Michelle Kearns is the Associate Vice President for Student Success & Retention at Utah Valley University. She has 26 years of experience in higher education holding leadership roles in both academic and student affairs with positions in Financial Aid & Scholarships, University College, First Year Experience, Student Success, and Retention. Michelle was asked to oversee the implementation of a Title III grant which resulted in a 14 percentage point increase in retention and also led the development of a campus-wide completion plan now being implemented. Michelle holds degrees in Business Management and Public Administration and is nearing completion of a doctorate of education degree in higher education administration with a dissertation focused on college completion.