The Coaching in Higher Education Consortium operates under the direction and leadership of an Executive Board. 

The CHEC Executive Board brings together a passionate group of higher education coaches and administrators to plan and grow the organization to meet the evolving needs of current and future CHEC members. CHEC Executive Board positions allow for the support of various committees and initiatives. 

Kathleen Shea Smith, Ph.D.

President

Associate Provost for Academic Advising,
University of Oklahoma

I believe coaching provides a bridge between the holistic needs of today’s students and the powerful interpersonal techniques that coaching offers educators.

Alana Davis-DeLaria

Vice President of Operations
Assistant Director for Academic Coaching,
University of Colorado, Boulder

I’ve always been passionate about student success and found my way to Academic Coaching when I helped design and implement CU Boulder’s first Academic Coaching program in 2015.  In coaching, I discovered a role that would allow me to support students in a way that helped them to find and use internal agency and personal wisdom to thrive and continue to grow long after leaving my office.  Coaching is an incredible higher education resource – I’m so grateful my career path has led me to this place where I am honored to coach students and proud to support and encourage other higher education coaches!    

Lyle Skip Slack

Vice President for Membership
Director, Academic Success Center,
Texas A&M University

My intense desire to support and enrich the lives of higher education students. During 30 years of service at Texas A&M University I have transitioned from Academic Counselor, Academic Counseling Services Management to Director of Academic Coaching Services. I am a first generation college graduate, so helping others navigate the complicated process of a successful higher education experience and seeing students fulfilling their vast potential has always been a driving motivator in my life. A secondary inspiration for me throughout these years has been the ability to “coach-up“ the young coaching staff entering the field. The level of caring, professionalism and expertise entering the coaching field is awe inspiring on a daily basis.

Shana Hawke Stanton

Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Coordinator of Academic Life Coaching,
University of Oklahoma

Coaching is an effective approach to empower students to accomplish their academic goals.

Jenny Steiner, Ph.D.

Vice President of Fiscal Oversight
Senior Leadership Development Coach, University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

In 2016, I was hired into an academic coaching role based on my previous student success work. Once I started coaching, I realized how powerful it could be in supporting someone’s development. Coaching is a tool that can be used in any area of higher education and I’ve seen its ability working with students around academic strategies, personal development, and leading goals. 

Emily Argyle

Member at Large
Chair, Ethics and Best Practices Committee
Academic Standards Counselor & Coach,
Utah Valley University

I have always felt called to help others and enjoy using my natural talents for recognizing and cultivating potential every day. Supporting others to deepen their self-understanding and overcome challenges in order to reach their personal goals excites me. In my former career as a school psychologist, I primarily worked with “dysregulation.” Now, as a higher ed coach, I evoke the “celebrated self.” I support students’ ability to make impactful contributions to themselves, their families, and society by helping students gain authentic confidence and clarity.

Melissa Knight

Member at Large; Co-Chair of Training and Best Practices

Senior Director of the Institute for Achievement and Learning, Lynn University

Academic coaching is designed to partner with student’s in supporting them to become independent learners in achieving their goals. We meet students where they are at developmentally, help facilitate new awareness’s and provide accountability along the journey.

Jen Santoro Cleveland

Member at Large
Chair, Training & Best Practices Committee
Director of The Citadel Career Center,
The Citadel

I found my way into higher education through my marketing background, however as soon as I learned about student development, I discovered and unlocked my career passion-coaching individuals to discover a life most authentic to them! I decided to pursue my coaching certification and found my way to becoming a professional coach in higher education. I have specialized in career development, and LOVE combining coaching with career development. I am passionate about supporting students discover a career path most authentic to them, along with supporting them in setting SMART goals that lead to achieving their short, mid, and long-term career vision.

Alicia Sepulveda, Ph.D.

Member at Large
Founding Member
Special Projects Coordinator, Enrollment Management, University of Colorado, Boulder

I believe in human potential. And as a coach, I get the opportunity to be part of helping people reach theirs.

Josh Sills

Member at Large

Director for University Coaching and Student Achievement, Texas Tech University

I’ve always been driven to work with individuals in a meaningful, direct, and intentional way. My experiences in life have led me to hold a deep belief in the power people have to influence their lives through the choices they make. In higher educational contexts, students are making some of the most important choices they ever will. I struggled as an undergraduate student to find my own intentional path. Coaching is a powerful, effective way that offers people a space for dialogue to explore, determine, and then embrace the path they want to take in life. As a coach, I am so excited and proud of being able to give them a dedicated partner in going through that process.

Jenny Sumner, Ph.D.

Member at Large
Chair, Research and Assessment Committee

Assistant Vice Provost, Division of Digital Learning; Executive Director, UCF Higher Education Coaching Academy, University of Central Florida; Board Certified Coach

Coaching allows us to connect differently with students, and to build long term relationships through which students are empowered to reach their own goals and successes.  Being able support students as they succeed – academically, professionally, socially – is, truly, a rewarding experience.