2026 Executive Board Slate
There are five open positions up for election this year for the 2026 Executive Board. Those elected will begin their service on January 1, 2026 and assume either two or three-year terms
Strategic, mission-driven leadership.
Guided by the strategic plan and the ACUHO-I Constitution and bylaws, the Executive Board is charged with providing the strategic direction for the Association. This work ensures that ACUHO-I’s efforts are aligned with our shared vision and mission to support campus housing and residence life professionals as they work towards student success. Meet the sitting ACUHO-I Executive Board and learn more about their responsibilities.
Announcement
There are five open positions up for election this year for the 2026 Executive Board. Those elected will begin their service on January 1, 2026 and assume either two or three-year terms
Kathy Bush Hobgood
Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Enterprises
Clemson University
Kathy Bush Hobgood has made involvement with ACUHO-I and regional associations a cornerstone of her professional career. Along with completing the James C. Grimm National Housing Training Institute and the Professional Standards Institute, she has regularly contributed to the Talking Stick magazine. Her prior leadership service includes time as the chair of the ACUHO-I Foundation, serving as Publications Coordinator on the ACUHO-I Executive Board, and as historian and president of the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers. At Clemson, she oversees all housing and dining operations, parking and transportation, the child development center, and the university bookstore.
Olan Garrett
Senior Associate Vice President
Temple University
Olan Garrett, an active ACUHO-I presenter and volunteer, previously served as the ACUHO-I Finance and Corporate Records Officer. Along with completing the ACUHO-I Professional Standards Institute, he has been a James C. Grimm National Housing Training Institute faculty member and was a core member of the Program Committee and Regional Affiliation Task Force. An active supporter of regional associations as well, Garrett has been involved in both the GLACUHO and MACUHO regions, serving in various appointed and elected roles. He was president of MACUHO as well as a multiple-time faculty member for the MACUHO/NEACUHO Regional Entry Level Institute.
Michael Griffel
Associate Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management
University of Oregon
Michael Griffel has spent his career developing student environments that foster academic success and personal development. On his campus, he currently oversees a wide range of responsibilities, including academic initiatives, dining, capital projects, business operations, and more. During his years of ACUHO-I involvement, Griffel has served two previous terms on the Executive Board as the Workforce Development Director and the Finance and Corporate Records Officer. In addition, he has chaired the annual conference program committee and been a faculty member for James C. Grimm National Housing Training Institute and the Roelf Visser Student Housing Training Institute in South Africa.
Kirsten Kennedy
Associate Vice President for the Residential Experience
University of South Carolina
Kirsten Kirsten has served ACUHO-I in multiple roles including as a faculty member for the James C. Grimm National Housing Training Institute, the Senior Housing Officer Institute, and the Professional Standards Institute. She edited and co-authored the ACUHO-I published book Making a Difference: Improving Residence Life Assessment Practices in 2016. She also was the Finance and Corporate Records Officer for the ACUHO-I Foundation. As associate vice president of the residential experience at the University of South Carolina, her units include university housing, the office of sustainability, faculty-led living-learning communities, divisional construction and renovation, and divisional information technology.
Tiffany Bromfield
Associate Director of Residence Life
SUNY- Buffalo State University
Tiffany Bromfield brings a wide range of experience to her role, having provided leadership on the executive boards of both the SWACUHO and NEACUHO regional associations. In support of ACUHO-I, Bromfield has been chair of the Black Professionals Network, an alum of the Leadership Academy, and served on the steering committee for the 2023 ACUHO-I Leadership Academy. At Buffalo State, Bromfield she supervises the residence life team, supports the assistant dean in decision-making, and is responsible for all large-scale diversity and inclusion programming for residential students. Additionally, she serves on the Student Affairs Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Jeff Cooper
Director of Student Housing and Residential Life
California State University, Monterey Bay
Jeff Cooper has spent his career working in a variety of institutions and overseeing many different responsibilities. Throughout, though, he has focused on creating meaningful residential experiences centered on learning, inclusion, and community. His portfolio of experience includes housing operations, residential life and learning, strategic planning and assessment, leadership development, behavioral response and management, conflict resolution, budget management, and crisis intervention. Outside of campus he has been active with ACUHO-I by chairing the Mid-Level Leadership Institute, serving as a faculty member for the James C. Grimm National Housing Training Institute, and being a reviewer for the Journal of College & University Student Housing.
