Aaron Austin, Ed.D., Dean of Students and Associate Vice President, Student Affairs, Wichita State University
Aaron L. Austin (he/him) currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Wichita State University. Hired in September 2017, Austin came to Wichita State from Bethel College (KS) where he served as Vice President for Student Life. Student Affairs at Wichita State University is focused on “Connecting Every Student” so Austin spends his days striving to find ways to best support students’ success outside the classroom, so they are able to be as successful as possible in the classroom. This is done through a focus on service, inclusion, and safety. Austin believes the role he plays as Dean of Students is incredibly important, not only because of the expectation to create the best student experience possible, but because he identifies as a Black man and does his work at a predominantly white institution in the Midwest.
A first-generation college student from Garden City, KS, Austin earned his doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from Texas Tech University; an undergraduate degree in Music Education and a minor in American Ethnic Studies from Kansas State University; and a Master’s in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Arizona State University. During his career he has had the opportunity to work with a variety of areas within Student Affairs and mentored and guided numerous undergraduate and graduate students. Austin has also worked with many fulltime professionals and has been blessed to have been recognized for building these relationships with long-lasting friendships and connections.
Austin’s dissertation focused on Black Male Undergraduate Achievement, and he has continued to study the intersection of race with various aspects of our society. He has been asked to present on a variety of topics and enjoys the opportunity to speak and learn from the audiences he gets to engage.
Austin and his wife Carey (Sterrett) have one daughter, Vivian Opal, and spend their time watching Vivian Opal’s various activities, binge-watching shows, and chasing their dog, Millie.
Letitia Williams, Ph.D., Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, University of the District of Columbia
Dr. Letitia Williams is the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and oversees the operations of 11 Student Development departments in the Division of Student Development and Success. Dr. Williams joined UDC in 2018 and served as Assistant Vice President for Student Development for 2 years, prior to assuming her new role.
Prior to UDC, Dr. Williams worked at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) as assistant vice president, Student Support Services. There she spearheaded retention efforts, integrating curricular and co-curricular experiences to ensure the effective coordination of holistic support for students. Dr. Williams began her higher education career at the at the University of Maryland (UMD) in university-community partnerships. At UMD she also worked in pre-college programs, career development, internationalization, faculty development and curriculum transformation.
Dr. Williams has also held leadership roles in several organizations, including the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) where she served as the Assembly Coordinator for International Members and Divisions (2015-2018). She currently sits on the Board of the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment. Dr. Williams is committed to fostering student success and is engaged in research that focuses on understanding the factors impacting the persistence of students of color. She has published work on internationalization in higher education and Caribbean student development, for which she is the recipient of an International Research Award from the ACPA. Dr. Williams was also the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship. She holds a M.A. and Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland and a B.A. with first class honours in History from the University of the West Indies.
Thomas Calucci, Commander of the Specialized Services Division, University of Texas at San Antonio Police Department
Captain Thomas Calucci has been in law enforcement for almost 30 years. He currently serves with the University of Texas at San Antonio Police Department as the Commander of the Specialized Services Division which encompasses Criminal Investigations, Communications, Community Affairs, and Behavioral Intervention/Threat Management. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and is completing his Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He is a certified Crisis Intervention Instructor and a licensed Mental Health Officer. He has served as co-chair of the UTSA Behavioral Intervention Team since its inception in 2009. In 2019, he created the San Antonio Behavioral Intervention Team Coalition which facilitates communication and provides training to local area universities. He has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career, including the Chief’s Commendation, Officer of the Year, and Supervisor of the Year. Calucci currently sits on the NaBITA Advisory Board, and has since 2020.
Robert Scholz, MA, LMFT, LPCC, Marriage and Family Therapist; Professional Clinical Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor
Robert Scholz, M.A., LMFT, LPCC is dually licensed in California as a Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor. Robert has served in many clinical and leadership roles over his twenty plus years working in university mental health and disability services departments, community mental health agencies, forensic psychology and private practice settings. Robert is well known for his work in assisting schools/ universities and communities respond to major crisis events like wildfires, mass shootings and deaths of students/ employees. He lectures extensively to professionals in education, mental health and corporate settings, and equally enjoys the opportunity to speak with parents and teens who have endured traumatic events. Robert has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology for many years. Throughout the COVID pandemic, Robert has offered webinars and consultation services to numerous groups on how to help individuals cope with the challenges of the pandemic, manage relationship struggles (including parenting during a pandemic), and for company leaders on how to manage during uncertain times.
