Editorial Team

Dr. Peggy C. Holzweiss, Managing Editor, is an Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership department at Sam Houston State University, and holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M University. Prior to joining the faculty, she served in higher education administrative positions for 18 years. Her research interests include playful pedagogy, distance education, and professional development for higher education administrators. She joined TACUSPA in 2012 and served on the inaugural Student Affairs on Campus Journal Editorial Board. Dr. Holzweiss has been recognized with a variety of awards including an international Catalyst Award in Teaching and Learning from the Anthology Corporation, SAAHE Educator of the Year from Texas A&M University, the Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching from the College of Education at Sam Houston State University, and three NASPA Excellence Awards.

Dr. Jeff Strietzel, Past Editor has served in higher education for a dozen years. His professional experience includes teaching and administrative roles at six institutions across three states. After earning a B.A. degree in religious studies in Illinois and an M.A. degree in college student development at in Indiana, Jeff finally saw the light and moved to Texas where he earned a Ph.D. in higher education leadership at Baylor University. He has taught courses in leadership theory and leadership development, college student success, and the culture and organization of higher education. Jeff has been awarded numerous fellowships, grants, and awards for his service and scholarship over the years. His current research agenda focuses on how higher education leaders experience and navigate job loss and career derailment. Dr. Strietzel regularly presents scholarship and promising practices at conferences, and he is published in prominent journals in higher education and student affairs.

Dr. J. Cody Nielsen, Associate Editor, is Director of the Center for Spirituality and Social Justice and instructor at Dickinson College, Executive Director of Convergence Strategies, and adjunct instructor at DeSales University and Sam Houston State University. His research interests for more than a decade have focused on DEI efforts to assess and support systems, policies, and practices for religious, secular, and spiritual identities. He has previously served roles at Harvard, MIT, The University of Guelph, American University, and the University of Minnesota.

As an educator and scholar by practice (not by nature), Cody is deeply committed to the efforts of higher education to professionalize our approaches to support of historically marginalized religious and non religious identities. His research and forthcoming works speak to a new form of "interfaith" that of what he describes as "Engaged Critical Pluralism" (ECP) which will seek a structural and system overhaul to how religious equity has been provided at systemic and structural levels.

Dr. Pietro Sasso is an Assistant Professor and Director of the RAISE Center at Stephen F. Austin State University. His research interests include the college experience, student success, and educational equity across co-curricular spaces. Dr. Sasso has written and co-edited 10 textbooks, authored approximately 60 scholarly publications, and facilitated over 80 conference presentations. He is the recipient of the AFA Dr. Charles Eberly Research Award and was the a Scholar-In-Residence for ACPA Men and Masculinities. He is currently the faculty research fellow for the Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research & Reform. @PietroSassoPhD (twitter).

Dr. Becky Spurlock serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Leadership at The University of Texas Permian Basin. In her role, she oversees many of the co-curricular programs and services for students including the Shepperd Leadership Institute. She also holds an appointment as Associate Professor in the College of Education. Prior to joining UT Permian Basin, she served as the Associate Vice President and Senior Associate Dean of Student Life at the University of the South (colloquially known as Sewanee).

An educator, sought after speaker and leader in the field of Student Affairs, she regularly teaches, speaks, and consults on developing community, leadership, strategic planning, and assessment. Dr. Spurlock has more than 25 years of experience in Student Affairs. A high-energy speaker, Dr. Spurlock is known for her ability to engage audiences, address difficult topics, and connect through humor.Trained in narrative analysis and as a qualitative researcher, Dr. Spurlock uses stories to connect, teach, and deepen relationships.

Dr. Spurlock has served on the NASPA Board of Directors, is the Past Region III Director, served two terms on the NASPA Center for Women Board of Directors, and was named a Pillar of the Profession in 2022. Dr. Spurlock is the director for the NASPA Region III/SACSA Mid-Manager’s Institute. She serves as a member of the Student Affairs on Campus Editorial Board. She is also the recipient of the John Koldus Award for Outstanding Service to NASPA Region III. NASPA is the leading voice for the Student Affairs Profession worldwide.

Daniel J. Pugh, Sr., Ph.D. serves as a Professor of the Practice in Texas A&M University’s School of Education & Human Development. Prior to his joining the faculty, Dr. Pugh served as the senior student affairs officer for 13 years at Texas A&M University (6) and the University of Arkansas (7). He also served as a Dean of Students for 13 years at the University of Arkansas (8) and Eastern Washington University (5). Additionally, he has worked at the University of Georgia, Virginia Tech, and the University of Tennessee. Dr. Pugh holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia’s Institute of Higher Education and an MS (College Student Personnel) and BS (Communications) from the University of Tennessee. Dr. Pugh has previously served on the editorial board of NASPA’s Leadership Exchange and recently completed 6 years of service on the executive board of APLU’s Council for Student Affairs. Dr. Pugh has served as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army since 2015, having the rare distinction of having served in two different states (Arkansas and Texas).

