Staff

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Rawan Abbasi

Assistant Director for Communications
Strategy and Engagement

Phone: 267.284.5090

Rawan Abbasi

Rawan Abbasi joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in October 2023 and became Assistant Director for Communications in July 2024. Rawan works closely with the Senior Director for Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy to support strategic communications and the Commission's priorities. She most recently served as Communications Manager at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Global Affairs where she led strategic communications through news, social media, web and email communications. Rawan holds a B.A. in public policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Diana Barbu

Part-Time, Research
Policy and Administrative Services

Phone: 267.284.5083

Diana Barbu

Diana Barbu transitioned to the role of Part-Time, Research for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in September 2025. Diana originally joined the Commission in August 2022 and was named Vice President for Research in July 2024. In this role, she supports the work of the Research Unit. Before joining the Commission, Diana served as the Associate Vice Provost of Institutional Research and Effectiveness at St. Thomas University (FL), where she co-led the development of the Strategic Plan. She previously served as the Director of Research and Data Analytics at Miami Dade College (FL), and before that, as the Director of Academic Programs at The State University System of Florida, Board of Governors. A published author, Diana earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Florida State University, an M.S. in Communication and Information Studies from Rutgers University (NJ), and a B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics from Northern University (Romania). and Information Studies from Rutgers University (NJ), and a B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics from Northern University (Romania).

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Kasey Bennett

Executive Coordinator for the President’s Office
Office of the President

Phone: 267.284.5084

Kasey Bennett

Kasey Bennett joined the MSCHE staff in September 2022 and was named Executive Coordinator for the President’s Office in July 2023. In this role, she supports the work of the President, MSCHE's Executive Leadership Team, and the Commission. Prior to joining MSCHE, she was a paralegal in Dover, DE, working in the practice areas of personal injury, criminal defense, and family law. Kasey attended Delaware Technical and Community College, where she studied Drug and Alcohol Counseling, as well as Human Services (Paralegal Studies).

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Nicole Biever

Senior Vice President for Strategy and Engagement
Strategy and Engagement

Phone: 267.284.5066

Nicole Biever

Nicole Biever joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in April 2022 and was named Senior Vice President for Strategy and Engagement. Nicole provides organization-wide leadership and decision-making to ensure consistent operational coordination of accreditation activities, effective organizational management, and practices to ensure the attainment of critical strategic priorities. In addition, she provides oversight for communications and revenue-generating alternatives, including grant projects. As Senior Vice President, Nicole serves as a member of the President's Executive Leadership Team. She most recently served as Assessment/Grant Specialist for the Wokini Initiative and has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and communication. Previously, Nicole taught in the English Department at South Dakota State University (2003-2019) and served as Chief Development Officer for the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains (SD; 2019-2021), directing the organization's marketing, development, special events, and grant management. She holds an M.A. and B.A. from South Dakota State University.

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Bridgette Boody

Senior Director for Policy and Records Management
Policy and Administrative Services

Phone: 267.284.5010

Bridgette Boody

Bridgette Boody joined the MSCHE staff in August 2020 and was named Director of Policy and Records Management in July 2023. She contributes to all phases of policy development, including researching, writing, and ensuring alignment of policies and procedures. She is also responsible for managing the Commission's maintenance and retention program and responding to all legal and regulatory requests for information and documents. Prior to joining the MSCHE team, Bridgette was the Policy Associate at Rodel Delaware, where she conducted research on best practices related to K-12 education, led the annual publication of the Delaware Public Education at a Glance data flipbook, and facilitated a coalition of educators across the state of Delaware on behalf of various education policy initiatives. She is also an alumna of the AmeriCorps national service program, where she served as an International Dyslexia Association-certified reading interventionist in a Title I elementary school. Bridgette earned bachelor's degrees in political science and women's studies from the Pennsylvania State University.

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Madison Campos

Director for Compliance
Legal and Regulatory Affairs

Phone: 267.284.5080

Madison Campos

Madison Campos joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in May 2022 and was named Director for Compliance in July 2026. Madison directs the Commission's compliance program and manages the Commission's complaints and third-party comments process. Previously, Madison served as a paralegal at a boutique law firm in Orange County, CA. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration majoring in Paralegal Studies from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

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Inell Coston

Assistant Director for Volunteer Services
Accreditation Relations and Services

Phone: 267.284.5089

Inell Coston

Inell Coston joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in September 2023 and was named Assistant Director for Volunteer Services in September 2024. In this role, she works closely with the Director for Volunteer Services to support the work of the Commission. Inell’s primary responsibilities are to support the management of peer evaluator assignments. Inell has more than 10 years of experience in higher education. She previously served as the Coordinator for Records Evaluation in the Office of Student Records and Registration at Community College of Philadelphia (PA). Inell earned her A.A. degree from Community College of Philadelphia (PA).