Brenda Ice
Senior Associate Dean
Brown University
For more than a quarter-century, Brenda Ice has been an active leader in student affairs and higher education, building an understanding of what will empower the campus housing professionals of the future. Her on-campus responsibilities include residential education, fraternity and sorority housing, graduate housing, and off-campus student services. She has also given back to the profession through a number of volunteer opportunities that enhance her belief in the value of mentorship. She has helped to guide the ACUHO-I Leadership Academy and has been a long-term member of The Placement Exchange planning committee.
Barry Olson
Associate Vice President for Campus Life
Western Michigan University
Barry Olson approaches his work as an advocate for the student experience through several lenses, embracing the blend of academic and student-facing opportunities as he supports housing and residential life, dining, and business services. He holds a Ph.D. degree in higher education administration. He has spent more than two decades as an advisor and national volunteer with Alpha Sigma Phi, working on leadership development and advising. In addition, he is a longtime member of both ACUHO-I and APPA, culminating in his stint as the chair of the ACUHO-I/APPA Housing Facilities Conference in 2013.
Janie Sacco
Assistant Director of Occupancy Management
University of Washington
Janie Sacco has repeatedly leveraged her desire to create and share knowledge. She has done so as the chair of the ACUHO-I Research Committee as well as a faculty member who has taught classes on educational leadership as well as women’s, gender, and ethnic studies. Sacco has served the NWACUHO region in multiple roles, including as the association’s president. She also was a member of the 2021-2022 ACUHO-I Leadership Academy cohort. Before becoming the assistant director for occupancy management at Washington, she was the associate director for housing and residential Life program at Saint Martin’s University, where she oversaw operations and residential education.
Casey Tullos
Associate Vice Chancellor
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Casey Tullos’s desire for education has never slowed throughout her career. She has completed the ACUHO-I Senior Housing Officer Institute as well as the University of North Carolina System Executive Leadership Institute. That same focus informs her work on the Executive Board as she helps members establish and improve the learning experiences of their residential students. As the associate vice chancellor for student affairs, she is responsible for the strategic development of the housing and residence life organization, which supports 6,225 residential students. Previously, she served as a residence coordinator, coordinator of conference and guest housing, assistant director for academic initiatives, and director of residence life.
Lanché van Tonder
Head of Residence Management and Student Life
University of Pretoria
Lanché van Tonder is no stranger to ACUHO-I and other associations, regularly attending and presenting at conferences and symposiums worldwide. Since 2021 he has served on the ACUHO-I Southern African Chapter Executive Board. He also is the co-director of the Roelf Visser Student Housing Training Institute. van Toner has been with the University of Pretoria since 2015 where his responsibilities include the day-to-day management of approximately 9,000 students in 28 residences as well as the planning, management, and execution of the student life activities and programs.
Marykatherine Woodson
Associate Director of Residence Life
Rochester Institute of Technology
Marykatherine Woodson has served as an ex officio trustee member of the ACUHO-I Foundation board and has been a leader in implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion recommendations for ACUHO-I. Woodson was also part of the inaugural class of the ACUHO-I Leadership Academy, an initiative to create opportunities and pathways for increased involvement by mid-level staff of color. At RIT she has worked first as an assistant director and currently as an associate director for student success. In her role, she focuses on the complete residential experience for students.