Dr. Krista J. Bailey received her Ph.D. in Educational Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University in 2011. She joined the Educational Administration and Human Resource Development Department at Texas A&M University as a Clinical Associate Professor in 2016. Dr. Bailey is the Director of the Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education (SAAHE) master's program and teaches graduate courses in student affairs and higher education administration. She has co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles, case studies, co-edited an issue of New Directions in Student Leadership, and has delivered multiple presentations at university, state and national conferences.

Kevin O'Donoghue has worked in education on three continents as both campus director for a study abroad program and adjunct faculty and brings a unique perspective to higher education. Kevin is currently a doctoral candidate at Baylor University where he is studying Higher Education and Leadership Studies; His dissertation is on doctoral student success and the affective experience of Ph.D students.

Kerri P. Bond is a doctoral candidate in Baylor's Higher Education Studies and Leadership Ph.D. program. Her dissertation focuses on faculty thriving.

Dr. Deidra Stephens serves as the director of Texas McCombs+ Global & Experiential Learning at the University of Texas at Austin. McCombs+ provides experimental learning and global programs designed to grow influential business leaders through action-based co-curricular and academic initiatives for graduate students enrolled at the McCombs School of Business. In this role, she is responsible for establishing micro-consulting projects for students at the companies of their choice, identifying and offering industry training and leadership development, administering a professional communication and executive coaching program for students, and designing and implementing short-term faculty led study abroad programs.

Prior to her career at the University of Texas at Austin, she worked for eight years at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as the Director of Student Activities and Facilities. In this role, she developed leadership opportunities for students in a variety of settings.

Deidra holds a bachelor of science from Texas Tech University, an M.Ed. from the University of North Texas, and a Ph.D. from University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Corbin Franklin is a third-year doctoral student in the Higher Education Administration program at Texas A&M University - College Station. Prior to beginning doctoral work, he worked as a housing professional in Texas and the Midwest. His research interests include competency development in higher education professionals, student affairs capitalism, retention and attrition of higher education professionals

Robert Tirso, Ph.D., is the data analyst for Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research (SAPAR) at Texas A&M University. He uses his expertise in statistics and data science to support the assessment and continuous improvement of the 13 departments within the Division of Student affairs at A&M as well as their partners in other departments and organizations, including Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Corps of Cadets, and the University Police Department. Prior to joining SAPAR, Robert studied and earned his Ph.D. in experimental psychology with a focus on cognition and statistics at A&M. During this time, he conducted and published academic research on both cognitive aging and the relationship between metacognition and student success. He also taught several undergraduate courses and labs in general and experimental psychology. Robert brings with him extensive experience in data visualization, measurement, and the collection, analysis, and interpretation of a variety of quantitative data on human behaviors.

Neil E. Golemo (he/him) is an Educator blessed to serve as the Director of Campus Living & Learning on Texas A&M’s Galveston Campus! For the last 17+ years Neil has grown alongside, within, and because of TAMUG, working to serve students by meeting their needs and raising standards. He started in when campus had 3 residence halls and 600 beds, and watched it grow to 7 residence halls, nearly 1700 beds with 1500 of them being new. In his role, Neil oversees all student housing, operations, educational initiatives, camps conferences, as well as student conduct/community standards, honor code, and serves as chair of the campus CARE Team. Neil has served on numerous committees including the Galveston Campus Civic Literacy, Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (CLIDE) Committee, the SACS Accreditation Steering Committee, and has won awards that have completely activated his imposter syndrome. Neil is a PhD candidate in Texas A&M’s Higher Ed Administration program and his research interests include higher ed response and remediation of sexual violence and access to support among minoritized student populations. He is deeply aware of how fun he is at parties.

Katy Pelton is an experienced higher education professional with over 20 years of experience in student affairs. While most of her experience is in student housing, she also has experience in facilities and operation management, risk management, and most recently oversight of a student union. Katy is currently working towards her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with the goal to complete her degree by May 2023. Her dissertation topic is Competencies Needed by Mid-Level Housing Professionals to be Successful in a Senior Housing Officer Role. Katy enjoys reading for both academic and non-academic purposes and spending time at the beach.

Dr. Alicia Huppe serves as the Associate Vice President of Student and Enrollment Services at Collin College. In this role, she provides district leadership for 10 of the college’s 12 campuses and centers. With more than 20 years of higher education experience, Dr. Huppe has successfully implemented numerous software solutions to aid in student success. Her research areas of interest include the influence of technology on student access and success as well as student retention efforts.

Dr. Huppe is a recipient of the national League for Innovation’s Excellence Award. She also received the Dr. James E. Caswell Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators.