Candidates for the 2027 Board of DirectorsEach year, the Nominations Committee, in conjunction with leadership from the Board of Directors, propose nominees for each vacant board position to be presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting. This year’s meeting will be in East Lansing on Tuesday, November 17, 2026. Special thank you to the 2026 Nominations Committee: Tricia Westergaard, Oakland University, Immediate Past President and Chair; Lisa Emery, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Past President; Kristi Laramore, Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College, two-year institutions representative; Becky Keogh, Michigan State University, four-year public institutions representative; and Maci Best, University of Detroit-Mercy, four-year private/independent institutions representative. Here are the nominees to be voted on at the upcoming Annual Meeting in November:
Nominations Committee Joe BalinskiRegistrar, North Central Michigan College Joe has worked in higher education since 2005 and currently serves as the Registrar at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, Michigan, a position he has held for nine years. Prior to becoming Registrar, Joe served as an Academic Adviser at North Central Michigan College and as a Site Director for Lake Superior State University for seven years. Joe holds a Master of Education from Grand Valley State University, a Bachelor of Science in Education from Central Michigan University, and an associate degree from St. Clair County Community College. Joe has been an active member of MACRAO for nine years, serving on the Conference Planning Committee, as chair of the Registrar Practices Committee, and on the Nominations Committee. Outside of work, Joe enjoys life in Petoskey, Michigan, with his twin children, two dogs, and two cats.
Nominations Committee Lauren PennerAssistant Director of Recruitment and Admissions, University of Michigan-Dearborn Lauren Penner is a higher education professional at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where she leads the Freshman Recruitment team for domestic and international students. A proud native Michigander and graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy, Lauren also holds a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Penn State. She is actively involved in NACAC affiliate leadership, currently co-chairs the MACRAO Admissions and Recruitment Committee and is passionate about collaboration, advocacy, and supporting enrollment professionals across the profession.
Nominations Committee Deirdre S. BakerVice President of Enrollment and Student Success, Walsh College Deirdre Baker serves as Vice President of Enrollment & Student Success at Walsh College, where she provides strategic leadership across enrollment management, admissions, academic advising, financial aid, marketing, and student success. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, she has built her career around expanding access, strengthening the student experience, and developing collaborative, data-informed strategies that support institutional and student success. Deirdre is an active member of MACRAO and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Enrollment Management Committee. Through her committee leadership, conference presentations, and Lunch with MACRAO programming, she has contributed to professional development and conversations addressing emerging challenges across enrollment management and higher Education. Deirdre holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Franklin University and is a Certified Change Management Professional through the Association of Change Management Professionals. Deirdre is honored to be nominated to represent four-year private and independent institutions on the Nominations Committee. She looks forward to contributing her leadership experience and institutional perspective while helping identify and encourage engaged professionals who reflect the breadth of experience, talent, and perspectives within MACRAO.
President-Elect Jon Davidson Solutions Architect, Enrollment Management, University of Michigan-Flint Jon Davidson has spent 22 years in various roles in public higher education. He currently serves as Solutions Architect for Enrollment Management at the University of Michigan-Flint, where he leads a team of data and technology professionals supporting Admissions, Registrar, Graduate Programs, Financial Aid, and Student Success. Prior to this role, he spent five years as Associate Registrar of Electronic Processes, Systems & Technology at Oakland University, and before that, 13 years at UM-Flint in various roles in Graduate and Undergraduate Admissions, including six years as Director of Admissions. Jon has a passion for strategy, process design, technical solutions, and transfer articulation. He enjoys the intersection of enrollment and IT/systems sides of higher education. An active member of MACRAO since 2012, Jon has served in various capacities, including Data and Technology & Web Ad-Hoc Committees (2018-2019), Registrars' Practices (2019-2021), Co-Chair of Registrars' Practices (2021), Professional Development Coordinator (2022-2024), and interim Secretary (2024). Jon holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Michigan-Flint.
Treasurer Elect Chris RemleyAssociate Registrar - Graduation and Compliance, Grand Rapids Community College It has been an honor serving as your MACRAO Treasurer, and I am eager to continue supporting our organization's mission and membership for another term. In my current role as Treasurer, I have prioritized accurate reporting, maximizing returns on our savings, and efficient processing of payments and reimbursement to ensure MACRAO remains on solid fiscal ground. I bring both organizational memory and steady leadership to the Board. If re-elected, I will maintain our high standards of fiscal integrity, ensure seamless financial oversight for our annual events, and support the strategic growth of our association. I appreciate your vote and the opportunity to continue serving MACRAO.
Communications Coordinator Bre BakerMichigan Technological University Bre Baker has been a member of MACRAO since she started in college admissions nine years ago. She has been an active member of the Admissions & Recruitment Committee and the joint MACRAO/MACAC Michigan College Fairs Committee. Her favorite part about being a MACRAO member is the personal connections she has made, as well as the opportunity to gain insight on topics outside of her admissions scope. Bre looks forward to continuing her role as Communications Coordinator! Bre holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in communication from Central Michigan University
Web Editor Bob GriffithSenior Systems and Data Analyst, Oakland University Bob Griffith serves as the Senior Systems and Data Analyst for the Office of the Registrar at Oakland University, where he leverages extensive experience with Banner, Degree Works, Argos, and SQL to support academic operations and data-driven decision-making. Additionally, Bob serves as the President-Elect and Webmaster of BUG-MI (Banner User Group of Michigan), where he has been an active member for eight years, helping foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among Michigan's Banner community. Previously, Bob held leadership positions at Ferris State University for over a decade, including Director of MyDegree and MyDegree System Administrator, accumulating 15+ years of experience across various areas of higher education technology and student services. His academic credentials include a B.A.A. in Graphic Design from Central Michigan University, an M.Ed. in Community College Leadership from Grand Valley State University, an M.S. in Information Security and Intelligence with Certificates in Business Intelligence and Project Management from Ferris State University, and an Ed.D. in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University. Outside of work, Bob enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and two dogs—whether on the lake aboard their pontoon, bowling, or engaging in spirited discussions about Disney, Star Wars, and all things pop culture.
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