Chandra Myrick
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Chandra Myrick has built her career through her strategic and passionate efforts focused on maximizing the student experience and supporting other staff members. She has been a guiding force for the ACUHO-I Leadership Academy and an active member of the Research and Professional Standards committees. Most recently, Myrick was honored with the Dissertation of the Year Award for her work entitled “I’m Speaking: Narratives of Black Women Serving in Senior Housing Officer Roles at Predominantly White Institutions.” In her ex officio role Myrick will identify new areas of knowledge and partnership opportunities that benefit stakeholders and ensure ACUHO-I centers student success in its work.
Paul Riel
Associate Vice President Auxiliary Services
Boston University
Paul Riel is an experienced leader who has overseen a wide variety of projects in his career. Currently he guides numerous auxiliary enterprises including student housing, residential and retail dining services, and campus vending operations. Previously he has helped develop housing master plans as well as strategies to reshape undergraduate students’ residential experience. He has been a faculty member for the ACUHO-I Senior Housing Officer Institute and has lent his talent and experience to the ACUHO-I Foundation for several years. In his ex officio role Riel will explore opportunities for the Association to identify ways and means to ensure the positional viability and relevancy of the senior housing officer role on campus.
Mary DeNiro
CEO / Executive Director
ACUHO-I
ACUHO-I’s CEO and executive director since 2015, Mary DeNiro oversees the association’s home office and works closely with the Executive Board to fulfill the strategic plan and serve the needs of association members. Previously, DeNiro was the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s chief operating officer and executive vice president and vice president of marketing and communications. She also has been the senior vice president of sales and marketing for Capital Newspapers and the vice president of advertising for Thomson Newspapers. She is a graduate of Ohio University and holds an MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mary has also studied at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School Of Business and the Northwestern University executive management programs.
From the beginning, ACUHO-I has counted on its executive board to set the association’s direction. Though the years the names and titles may have changed, but what has remained constant is the desire to create an association that speaks to the issues of the campus housing profession.
1999-2000
President: Patrick Bradley
President-Elect: Rita Moser
Secretary: Becky Figura
Treasurer: Eddie Hull
Past President: Randy Rice
Central District Representative: Nick Nicklaus
Southern District Representative: Bob Huss
Eastern District Representative: Tim Johnson
Western District Representative: Dave McKelfresh
Canadian District Representative: Blair Capes
Publications Coordinator: Norb Dunkel
Multicultural Representative: Rodney Peters
GLBT Representative: Bill Bolden
Executive Director (ex officio): Gary Schwarzmueller
1998-1999
President: R. Randy Rice
President-Elect: Patrick Bradley
Secretary: Becky Figura
Treasurer: Jack Collins
Past President: Bob Mosier
Central District Representative: Joan Schmidt
Southern District Representative: Dick Merrit
Eastern District Representative: Tim Johnson
Western District Representative: Dave McKelfresh
Canadian District Representative: Blair Capes
Publications Coordinator: Norb Dunkel
Multicultural Representative: Rodney Peters
GLBT Representative: Alan Hargrave
Executive Director (ex officio): Gary Schwarzmueller
1997-1998
President: Bob Mosier
President-Elect: Randy Rice
Secretary: Gary Kimble
Treasurer: Jack Collins
Past President: Pat Mielke
Central District Representative: Joan Schmidt
Southern District Representative: Dick Merritt
Eastern District Representative: Valerie Randall-Lee
Western District Representative: Kay Rich
