Office of Planning and Assessment Staff
Jennifer S. Hughes, Ph.D.

Managing Director, Office of Planning and Assessment
Email: jennifer.s.hughes@ttu.edu
Jennifer Hughes is Managing Director of the Office of Planning and Assessment (OPA) at Texas Tech University. She earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Research from Texas Tech University in 2015, a Master of Science in Communication from Illinois State University in 1996, and a Bachelor of Science in Speech from Northwestern University in 1995. Jennifer's dissertation explored faculty compliance in academic assessment practices, specifically studying the ways in which assessment professionals collaborated with faculty members to achieve compliance. Jennifer's philosophy for working alongside faculty is informed by her dissertation research, and she takes a collaborative and supportive approach to accreditation compliance.
Dr. Hughes began her career in the Office of Planning & Assessment as an Analyst in
2008. In 2011, she was promoted to Director, and then Managing Director in 2015. She
has significant experience leading and supporting SACSCOC compliance efforts for the
institution. Jennifer has participated in the following TTU compliance reports: Third
Monitoring Report (2008); Good Cause Report (2008); Fifth-Year Interim Report (2010);
Special Report (2010); QEP Impact Report (2010); Compliance Certification Report (2015);
Monitoring Report (2015) and TTUCR Substantive Change Committee Visit Report (2018).
Jennifer has also previously served as a reviewer on an international SACSCOC Reaffirmation
Committee visit. Currently, Dr. Hughes is working on Texas Tech's 2021 Fifth-Year
Interim Report.
In May 2019, Dr. Hughes was elected President of the Texas Association for Higher
Education Assessment (TxAHEA). TxAHEA is a Texas-based association that seeks to provide
professional development opportunities for assessment practitioners.
Prior to joining OPA, Dr. Hughes held full-time teaching positions in the Rawls College
of Business and South Plains College. Before moving to Texas, Jennifer worked in the
Colorado Community College and Occupational Education System where she held positions
in institutional research and marketing. On a personal note, Jennifer is married with
three teenagers: Jack (17), Mary Kate (15), and Elizabeth (13). Jennifer enjoys studying
Spanish and Portuguese, Jazzercising, and traveling. Dr. Hughes is on the West Texas
Leadership Board for the American Diabetes Association and she is also the staff advisor
to the Texas Tech chapter of Alpha Phi sorority.
Hometown: Lanark, Illinois
Libby Spradlin, M.Ed

Associate Director, Office of Planning and Assessment
Email: libby.spradlin@ttu.edu
As Associate Director, Libby is involved with institutional effectiveness processes related to faculty credentialing and overall assessment compliance, institutional learning assessment, core curriculum, and outreach and engagement. Libby joined the Office of Planning and Assessment in February 2015 as the Institutional Assessment Administrator where she then transitioned to oversight of academic and non-academic assessment using the Nuventive Improve software platform. Libby enjoys the variety of individuals she has the opportunity to interact with through her current role in OPA and she is happy to provide consultation with developing program and operational assessment plans.
Libby completed her M.Ed. in Counselor Education at Texas Tech University in 2014
and received her B.A. in Psychology from Texas Tech University in 2010. She has previous
TTU experience working in the Division of Undergraduate Education and Student Affairs
and has counseling experience at the University Career Center and Women's Protective
Services. Libby also serves as an Adjunct Instructor in Integrative Studies teaching
Career and Professional Development to undergraduate students. In her spare time,
Libby is an active member of the Junior League of Lubbock and also serves on the steering
committee for the new Legacy Play Village.
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
Kara Page, MPA

