs | Bay College | More Info
Shawna N. Smith, Ph.D. | Associate Professor | University of Michigan School of Public Health Department of Health Management & Policy | More Info
Making Dashboards Work: Building Data Literacy and Decision-Making Capacity for Student Success
Room 202With so many dashboards available, how can colleges help stakeholders focus on what matters? This session shares how a small community college uses select dashboards-from local, state, and national sources-to inform decisions and build data literacy. Participants will explore strategies for prioritizing dashboards and boosting data confidence across campus.
Presenters:
Erin Sonneveldt | Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness | North Central Michigan College | More Info
Poorva Kale | Data Analyst | North Central Michigan College | More Info
Jayhawk Nest - A Place to Rest
Room 203This presentation will present the rationale for the sensory-friendly room, the timeline to design and develop the room, the stakeholders involved with bringing the project to fruition, the estimated cost to complete the project, the current usage of the room and the feedback from Muskegon Community College students.
Presenters:
Trefny Chelesvig | Counselor | Muskegon Community College | More Info
Jordan Wolfe | Counselor | Muskegon Community College | More Info
From Current State to Future Success: An Introduction to Process Mapping
Room 204Process mapping is a visual tool that can help teams visualize, analyze, and improve processes. In this session, we'll demystify process mapping by explaining what it is, why it matters, and how Oakland Community College's Office of Student Engagement used it to map departmental processes. We'll also cover how you can get started with process mapping at your own institution.
Presenters:
Lola Banks | Consultant | Aspire Strategies | More Info
Stacey Crews | Dean of Student Engagement | Oakland Community College | More Info
UP Agreements Recognize DOL Apprenticeships for Advanced Standing Credit
Room 205Bay College, the Upper Peninsula Construction Council, and the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, in partnership with the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee, Inc., have recently renewed and expanded articulation agreements with ten Upper Peninsula Trade Unions. The newly signed agreements will now recognize 22 different DOL approved registered apprenticeships and the rigorous, high-level, training as advanced standing for college credit. Learn how Bay College partnered with the trade unions to create and expand the pathway to college completion for registered apprentices.
Presenters:
Cindy Gallagher | Vice President of Workforce Innovation & Strategic Partnerships | Bay College | More Info
Jim Cousino | Dean of Business, Technology & Workforce Development | Bay College | More Info
Mike Smith | Executive Director | Upper Peninsula Construction Council | More Info
Steve Claywell | President | Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council