Canadian District Representative: Mary Risebrough
Publications Coordinator: Norb Dunkel
Multicultural Representative: Miriam Rosado
GLBT Representative: Alan Hargrave
Executive Director (ex officio): Gary Schwarzmueller
1996-1997
President: Pat Mielke
President-Elect: Bob Mosier
Secretary: Gary Kimble
Treasurer: Jack Collins
Past President: Ginny Arthur
Central District Representative: Rob Hartman
Southern District Representative: Chuck Colby
Eastern District Representative: Valerie Randal-Lee
Western District Representative: Kay Rich
Canadian District Representative: Mary Risebrough
Publications Coordinator: Don Whalen
Multicultural Representative: Miriam Rosado
Executive Director (ex officio): Gary Schwarzmueller
1995-1996
President: Ginny Arthur
President-Elect: Pat Mielke
Secretary: Gary Kimble
Treasurer: Patrick Bradley
Past President: Harry LeGrande
Central District Representative: Bob Hartman
Southern District Representative: Chuck Colby
Eastern District Representative: Joanne Goldwater
Western District Representative: Keith Guy
Publications Coordinator: Don Whalen
Multicultural Representative: Frank Bowen
Executive Director (ex officio): Gary Schwarzmueller
1994-1995
President: Harry LeGrande
President-Elect: Ginny Arthur
Secretary: David Stephen
Treasurer: Patrick Bradley
Past President: Chuck Lamb
Central District Representative: Becky Figura
Southern District Representative: Rita Moser
Eastern District Representative: Joanne Goldwater
Western District Representative: Keith Guy
Publications Coordinator: Don Whalen
Multicultural Representative: Frank Bowen
Executive Director: Gary Schwarzmueller
1993-1994
President: Chuck Lamb
President Elect: Harry LeGrande
Secretary: David Stephen
Treasurer: Patrick Bradley
Past President: W. Garry Johnson
Central District Representative: Becky Figura
Southern District Representative: Rita Moser
Eastern District Representative: Barbara Baker
Western District Representative: Bob Smiggen
Publications Coordinator: Melanie McClellan
Multicultural Representative: Frank Bowen
Executive Director: Gary Schwarzmueller
1992-1993
President: W. Garry Johnson
President-Elect: Chuck Lamb
Secretary: David Stephen
Treasurer: Paula Hulick
Past President: Mike Hoctor
Central District Representative: Brian Dusbiber
Southern District Representative: Nancy Murphy-Chadwick
Eastern District Representative: Barbara Baker
Western District Representative: Bob Smiggen
Publications Coordinator: Bob Mosier
Multicultural Representative: Andre Strong
Executive Director: Gary Schwarzmueller
1991-1992
President: Mike Hoctor
Past President: Doris Collins
President-Elect: Garry Johnson
Treasurer: Paula Hulick
Secretary: Ginny Arthur
Multicultural Representative: Renardo Hall
Publications Coordinator: Bob Mosier
Western District Representative: Lauralee Hagen
Eastern District Representative: Pat Mielke
Southern District Representative: Nancy Murphy-Chadwick
Central District Representative: Beth Tankersley
1990-1991
President: Doris Collins
President-Elect: Michael Hoctor
Secretary: Ginny Arthur
Treasurer: Paula Hulick
Past President: Kenneth Stoner
Central District Representative: Patrick Bradley
Southern District Representative: R. Randy Rice
Eastern District Representative: Patricia Mielke
Western District Representative: Lauralee Hagen
Multicultural Affairs Consultant: Renardo Hall
Publications Coordinator: Robert Mosier
1999-2000
President: Patrick Bradley
President-Elect: Rita Moser
Secretary: Becky Figura
Treasurer: Eddie Hull
Past President: Randy Rice
Central District Representative: Nick Nicklaus
Southern District Representative: Bob Huss
Eastern District Representative: Tim Johnson
Western District Representative: Dave McKelfresh
Canadian District Representative: Blair Capes
Publications Coordinator: Norb Dunkel
Multicultural Representative: Rodney Peters
GLBT Representative: Bill Bolden
Executive Director (ex officio): Gary Schwarzmueller
1998-1999
President: R. Randy Rice
President-Elect: Patrick Bradley
Secretary: Becky Figura
Treasurer: Jack Collins
Past President: Bob Mosier
