ABOUT US
A Message from the ARC Steering Committee Chair and Vice Chair
Welcome!
The Academic Resilience Consortium (ARC) is a collaborative community dedicated to promoting academic resilience in higher education, to help college students learn, grow, and reach their goals. The faculty, staff, and students of the ARC represent the wide range of campus functions in higher education, including learning services, counseling services, advising programs, academic departments, campus life, and bridge programs, among others.
The ARC itself is a learning community. We are all in this work together: improving higher education, advancing our respective fields, and promoting college student success. As your ARC Chair and Vice Chair, we welcome your participation, questions, and feedback, and look forward to working and learning with you.
Doria K. “Stitts, “Kathy”, Ph.D., Steering Committee Chair
Dr. Doria Kathleen Stitts (Kathy) serves as Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU). Kathy began her tenure ate WSSU as the Associate Dean of the School of Business and Economics. During her twenty journey at WSSU, Kathy has served the university in a variety of leadership roles including Associate Provost of Undergraduate Education and Dean of University College, Special Assistant to the Provost, Associate Provost of Lifelong Learning, Acting Dean of the School of Business and Economics, and Interim Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education. Prior to her tenure at WSSU, Kathy served as Chairperson and Associate Professor of the Department of Management and Marketing at Virginia State University (VSU).
Kathy serves holistically with her head to inform decisions and influence ideas. She serves collaboratively with her hands-reaching up, down, across, and around to discover, develop, and discern. And she serves authentically with her heart, respecting others as she tries to make an impact with her work. She gives presentations on advising, professionalism, student success, leadership, etiquette, leadership, strategic planning, and assessment. She has given motivational speeches to various audiences, a TEDxWinston-Salem Women talk in 2016. Her passion for success is evidenced in her innovative programming with internal and external partners throughout the community. Kathy, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, attended Florida A & M University, where she received her B.S. degree in accounting and her MBA. She earned her Ph.D. in Marketing from Florida State University. Kathy enjoys traveling, the beach, dancing, cooking, reading, and is an avid foodie.
Debra L. Ainbinder, Ph.D., Steering Committee Vice Chair
Dr. Debra L. Ainbinder, serves as the Vice-Chair for the Academic Resilience Consortium Steering Committee. Debra is the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. She is a Professor of Counseling and Psychology and is a practicing clinician in Georgia and Florida. In addition to her responsibilities for the College, Dr. Ainbinder is the Administrator for the Lynn University Resilience Toolkit, a campus-wide initiative focused on enhancing a culture of resilience for the University. Debbie’s resilience work includes not only her work in counseling and at her University, but she holds the Treasurer position on the executive board of the International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling (IARTC). This is an International division of the American Counseling Association devoted to the increase of knowledge, awareness, and skills in the field of resilience and trauma counseling. Debbie has presented on trauma and resilience competency in graduate work at multiple national and international conferences. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Nationally Certified Counselor, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. Debra has been a leader in her field as well as at her University. Throughout her career, Dr. Ainbinder has emphasized the need for resilience in academics and dedicated her work with students, colleagues and clients toward that end. Debbie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from the University of Florida, her Master of Science degree (Counseling Psychology) from Nova Southeastern University, and her doctoral degree (Counseling with a specialization in Marriage and Family Counseling) from Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida.