University of Phoenix Leadership Joins Proceedings of 2024 PESC-A4L Spring Summit
17 Mayo 2024 - 11:47AM
Business Wire
Marc Booker, Ph.D., Hillary Halpern, M.B.A. and
Monterey Sims, M.B.A. join the event focused on the intersection of
education and technology
University of Phoenix is pleased to share that Vice Provost of
Strategy, Marc Booker, Ph.D., Senior Director of Program
Deployment; Hillary Halpern, M.B.A.; and Director, Admissions &
Evaluation, Monterey Sims, joined the proceedings of the 2024
Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council (PESC)-A4L Spring
Summit, held April 30 – May 2, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia. The
PESC-A4L Summit is an innovative event dedicated to advancing
lifelong learning through the exploration of open data standards
and privacy. This unique conference brings together experts,
thought leaders, and enthusiasts to delve into the intersection of
technology, data, and privacy in the education sector.
"The PESC Summit provides a valuable opportunity to examine the
evolving landscape of higher education credentials, particularly
the relationship between how different credentialing models can
improve student and employer value propositions,” Booker shared.
“As the education sector undergoes significant transformations, we
must not only embrace innovation but also reevaluate the structures
supporting how we convey learning and skills. I’m proud to share
the work we are doing at University of Phoenix, where we are
leading the charge towards a more robust way to share learners’
achievements and making more concise connections with
employers.”
Dr. Booker was a panelist for the keynote session titled
“Credentials across Lifelong Learning,” which examined the role of
credentials, certifications, and competency-based-learning in
higher education. Booker also co-led a session on AI in the
classroom, tilted “Maximizing Impact, Minimizing Risks: Fostering
Responsible Use of AI in Education.” The session on AI explored
actionable steps and key takeaways to foster responsible use of AI
in education to create a more equitable, effective, and
privacy-protective learning environment for all students.
Halpern presented a session titled “Skills - Linking Education
and Career,” which shared the ways University of Phoenix leverages
labor market data, like SOC Codes, job titles and skills, in the
development of academic programs. The discussion also highlighted
how the University integrates career relevant skills and
micro-credentials in courses and outcomes.
“University of Phoenix has long understood the importance of
skills-based hiring and has responded by aligning our curriculum
with the demands of the workforce,” shares Halpern. “I’m honored to
present our findings and share the research-backed methods that
have helped our institution bridge the skills gap for both students
and employers.”
Sims, who served on the event program committee also attended
the event. She represents University of Phoenix in her role as the
vice-chair of the PESC Board of Directors, further underscoring the
University’s commitment to shaping the future of education
standards and practices.
"We are honored to once again participate in the PESC Spring
2024 Conference and engage with fellow educators, policymakers, and
industry experts," shares Sims. "Our sessions on credentialling,
skills and AI provoked meaningful discussions and are an extension
of our commitment to innovation and driving positive change in
higher education.”
As Vice Provost for Strategy at the University of Phoenix, Dr.
Booker oversees critical path academic initiatives to improve the
student experience such as learning platform implementations,
curricular enhancements, and developing empathetic solutions to
drive improved student outcomes through data. Booker’s work in
higher education has been recognized by several associations as he
was the 2024 recipient of UPCEA’s Business and Operations award for
operational excellence, was honored with a 2024 Thomas A. Bilger
award for his service from the American Association of Collegiate
Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), and in 2020 Booker
received a Hall of Fame recognition from Blackboard for his
contributions in providing thought leadership and innovation in
education.
Halpern has been with University of Phoenix for 16 years and
currently serves as the Senior Director of Program Deployment,
where she has leveraged her in-depth insights from her student
support and process improvement background to develop, improve, and
maintain the University Program Lifecycle (UPL) process. Recognized
as "Rookie of the Year" examiner award in 2017 from Southwest
Alliance of Excellence (SWAE), she has served as a lead examiner
for the SWAE and as a speaker on process improvement at regional
and national conferences. Halpern has a Bachelor of Arts in
Psychology from Arizona State University, and a Master of Business
Administration and Graduate Certificate in Human Resource
Management from University of Phoenix. She recently co-authored a
University of Phoenix white paper on establishing a skills
ecosystem at a career-focused higher education institution.
Sims serves as a Director of Admissions and Evaluation at the
University of Phoenix. During her 30-year career at the University
she has participated in a variety of process improvement
initiatives including implementation of Electronic Transcript
Exchange (ETX) and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Sims is
directly responsible for the Office of Admissions Document
Processing division which includes overseeing the acquisition and
processing of admission documents and transcripts from prior
attended institutions for University applicants. She also serves on
the AACRAO Standardization of Postsecondary Education Record
Electronic Data Exchange (SPEEDE) Committee and the eTrans
California Steering Committee.
Learn more here about PESC.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance
their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world.
Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning,
skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree
programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students
more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while
balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit
phoenix.edu.
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Michele Mitchum University of Phoenix
michele.mitchum@phoenix.edu