| Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers |
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Message from the President |
Dear ,
It is an honor to have the privilege to serve as your PACRAO President. The lead up from President-Elect to President was a helpful transition. I appreciate Past-President Tina Miller for showing me the ropes. For those who were not able to attend the 2025 Conference, please allow me to introduce myself. I am Erin Michelle Collins. I started in higher education in 2005 as an Admissions and Records Technician for Barstow Community College at the National Training Center Fort Irwin satellite campus. I started my career working with active duty military, military dependents, and contractors. I moved my way up through admissions and records, spent five years as an Academic Advisor at the University of La Verne, and I am now at my third institution as a Registrar.
My path was not linear, I had my first daughter two months before my nineteenth birthday. It took me six years to earn my Associate’s degree. But I persevered and completed a Master’s degree while working full time and raising four children. I am an alum of PACRAO’s Leadership Development Institute (LDI), 2019-2020 cohort (we all know what was happening during that time). One of the assignments I had during that year was writing a personal mission statement. I shared this during my inaugural speech, and I wanted to share this with you all here:
To help people reach their purpose. To instill trust, gain respect, foster a supportive environment that ignites creativity, and create a sense of belonging. To look after those in my charge, so they look after those we serve. This mission statement not only applies personally and professionally, but also to my PACRAO Presidency. I am honored to serve, to support the board, to think creatively about how we can push PACRAO forward, and ensure that each member feels they have a professional home in PACRAO.
I look forward to the amazing year ahead and the work we will do to engage our membership, and remind us all how we shine bright when the world seems dark. Erin Michelle Collins PACRAO President
Registrar and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Claremont McKenna College |
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Honorary Membership Julia Pomerenk
Emerging Leader Eli Gandour-Rood PACRAO Impact
Paul Lampano |
| ACCESS CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS |
Thank you to our fabulous conference presenters! Materials are available for the membership to review/utilize on the PACRAO website. |
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We would like to extend a special thank you to our wonderful sponsors! Platinum: Parchment Gold: Coursedog, Courseleaf, College Source, Mongoose, Kuali, and National Student Clearinghouse Silver: Ktech Products, LLC, Collegnet, Paradigm, Postal Source, Infosilem, and Stelic |
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SAVE THE DATE!
November 8-11, 2026 |
Come be among fellow PACRAO stars in Hollywood, California during four days of learning, sharing, and connecting! |
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| Eduardo Leon Garcia 2026 Local Arrangements Chair Loyola Marymount University lac@pacrao.org |
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DIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE UPDATE |
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PACRAO Supported Partners INW during the 2025 Conference in Spokane, WA. Through our fundraising and donations, we raised $1,060 and 960lbs of goods! Thank you PACRAO! Your support will ensure that those who need resources in the Spokane area have them. |
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DEI ROUNTABLE DISCUSSIONS |
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At the Spokane conference, there was a roundtable discussion to provide a collaborative space to discuss DEI challenges and strategies amid evolving policies. Participants explored legislative impacts, campus climate, and resource allocations while sharing innovative approaches to fostering inclusion. The Diversity Development Committee sees the need to continue the conversation through the year. The DDC will host two virtual sessions, and another in-person at the fall conference in Hollywood. The first session’s discussion focuses on the question: “How is your school navigating ICE presence on campus?” Please feel free to send any specific ideas for future discussions to VP-DD@pacrao.org.
The first virtual DEI Roundtable will be held on March 19, 2026 at 12pm MST. Register here.
The next virtual DEI Roundtable will be held in July, and then another during the conference in November. *These sessions will not be recorded* |
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DDC Book Club
The Diversity Development Committee has selected a book to kick-off the new year: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. The novel is about a Chinese American family in the 1970s grappling with identity, expectations, and the quiet pressures that shape their relationships. After a sudden family tragedy, the story explores how unspoken hopes, cultural tensions, and personal insecurities have shaped each family member’s life, revealing the ways misunderstandings and silence can ripple through a household. Rather than focusing on the event itself, the book centers on the characters’ inner worlds and how they navigate belonging, ambition, and the desire to be truly seen.
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| The DDC is hosting a virtual event to discuss the novel on April 23, 2026 at 12pm MST. Register here.
The next Virtual DDC Book Club will be held in August. Then the third Book Club will be held during the conference in November. |
| Laura Schonberger VP Diversity Development |
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UPDATES |
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PACRAO Webinars
PACRAO continues to work on bringing you some of our Conference Best of PACRAO sessions, mixed in with current topics for our profession. With that said, we've hit the ground running for 2026, bringing you the topics you don't want to miss. |
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2026 Kick-Off Session Dr. Helen B. Garrett from the University of Washington hosted our 2026 Brown Bag discussion, "Thinking About Pursuing an Advanced Degree? Let's Talk About It!"
This session gathered colleagues to discuss contemplating going on for a master's or doctoral degree. While the session was not recorded, Dr. Garrett is happy to return for that topic again. Please email Helena Babiski, VP Professional Development, if this is something you would be interested in, and I'll be sure to get a future date scheduled.
