Meet The Student Liaisons

The responsibilities of HESA Student Liaisons are to engage in dialogue with faculty during meetings, offer perspectives and insights as a student in HESA, and share relevant information with the respective student groups to maintain transparency and communication between HESA faculty and students. Student Liaisons are elected by their peers each year.

M.A. Student Liaison

Austin Borreson

My name is Austin Borreson (he/him/his), and I’m the M.A. cohort liaison for this academic year. I’m originally from Elk River, MN, and my undergraduate was at the University of North Dakota. I’m currently in my second year of the M.A. program, expecting to graduate in May. Making and forming relationships with people is something that is very important to me, so in my free time, I like to spend time with friends in some capacity, which generally involves playing a game whether that be video, card, or board game!

Ed.D. Student Liaison

Alisa Tate

Alisa Tate (she/her/hers) came to OSU in May 2013 to be an undergraduate academic advisor for EHE. She received her MSEd in Higher Education Administration from the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk) and has been a practitioner in the field since her graduation in Spring 2013. She has been a member of both national student affairs organizations, ACPA and NASPA. She’s presented at NACADA focusing on student self-efficacy and advising. Alisa also has served as a founding member of the Association of Graduate and Professional Administrators (AGPA) at Ohio State as well as the organization’s past president for the 2018-2019 academic year. Alisa is also a fourth-year doctoral student pursuing her EdD in Higher Education and Student Affairs. She’s interested in graduate student support services, academic advising and mentorship, burnout related to job satisfaction, emotional intelligence, black women in senior-level administrative roles, consumerism of education, and access and equity to name a few. Alisa currently works in the college focusing on graduate student engagement and student support services. When she’s not working or studying for class, you can find her participating in hip hop fitness classes, attending concerts, or participating as a volunteer for the Hugh O’Brien Youth (HOBY) Leadership Inc since 2012.

 

Ph.D. Student Liaison

Alexander Nichols

Alexander Nichols (he/him/his) is currently a second-year doctoral student in the program. He previously transitioned from his role as Assistant Director in the Office of Residence Life at Coe College. His research agenda focuses on the intersections between and nuances of faculty affairs, campus diversity, and student success.  Alexander has presented on such topics before the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), and the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE). Outside of research, Alexander also serves as a trip advisor for Buck-I-SERV alternative breaks. He received his A.B. in Africana Studies from Davidson College and his M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt University.