CO-FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL

Jeanne has worked as a practitioner and consultant in financial aid and enrollment management for over 20 years. 

Prior to founding BPS, Jeanne was co-founder, President and CEO of Third Coast Higher Education, a national financial aid and enrollment management consulting firm. Jeanne has extensive experience in financial aid and project management, system implementation, compliance, business process review, training, and auditing support. 

Jeanne has wide ranging expertise working with  student information systems, including Oracle PeopleSoft, Ellucian’s Colleague and Banner and College Board PowerFAIDS. She is an expert at developing solutions to improve student service, processing efficiency, and compliance on federal and state financial aid regulations. Her innovative and experienced approach has led to many successful outcomes, including participation in more than thirty Financial Aid Federal Program review responses and related process improvements. Jeanne completed her NASFAA Certified Financial Aid Administrator exam in the fall of 2023.

CO-FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL

Bill is an enrollment management leader with recent posts as Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management at Assumption University and Director of Enrollment at Beloit College.

Bill has built data and analytics teams focused on predictive modeling, reporting, and financial aid leveraging, led admissions departments, oversaw complex enrollment operations, and developed full cycle marketing strategies ranging from search to yield.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has recognized Bill’s expertise in Customer Resource Management (CRM) tools and he has been presented at numerous higher education conferences about his innovative work.

Prior to his most recent appointments, Bill worked in admissions at Marlboro College where serving a student body of fewer than 400 students instilled in him the importance of working collaboratively and broadly with faculty and staff across institutions.

Bill is passionate about the potential for higher education to serve as an engine for social good and economic growth. He received his Bachelor of Arts in sociology, with honors, from Bates College.

CO-FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL

Rob brings more than two decades of experience to client engagements and a proven track record of increasing enrollment and revenue across market segments.

Prior to founding BPS, Rob served as the VP for Enrollment Management at Assumption University, where he was responsible for undergraduate and graduate admissions, financial aid, enrollment marketing, enrollment operations, and athletics.

As VP for Enrollment at Beloit College, Rob led the creation of a multi-year strategic enrollment management plan built on input from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and board members and endorsed by the college’s governing bodies; he also led the team responsible for enrolling Beloit’s largest first-year class since 1975.

Rob has helped public and private institutions develop marketing plans, optimize price increases, and determine student satisfaction and retention drivers.

Rob has presented on enrollment management and financial aid topics at numerous national conferences, including ACT, AACRAO, AMA, and the College Board.

Rob holds master’s and doctoral degrees in social psychology from Princeton University, a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Bates College, and a certificate in enrollment management leadership from the University of Southern California.

CRM & OPERATIONS CONSULTANT

Jessica Brady provides customer relationship management (CRM) services with Best Practice Solutions. Jess has a great deal of experience in multiple types of CRM software, and a proven track record of successfully transitioning schools from one system to another. Most recently, Jess successfully migrated UW Whitewater’s graduate and undergraduate recruitment efforts from Ellucian Recruit to Technolutions Slate. She is also very knowledgeable about FERPA guidelines and has vast experience developing and maintaining an institutional database to support recruitment efforts through event, form and query creation and management.

ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT & PROJECT LEAD

Shanell has extensive experience in recruitment both domestically and internationally. As an enrollment professional, she represented higher education institutions in 17 countries collaborating with high schools, independent counselors, community-based organizations and global alumni networks. She most recently served as the Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Assumption University. Shanell served as a member of the IDEA Committee through NEACAC where she volunteered for the Anti-Racism Initiatives Sub-Committee and participated as a member at large for the International Association for College Admission Counseling. She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Economics and Master’s in Business Administration from Assumption University. As a former international student, Shanell understands the complexity of researching, applying to, and selecting an institution for students and their families. As an admissions leader, this helped her recruit students to the institutions that will be the "right fit" for them academically and socially. Her experiences have provided expertise in the areas of cultural differences, marketing intelligence, data analysis, project management, foreign market entry, advertising, recruitment, and planning and decision-making processes.

SENIOR CRM & ENROLLMENT OPERATIONS CONSULTANT

April Cozine, Senior CRM & Enrollment Operations Consultant, has an extensive and impressive background in academia. Her exceptional collaboration and problem solving skills have been instrumental in her career success. April's most recent role was as the Director of Enrollment Operations at Marymount University, where she managed two instances of Slate and oversaw both undergraduate and graduate admissions processes. Prior to her tenure at Marymount, April spent 15 years at Wichita State University, with nine of those years as the Director of Operations and Systems. In this role, she played a pivotal part in the successful implementation of Slate. Beyond her technical expertise, April has earned a reputation as a collaborative partner who excels in navigating complex initiatives and institutional dynamics.

MARKETING & TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT

Melissa is our marketing and technology expert. With more than 25 years experience in both fields, she has watched digital marketing and social media emerge and evolve, growing her skill set and experience with each new platform along the way. Melissa is adept at digital marketing, user interface design, web design and development, proofreading, copywriting, and copy editing. As she helps colleges create, implement, and manage targeted integrated marketing strategies, Melissa maintains a strong focus on quality standards and a careful eye toward opportunities for process streamlining and improvement.

