Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Chair: Shawn Ficadenti, James Madison University (VA)
Vice Chair: Melissa Ward, St. Mary's High School (MD)

Special Interest Groups bring colleagues together to explore a topic or population in higher education / K-12 through discussion, networking and resource sharing. PCACAC has served as a leading affiliate in many ways, including launching our very own SIGs in 2018. Since then, we have grown from three to ten SIGs.

Special Interest Groups Directory

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander:

Joyce Lee, University of Utah (UT)
Rachel Southern, Franklin & Marshall College (PA)

Join us for the first meetup of the inaugural Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander SIG! We will meet right before the VACRAO Chesapeake College Fair for bubble tea and camaraderie. Come say hello!

October 27
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Tapioca Go
1434 Sam's Drive #106
Chesapeake, VA 23320

Black & African American:

Candace Leake, University of Rochester (NY)
Shameek Robinson, S.T.R.I.V.E. LLC (DC)

Community Based Organizations (CBOs):

SIG Leadership search in progress

Community College & Transfer Students:

Melloney Johnson, Matoaca High School (VA)
Stephanie Stahler, McDaniel College (MD)

The Community College & Transfer Student SIG invites you to join us for our virtual kick-off meeting
Friday, October 24
10:30-11:15am
Zoom: https://mcdaniel-edu.zoom.us/j/99175741229

Passcode:887661

Possible Topics: dual enrollment, early college, homeschool, and 2-year to 4-year transfer.
We welcome your thoughts and contributions to these evolving conversations
and how we can further provide transparency as colleagues to help support students as they consider their next steps.

Disabilities & Neurodiversity

Susie Hudgins, Blooming Brains Coaching (VA)
Ann-Marie Stripling, Focus Collegiate (MA)

Join the PCACAC Disabilities and Neurodiversity SIG for virtual coffee and conversation. We look forward to seeing you at 9:00 am (ET) on
October 24
December 5
February 20
REGISTER for these Zoom meetings:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email message that includes information about joining the meeting.

First-Generation College Students:

Jahnelle McMillan, Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA) (NY)
Ashleigh Tillman, George Mason University (VA)

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Whitney Ceaser, Richard Bland College of William & Mary (VA)
Amani Manning, Common App (VA)

Independent Educational Consultants

Missy Moreland, Moreland and Associates Educational Consulting LLC (MD)
Ricardo Ortegon, GPS College Guidance (MD)

Latiné:

Wendy Ayala, Collegiate Directions, Inc. (MD)
Kevin Medina, Georgetown Preparatory School (DC)

LGBTQ+ Ally:

Andi Burke, St. John's College, (MD)
Raquel Sobczak, University of Maryland, College Park (MD)

Rural/Small Town:

Tim Danos, University of Delaware (DE)

If you have an idea for a new SIG or would you like to get connected to the leaders and members of our current SIGs, please contact the chair.
We are looking forward to seeing the number of SIGs grow. YOU may be just the leader that we need for our newest SIG!