University of Phoenix Vice Provost Marc Booker selected as dean of Leadership Development Institute for PACRAO

The Institute aims to provide professional development opportunities for emerging leaders

University of Phoenix announces that Marc Booker, Ph.D., vice provost of Strategy, has been selected as dean of the Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (PACRAO) Leadership Development Institute. PACRAO is a regional affiliate of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), a non-profit, voluntary, professional association of over 11,000 higher education professionals representing about 2,600 institutions in over 40 countries. PACRAO provides an avenue for regional members to contribute to the general advancement of higher education, their professions, and their individual careers. The PACRAO Leadership Development Institute was started with the intent to provide a development opportunity for emerging leaders in the professional arenas that PACRAO serves.

“Marc is truly a servant leader whose depth of knowledge and dedication to the profession make him a natural fit for the role,” states John Woods, Ph.D., provost and chief academic officer. “His expertise and leadership have positively impacted both policy and outcomes at the University, and he continues to serve others coming up in the profession. Marc is a fantastic example of our real-world leaders making impactful contributions across higher education.”

The Leadership Development Institute, started in 2018, accepts cohorts of 10-15 professionals early in their careers who aspire to leadership roles at their institutions and with PACRAO. Each cohort is carefully selected to represent the diverse experiences of the students who will be served in the coming decades. Cohorts work with dedicated faculty, made up of PACRAO members who have distinguished themselves in the Admissions and Registrar fields, and who have served as leaders in the PACRAO community.

A carefully constructed curriculum exposes cohort members to literature, group conversation, guest speakers and more. The Leadership Development Institute aims to provide participants with a transformative experience and impart critical knowledge that higher education leaders must possess to be effective in their roles.

“I am honored to be selected to serve as dean of the PACRAO Leadership Development Institute,” shares Booker. “As a long-time member of the Association, I am dedicated to the work we do to foster the professional development of future higher education leaders. The Leadership Development Institute supports pathways of development for admissions and registrar professionals to grow in progressively more responsible roles on campus to make a positive impact on the future generation of students to come that we serve.”

Dr. Booker served as the President for the Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers in 2016 and has served as a faculty member for the Association’s Leadership Development Institute. Since 2009, Booker also has been a regular speaker, contributor, and subject matter expert at national and regional conferences for AACRAO, PACRAO, The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, EDUCAUSE, and Anthology Together, sharing insight on various topics including leadership, process improvement, change management, prior learning assessment, transfer credit, and articulation.

As Vice Provost for Strategy at the University of Phoenix, Booker oversees critical path academic initiatives to improve the student experience such as learning platform implementations, curricular enhancements, and developing empathetic solutions to drive improved student outcomes through data. In 2020, Booker received a Hall of Fame recognition from Blackboard for his contributions in providing thought leadership and innovation in education.

Booker has been an employee of the University of Phoenix since 2001.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life® help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.