Central District Representative: Joan Schmidt
Southern District Representative: Dick Merrit
Eastern District Representative: Tim Johnson
Western District Representative: Dave McKelfresh
Canadian District Representative: Blair Capes
Publications Coordinator: Norb Dunkel
Multicultural Representative: Rodney Peters
GLBT Representative: Alan Hargrave
Executive Director (ex officio): Gary Schwarzmueller
1997-1998
President: Bob Mosier
President-Elect: Randy Rice
Secretary: Gary Kimble
Treasurer: Jack Collins
Past President: Pat Mielke
Central District Representative: Joan Schmidt
Southern District Representative: Dick Merritt
Eastern District Representative: Valerie Randall-Lee
Western District Representative: Kay Rich
Canadian District Representative: Mary Risebrough
Publications Coordinator: Norb Dunkel
Multicultural Representative: Miriam Rosado
GLBT Representative: Alan Hargrave
Executive Director (ex officio): Gary Schwarzmueller
1996-1997
President: Pat Mielke
President-Elect: Bob Mosier
Secretary: Gary Kimble
Treasurer: Jack Collins
Past President: Ginny Arthur
Central District Representative: Rob Hartman
Southern District Representative: Chuck Colby
Eastern District Representative: Valerie Randal-Lee
Western District Representative: Kay Rich
Canadian District Representative: Mary Risebrough
Publications Coordinator: Don Whalen
Multicultural Representative: Miriam Rosado
Executive Director (ex officio): Gary Schwarzmueller
1995-1996
President: Ginny Arthur
President-Elect: Pat Mielke
Secretary: Gary Kimble
Treasurer: Patrick Bradley
Past President: Harry LeGrande
Central District Representative: Bob Hartman
Southern District Representative: Chuck Colby
Eastern District Representative: Joanne Goldwater
Western District Representative: Keith Guy
Publications Coordinator: Don Whalen
Multicultural Representative: Frank Bowen
Executive Director (ex officio): Gary Schwarzmueller
1994-1995
President: Harry LeGrande
President-Elect: Ginny Arthur
Secretary: David Stephen
Treasurer: Patrick Bradley
Past President: Chuck Lamb
Central District Representative: Becky Figura
Southern District Representative: Rita Moser
Eastern District Representative: Joanne Goldwater
Western District Representative: Keith Guy
Publications Coordinator: Don Whalen
Multicultural Representative: Frank Bowen
Executive Director: Gary Schwarzmueller
1993-1994
President: Chuck Lamb
President Elect: Harry LeGrande
Secretary: David Stephen
Treasurer: Patrick Bradley
Past President: W. Garry Johnson
Central District Representative: Becky Figura
Southern District Representative: Rita Moser
Eastern District Representative: Barbara Baker
Western District Representative: Bob Smiggen
Publications Coordinator: Melanie McClellan
Multicultural Representative: Frank Bowen
Executive Director: Gary Schwarzmueller
1992-1993
President: W. Garry Johnson
President-Elect: Chuck Lamb
Secretary: David Stephen
Treasurer: Paula Hulick
Past President: Mike Hoctor
Central District Representative: Brian Dusbiber
Southern District Representative: Nancy Murphy-Chadwick
Eastern District Representative: Barbara Baker
Western District Representative: Bob Smiggen
Publications Coordinator: Bob Mosier
Multicultural Representative: Andre Strong
Executive Director: Gary Schwarzmueller
1991-1992
President: Mike Hoctor
Past President: Doris Collins
President-Elect: Garry Johnson
Treasurer: Paula Hulick
Secretary: Ginny Arthur
Multicultural Representative: Renardo Hall
Publications Coordinator: Bob Mosier
Western District Representative: Lauralee Hagen
Eastern District Representative: Pat Mielke
Southern District Representative: Nancy Murphy-Chadwick
Central District Representative: Beth Tankersley
1990-1991
President: Doris Collins
President-Elect: Michael Hoctor
Secretary: Ginny Arthur
Treasurer: Paula Hulick
Past President: Kenneth Stoner
Central District Representative: Patrick Bradley
Southern District Representative: R. Randy Rice
Eastern District Representative: Patricia Mielke
Western District Representative: Lauralee Hagen
Multicultural Affairs Consultant: Renardo Hall
Publications Coordinator: Robert Mosier