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| February Session
Chelsea Peoples from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas hosted a PACRAO's Best webinar “How to Win the Battle with Burnout Part 4”
The session continued the burnout journey with part 4 of the series. Chelsea shared that “experts agree that the ideal time to rest is before you need it. But what does that look like? In the same way that fun is more than just ‘not work’, rest is more than just a nap.” The session examined our tendency to overwork and under rest. Attendees explored the types of activities we could and should be engaging in to work less and accomplish more! |
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Upcoming Session Strategies to Maximize Outcomes as an Influential Leader on Campus March 26, 2026, 12pm - 1pm PST Presented by Dr. Marc Booker, University of Phoenix
Join us for an insightful session with Dr. Marc Booker, where we will delve into the art of maximizing outcomes as an influential leader on campus. Whether you are officially in a leadership position or find yourself leading from within, this session will provide you with the strategies needed to effect positive change and drive results. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your leadership skills and amplify your impact! Register Now |
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Helena Babiski VP Professional Development |
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If there is a topic you would like to hear about or present. Please email: vp-pd@pacrao.org |
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NOMINATIONS & ELECTIONS UPDATE |
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Tina Miller Past-President | N&E Chair University of Washington, Seattle | | Peyton Coronas N&E Vice Chair University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
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The 2025 Nominations & Elections Committee met at the end of PACRAO 2025 and successfully selected the Slate of Officers for vote by membership at the 2026 annual conference in Hollywood, California! |
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2026-2027 Slate of Candidates
Executive Board |
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President-Elect
Josh Reinhold University of California, Merced |
| Vice President for Membership
Sean Pattison University of California, Los Angeles |
| Vice President for Diversity Development Jarrell Townsend Oregon State University |
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Secretary
Omar Saucedo UC - San Francisco |
| Business Partner Liaison - Elect
Megan Banford University of Washington, Seattle |
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Audit Committee Secretary |
Additionally, the N&E Committee recommended to President Collins that Lindsay Stadler, from Pomona College, serve as the Audit Committee Secretary.
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| Lindsay Stadler Pomona College |
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Nominations & Elections Committee |
We’ve re-extended the application period for the 2026 Nominations and Elections (N&E) Committee – applications will now be accepted until March 13, 2026.
Serving on the N&E Committee is an impactful way to get involved, give back to PACRAO, and support our mission and purpose. This committee ensures strong leadership for our organization by soliciting nominations for open executive board positions and developing a slate of fifteen (15) nominees for the next year’s N&E Committee voting cycle.
In the spring, membership will vote for up to six (6) candidates. The six nominees receiving the most votes will serve on the next year’s committee. Additionally, the highest vote recipient from the previous year’s committee will serve as vice chair, and the past president will serve as chair. Why serve? -
Build connections with colleagues across the region
- Help shape PACRAO’s leadership pipeline
- Strengthen the future of our organization
- Make a meaningful contribution to our community
Apply by March 13: Apply Now! Your involvement matters. By serving, you help PACRAO remain a strong, inclusive, and dynamic organization. We hope you’ll consider applying or encourage someone you know to apply! Please reach out with any questions. Tina Miller Past-President | N&E Chair University of Washington, Seattle Peyton Coronas N&E Vice Chair University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Find out more about the Nominations & Elections Committee |
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Shelly Hsu VP of Membership |
| As we prepare to transition our membership database to a new system, the PACRAO Board is currently conducting a comprehensive review of our member roster to ensure all records are accurate and up-to-date. As part of this spring cleaning, member records that have been unpaid or inactive for an extended period will be deactivated. If your record is deactivated, please know that we value your participation and would love to have you continue with us! You are welcome to rejoin the association via our website at any time. If you have any questions about your specific membership status or need assistance with the renewal process, please do not hesitate to contact the VP of Membership. We are here to support you! |
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Job Posting Fee Increase Notice
At the Winter Board meeting the Board approved an increase to the job postings for $125 for members, and $200 for nonmembers. There is no length requirement. |
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Coming to New Orleans for AACRAO 2026? Be sure to join your PACRAO Pals for a fun evening of networking and celebration on Tuesday night.
~Location and details to come~ |
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2025 - 2026 PACRAO Executive Board |
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Erin Collins President Claremont McKenna College |
| Tina Miller Past President University of Washington |
| Steve Downing President Elect Bellevue College |
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Helena Babiski Vice President, Professional Development Coconino Community College |
| Shelly Hsu Vice President, Membership Cal State University - Fullerton |
| Michael Davenport Vice President, Communication & Information Technology The University of Arizona |
| Laura Schonberger Vice President, Diversity Development University of Phoenix |
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Omar Saucedo Secretary University of California - San Francisco |
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Josh Reinhold Treasurer University of California - Merced |
| Steven Stubbs Treasurer-Elect North Idaho College |
| Chelsea Peoples Business Partner Liaison University of Nevada Las Vegas |
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