
Aaron, Robert
Executive Director, Assessment & Planning in Student Affairs, Northwestern University
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Higher Education, Indiana University, 2010
- MA, Higher Education & Student Affairs, The Ohio State University, 1996
- BA, Music, University of Rochester, 1993
Research Interests
College student identity development, assessment & evaluation in higher education.

Brehm, Stephanie
Assistant Director for Academic Development, The Graduate School, Northwestern
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Religious Studies, Northwestern University, 2017
- MA, Comparative Religion, Miami University, 2011
- BA, Religion and Communication Studies, Florida State University, 2009
Research Interests
American religion and mass media, ethnography and narrative, higher education administration and institutional organization.

Brown-Henderson, Lesley-Ann
Assistant Vice President for Inclusion and Chief of Staff in Student Affairs
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Counseling Psychology, Texas A&M University, 2012
- MS, Counseling Psychology, Texas A&M University, 2008
- MS, Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education and Counseling Psychology, Texas A&M University, 2006
- BS, Psychology, University of Miami, 2004

Burke, Peggy
Former Associate Vice President, Student Development, DePaul University
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Higher Education Administration, Loyola University Chicago
- MA, History, DePaul University
- BA, Secondary Education, DePaul University

Courtheoux, Karen L.
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Senior Counsel, Husch Blackwell
Degrees
- JD, University of Chicago Law School, 2009
- BA, Wesleyan University, 2005
Karen advises public and private institutions of higher education on a range of matters, including faculty, student, and employment matters, investigations, governance questions, and litigation.
Her experience in higher education includes issues arising under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Clery Act, and other federal and state laws and regulations.
Karen has several years of experience as a litigator at leading national law firms. She has represented clients in all stages of federal and state litigation involving commercial, trade secret, employment, consumer finance and property disputes, including appeals and class actions. Earlier in her career, she served as the Legal Fellow in the Office of Legal Counsel at the University of Chicago, where she assisted in drafting and implementing university policies and investigated and responded to charges of discrimination. She also assisted in creating training and compliance programs related to Title IX, the Violence Against Women Act, and the Clery Act.
During law school, Karen received the Llewellyn Cup for second-place finish in the University of Chicago Hinton Moot Court competition and the Thomas R. Mulroy Prize for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy. She also served as a judicial extern for the Hon. James B. Zagel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Research Interests
Faculty Employment, Tenure, and Misconduct; Post-Secondary Students - Admissions; Sponsored Research (Research Misconduct, General Compliance, Data Privacy, and Policy Development); University Governance; Safety on Campus; Organizational and Programmatic Change in Higher Education Institutions

Everett, Kim
Managing Director, Partnership for College Completion
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Iowa State University
- MEd, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Iowa State University
- BS, Elementary Education, Iowa State University

Gillespie, Joan
Consultant in International Higher Education
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, English, Northwestern University
- BA, Vassar College
Research Interests
Quality standards and evaluation in international education

Goodman, Adam
Director, Center for Leadership, Northwestern University
Clinical Professor, McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Sciences
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Public Affairs, University of Colorado at Denver
- MPA, Public Management, University of Colorado at Denver
- BS, Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Colorado at Boulder
Research Interests
Leadership, especially assessment, coaching and development; Teamwork, especially assessment and development; Enterprise level learning software for coaching, leadership and teamwork

Haberaecker, Heather
Former Chief Business Officer, University of Illinois, Chicago
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Higher Education Administration, University of Michigan
- MA, Public Administration, University of Illinois at Springfield
- BS, Education, Northern Illinois University
- AA, Southwestern Illinois College

Julia, Jake
Vice Provost for Administration and Chief of Staff, Northwestern University
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Higher Education Administration, University of Michigan, 1996
- MA, Higher Education Administration, University of Michigan, 1993
- BA, History, Plymouth State University, 1981

Kaufman, Daniel A.
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Partner, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Degrees
- JD, University of Chicago Law School, 1986
- BA, Amherst College, 1983
Colleges, universities, and other clients rely on Dan because of his deep knowledge of higher education law and employment law; exceptional judgment; strategic advice; and litigation success. Dan’s work is regularly honored by regional and national ranking organizations. He is recognized by Chambers USA as a Leading Labor & Employment Lawyer, holds an AV® (preeminent/highest) rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2012- Present), Midwest’s Best Lawyers (2021- Present), Illinois Super Lawyers (2006 – Present) and Chicago’s Top-Rated Lawyers (Chicago Tribune and Wall Street Journal). Dan has represented large and small public and private institutions across the country in a wide variety of matters, including:
- Discrimination, harassment, retaliation, disability and other litigation;
- Hiring, disciplining, and terminating employees;
- Medical leaves, accommodations, and disability matters;
- Student matters;
- Litigation avoidance and strategy; and
- Addressing financial challenges.
Dan is passionate about service, including serving on the Board of the National Association of College and University Attorneys. Dan’s commitment to public service includes serving as a Highland Park, IL City Councilperson (2011-21).
Dan has held various leadership roles at Michael Best, including helping to lead the firm’s Higher Education Group, previously serving on the firm’s Management Committee, as the Managing Partner of the Chicago Office, and as the Chair of the Labor & Employment Relations Group.
After graduating law school, Dan clerked for Justice Charles L. Levin on the Michigan Supreme Court (1986-1987).
After graduating law school, Dan clerked for Justice Charles L. Levin on the Michigan Supreme Court (1986-1987).
Research Interests
Litigation avoidance and strategy; retaliation claims; mental disabilities, accommodations and leaves