CONSULTANT

Kevin Dyrland has a passion for data-driven problem-solving. He is known for his inquisitive nature and persistent approach to tackling complex challenges. His expertise lies in report automation, data processing, data development, and statistical analysis.

During his time as the Enrollment Data Scientist at Beloit College, Kevin spearheaded the automation of numerous Financial Aid and Enrollment reports, skillfully integrating data streams to provide actionable insights. He oversaw the creation of more than 10,000 individualized Financial Aid packets sent to 7,000 admitted students, streamlining the process to save time and money and to reduce errors.

Kevin's statistical training enabled him to create an enrollment probability model and evaluate the effectiveness of email campaigns and other enrollment management interventions, enhancing the college's outreach efforts. He holds a MS in Political Science from Florida State and a BS in Economics and Political Science from Coe College.

With his innovative thinking, technical proficiency, and a proven track record of success, Kevin Dyrland is a valuable asset to any project, providing stellar guidance regarding data-driven solutions to complex challenges.

CONSULTANT

Vicki has extensive experience working with a vast array of financial aid systems and software. With more than twenty years of practice in the field, Vicki is an expert in the use and navigation of the National Student Loan Database System, Common Origination and Disbursement, Central Processing System and numerous federal and state financial aid programs. She also has a comprehensive background in working with third party vendor systems to create, process, and edit aid packages. Vicki has developed algorithms for QC rules and automated packaging, and has wide-ranging ability in report writing and data analysis. VIcki is also a NASFAA Certified Financial Aid Administrator, she completed her exam in the fall of 2023.

CONSULTANT

Gavin R. Hamms, Ph.D., is a highly accomplished professional with an impressive background in higher education. He received his Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Management from Grambling State University in 2010 and his Master's in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2012. After beginning his career in higher education as the Manager of Default Prevention at Grambling State University in 2011, where he was promoted to serve as the Director of Financial Aid. During his time as Director of Financial Aid, he was able to streamline several components for the enhancement of student services, and developed a unique understanding of Enrollment Management and Student Success. He went on to receive his Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University in 2016, and used his research to help develop financial literacy initiatives for student success. His highly respected skillset and passion for serving students led him to be appointed as the Chair of the Strategic Enrollment Management Council and then selected as the Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at Grambling State University.

CONSULTANT

Jed Liston is a visionary Higher Education Executive with a rich legacy of innovation in enrollment growth and marketing. With a remarkable career spanning over three decades, Jed has been a catalyst for fostering enduring relationships and enhancing institutional branding. His expertise encompasses a spectrum of skills, from strategic retention initiatives to trend analysis, marketing campaigns, and team leadership.

Throughout his professional journey, Jed's achievements have been nothing short of extraordinary. He led a record-breaking 21 years of consecutive enrollment growth through pioneering relationship marketing and data-driven strategies. He orchestrated engagement with 105,000 alumni nationwide, revamping alumni engagement chapters, launching advocacy campaigns, and introducing an Alumni Virtual Engagement Series. His leadership acumen was recognized through accolades such as the University Teamwork Award and the JB Speer Award for Distinguished Administrative Service. Jed also drove brand transformation, producing impactful recruitment publications, videos, and commercials that positioned the University of Montana as a world-class institution.

Jed's leadership prowess extends to various executive roles, including Assistant Vice President for Admissions & Financial Aid. He earned a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership and a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Sciences & Disorders from the University of Montana. As a seasoned presenter, Jed has shared his insights with various audiences, from moderating Alumni Virtual Engagement Series to delivering workshops on recruiting strategies, team building, and data collection. Jed's legacy of strategic thinking, dynamic leadership, and unwavering commitment to higher education all make him an exceptional asset to the Best Practice Solutions team.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & OFFICE MANAGER

Sarah is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, and has worked in various industries, including hospitality, transportation, and education. Sarah has extensive experience in planning and organizing a myriad of different types of activities and work. Her patience and skills in customer service make her an incredible asset to our team and a skilled collaborator on all types of projects.

CONSULTANT

Jeremiah is an enthusiastic, innovative, and data-driven executive leader who brings 10+ years of experience in business operations, project management, and online product management to the Best Practice Solutions team.

Jeremiah has held several previous roles at institutions of higher education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Connecticut, and Iowa State University in the Registrar’s Office and Student Affairs areas. Additionally, Jeremiah obtained his Masters of Education in Higher Education Administration from Iowa State University.

Jeremiah also brings a wealth of experience in business operations, project management and systems. In the past he has managed teams and projects for well-known companies such as Brad's Deals, cars.com, and HomeFinder.com.

Jeremiah is a skilled problem-solver. He enjoys providing clients with functionality or a process that eases their workload and provides more opportunities for success. He is an expert at identifying inefficiencies, developing alignment strategies, and building the structure to support improvement and continued growth and progress.

As an experienced leader of project teams, Jeremiah has an in-depth understanding of agile development and project management frameworks, and he has successfully managed the end-to-end development lifecycle in a variety of industries. Jeremiah holds a Master's degree in Education from Iowa State University and a BS from Eastern Illinois University.