Using the Power Patience to Reengage Stop Out Students

Allison Turcio, Ed.D., is Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Siena College, a marketing professor, freelance marketing consultant, host of The Application Podcast, and publisher of the Higher Education Marketer's Digest. She is known for her innovative and student-centered approach to college-wide marketing, market research, and enrollment communications efforts. The Siena team and their partners have won numerous awards, including a Best in Show Educational Advertising Award and AMA's inaugural Emerging Marketer in Higher Education Award She is a frequent presenter at industry conferences, including American Marketing Association’s Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, eduWeb and others. She serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Education Advancement & Marketing. Allison was selected for the Albany Business Review 40 Under 40 and Siena College’s Excellence in Administration award in 2020. She holds a doctorate degree in higher education leadership from Northeastern University, a master’s in communications and bachelor’s in English.

La'Tonya "LT" Rease Miles, Ph.D. is a Director of University Partnerships at ReUp Education. A first-generation college graduate and former "stop out" student, LT has established two successful programs for first-generation college students — one at UCLA and the other at Loyola Marymount University—both recognized as First-gen Forward institutions. She regularly consults with institutions nationally concerning first-gen students and also has advised local high schools about developing programs on their campus. Finally, she established and manages a national Facebook group, "Empowering First Generation Students" and is the Chief Strategist for the "First Gen & Juice" brand. Prior to this position, LT was on the Leadership team at Career Launch and was Dean of Student Affairs at Menlo College, where she also spearheaded campus-wide initiatives that address student food insecurity and established resources for students who identify as "non-traditional," including commuters, parents/caregivers, and returning adults. She earned a Ph.D. in American literature from UCLA; and her research interests include the hidden curriculum in higher education, narratives about the first-generation college experience, and the representation of first-generation students in popular culture. Her most recent publication explores the positive relationships between campus service workers and first-generation students. Further, LT is passionate about NBA basketball, college football, “Friday Night Lights," and "The Flash."