OUR TEAM
The Kentucky Student Success Collaborative Team
Helping drive The Kentucky Student Success Collaborative forward
Assistant Vice President
Lilly Massa-McKinley, Ed.D.
Lilly has worked in higher education for over 15 years in an array of areas including crisis counseling, community engagement, access and success support, career development, and strategic partnerships. While working with the 55,000 Degrees Initiative in Louisville, KY, Lilly convened and facilitated collaborative action networks with university, community college, K-12, and community partners to advance and enhance systems coordination for improved student access and completion. Most recently she has served at Bellarmine University as the Assistant Vice President for Career Development and Strategic Partnerships where collaboration, partnership development, and student success were her primary focus. Lilly received her bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University, master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration from Indiana University, and doctorate in Higher Education Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University.
Associate Director
Stephanie Cheung, M.Ed.
Strategy Lead: Transfer
Originally from Toronto, Stephanie is a higher education and public sector professional dedicated to advancing student success through systems innovation and continuous improvement. As a policy analyst with the Ontario Public Service, she developed a province-wide program evaluation framework, led a core program assessment across six government sites, and advised on data collection initiatives. At York University, she has enhanced the student experience by refining clinical delivery models and spearheading cross-campus service integration. In her previous role as the Manager of Student Success & Stakeholder Engagement, Stephanie oversaw a portfolio comprising leadership development, peer mentoring, peer tutoring, orientation, health & wellness, and career exploration bolstering student resilience and belonging.
Guided by a person-centered and equity-minded approach, she is committed to empowering communities through knowledge mobilization and design thinking. Stephanie holds a BA in Criminology from Toronto Metropolitan University, an M.Ed. from York University, and a Project Management Certificate from the University of Toronto. She is an honored recipient of The Governor General of Canada’s Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.
Associate Director
Arion Jett-Seals, MSSW
Strategy Lead: Student Basic Needs
Arion brings over 14 years of comprehensive experience in the field of education, specializing in crisis intervention, student support services, retention strategies, academic advising, and career development. Most recently, Arion served as the inaugural Basic Needs Program Coordinator at the University of Kentucky, where her focus centered on advocating for students and connecting them with resources to address basic needs deficits, thereby enhancing their retention and graduation rates. With a unique blend of social work expertise and educational insight, Arion has made impactful contributions across various educational settings, including K-12 schools, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, and the University of Kentucky, guiding students in overcoming non-academic barriers to success. Committed to the holistic well-being of individuals, Arion’s personal endeavors call her to empower others for personal growth, better wellness, and achievement. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Social Work from the University of Kentucky and a Master’s of Science in Social Work from the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville.
Associate Director
Ashley O’Neil, MPH
Strategy Lead: Gateway Course Success
Ashley O’Neil is a Louisville native and a two-time graduate of the University of Louisville, earning her Bachelor’s in Exercise Science in 2015 and her Master’s in Public Health with a specialization in Biostatistics in 2017. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Gateway Course Success Strategy for The Kentucky Student Success Collaborative, where she leads statewide efforts to improve equity in student outcomes for foundational college courses. Collaborating with faculty and institutional leaders, she works to close equity gaps, implement best practices, and enhance student success.
Ashley has held impactful roles focused on equity-minded work throughout her career, including Director of Planning and Assessment in the Office of Institutional Equity and Coordinator of Quality Assurance for the School of Dentistry at the University of Louisville. She has overseen strategic diversity planning, accreditation efforts, cultural competency training, and quality assurance processes, emphasizing data-driven solutions and inclusive practices. Outside of work, Ashley is a devoted mother and an active member of her community. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, food, spending time with friends and family and shopping. With her deep expertise in equity-focused strategies and her dedication to fostering inclusive environments, Ashley O’Neil is a dynamic and inspiring advocate for student success and systemic change in higher education.
Research Fellow
Olivia Morris-Bush, M.Ed.
Olivia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Kentucky and a Master’s of Education from Vanderbilt University.
Senior Associate
Nan Harnice, MPA
Nan holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Louisville and a Bachelor of Science from Centre College. She serves in a supportive role for the KYSSC team in the areas of project and event management.
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