Upcoming: May 16th at 1 pm CT
Join CAEL and WICHE to learn about the 2024 CPL Equity Awards, recognizing seven pioneering institutions’ work to close equity gaps in their credit for prior learning programs. Presenters from CAEL and WICHE will provide an overview of common themes across the award winners, and three of the award winners will share details about their approaches and outcomes — and how they’ve expanded CPL access and success for Black, Latino/a, and other underrepresented adult learners.
Gloria Mwase, Senior Vice President, Research, Impact, Innovation and Learning, CAEL
Gloria Mwase joined CAEL in 2022 and has extensive experience in leading projects focused on postsecondary education and workforce development that advance adult learners into meaningful employment. Additionally, Mwase has worked with employers in developing sector-based industry-partnerships to advance a competitive workforce. A key emphasis of her experience focuses on measuring impact through research and evaluation, including roles as principal investigator on research.
Becky Klein-Collins, Vice President, Research and Impact, CAEL
Becky Klein-Collins is the Vice President, Research and Impact at CAEL. In this role, she leads CAEL’s research initiatives, evaluation activities, and impact measurement strategy. Her work has been foundational in building CAEL’s reputation as a national resource in advancing Credit for Prior Learning/Prior Learning Assessment (CPL/PLA). Her other research and public policy activities have focused on competency-based education, student veterans, mature workers, and system-transforming practices in workforce development.
Patrick Lane, Vice President, Policy Analysis and Research, WICHE
Patrick Lane is the vice president of WICHE’s Policy Analysis and Research unit. He previously was its director of data initiatives, a role that has included managing the Multistate Longitudinal Data Exchange, which seeks to improve linkages between state data systems to provide better information to students and their families while also improving education, workforce, and economic development policy.
Christina Sedney, Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, WICHE
Christina Sedney is the Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives at WICHE, where she works on a variety of topics including approaches to serving underrepresented student populations, higher education governance issues, and policy solutions for adult learners. Prior to WICHE, Sedney worked for international nonprofit Teach For All and completed a fellowship with the Kenneth Rainin Foundation.
Plus 3 of our CPL Equity Award winners:
Dr. Richard Finger, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Lehman College of the City University of New York in the Bronx.
Dr. Richard Finger serves as Vice President of Enrollment Management at Lehman College of the City University of New York in the Bronx. In this position, he oversees a vast portfolio of programs that reach beyond traditional enrollment areas, including all student success, opportunity programs, and academic support programs. As a long-time member of the Lehman community, he has served in various capacities, all supporting the growth and support of Lehman’s adult learner population and the college’s commitment to social mobility. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Master’s degrees in Organizational Behavior and Marketing, and a Doctorate in Health Services Administration.
Dr. Philip Giarraffa, Executive Director of Articulation and Academic Pathways for Miami Dade College
In this capacity, Dr. Giarraffa oversees multiple units across academic affairs including collegiate partnerships, dual enrollment, prior learning assessment, and the Office of Foreign Trained Professionals. Having spent over 15 years in the public and private sectors of higher education, Dr. Giarraffa has held progressive leadership positions at Barry University as well as Bronx Community College and Queens College of the City University of New York. Dr. Giarraffa’s passion evolves around increased access and opportunity to higher education for underrepresented groups. Dr. Giarraffa holds a PhD in Social Work from Barry University, a Master of Social Work from New York University, and a Master of Public Health from Hunter College of the City University of New York.
Dr. Allison Tom-Miura, Dean of Academic Affairs, West Los Angeles College in Culver City, CA.
In this role, she supervises and supports the Sciences, Math, and Computer Science Applications divisions, the Police Orientation Preparation Program, Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), and the Leading from the Middle Asian Pasifika Desi American (APDA) Student Success project. Before this role, Allison served as the Dean of Adult and Continuing Education at WLAC for five years, where she led the creation of the College and Career Preparation division, oversaw the launch of the Career Connections Center and Cooperative Work Experience discipline, increased noncredit enrollment and awards, and expanded off-campus partnerships. She also secured and managed grants and contracts for formerly incarcerated individuals, Latino adults, and low-income individuals to access and succeed in college and enter and advance in the workforce.