Luisa Havens Gerardo, vice provost for enrollment management at Virginia Tech, was recently elected president-elect for the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), a nonprofit, voluntary, professional association of more than 11,000 higher education professionals who represent approximately 2,600 institutions in more than 40 countries.

Through an open-call nomination, both Gerardo’s nomination and election were voted on by member peers. The 107-year-old association promotes the well-being and advancement of professionals in the higher education community by engaging members in the collaborative pursuit of excellence in admissions, registration, and enrollment services.

"I have previously served with Luisa on the AACRAO Board of Directors and am pleased to welcome her as our newest president-elect. Her grasp of the interplay between legislation, people, processes, technology, and data analysis in enrollment management will serve our association well,” said Jim Bouse, AACRAO president and director of enrollment management at the University of Oregon. “To my knowledge, Luisa is the first Latina AACRAO president, giving her a unique perspective into the myriad of challenges facing many of our students.”

Gerardo has held active membership in AACRAO for 17 years through her collective tenure in higher education. Her term includes serving as president-elect the first year, followed by one year as president, and concludes in the capacity of past president.

“I am most excited about the role of the organization in areas of advocacy, specifically around issues of access and equity in higher education professional development and research-based best practices,” said Gerardo. “During my term, I will be able to bring Virginia Tech and Virginia’s unique context to the table when discussing these important issues, and I will be able to bring back a wealth of cutting-edge knowledge and practice.”

As president-elect, Gerardo will serve as the principal assistant to the president and will work to advance the association’s strategic plan. In addition, she will serve as the board liaison and conduit for the annual meeting program committee, help cultivate diverse professional development programs, and represent the interests of the board and the membership on special projects.

Gerardo’s enrollment management team consists of key offices, including Office of Undergraduate Admissions, University Scholarships and Financial Aid, Office of the University Registrar, Office of Research and Analysis, and College Access Collaborative. Her purview areas align with AACRAO’s mission to provide professional development, guidelines, and voluntary standards to be used by higher education officials regarding the best practices in records management, admissions, enrollment management, administrative information technology, and student services.

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