ABHES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Accreditation Specialist
Alison Roope Joined ABHES in April 2022 and is currently a Senior Accreditation Specialist. Her primary responsibilities include application review, strategic project support, and peer review visits. She also serves as a staff liaison to the Substantive Change Committee, the Distance Education Committee, and the Pharmacy Technician Committee.
Ms. Roope has nearly 20 years of higher education accreditation, licensure, and compliance experience. Throughout her career, Ms. Roope has served as an Accreditation Specialist, Compliance Officer, Associate Director of Compliance, and Director of Operations in postsecondary institutions. She is an active member of the education community, serving on advisory boards, regulatory committees, and evaluation teams.
Job Titles:
- Accreditation Coordinator
joined ABHES in October 2022 and currently serves as an Accreditation Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits. As a coordinator, Ms. Smith provides support and interpretive guidance on accreditation standards to institutions and evaluators before, during, and after the on-site visit.
Education
Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Bachelor of Arts in Hearing and Speech Sciences and Disorders, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Job Titles:
- Associate Executive Director of Membership Services
joined ABHES in August 2003 and currently serves as the Associate Executive Director of Membership Services, Ms. Rowe oversees the initial and renewal accreditation activities and manages the Commission's school agenda. She is also responsible for overseeing the development and maintenance of various training opportunities for member institutions and programs and co-presents workshops and webinars. Additionally, she is responsible for conducting preliminary consultation visits to confirm applicant eligibility and readiness to undergo the evaluation process. Ms. Rowe is a member of the ABHES Leadership Team.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Brandy Clinkscale joined ABHES in October 2016 as the Office Manager. Ms. Clinkscale's primary responsibilities include general office oversight, processing of change in director notifications, annual conference and workshop preparation, and administrative assistance to the leadership team. Prior to joining ABHES, Brandy worked for 10 plus years in the banking industry.
Job Titles:
- Associate Executive Director of Program Development and Innovation
Crystal Calarusse serves as the Associate Executive Director of Program Development and Innovation. Ms. Calarusse joined ABHES in August 2020. She oversees ABHES' Program Department and manages the review process for institutional changes, and ensures policies are consistently applied when analyzing and processing program-related applications. She is also responsible for leading initiatives relative to distance education and other higher education trends, including monitoring and tracking regulatory changes by state licensing, national credentialing and federal authorities that impact program-specific operations.
joined ABHES in October 2019 as the Office Manager. Ms. Thelemaque's primary responsibilities include general office oversight, processing of change in director notifications, annual conference and workshop preparation, and administrative assistance to the leadership team. Denise comes with 25+ years of combined experience providing high-quality training and management in the banking and financial services industry and executive-level client services in various industries.
Education
Master of Arts in Management and Professional Studies, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
Job Titles:
- Director of Accreditation
Ms. Brennan joined the ABHES staff in 2007. As Director of Accreditation, Ms. Brennan oversees the visit process for accreditation, training of accreditation coordinators, and manages the agendas for Commissioner considerations. She also oversees the approval process of change in legal status, ownership, or form of control and addition of non-main or satellite campus applications. Ms. Brennan serves as liaison to Preliminary Review Committee and a member of the ABHES Leadership Team.
Previously, Ms. Brennan was employed at the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) where she served as Associate Director of Quality Assurance and, in earlier years, as an Accreditation Coordinator. She also served for four years as an Education Analyst for the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
Enoch Kasambara joined ABHES in February 2016 as our Bookkeeper. Mr. Kasambara is primarily responsible in supporting the Manager of Operations in the recording of cash receipts; bank deposit preparation; accounts payable and receivable; month and year-end reconciliation of accounts in accounting; and provides administrative support for Operations. Prior to joining ABHES, Mr. Kasambara has 6 years of accounting experience in corporate accounting and payroll processing.
Ms. Gina Rice-Holland joined ABHES in November 2019 and currently serves as the Program Specialist. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits.
Job Titles:
- Accreditation Coordinator
joined ABHES in November 2021 and currently serves as an Accreditation Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits. As a coordinator, Ms. Boers provides support and interpretive guidance on accreditation standards to institutions and evaluators before, during, and after the on-site visit.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, Point University, West Point, Georgia
is a Junior Staff Accountant. She joined ABHES in 2023. Her primary responsibilities are posting journal entries, updating financial statements, maintaining accounts receivable and accounts payable, paying monthly payroll, and processing retirement contributions. Hasna's duties also include providing support for annual audit and financial tax compliance records and assisting in the annual budging process. Prior to working at ABHES, Hasna worked in the accounting field for more than ten years.
