Focused on Student Success
Developing Leaders at Texas Tech Health El Paso
Araceli Moreno One of 10 Scholars Across the U.S. Accepted Into Prestigious AACRAO ASCEND Leadership Program
Araceli Moreno, M.Ed., is part of an important team in Student Affairs and Student Engagement that helps students navigate a path to success at Texas Tech Health El Paso.
Moreno, associate director of financial aid and veterans affairs coordinator, was recently selected for a prestigious nine-month leadership development program hosted by AACRAO, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
Araceli Moreno, M.Ed.
Moreno is one of 10 scholars from across the United States chosen to participate in the 2024-2025 ASCEND program, which aims to prepare mid-career professionals from historically underrepresented backgrounds for leadership positions in student enrollment management, a field dedicated to student success in higher education.
“Participating in this program is an incredible opportunity to not only advance my professional skills but also contribute more effectively to the success and well-being of our students,” Moreno said. “I'm eager to apply the knowledge and insights gained to make a meaningful impact at Texas Tech Health Paso and further my career in higher education administration.”
ASCEND will expose the scholars to curriculum, coaching and mentorship as it teaches the concepts of strategic enrollment management, known as SEM. SEM is a comprehensive process, focusing on the end-to-end higher education journey: attracting students, enrolling and retaining them, and finally, graduating them.
Moreno describes SEM as a holistic approach to managing students’ higher-education experience.
“It involves collaboration with different departments: admissions, financial aid, student services, and student affairs to ensure an institution meets its enrollment goals and, most importantly, supports student success,” she said.
ASCEND will provide countless learning and networking opportunities for Moreno and her fellow program scholars. Three times a month, they will participate in two-hour virtual classroom sessions led by AACRAO’s team of SEM faculty and coaches, representing universities across North America.
The scholars also will travel to attend events and conferences across the country to learn from seasoned SEM experts and mentors. Destinations include AACRAO’s 34th annual SEM Conference in Boston in November and the organization’s 110th Annual Meeting in Seattle in March 2025.
Moreno looks forward to using the knowledge she gains from the program – and the valuable connections she makes in the higher-education field – to elevate student success at Texas Tech Health El Paso. As an ASCEND scholar, Moreno will shine bright as a leader in the Student Affairs and Student Engagement office.
“The ASCEND Leadership Development Program will equip me with invaluable skills in team management, decision-making, and mentorship, enabling me to inspire and guide my team more effectively,” Moreno said. “By honing these leadership abilities, I can better support student success through strategic planning, fostering a collaborative environment, and advocating for their academic and personal growth.”