Robert’s company, The Change Place, offers psychotherapy, training and consultation services to a diverse group of individuals and organizations. His consultation and training clients include community/ forensic mental health agencies, schools/ universities, churches, and professional organizations across many topic areas, including: motivational interviewing, threat assessment/management, crisis intervention and postvention, effective responses to traumatic events, raising resilient teens and adolescent substance abuse.
He has authored several publications on the topics of motivational interviewing, addiction, counseling men and boys, disaster mental health and effective systemic responses to sexual violence. Robert is also a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), an international organization committed to promoting high-quality evidence-based practice and training.
Jamie Molnar, LMHC, RYT, QS, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Jamie Molnar, LMHC, QS, RYT has 16 years of clinical and organizational psychology experience, with particular expertise in clinical counseling and supervision, strengths-based coaching, behavioral intervention and case management, crisis response, and health and wellness initiatives.
She is an advocate for mental wellness and early intervention and champions new, innovative ways of education and service delivery in the field of mental health. Her unique, holistic approach combines psychology, yoga and neuroscience into evidence-based and proven actionable steps that helps individuals and businesses build and grow their services in a sustainable way.
She has worked in a variety of settings, including substance abuse treatment and research, pharmaceutical research, neuropsychology, threat assessment and behavioral intervention, and both clinical and non-clinical settings in higher education. Jamie currently serves as an affiliated consultant for the TNG Group and is on the advisory board for the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment. She has published numerous webinars, articles and book on mental health, counseling techniques and strategies, behavioral intervention, and college counseling and case management.
Jamie earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and her Masters in Applied Psychology (Clinical) from Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a State of Florida Qualified LMHC Supervisor, a 200-hr Registered Yoga Teacher and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. She is co-founder of The Visionaries Collective, co-host of The Visionaries Collective Podcast as well as the owner of Be Your Best Self + Thrive Counseling, a group private practice located in sunny St. Petersburg, FL.
Nicole Morgan, M.S., Qualified Mental Health Professional, Oregon Department of Corrections; Licensed Professional Counselor
Nicole is a mental health counselor who has worked in higher education as a Case Manager and as the Assistant Director of Case Management for a large public university and served as a BIT member. In addition to her work in higher ed, she has worked in the community in inpatient settings, mobile crisis units, forensic mental health and community agencies. She has been involved with NABITA and attending conferences since 2016. She has researched targeted mass violence and the intersection to higher education extensively and is passionate about continuing education and efforts around behavior intervention and threat assessment teams.
Tim Cason, M.Ed., Consultant, TNG
Tim Cason is a passionate professional who has worked the better part of a decade in higher education at multiple institutions nationwide, serving high school, college, and adult education populations. Tim is well-versed in engaging key stakeholders, including executives, faculty, staff, and students, regarding student conduct, behavioral intervention and case management work, Title IX, and other civil rights laws. He is committed to proactively cultivating an environment of trust and productivity through actively listening, collaboration, and thinking practically.
Most recently, Tim served as the Director of Student Conduct & Prevention Education and Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the Trinity River Campus (7,000+ students) of Tarrant County College, a community college located in Fort Worth, TX. In this role, Tim oversaw the student conduct process, served as the co-chair and case manager for the CARE Team, facilitated a student emergency assistance fund, and served as the Deputy Title IX Coordinator. Additionally, Tim fulfilled these roles for the Connect (e-learning) Campus (12,000+ students).
Tim is an exceptional presenter who “can impact an audience with [his] message, even when only given five minutes,” utilizing effective active learning and teaching strategies. He is experienced in synthesizing information, applying research from promising practices, and pulling from practical experience to meet the situation’s unique needs.
Amy Jones, M.Ed., Director, Office of Student Conduct, Stockton University
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Denise K. Tijerina, Assistant Dean of Students, Texas Tech University
Denise K. Tijerina serves as an Assistant Dean of Students with the Office of the Dean of Students at Texas Tech University. She is primarily responsible for leading the services which center on student crisis, student emergency, Case Managers Team, and Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT). Additionally, assist with the diverse generalist programs, services, and responsibilities of the Dean of Students area.
Denise has more than 22 years’ experience in an academic setting. During this time, she has been through previous positions which require her involvement with assisting students in need and coordinating many programs. She has a Master’s of Public Administration from Wayland Baptist University-Lubbock.
Denise enjoys spending time with family, and volunteering at her church.