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration, Institut Superieur de Gestion et de Commerce, Casablanca, Morocco
Job Titles:
- Senior Project Manager
- Manager of Compliance, Development and Quality Assurance
has been with ABHES since May 2010 and now serves as the Senior Project Manager. Her primary responsibilities include developing and maintaining the information systems including the accreditation management and annual report management systems. Additionally, she assists with all activities related to institutional and programmatic annual reporting. Ms. Doering also serves as a staff liaison to the Annual Review Committee.
Education
Master of Business Administration, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, Strayer University, Woodbridge, VA
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Interim Executive Director
- Executive Director of the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
- Interim Executive Director of the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
India Tips currently serves as the Executive Director of the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). She is responsible for overseeing the daily operations and all accreditation activities, including the review and implementation of Commission-directed actions. She serves as the liaison to state and federal regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Department of Education, national and other accrediting agencies, and credentialing bodies in the health field.
India Tips currently serves as the Interim Executive Director of the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). She is responsible for overseeing the daily operations and all accreditation activities, including the review and implementation of Commission-directed actions. She serves as the liaison to state and federal regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Department of Education, national and other accrediting agencies, and credentialing bodies in the health field.
Ms. Tips joined ABHES in November 1995. In her 23-year tenure, her experience spans the full spectrum of accreditation, membership services, and operations. She developed the educational content and curricula for the required trainings for initial and renewal applicants where she has been the lead presenter for nearly 15 years. She has participated in and supported efforts for more than five petitions for re-recognition by the U.S. Department of Education. Ms. Tips also serves as the staff liaison to the Commission's Standards Review Committee (SRC) charged to review all components of the Accreditation Manual to ensure its content is relevant, adequate, and predictive of successful qualitative outcomes. She has been instrumental in the management and successful execution of 16 conferences serving more than 400 attendees and exhibitors annually, and has performed hundreds of accreditation visits to institutions seeking initial and renewal ABHES accreditation.
Job Titles:
- Accreditation Coordinator
Mr. Miller joined the ABHES team in April 2017. His primary responsibility includes planning on-site evaluation visits and coordinating these visits through travel with the teams. Prior to joining ABHES, he worked in risk management and IT fields serving primarily in QA and Data Analyst roles.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management and BA minor in Business Administration, University of Maryland University College, College Park, MD
Job Titles:
- Director of Programs, Curricula and Financial Assessment
Ms. Laing joined ABHES in April 2015 and serves as the Director of Programs, Curricula and Financial Assessment. Her primary responsibilities include management of the program and curricula review process, including the approval of program related applications, reviewing updates on trends in the industry, and scheduling program-related advisory committees to update program standards. In addition, she is a staff liaison to the Financial Review Committee and a member of the ABHES leadership team.
Job Titles:
- Accreditation Coordinator
Ms. Scanlon joined the ABHES team in October 2016. Her primary responsibility includes planning on-site evaluation visits and coordinating these visits through travel with the teams. Prior to working with ABHES Julia interned at the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, as well as worked as an editor for an online publication.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in English and Theatre, Saint Michael's College, Colchester VT
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Accreditation
Ms. Costello joined ABHES in June 2013 and currently serves as the Associate Director of Accreditation. Her primary responsibilities include training and assisting travel staff in conducting visits as well as managing the ABHES Standards Review Committee.
joined ABHES in October 2023 and serves as an Accreditation Specialist. Khairi Scott was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, and enjoys helping others. If he could choose one word to describe himself, it would be "servant." He believes we can make the world a better place through servant leadership. In his spare time, he volunteers as a Hospice Coordinator for the terminally ill and provides end-of-life palliative care for each person's needs. A fun fact about Khairi is that he is a videographer for weddings, birthdays, engagements, and other special events.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Biology, The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, PA
Master of Science in Human Resources, The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, PA
Job Titles:
- Accreditation Coordinator
- Manager of Membership Services
Mr. Boyles joined ABHES in June 2015 and currently serves as the Manager of Membership Services. His responsibilities include planning on-site evaluation visits, conducting preliminary visits to confirm applicant eligibility and readiness to undergo the evaluation process, and co-presenting the Accreditation Workshop, Program Effectiveness Plan Workshop, and various webinars for initial and renewal applicants. Additionally, he serves as the staff liaison to the Financial Review Committee (FRC), Preliminary Review Committee (PRC), and the Surgical Technology Programmatic Accreditation Committee (ST-PAC). He also works with the Substantive Change Committee (SCC) to process change in legal status, ownership, or control applications.
