Name: Meredith Keating White

Pronouns: She/Her

Officer Position: President

Bio: Meredith Keating White received her undergraduate degree in Human Resource Education from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers), and her masters degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs from Old Dominion University. Meredith became a “Georgia peach in training” with her first full-time position at Reinhardt University in 2016, and has been a professional in the state of Georgia ever since, with the majority of her professional service being at Mercer University in the Office of Campus Life and Student Involvement. Meredith currently serves as the Executive Director of Campus Life a Student Involvement, a role she has held since 2022. Meredith has been involved in ACPA since graduate school, and she is excited to continue that service on the state level. Meredith enjoys reading, cheering on ATL United, cuddling with her cats, Rouge and Luna, and playing pickleball when she is not working.

Name: Margaret Rooyakkers

Pronouns: She/Her

Officer Position: Conference Chair

Bio: Margaret is a proud double bear with a B.S. in Public Health and an M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership from Mercer University, where she now is serving as the Assistant Director of Service and Civic Engagement. She advises the student programming board for service, MerServe, and the voter engagement board, Mercer Votes. Before returning to Mercer, Margaret’s first higher education job was as the Program Manager for Leadership and Community Engagement at Central Washington University, where she worked alongside a team to reestablish service learning as a primary researcher and oversaw the implementation of service opportunities for students. Margaret is a newer professional in Higher Education and is looking forward to growing professionally with GCPA. Outside of work, Margaret enjoys reading Manga, getting outdoors for hikes, and baking sweet treats.

Name: Erin Smith

Pronouns: She/Her

Officer Position: Conference Chair-Elect

Bio: Erin Smith holds a B.S. in Sociology from Georgia College & State University and is currently pursuing a M.Ed. in Higher education Leadership at Mercer University, where she serves as the Graduate Assistant for Leadership Development in Campus Life. This position oversees the functions of over 160 student organizations, manage policy procedures, and support the new Mercer Leadership Fellows program for first-year students. Upon graduation in May of 2025, she aspires to continue her journey in higher education student affairs. As the newly elected Conference Chair-Elect, Erin looks forward to contributing to GCPA’s vision by creating opportunities that inspire and empower our local communities. Outside of work, Erin enjoys spending time watching Netflix, playing with her dog, and soaking in the beauty of nature.

Name: Velina Carey

Pronouns: She/Her

Officer Position: Treasurer

Bio: Velina is a Mercer University Alumni. She received her M.Ed. in Higher Education and Leadership in the Fall of 2021 while completing a Graduate Assistantship with Housing and Residence Life. She recently returned to Mercer University as an Area Coordinator in Housing and Residence Life overseeing First-Year and Greek Affiliated residents. Before returning to Mercer, She worked for Columbus State University as a Residence Life Coordinator in Housing and Residence Life. She oversaw and cultivated a community for First Year – Freshman College Students. Velina’s career and passion has been Housing and Residence Life driven since she became a Resident Assistant at Georgia Southwestern State University, where she got her Bachelors in Business Administration and pivoted towards Higher Education. A few fun facts, she loves Marvel and Harry Potter (Hufflepuff), she likes to watch movies, and hang out with her cat Sunny, who was adopted from the Mercer C.A.T club during Graduate School.

Name: Whitney Jordan Adams

Pronouns: She/Her

Officer Position: Private Institution Member at Large

Bio: Dr. Whitney Jordan Adams, is an educator and scholar with a diverse academic background spanning business, rhetoric, communication, and literature. With a strong commitment to teaching and research, Dr. Adams has been an Assistant Teaching Professor of English, Rhetoric, and Writing at Berry College, Mount Berry, Georgia, since August 2020. Dr. Adams earned an MBA in Professional Management from Berry College in May 2023, reflecting a broad academic skill set that combines business acumen with a deep focus on communication and rhetoric. Prior to this, Dr. Adams completed a PhD in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design at Clemson University in May 2020, where she explored critical social issues in her dissertation, Resentment Rhetorics: Dismantling White Supremacy and Hegemony through Definition, Scholarship, and Action. This work addressed complex cultural and political concerns and was guided by a distinguished committee. In addition to her doctoral work, Dr. Adams has pursued interdisciplinary studies, including a PhD audit in Philosophy, Art, and Social Thought at The European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, in 2017. She also holds an MA in English Literature from The College of Charleston and a BA in English Language and Literature, with a cognate in Biological Sciences, from The University of South Carolina. She has also taught at universities abroad, including the University of Versailles in France and the Harbin Institute of Technology in China. With a strong academic and business foundation, Dr. Adams is dedicated to fostering critical thinking, inclusivity, and scholarly engagement in both classroom and research settings.

Name: Elise Cain

Pronouns: She/Her

Officer Position: Faculty Member at Large

Bio: Elise J. Cain, PhD, received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from St. Bonaventure University, Master’s of Science in Adolescence Education from St. Bonaventure University, and Doctor of Philosophy in Community and Public Affairs from Binghamton University. Currently, Dr. Cain works at Georgia Southern University in the College of Education as an Associate Professor. Her research interests include college students from rural areas, place-based identities, and historically underrepresented populations in STEM fields. She joined ACPA in 2009 when she was a Residence Hall Director at SUNY Oneonta and believes being a member of your state organization is a great way to get involved and meet other people from your area! A few fun facts about her are that she grew up in the rural town of Schenevus, NY, and her primary research agenda includes studying college students who came from rural areas and place-based identities. In Dr. Cain’s free time, she likes to spend time with her family, bake cookies, and play board and video games.