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For Gen Z, the decision to enroll in a college encompasses the support system waiting for them on the other side. They want to know exactly how an institution will help them navigate their mental health, their finances and their eventual jump into the workforce.

Join a casual, deep-dive conversation on how student success initiatives have become the new frontline of enrollment, featuring a mix of leaders in marketing and enrollment management. The panelists will share their unique perspectives on meeting the evolving needs of today’s students and walk through real-life examples of success stories in the competitive higher education landscape.

Walk away with new ideas and strategies proving student outcomes are a powerful recruitment tool.

What we’ll be chatting about:

Key support services that become differentiators and make a student choose one school over another.
How career readiness and job placement have become proactive enrollment tools.
Examining the biggest challenges (and opportunities) we’re all facing in getting students through the door.

Can't attend the webcast? You should still register -- all registrants will receive a recording of the webcast and a copy of the presentation slides.

Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 2 p.m. E.T.

Leveraging Student Success Initiatives to Drive Gen Z Enrollment

PANELISTS

Cristina Sanchez Wayton
Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Admissions at Cleveland State University

Cristina Sanchez Wayton serves as the associate vice president of undergraduate admissions at Cleveland State University. With more than 16 years of experience in higher education, she oversees undergraduate recruitment, enrollment strategy and initiatives designed to connect prospective students with the opportunities available at CSU. Her work focuses on navigating the evolving higher education landscape and identifying innovative ways to engage and support students throughout the college search process.

Chantelle Thompson
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Operations and Chief Communications Officer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Chantelle Thompson is the assistant vice chancellor for strategic operations in student affairs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A key strategist to the vice chancellor and member of the senior leadership team, she represents student affairs on policy, programs, budget, personnel and external relations. With more than 20 years of leadership across higher education and the private sector, she is the NASPA Region IV-East regional director elect, Region IV-East chief of staff, and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. She holds a bachelor’s focused on technical communications from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s in education, policy and organizational leadership from the U. of I.

Dr. Ronda Westry
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs at Alabama State University

Dr. Ronda Westry brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education, leading retention, persistence and academic support initiatives for highly at risk undergraduate students across multiple colleges and universities. A native of Los Angeles, California, and a proud alumna of Spelman College, she holds a master of education in counseling and human development from Auburn University Montgomery and a doctor of philosophy in adult and higher education administration from Auburn University. Dr. Westry currently serves as the assistant vice president of student affairs for student success centers at Alabama State University.

Dr. Michael Strysick
Chief Strategic Communications Officer at Kentucky State University

Dr. Michael Strysick serves as chief strategic communications officer for Kentucky State University and also directs communications for the land grant program. He earned a Ph.D. in comparative literature and began his career as an English professor before moving into college relations, branding and strategic messaging, bringing more than two decades of experience in faculty and senior administrative roles. His work integrates editorial strategy, digital and earned media, and advancement communications to support recruitment, retention, research visibility and fundraising.

MODERATOR

Julia Larkin
Vice President of University Partnerships at Kaplan

Julia Larkin serves as the vice president of university partnerships at Kaplan. Leveraging over 25 years of higher education experience, she oversees a team dedicated to partnering with institutions to drive student success and expand access to critical educational tools. Specifically, Julia's team is focused on Kaplan’s All Access License, an award-winning program redefining how institutions support students as they transition to their next professional or academic milestone. Connect with Julia on LinkedIn .