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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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