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Marilyn Del Valle

Director for Accreditation Services
Accreditation Relations and Services

Phone: 267.284.5077

Marilyn Del Valle

Marilyn Del Valle joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in November 2021 and was named Director for Accreditation Services in July 2026. In this role, she supports the work of the Committee on Evaluation Reports and the Committee on Follow-up Activities. Marilyn has 20-plus years of experience in higher education. Prior to joining the organization, she worked as the Coordinator for Records Evaluation in the Office of Student Records and Registration at Community College of Philadelphia. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Peirce College (PA) and an M.S. in Higher Education with a concentration in Student Success from Walden University (MN).

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Krysta Edwards-Owens

Administrative Coordinator for Membership
Accreditation Relations and Services

Phone: 267.284.5047

Krysta Edwards-Owens

Krysta Edwards-Owens joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in January 2026 as the Administrative Coordinator for Membership, providing direct support and driving critical activities for the Commission's membership, including during the life cycle of onboarding new institutions as well as supporting existing member institutions. Prior to joining the Commission, Krysta served as the Administrative Assistant to the Provost at Villa Maria College of Buffalo (NY) and as the Administrative Services Coordinator for the Office of the Dean of Students at the University at Buffalo (NY). She is an MBA candidate at the University at Buffalo and previously earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Villa Maria College.

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Rebecca Escher

Senior Accountant
Finance

Phone: 267.284.5008

Rebecca Escher

Rebecca Escher joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in January 2021 and was named Senior Accountant in April 2026. In this role, she supports the work of the Finance Unit. Before coming to the Commission, Rebecca served as the Office Administrator for Milestone Church from 2006-2022 and handled all aspects of the church office. Prior to that, she worked in the banking industry before becoming a stay-at-home mom for a few years. She earned a B.S. in Office Administration with a concentration in Business Management/Accounting from Pensacola Christian College (FL).

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Christy Faison

Part-Time, Accreditation Relations and Services
Accreditation Relations and Services

Phone: 267.284.5021

Christy Faison

Christy L. Faison joined the staff of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education as Part-Time, Accreditation Relations and Services for Substantive Change in February 2024. Christy originally joined the Commission as Vice President in January 2012. She became Senior Vice President for Accreditation Relations in January 2019 before she retired in 2022. In her current role, she provides support for the substantive change process. Christy was previously employed by Rowan University (NJ) in a variety of roles, including Professor of Education, Assistant Dean of Education, Associate Dean of Education, Associate Provost, Interim Provost, and Special Assistant to the President. Dr. Faison is a former member of the Board of Examiners for the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, and a former member of the Boards of Directors for the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the South Jersey Technology Park. She holds a B.S. degree in Elementary/Special Education from Hampton University (VA), an M.A. in Educational Media from The Ohio State University, and an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology from Temple University (PA).

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Kathy Feith

Vice President for Institutional Field Relations
Accreditation Relations and Services

Phone: 267.284.5015

Kathy Feith

Kathy Feith joined the staff of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) as Vice President for Institutional Field Relations in September 2025. In this role, she serves as liaison to member institutions, providing advice to institutions and assisting them with accreditation activities. Prior to joining the Commission, Kathy worked for the United States Department of Education (USDE) in the Federal Student Aid division for 15 years. Most recently, she served as a Program Compliance Manager and was responsible for ensuring more than 500 institutions maintained regulatory compliance to retain Title IV eligibility. Kathy also served college students for 13 years in the higher education sector and has experience in financial aid, contract analysis, federal grant administration, and in enrollment management practices. Kathy earned her M.S. from Missouri State University and earned her B.S. in Business Administration from Missouri Southern State University.

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Ellie Fogarty

Part-Time, Accreditation Relations and Services
Accreditation Relations and Services

Phone: 267.284.5012

Ellie Fogarty

Ellie Fogarty joined the staff of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) part-time in March 2025. Ellie previously served the Commission in various roles until 2023. In her current role, Ellie will lead Self-Study Institute (SSI) and contribute to other Commission priorities. Ellie brings institutional experiences prior to joining the Commission, including a variety of roles with The College of New Jersey as Associate Provost for Planning and Resource Allocation, Deputy Compliance Officer, Executive Assistant to the Provost, and Business & Economics Librarian. She received her Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.B.A. from Temple University (PA), an M.L.S. from University of Pittsburgh (PA), and an undergraduate degree in Economics & Business Administration from Immaculata University (PA).

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Caroline Hannum

Associate Policy Analyst and Records Officer
Policy and Administrative Services

Phone: 267.284.5048

Caroline Hannum

Caroline Hannum joined the staff of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) as Associate Policy Analyst and Records Officer in March 2025. In this role, Caroline supports the Policy and Administrative Services unit with policy research and records management and contributes to all phases of the policy development process under the supervision of the Senior Director for Policy and Records Management. Prior to joining the Commission, she worked for both the U.S Senate and Congress as a Legislative Intern where her portfolio focused on Foreign Affairs and Education. She has also served as a Press Intern for the Department of Education. Caroline holds an M.A. in English Literature from Georgetown University (DC) and a B.A. in History from American University (DC).

