September 12, 2025
Council will guide statewide efforts to improve transfer systems, strengthen collaboration, and boost degree completion
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) today announced the launch of its Advisory Council on Transfer Success (ACTS) within the Office of Higher Education (OHE). The council will guide statewide efforts to strengthen collaboration across Michigan’s community colleges and public universities, expand pathways to degree completion, and prepare more learners for in-demand careers in Michigan.
“The ability to transfer should be a bridge, not a barrier,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “The Advisory Council on Transfer Success brings together leaders from across Michigan’s education institutions to drive bold, student-centered change, simplify pathways, and create a system where every student has the opportunity to finish their degree and access meaningful, in-demand jobs.”
The council builds on MiLEAP’s ongoing work toward Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal, which seeks to increase the number of working-age adults with a postsecondary degree or certificate to 60% by the year 2030. As part of its charge, ACTS will champion transfer success as an institutional and statewide priority, supporting MiLEAP’s efforts to navigate the transfer landscape, engage relevant partners, and advocate for productive change.
“Streamlined transfer pathways are critical to helping students stay on track and complete their degrees,” said Dr. Katie Giardello, Transfer Success Project Manager within MiLEAP’s Office of Higher Education. “With the Advisory Council’s leadership, we can make transfer simpler and more predictable so that more students can achieve their educational and career goals.”
A major role of the council is guiding and overseeing the state’s Transfer Success Project, which is designed to streamline credit transfers between institutions and improve success rates for transfer students. In line with the project, some of ACTS immediate priorities include:
The council brings together leaders from across Michigan’s higher education who will guide this work:
| Institution | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Alma College | Mariah Orzolek | Registrar |
| Bay College | Amy Reddinger | Vice President of Academic Affairs and Educational Equity |
| Davenport University | Rebekah Immanuel | Associate Director of Articulation |
| Delta College | David Hopkins | Dean of Transfer Programs and Online Learning |
| Eastern Michigan University | Doris Fields | Associate Provost and Associate Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Programming |
| Grand Valley State University | Adams Downs | Assistant Vice President of Alternative, Prior and Workforce Learning |
| Kellogg Community College | Tonya Forbes | Vice President for Instruction |
| Kettering University | John Waldo | Associate Director of Transfer Admissions |
| Michigan State University | Dave Weatherspoon | Vice Provost of Enrollment and Academic Strategic Planning |
| Michigan Technological University | Theresa Jacques | Registrar |
| Northwestern Michigan College | Stephen Siciliano | Vice President for Educational Services |
| Northwood University | Christie McDonald | Executive Director of Enrollment and Financial Aid |
| Oakland Community College | Kimberly Hurns | Vice Chancellor for Student Services |
| University of Michigan - Dearborn | Urana Pridemore | Director of Undergraduate Enrollment Management |
| Washtenaw Community College | Brandon Tucker | Executive Vice President for Instruction |
| Wayne State University | Darryl Gardner | Vice Provost for Student Success, Support, and Engagement |
Members will meet quarterly and are expected to serve through June 2027, coinciding with the end of the Transfer Success Project.
For more information about MiLEAP’s Office of Higher Education and its work to expand pathways to student success, visit Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.
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