Long, Kyle
Senior Director, Organizational Strategy & Change, Northwestern University
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, International & Comparative Education, Columbia University, 2018
- MA, Liberal Arts, St. John’s College, 2010
- BA, Classics, Wabash College, 2007
Kyle Long joined the Office of Organizational Strategy and Change in June 2021. He works with colleagues there to develop the change strategy for the University, identify areas of opportunity, and strategize about how to bring optimal solutions to the University’s most pressing challenges. Kyle is also a scholar of higher education and international affairs. His research focuses on international campuses and the geopolitics of education.
Before coming to Northwestern, Kyle was UNESCO Co-Chair of International Education for Development at the George Washington University, Director of Higher Education Research for Hanover Research, and inaugural Director of the U.S. Office for the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani.
Kyle is the founder and director of the Global American Higher Education database and research initiative. He serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the American University of Iraq Foundation, a 501(c)(3)-designated charitable organization that supports liberal arts education in Iraqi Kurdistan. Kyle is also a Fulbright Specialist (2021-25) and non-resident Research Fellow at the Center on Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California (2022-24).
Research Interests
International campuses, geopolitics and education, academic communication with the public

Lowe, Eugene
Assistant to the President, Northwestern University
Senior Lecturer, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Union Theological Seminary, 1987
- MDiv, Divinity, Union Theological Seminary, 1978
- BA, Religion, Princeton University, 1971
Research Interests
American religion, social gospel, progressivism, and diversity in higher education.

Meents-DeCaigny, Ellen
Assistant Vice President of Planning, Operations and Assessment, Vice President's Cabinet, Office of the Vice President, DePaul University
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Higher Education, Loyola University Chicago
- MA, Counseling and College Student Development, University of Maryland
- BA, Speech Communications, Drake University

Metzger-Mugg, Lisa
Vice President of Program & Operations, Duke of Edinburgh's International Award USA
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Educational Psychology, Loyola University Chicago
- MS, Developmental Psychology, Johns Hopkins University
- BS, Psychology, Philosophy, and Humanities, Valparaiso University
Research Interests
Improved educational pathways to college completion for underserved students; issues of access, affordability, and successful degree/career outcomes of low-income and underrepresented minority college students; addressing racial, ethnic, and income disparities in educational outcomes through improved institutional support; community colleges; doctoral education; and event history analysis.

Prachand, Amit
Associate Vice President, Information and Analytics, Northwestern University
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- MEng, Management of Technology, Vanderbilt University
- BS, Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University
Research Interests
Data analysis methods, process improvement and change management

Rapp, Kim
Assistant Vice President, International Relations
Instructor, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Higher Education Leadership and Policy Analysis, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- MS, Educational Administration, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- MA, African Languages and Literature, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- BA, Communications and International Studies, Juniata College

James E. Rosenbaum
Professor, Human Development and Social Policy
Professor, Sociology, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research

Trautvetter, Lois
Director, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Professor, School of Education and Social Policy
Degrees
- PhD, Higher Education Administration, University of Michigan
- MS, Polymer Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University
- BA, Chemistry, College of Wooster
Research Interests
Engineering education research including retention and recruitment of female and underrepresented undergraduate students and faculty, interdisciplinary skills, contextual competence skills, and design and problem solving skills; Faculty productivity, enhancing research and teaching, faculty motivation, enhancing faculty-student interaction, and new and junior faculty issues; Student development research that includes holistic and spiritual development of undergraduates; Gender issues, females in STEM disciplines
Williams, Joan Trimuel
Director of Compliance, Feinberg School of Medicine
Teaching Assistant, Higher Education Administration and Policy
Degrees
- JD, Loyola University Chicago, 2016
- MS, Higher Education Administration and Policy, Northwestern University, 2004
- BS, Accountancy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1996
Joan Trimuel is the Director of Compliance at Feinberg School of Medicine’s Office for Regulatory Affairs.
Joan has been at Northwestern (NU) since June 1999 where she has also worked in NU’s Office of Audit and Advisory Services in Financial Operations.
In 2021, Joan sits as the president of the Northwestern University Staff Advisory Council (NUSAC) and as a past president of Association of Northwestern University Women’s(ANUW), she currently serves as a mentor in their mentor ship program.
Joan is licensed to practice law in Illinois and is a certified public accountant.
Outside of work, Joan serves on the board for Girls on the Run – Chicago, an after-school character development program for girls 3rd – 8th grade. Joan is also a mentor to an amazing high school student in the Link Unlimited program.
Joan’s loving family consists of her supportive husband, Jabari, and inquisitive son, Jordan.