Mr. Boyles joined ABHES in June 2015 and serves as an Accreditation Coordinator. His primary responsibility includes planning on-site evaluation visits and coordinating these visits through travel with the teams. He also serves as a staff liaison to the Financial Review Committee. Prior to joining ABHES, he worked as an ESL instructor in South Korea and as a business English trainer in Germany.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Studies, Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- in 2007 As an Administrative Assistant
Laurie Hart joined ABHES in 2007 as an Administrative Assistant. Ms. Hart is primarily responsible for assisting with workshop and conference preparations and registration; provides technology assistance to include IT helpdesk support; and provides general administrative support to staff.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Job Titles:
- Accreditation Development Specialist
Ms. Lee joined ABHES in April 2017 and serves as the Accreditation Development Specialist. Her responsibilities include planning on-site evaluation visits and coordinating these visits through travel with the teams, as well as, assisting with the development and management of information systems and the ABHES website. Prior to joining ABHES, she worked in accreditation and compliance as a Project Manager for a private post-secondary institution for 4 years.
She also serves a a staff liasion to teh Annual Review Committee (ARC).
Education
Master of Science, Computer Information Systems - Database Management and Business Intelligence, Boston University, Boston, MA
Bachelor of Arts in Art, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Ms. Coughlin joined ABHES in June 2013 as an Accreditation Coordinator and serves as the Manager of Programs. Her primary responsibility is processing program related applications. She also plans on-site evaluation visits and coordinates these visits through travel with the teams and is a staff liaison to the Programmatic Accreditation Committee's for Medical Assisting, Medical Laboratory Technology, and Surgical Technology.
Prior to joining ABHES, she served as a manager's assistant in the financial services firm Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and for the past year has been employed at Coughlin Transportation Inc., a company that provides private bus services. She managed human resources, processed accounts payable, and planed and organized events, including site research and budget and expense management.
joined ABHES in June 2021 as an Accreditation Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits. As a coordinator, Ms. Moten provides support and interpretive guidance on accreditation standards to institutions and evaluators before, during, and after the on-site visit.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Political Science, UNC-Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Ms. Melissa Santillana joined ABHES in May 2021 and currently services as a Program Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits. As a coordinator, Ms. Santillana provides support and interpretive guidance on accreditation standards to institutions and evaluators before, during, and after the onsite visit.
Education
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies with a Concentration in Elementary Education, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Job Titles:
- Accreditation Coordinator
- Senior Accreditation Coordinator
Ms. Wazhma Ibrahim joined ABHES in September 2015 and currently serves as an Accreditation Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits. Prior to joining ABHES, she worked as an Office Manager for a consulting group in Vienna, Virginia.
joined ABHES in September 2015 and currently serves as a Senior Accreditation Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include planning specialized on-site evaluation visits, coordinating these visits through travel with the teams. Ms. Ibrahim is the staff liaison to the Programmatic Accreditation Committees for Medical Assisting and Medical Laboratory Technology. Additionally, she serves on the ABHES Standard Review Committee and works closely with ABHES evaluators.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communications, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Ms. Tamara (Tammy) Llewellyn joined ABHES in November 2013. As the Manager of Operations, Ms. Llewellyn is responsible for ABHES office administration activities; Human Resources and Benefits Administration; General Accounting; Accounts Payable and Receivable; Budget; and Payroll Administration. She assists the Finance Committee and coordinates external service contracts and facilities management activities. Prior to joining ABHES, Ms. Llewellyn holds 30 plus years in administrative activities.
Vicmar Paz-Morales joined ABHES in April 2023 and currently serves as Manager of Operations. In her role, she is responsible for the day-to-day operations of managing the Accounting Department, Vendors, Events & Conferences, and HR-related matters.
Vicmar has dedicated her career to supporting the professional and academic advancement of young professionals. Her experience within non-profit management includes seven years with the Hispanic College Fund and ten years experience in higher education.
Vicmar has dedicated her career to supporting the professional and academic advancement of young professionals. Her experience within non-profit management includes seven years with the Hispanic College Fund and ten years experience in higher education.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Marymount University, Arlington, VA
Project Manager Certificate, Georgetown University, Washington, DC