OUR TEAM
The Kentucky Student Success Collaborative Team
Helping drive The Kentucky Student Success Collaborative forward
Executive Director
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
Phyllis Clark, Ph. D.
A former orchestra teacher for the Jefferson County school district, Phyllis is celebrating 30 years in the education profession. At the University of Louisville, she served in various leadership roles for undergraduate admission diversity recruitment as well as student success and retention. As the Vice President for Student Affairs at Simmons College of Kentucky, she provided leadership in areas of institutional accreditation, admissions & enrollment and oversaw student support services. As a business owner and speaker, Phyllis is dedicated to fostering the metamorphosis of women and girls through mentoring, personal support, and collective accountability.
She received her Bachelor of Music degree (with emphasis on the violin) from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Master’s degree with emphasis in educational psychology & college student personnel from the University of Louisville and just earned her PhD from Bellarmine University in Leadership in Higher Education. Her research focuses on identifying, raising awareness, and eradicating barriers resulting from the impostor syndrome, a psychological pattern of irrational and negative thinking of self.
Senior Fellow, Student Basic Needs
Arion Jett-Seals
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.
Research Fellow, Kentucky Student Success Collaborative
Olivia Morris-Bush
Olivia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Kentucky and a Master’s of Education from Vanderbilt University.
Senior Fellow, Kentucky Student Success Collaborative
Dr. Beth Collins
Dr. Collins is a seasoned higher education leader with a proven track record of driving student success and fostering systemic improvement. Passionately committed to creating equitable pathways, she has dedicated her career to expanding access and opportunity for all students, especially those from underserved communities. Dr. Collins serves as a Senior Fellow for the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative largely focused on improving transfer. Recognized for her contributions to student transfer, she received the 2024 Testing for Change Award from the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) for her work as inaugural system lead in the Transfer NIC (NASH Improvement Community).
Senior Fellow, Academic Excellence and Student Success
Dallas F. Kratzer II, PhD
Dallas Kratzer has years of experience as a faculty member at numerous universities and as a consultant with leadership organizations. He currently serves as Sr. Fellow for Credit for Prior Learning at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. Dr. Kratzer also works with the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). He has been a faculty assessor with ACE for over eight years, assessing military workplace learning and official training courses for the award of college-level credit. His work directly impacts the college opportunities for service members in every branch and is documented on their Joint Services Transcript (JST). Additionally, he is a presenter and advisor for ACE in helping colleges and universities learn how they can best use JST credit recommendations in their undergraduate degree programs. At CAEL, his focus is on helping institutions across the country to develop and implement prior learning assessment programs designed for adult learners. He is a CAEL Ambassador and is part of the Military Advisory Team for their Military-Learner Community of Practice.
Dr. Kratzer retired from the Kentucky Air National Guard in 2015, after over 35 years of service in the Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard. He deployed in 2012 to Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, with the Army National Guard Agri-Business Development Team, working with Afghan farmers.
He received his B.S. in Management/Human Resources from Park University, an M.Phil. in Military Strategy from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS) at Air University, an M.A. in Christian Education from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Kratzer earned his Ph.D in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development from the University of Louisville.
Senior Associate, Kentucky Student Success Collaborative
Nan Harnice
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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