Who Should Join?
The MESS Network serves all sorts of professionals, and the following individuals may find value in the conversations and connections:
- Directors of Marketing
- Enrollment Managers
- Recruitment Coordinators
- Student Services Professionals
- Chief Online Learning Officers
- Deans
- Provosts
- Administrators
- Directors
- Managers
- Program Coordinators
- Vice Presidents
- ...and all other interested UPCEA Members!
Join the Discussion
Log in to CORe, UPCEA's member community and online networking space where you can ask, answer or search for questions on relevant topics. Get advice, answers and ideas from your colleagues online via CORe, UPCEA's professional networking platform.
Your membership gives you full access to:
- Active conversations, and the chance to ask your questions in real time
- Robust search of conversation archive
- A diverse resource library
- UPCEA's entire member directory
- Exclusive member content -- including benchmarking studies, conference session slides, and webinar recordings
UPCEA Dorothy Durkin Award For Strategic Innovation In Marketing and/or Enrollment Management
The Dorothy Durkin Strategic Innovation Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated achievement in strategic planning, marketing innovation, and/or enrollment management that has been used to position or reposition an institution of higher learning, to increase enrollment numbers, to improve or diversify the applicant pool, or to develop new educational products and services that meet the demands of the evolving marketplace.
Nominees must exhibit a keen understanding of trends in employment and education, and must be both creative and strategic thinkers who are able to advance an institution or a program through the development and execution of innovative marketing and/or enrollment management plans.
Dorothy Durkin transformed the NYU School of Professional Studies over the course of a 40-year career focused on staying ahead of the curve in advertising, data-driven decision-making, and student relationship management. Coaching and mentoring was important to her, as were the relationships she fostered through UPCEA. Her definition of success included commitment to integrating creativity, research, sound business practices, and student success.
UPCEA Excellence In Advancing Student Success Award
UPCEA recognizes student success is paramount to the mission of every institution of higher education. Professional, continuing, and/or online education units realize they must provide strategic and cross-functional projects, initiatives, and services that maximize success of the adult or non-traditional student. To that end, UPCEA aims to play an active role in preparing members for advancing the success of students in both credit and non-credit programs by acknowledging best practices and initiatives that “move the needle” in the advancement of student success.
This award is aligned with the Marketing, Enrollment, and Student Success Network which engages members in actively building the competencies, skills, and confidences needed to attract and retain students in a changing and competitive marketplace. The award recognizes an institution that has implemented a successful strategic initiative, project, or service that has resulted in significantly advancing the success of adult and/or non-traditional student audiences.
UPCEA Marketing and Enrollment Management Awards
UPCEA’s Marketing, Enrollment, and Student Success Network sponsors annual competitions to recognize the best marketing practices and promotional pieces, as well as enrollment excellence, in the field of professional, continuing, and online education.
Attend Network Events
The MESS Network curates webinars and coffee chats throughout the year, on a number of topics related to the work of the Network, as well as helping develop content for the MEMS Conference. Check out the events pages linked below and keep an eye out for our upcoming events.
Today, the field of professional, continuing, online education is characterized by engagement in very complex, highly specialized areas of practice. UPCEA’s eight Networks are designed to serve professionals practicing in the key areas that define this vibrant and growing sector of higher education.
Networks are open to any UPCEA Member. Members can join any one (or multiple) of these networks by logging in to their profile, going down to My Networks + Committees then click "Browse Networks + Committees". Select the network you would like to join, and click "Join this Network/Committee".
Volunteer and grow as a leader, presenter, or mentor.
Take an active role in your membership! Members are encouraged to serve as volunteer leaders. There are many ways to get involved! Click below and let us know how you'd like to volunteer with UPCEA.
Have a question about the Network? Ask a volunteer leader!
UPCEA Network Leadership is composed of UPCEA members who serve in these roles. Below you can find a current listing of this year's network leadership team. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, click here.
2024-2025
Leadership Team
Karina Kogan
CHAIR
EducationDynamics
[email protected]
Tanya Vincent
CHAIR ELECT
Western Kentucky University
[email protected]
Chelsea Caile McNeely
PAST CHAIR
Southeast Missouri State University
[email protected]
Reyna Warren
VICE CHAIR, ANNUAL CONFERENCE & SPECIAL EVENTS
University of Central Missouri
[email protected]
Michael McMahon
CO-VICE CHAIR, AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
St. Mary's University of Minnesota
[email protected]
Leo Rice
CO-VICE CHAIR, AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
University of Massachusetts, Lowell
[email protected]
Susannah Fuller
CO-VICE CHAIR, COMMUNICATIONS
University of Virginia
[email protected]
Daniel Morris
CO-VICE CHAIR, COMMUNICATIONS
Southeast Missouri State University
[email protected]
Amanda Olivas
VICE CHAIR, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
California State University Office of the Chancellor
[email protected]
Justin Smith
CO-VICE CHAIR, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Saint Louis University
[email protected]
Marleigh Perez
VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE - MEMS
Oregon State University
[email protected]
Marqus Dorame
VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE
University of Arizona Online
[email protected]
Kristin Ede
VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE
San Jose State University
[email protected]
Amber Novotny
CO-VICE CHAIR, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
University of South Carolina Palmetto College
[email protected]
Brett Bruner
VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE
Wichita State University
[email protected]
Jennifer Kelly
VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE
University of Hawaii at Manoa
[email protected]
Lakitia Avery
VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE - MEMS
Kent State University
[email protected]
Whitney Delaney
VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE
Harvard University
[email protected]
Jovitha Franklin
VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE
California State University, Northridge
[email protected]
Get Involved with UPCEA
Professional development isn't just about attending sessions. Get involved with UPCEA to meet members from other institutions, share the great work your institution is doing, and hone your own skills. From submitting a session proposal for a conference or an article for a publication to serving as a volunteer on a conference planning committee, there are as many ways to engage with us!
