Meet Lindsey Myers and Amanda Wornhoff, the newest HLC vice presidents of accreditation relations. As they get started in their high-touch liaison roles, the two share background, views and goals in the following, separate Q&As.

Lindsey Myers

Tell us about yourself and your work with HLC.

I joined HLC’s team of staff liaisons in January. Before joining HLC, my career focused on higher education policy, institutional effectiveness, and student success initiatives. Much of my work has involved helping colleges and universities use data and evidence to improve outcomes for students and to better communicate the value they provide to learners, families, employers, and communities. I’m also a first-generation college graduate, and was a graduate student parent, so these populations have a special place in my heart and my work.

What has been your past experience/relationship with accreditation?

My prior roles at Anne Arundel Community College and the American Council on Education both related to accreditation. I’ve worked closely with colleges and universities on issues related to quality assurance, student outcomes, and regulatory expectations, which often intersect with accreditation processes. Through that work, I developed a deep appreciation for the role accreditation plays in supporting institutional improvement while maintaining public trust in higher education. At ACE, I was founding director of the Learner Success Lab program. I also have been adjunct faculty with Southern New Hampshire University for more than a decade.

What has struck you most during your first few months with HLC?

What has struck me most is the commitment across HLC—to students, to institutional quality, and to the peer review process itself. I’ve been impressed by how thoughtfully my diverse portfolio of institutions approaches continuous improvement and by the expertise and dedication of the peer reviewers who volunteer their time to support the process.

What do you most look forward to moving ahead?

Building the future of learning! I’m looking forward to building relationships with the institutions I serve and supporting them as they navigate accreditation issues and the larger challenges that face postsecondary education.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring new places. Last month, we had the opportunity to spend the weekend in an 1852 farmhouse owned by the National Park Service and situated on the Gettysburg battlefield! I also try to give back by volunteering at a local cat rescue where I do fund raising. I also scoop about 1,300 litter boxes annually!

Amanda Wornhoff

Tell us about yourself and your work with HLC.

I joined HLC as vice president of accreditation relations in January. I began my career in higher education as faculty, and I have held leadership roles related to curriculum, assessment, student success, faculty affairs, and institutional effectiveness. My work is grounded in a commitment to providing accessible, high-quality learning experiences to all students, regardless of background. My approach to quality assurance aims to be responsive to institutional context and grounded in the daily realities of faculty, staff, and students.

What has been your past experience/relationship with accreditation? 

Most recently, I served as assistant provost for institutional effectiveness and research at Austin Peay State University, where my responsibilities included assessment, program review, institutional data, and state and federal compliance. As part of that work, I contributed to APSU’s institutional and program accreditation processes. Prior to this, I was assistant provost for core curriculum and assessment at Roosevelt University, where I oversaw processes that supported accreditation, such as general education, assessment, faculty development, and student support. At Roosevelt, I also received a service award for working with first-generation students, which has had special meaning, as I am a first-generation college graduate myself. I also was a co-presenter at HLC’s 2015 annual conference where I shared my experience co-leading Foundations of Excellence in the first-year experience.

What has struck you most during your first few months with HLC? 

The word I’d use to describe my first few months at HLC is “collegiality,” though I mean that in a deeper sense than the way the term is often used. Of course, people have been welcoming and supportive, but what has really stood out to me is how collegiality is a foundational principle of HLC’s work. Seeing the peer review process from the inside has been especially impressive—the professionalism and dedication of our peer reviewers, and the incredible work HLC staff do to recruit, train, and support them in order to make meaningful quality assurance possible. Collegiality is, of course, a core principle of the liaison role; learning from and observing my new liaison colleagues has solidified for me that I’m in the right place. As liaisons, we get to support colleagues across HLC institutions and they, in turn, support us in many ways with their time and expertise. It’s been really inspiring to see this vast network of colleagues across higher ed supporting each other to support quality educational experiences for students.

What do you most look forward to moving ahead? 

One of the things I’m most excited about is continuing to deepen my appreciation for the many ways institutions serve students through their missions. I’m really looking forward to supporting institutions as they engage with HLC’s mission-centered framework and think about adapting and innovating in ways that best serve students. One of the reasons I was drawn to HLC is my strong belief in the value of variety in higher education—different institutions meeting the needs of students and society in different ways. I’ve long been interested in how accreditation can support rather than hinder a variety of approaches to higher ed. Even in my first few months at HLC, I’ve had the opportunity to engage with institutions across the country with a wide range of missions. I’m very much looking forward to continuing to learn about all the unique ways our institutions serve students and working with them to find new ways to continue to do so.

What do you like to do in your free time?  

 I enjoy cooking, traveling, watching live music, and cheering at soccer matches. My husband and I have been Major League Soccer season ticket holders for more than a decade. While we’re currently rooting for the Nashville Soccer Club, we’re looking forward to returning to cheer on our home team, Chicago Fire FC, when we relocate back to Chicago this summer.