Name: Christina Jackson
Pronouns: She/Her
Officer Position: President
Bio: Dr. Jackson received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Community Counseling from the University of South Alabama as well as a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Columbia International University. She has served in various higher education roles at institutions in Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Georgia. These roles have included work in Housing & Residence Life, TRIO Student Support Services, and Career Services. In addition, she has held several leadership positions in professional organizations such as KAHO (Kentucky Association of Housing Officers), ALAHO (Alabama Association of Housing Officers), and SEAHO (Southeastern Association of Housing Officers) along with being a member of the inaugural cohort of the NCDA (National Career Development Association) Career Teaching Academy and a committee member with GAWHE (Georgia Association of Women in Higher Education). Currently, Dr. Jackson serves as the Executive Director of Housing & Residence Life at Middle Georgia State University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family (husband, Mark, son Mark III, and daughter, Alexandria), playing volleyball, and fishing.
Name: Jeannie Zipperer
Pronouns:
Officer Position: President-Elect
Bio: Jeannie Zipperer is a higher education leader with nearly twenty years of experience spanning legal education, accreditation, and student affairs. She currently serves as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Mercer University School of Law, where she leads initiatives supporting student wellness, engagement, and professional identity formation. In this role, she advises the Honor Council, manages accessibility and Title IX processes, and partners with faculty, staff, and students to promote a supportive and inclusive academic environment. An experienced educator, Jeannie has taught courses in law, political science, and paralegal studies at both Mercer University and Georgia Military College. Her leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including Educator of the Year and a Congressional Commendation for her contributions to higher education. Jeannie holds a Juris Doctor from West Virginia University College of Law, a Master of Arts in Political Science from Virginia Tech, and a Bachelor of Arts from Concord University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership at Mercer University, focusing on adaptive leadership and change in legal education.
Name: Meredith Keating White
Pronouns: She/Her
Officer Position: Past 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: Erin Smith
Pronouns: She/Her
Officer Position: Conference Chair
Bio: Erin Smith holds a B.S. in Sociology from Georgia College & State University and a M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership at Mercer University. Her passion for higher education began when she served as a graduate assistant for Leadership Development in Campus Life at Mercer University, overseeing the functions of over 160 student organizations, managing policy procedures, and supporting the new Mercer Leadership Fellows program for first-year students. 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: Tyler Ingram
Pronouns: He/Him
Officer Position: Secretary
Bio: Tyler Ingram received his undergraduate degree in Psychology along with his master’s degree in Business Administration at Reinhardt University. Upon Tyler’s time at Reinhardt University as a student he worked several years through Residence Life. Tyler became the Housing Director of Reinhardt University in 2024. Tyler is excited to serve GCPA as a new Executive Board Member. Tyler spends his free time watching sports, playing chess and exercising.
Name: Keia Dodd
Pronouns: She/Her
Officer Position: Director of Communication
Bio: Keia Dodd is a dedicated professional in postsecondary and medical education, committed to supporting and mentoring learners from diverse backgrounds. She currently serves as an Undergraduate Medical Education Coordinator at Wellstar Health System, managing academic and student programs for visiting medical students and residents. Keia holds a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University, where she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. Her dissertation research examines how the modality of first-year seminars influences first-generation college student outcomes.In her spare time, she enjoys going to Orangetheory Fitness, powerlifting, and spoiling her dog, Minnie.
Name: Emily Tanner
Pronouns: She/Her
Officer Position: University System of Georgia Member at Large
Bio: Emily Tanner has served as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement since 2021. In her role she helps coordinate the local service initiative program – Serve912 — along with other community engagement initiatives. Emily is a Double Eagle, and graduated from Georgia Southern with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2017, and her Master of Education in Higher Education Administration in 2020.
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.