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Ryan Hartnett

Vice President for Membership
Accreditation Relations and Services

Phone: 267.284.5096

Ryan Hartnett

Ryan Hartnett joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in March 2024 and became Vice President for Membership in July 2025. In this role, Ryan provides leadership and vision for institutions interested in accreditation with the Commission with a focus on providing advice and support for new institutions as well as those looking to change accreditors. Ryan previously served the Commission as Vice President for Institutional Field Relations. Prior to joining MSCHE, Ryan served as Provost at Villa Maria College (NY), leading as both Chief Academic Officer (CAO) and Student Affairs Officer (SAO). In this role, he also served as the Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO), leading his institution through the self-study process and other accreditation activities. Before serving at Villa Maria College, Ryan served as Dean of Arts, Sciences and Professional Studies at Trocaire College (NY). Ryan has experience with the Commission as a peer evaluator and team chair for self-study and follow-up visits. Ryan earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy from The State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, concentrating in the areas of philosophy of science, metaphysics, and bioethics. He also holds a B.A. in philosophy and psychology from The State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo.

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Betsy Hull

Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Finance

Phone: 267.284.5019

Betsy Hull

Elizabeth “Betsy” Hull joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in August 2026 as the Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Team contributing to strategy while overseeing the financial and business operations. Prior to joining the Commission, Betsy had dedicated more than two decades to higher education and nonprofit finance. Most recently, she served as Bradley University's Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer where she contributed to the transformation of campus infrastructure and enrollment growth. She co-led a systems modernization initiative leading to the University's first enterprise resource platform (ERP) and its first scholarship award management system. At Northern Illinois University (NIU), she served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives, College of Education Director of Budget and Operations, NIU Foundation Associate Controller, and Finance Director for Information Technologies. Betsy has also taught Non-Profit Finance and Introduction to Civil Society courses. Betsy is a registered CPA in Illinois and holds an M.P.A. with Non-Profit Leadership Specialization and a B.S. in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University.

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Tze Joe

Senior Systems Administrator
Policy and Administrative Services

Phone: 267.284.5028

Tze Joe

Tze Joe joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 1995 and was named Senior Systems Administrator in 2016. Tze provides IT support and is responsible for planning, implementing, and maintaining the MSCHE network and server infrastructure. He is a Novell Certified Network Administrator and Certified Network Engineer. Tze is a graduate of Drexel University (PA) with a B.S. in Commerce and Engineering.

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Brian Kirschner

Senior Director for Events
Events

Phone: 267.284.5078

Brian Kirschner

Brian Kirschner rejoined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) in 2025 as Senior Director for Events. Brian previously served the Commission from April 2018 to April 2023, completing his first tenure as Senior Director for Communications and Events. As Senior Director for Events, Brian leads the Commission’s premier event, our annual conference, as well as other mission-critical webinars leads. Brian is a communications and events professional with 25-plus years of experience across higher education, sports, and nonprofit sectors. From September 2023 through October 2025, he served as Director of Strategic Communications at La Salle University (PA), where he enhanced the University’s visibility through executive messaging, media relations, and mission-driven storytelling. His earlier career includes communication leadership roles at University of the Sciences (PA), the Philadelphia 76ers, and Temple University (PA). His work has earned multiple awards for excellence in communications, marketing, and creative strategy. Brian earned an M.A. from Temple University (PA) and a B.A. from Brandeis University (MA).

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Tiffany Lee

Vice President for Research
Policy and Administrative Services

Phone: 267.283.0909

Tiffany Lee

Tiffany C. Lee joined the staff of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in August 2023 and became Vice President for Research in September 2025. Tiffany previously served the Commission as Vice President for Institutional Field Relations. Prior to joining MSCHE, Tiffany served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Lincoln University (PA). As a higher education professional in roles at Amherst College (MA), New York University, and Lincoln University (PA), Tiffany has supported and led schools through the self-study process and other accreditation activities. She has led services and training for faculty and staff in institutional research, assessment, accreditation, and strategic planning. With a background in finance and data analytics, Tiffany served as an instructor and advisor in statistics, financial management, and first year experience. In addition, she has been engaged with the Commission as a peer evaluator. Tiffany earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Liberty University (VA), M.S. in Finance and Economics from West Texas A&M University, and M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration, B.S. in Finance, and certificate in Institutional Research from The Pennsylvania State University.

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Nicholas Lepkowski

Director for Human Resources
Human Resources

Phone: 267.284.5086

Nicholas Lepkowski

Nicholas Lepkowski joined the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in April 2026 as named Director for Human Resources. In this role, Nick will serve as a strategic and operational leader responsible for designing, implementing, and administering comprehensive human resources programs, policies that support the mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities of the Commission. Prior to joining the Commission, Nick worked for non-profit organizations that focused on healthcare equity, animal welfare, and education. Nick holds an M.S. in Human Resources Management and a B.S. in Music Pedagogy with a concentration in Education from West Chester University (PA).