Affinity Groups
Affinity Groups bring together leaders in similar roles—such as Provosts, Vice Presidents for Research, Graduate Deans, and others—to share insights and coordinate strategies that advance the goals of the Alliance. These groups meet regularly and follow a shared leadership model with rotating roles: Chair, Chair-Elect, and Past Chair. Through these collaborative structures, Affinity Groups offer both strategic guidance and practical advice to help align institutional efforts with Alliance priorities.
Provosts and Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs
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Purpose: Serve as the Alliance’s primary academic‑affairs advisers—ensuring that HSRU initiatives align with institutional priorities, leverage faculty expertise, and advance campus‑wide strategies for student and faculty success, as needed and relevant.
Group Chair
Tamara Brown
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
The University of Texas at Arlington
Past Chair
Chris Heavey
Interim President
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Vice Presidents and Vice Chancellors for Research
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Purpose: Provide research‑focused counsel to the Alliance—vetting HSRU initiatives against institutional research priorities, connecting campus experts, and shaping collective strategies that amplify member strengths.
Group Chair
Winston Schoenfeld
Vice President for Research and Innovation
University of Central Florida
Chair Elect
Pamela Padilla
Vice President for Research and Innovation
University of North Texas
Government Relations Officers
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Purpose: Coordinate federal‑ and state‑level policy engagement for the Alliance by aligning advocacy strategies, sharing timely intel, leveraging institutional delegations, and ensuring that HSRU interests are effectively represented.
Group Chair
Kathy Eiler
Sr. Director of Federal Relations
University of California, Riverside
Co-Chair
Phillip Harman
Director of Research
University of California, Washington Center
Co-Chair
Melissa Haas
Associate Director of Federal Relations
University of Illinois, Chicago
Institutional Research and Assessment
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Purpose: Provide analytic leadership for the Alliance by creating and stewarding shared data resources, integrating trusted external datasets, and translating quantitative findings into clear narratives that guide strategy and demonstrate collective impact—laying a foundation that can expand as new data‑sharing opportunities emerge.
Group Chair
Jennifer Wilken
Associate Vice Provost
Arizona State University
Purpose: Provide guidance and leadership in graduate‑education efforts across the Alliance by sharing effective campus approaches, building synergies among HSRU institutions, and advising on strategies that strengthen doctoral pathways and student success—translating individual strengths into collective impact.
Group Chair
Peter Biehl
Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate Division
University of California, Santa Cruz
Co-Chair
Marisol Perez
Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Academic Enrollment
Arizona State University