Senior Administrator, Academic and Non-Academic Assessment
Email: kara.page@ttu.edu
Kara joined the Office of Planning and Assessment at the beginning of 2021 as the Senior Administrator. Her primary responsibilities are consulting with faculty and staff regarding their academic and non-academic assessments and managing the assessment reporting software, Nuventive Improve. She also assists with the ongoing accreditation efforts for the university.
Kara is a doctoral candidate in the Educational Psychology program at Texas Tech University.
Her research interests include Culturally Relevant Teaching pedagogy and the impact
of administrative decisions on students from underrepresented populations. Kara completed
her Master of Public Administration at East Carolina University in 2008 and received
her B.S. in Psychology from Oklahoma State University in 2004. She is also a certified
teacher of Art and English Language Arts in Oklahoma and in Texas. She has previous
TTU experience working with the College of Education as the Interim Director of Assessment
and Accreditation. Kara has also served as a Graduate Instructor in the Teacher Education
Program within the College of Education. Before Tech, she had 7 years of teaching
experience in public, private, and outdoor schools. Kara is also a Graduate Student
Ambassador for the American Psychological Association Division 15.
Hometown: Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Bryson Carroll, MA

Senior Administrator, Institutional Assessment
Email: bryson.carroll@ttu.edu
Bryson joined the Office of Planning and Assessment in February of 2021 as a Senior Administrator over institutional assessments including NSSE, TechQuest, and ETS Proficiency Profile. He also manages the collection and reporting of Core Curriculum Course Level Data.
Bryson completed his M.A. in Communication Studies from Texas Tech University in 2017.
He also received a B.A. in Communication Studies and a B.A. in Spanish from Texas
Tech University in 2015. Before joining OPA, Bryson taught Public Speaking as a Teaching
Assistant during his M.A. and then online as an Adjunct Instructor. He previously
worked for the U.S. Census Bureau in their Partnership Program for the 2020 Census,
focusing on community leader engagement, database management and data analysis. Prior
to Texas Tech, Bryson lived and worked in Lima, Peru. Outside of work, Bryson enjoys
spending time with family, playing games, and traveling.
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
Kenny Shatley

Administrator, Faculty Credentialing
Email: kenny.shatley@ttu.edu
Kenny Shatley has been at Texas Tech University since 2007 where he got his B.A. in
English. Since then, he has served in various offices across campus serving in different
positions from the Office of International Affairs to, now, the Office of Planning
and Assessment. Kenny is the Administrator for Faculty Success (formerly Digital Measures),
including HB2504 and faculty credentialing compliance.
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
Aurelia W. Crider

Business Coordinator
Email: aurelia.w.crider@ttu.edu
Aurelia W. Crider earned her degree in Zoology with a minor in Music from Brigham
Young University. She has traveled the world and country with her family living in
a variety of cultures and areas from Hong Kong to Canada to Pennsylvania to finally
Texas. She owned her own Piano Studio, teaching piano and music theory to people
of all ages for many years. She has four children: the oldest two are students at
the University of North Texas (Psychology and Music Education), and the younger two
are still at home. Most recently, Aurelia worked as the Registrar and Attendance
Clerk at Commander William C. McCool Academy in Lubbock. During her free time, she
officiates for UIL and Club swim meets in West Texas. She is an avid knitter and really
misses the mountains.
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Emily Wade

Web Design Graduate Assistant
Email: emily.n.wade@ttu.edu
Emily Wade began working as a graduate assistant for the Office of Planning and Assessment
in January 2020. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Communications
from Texas Tech University in December 2019, and is now pursuing her master's degree
in agricultural communications from Texas Tech. She is expected to graduate in Spring
2021.
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
Benjamin Madura

Student Assistant
Email: bemadura@ttu.edu
Benjamin Madura began working in the Office of Planning and Assessment in August 2020.
Previously he attended South Plains College and graduated with an Associate's Degree
of Science in 2019. Currently Ben is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and is
expected to graduate in 2022. He then plans to attend medical school following graduation.
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
Avery Beimer

Student Assistant
Email: abeimer@ttu.edu
Avery Beimer began working in the Office of Planning and Assessment in August 2021.
She is currently a freshman pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science-Business
with a certification in Equine Studies. She has been barrel racing her whole life
and is a member of the Texas Tech Rodeo Team.
Hometown: Farmersville, Texas
Office of Planning and Assessment
-
Address
Administration Building, Suite 237, Box 45070 Lubbock, TX 79409-5070 -
Phone
806.742.1505 -
Email
opa.support@ttu.edu