Indiana University Higher Education & Student Affairs

Let’s all give a warm welcome to IU HESA’s newest faculty member, Dr. Nick Hillman. While he may be a new faculty member at IU, he is no stranger to the HESA and Indiana University-Bloomington community.

Dr. Nick Hillman got his undergraduate degree in public administration with a focus on public policy analysis, his Masters degree in public administration, and his doctorate in educational policy all from Indiana University-Bloomington! He previously worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a professor in Educational Leadership & Policy and directed the SSTAR Lab.

He is a first-generation college student and a proud McNair Scholar. Nick loves to play basketball and introducing his kids to original Nintendo games. Congratulations and welcome back to the IU HESA community!

Naomi Young will be a two-time graduate of Indiana University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a focus on Sport Marketing and Management and will be graduating with her Master of Science in Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs. During her graduate program at Indiana University, Naomi served as a Graduate Assistant for the Groups Scholars Program Summer Experience. For the past two years, she has also worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life.Throughout her master’s program, Naomi completed a practicum with the Athletics Department and two graduate internships, one with the AFA Annual Meeting and another with AFLV Central. Additionally she was a recipient of the Order of Omega 2025 Master’s Fellowship.Following graduation, Naomi will transition into her role as Assistant Director in the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life at Indiana University, where she will serve as the advisor to the Panhellenic Council. Visit my ePortfolio at
https://naomi-eportfolio.squarespace.com/services-3-1

Justin Tidd is an upcoming graduate in the Higher Education and Student Affairs masters
program from Indiana University Bloomington. Justin has been committed to contributing to IU
as an Assistant Coordinator for Community Management where he served first year residents,
student staff members, and more. Justin also collaborated with various institutions and
organizations: Association of College Unions (ACUI) as a Graduate Intern, Brown Pre-College
as an Area Coordinator, and ACPA - College Student Educators International as a Graduate
Intern. Justin hopes to work in residence life and/or pre-college work where he can help
students in their transition to adulthood.
Visit my ePortfolio here: https://justintidd24.wixsite.com/eportfolio

Zlata Tskhovrebova is a proud international student from Russia. She is an experienced K–12 language teacher. Zlata is excited to earn Master’s degree in the HESA program at Indiana University. At IU, she worked as an Assistant Residence Life Coordinator for Willkie Quadrangle. Zlata completed her practicum experience with the IU School of Medicine. She presented at conferences and published in the SPA Journal.
Zlata is passionate about helping college students develop and reach their full potential to become the best versions of themselves. She will continue her studies next year in IU’s Literacy, Culture, and Language Education Ph.D. program. Check out her e-portfolio at https://zlatatskhovrebova.weebly.com/

Abdul Gaffar Haadi is an international student from Ghana and a graduate student in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program at Indiana University Bloomington. At IU, he has worked in Residence Life as an Assistant Coordinator for Center Management, where he has supported students through leadership, care, and community engagement. His experiences have strengthened his passion for fostering belonging and creating environments where students feel supported and empowered to thrive. Abdul is committed to a career in student affairs, with particular interest in residence life, student support, and higher education leadership. Visit my ePortfolio at
https://dollarstir.github.io/haadi/index.html

Elle Adams is excited to be earning her M.S.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs at Indiana University. During her graduate program, she has served as the Graduate Assistant for Retention and Programming with the Hudson and Holland Scholars Program and completed a practicum with the Groups Scholars Program, where she supported leadership development for the peer mentor program. Through these experiences, Elle has developed a passion for supporting college students, breaking down systemic barriers, and creating inclusive spaces where all students can thrive. In her free time, she enjoys art, photography, exploring nature, and trying new coffee shops.

You can explore her e-portfolio here: https://danyadam.wixsite.com/adamseportfolio

Madyson Lira is a second-year master’s student in Indiana University’s Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program. She graduated magna cm laude from Bellarmine University in 2024 with a degree in Communication Studies, along with minors in Anthropology and Communication Marketing. At IU, she served as Student Engagement Graduate Assistant before being promoted to Union Board Advisor in the Student Involvement and Leadership Center. She has also held leadership roles as President of the Student Personnel Association and Director of Graduate Affairs in student government. Madyson completed a Residence Life practicum focused on Hoosier Dens and is passionate about building meaningful relationships and supporting student growth. After graduation, she will join Western Oregon University as the Coordinator for Student Activities and Advising.
E-Portfolio: https://madylira.wixsite.com/madysonlirahesa

Josie Hufford (she/her) graduated from Hanover College with her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and English in 2024. She is excited to complete her M.S.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University Bloomington this May. During her time at IU, Josie has served as an Assistant Coordinator for Center Management with Residence Life in McNutt Quad. She also completed a practicum with New Student Orientation and worked as a Graduate Intern with the Career Development Professionals of Indiana (CDPI). These experiences strengthened her commitment to supporting students and building campus communities and looks forward to continuing her career. Visit her e-portfolio at: https://joshuffo.wixsite.com/my-site-1

Haelo Diaz graduated from Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2024. During her time at Indiana University, she served as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Residence Life, working as an Assistant Coordinator for Center Management in Walnut Grove. She also held leadership roles as Co-Director of Outreach for the Student Personnel Association and as a service-learning intern with the IU School of Medicine. After graduation, Haelo will continue her career in higher education as an Admissions Counselor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she will support prospective students as they navigate the college decision-making process. Visit my ePortfolio at https://haelodiazhesa.weebly.com

Caitlin Spicer (she/her) graduated from the University of Dayton in Ohio with her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2024. She is looking forward to graduating with her M.S.Ed in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University Bloomington this May. During her time at IU, she has held an assistantship with Residence Life as an Assistant Coordinator for Center Management in Foster Quad. She has also worked as a Graduate Intern with Medical Service Learning for Indiana University School of Medicine. In her free time, she enjoys reading and trying new recipes. Visit her e-portfolio here: https://caspicer9.wixsite.com/my-site-2