Our Staff
India Y. Tips Executive Director
India Tips currently serves as the Executive Director of the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). She is responsible for overseeing the daily operations and all accreditation activities, including the review and implementation of Commission-directed actions. She serves as the liaison to state and federal regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Department of Education, national and other accrediting agencies, and credentialing bodies in the health field.
Ms. Tips joined ABHES in November 1995. In her 25-year tenure, her experience spans the full spectrum of accreditation, membership services, and operations. She developed the educational content and curricula for the required training’s for initial and renewal applicants where she has been the lead presenter for nearly 15 years. She has participated in and supported efforts for more than five petitions for re-recognition by the U.S. Department of Education. Ms. Tips also serves as the staff liaison to the Commission’s Standards Review Committee (SRC) charged to review all components of the Accreditation Manual to ensure its content is relevant, adequate, and predictive of successful qualitative outcomes. She has been instrumental in the management and successful execution of 16 conferences serving more than 400 attendees and exhibitors annually, and has performed hundreds of accreditation visits to institutions seeking initial and renewal ABHES accreditation.
Education
Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
De'Vante Allen Accreditation Coordinator
Mr. De’Vante Allen joined ABHES in November 2021 and currently serves as an Accreditation Coordinator. He primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits. As a coordinator, Mr. Allen provides support and interpretive guidance on accreditation standards to institutions and evaluators before, during, and after the on-site visit.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Hannah Boers Accreditation Coordinator
Ms. Hannah Boers joined ABHES in November 2021 and currently serves as an Accreditation Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits. As a coordinator, Ms. Boers provides support and interpretive guidance on accreditation standards to institutions and evaluators before, during, and after the on-site visit.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Organizational Leadership, Point University, West Point, Georgia
Kyle Boyles Manager of Membership Services
Mr. Boyles joined ABHES in June 2015 and currently serves as the Manager of Membership Services. His responsibilities include planning on-site evaluation visits, conducting preliminary visits to confirm applicant eligibility and readiness to undergo the evaluation process, and co-presenting the Accreditation Workshop, Program Effectiveness Plan Workshop, and various webinars for initial and renewal applicants. Additionally, he serves as the staff liaison to the Financial Review Committee (FRC), Preliminary Review Committee (PRC), and the Surgical Technology Programmatic Accreditation Committee (ST-PAC). He also works with the Substantive Change Committee (SCC) to process change in legal status, ownership, or control applications.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Studies, Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA
Crystal Calarusse Associate Executive Director of Program Development and Innovation
Crystal Calarusse serves as the Associate Executive Director of Program Development and Innovation. Ms. Calarusse joined ABHES in August 2020. She oversees ABHES’ Program Department and manages the review process for institutional changes, and ensures policies are consistently applied when analyzing and processing program-related applications. She is also responsible for leading initiatives relative to distance education and other higher education trends, including monitoring and tracking regulatory changes by state licensing, national credentialing and federal authorities that impact program-specific operations.
Ms. Calarusse has served almost 20 years in leadership positions in higher education accreditation, including Chief Executive Officer of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education, Chief Accreditation Officer at the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, and as a board member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors. She has published and presented widely on accreditation matters, in particular equity issues and globalization, and is currently seeking a PhD in public policy at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Education
Master of Public Policy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Bachelor of Public Policy, New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL
Kelly Costello Associate Director of Accreditation
Ms. Costello joined ABHES in June 2013 and currently serves as the Associate Director of Accreditation. Her primary responsibilities include training and assisting travel staff in conducting visits as well as managing the ABHES Standards Review Committee.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in History and Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Holly Doering Senior Project Manager
Ms. Doering has been with ABHES since May 2010 and now serves as the Senior Project Manager. Her primary responsibilities include developing and maintaining the information systems including the accreditation management and annual report management systems. Additionally, she assists with all activities related to institutional and programmatic annual reporting. Ms. Doering also serves as a staff liaison to the Annual Review Committee.
Education
Master of Business Administration, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, Strayer University, Woodbridge, VA
Hasna El houdaigui Junior Staff Accountant
Hasna El houdaigui is a Junior Staff Accountant. She joined ABHES in 2023. Her primary responsibilities are posting journal entries, updating financial statements, maintaining accounts receivable and accounts payable, paying monthly payroll, and processing retirement contributions. Hasna’s duties also include providing support for annual audit and financial tax compliance records and assisting in the annual budging process. Hasna holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Institut Superieur de Gestion et de Commerce, MA. Prior to working at ABHES, Hasna worked in the accounting field for more than ten years.
Karim Frazier Accreditation Coordinator
Mr. Karim Frazier joined ABHES in January 2021 and currently serves as an Accreditation Coordinator. His primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits. As a coordinator, Mr. Frazier provides support and interpretive guidance on accreditation standards to institutions and evaluators before, during, and after the on-site visit.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Biology, Randolph College, Lynchburg, VA
Shaliah George Operations and Events Specialist
Shaliah George joined ABHES in August 2022 and currently serves as the Events and Operations Specialist. Her primary responsibilities include the planning and execution of the annual conference and workshops and event support for Commission and committee meetings. The Operations and Event Manager will also provide operational support to the Director of Operations. Prior to ABHES, Ms. George worked for an association management company, assisting clients with their membership, operations, and event needs.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communication, University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD
Wazhma Ibrahim Senior Accreditation Coordinator
Ms. Wazhma Ibrahim joined ABHES in September 2015 and currently serves as a Senior Accreditation Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include planning specialized on-site evaluation visits, coordinating these visits through travel with the teams. Ms. Ibrahim is the staff liaison to the Programmatic Accreditation Committees for Medical Assisting and Medical Laboratory Technology. Additionally, she serves on the ABHES Standard Review Committee and works closely with ABHES evaluators.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communications, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Maya Moten Program Coordinator
Maya Moten joined ABHES in June 2021 as an Accreditation Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits. As a coordinator, Ms. Moten provides support and interpretive guidance on accreditation standards to institutions and evaluators before, during, and after the on-site visit.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Political Science, UNC-Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Kimberly Neuenschwander-Hurley Manager of Training and Membership Services
Ms. Neuenschwander-Hurley joined ABHES in July 2015 as an Accreditation Coordinator and currently serves as the Manager of Training and Membership Services. Her responsibilities include, training evaluators to serve on visitation teams, co-presenting the Accreditation Workshop for initial and renewal applicants, and conducting preliminary visits to confirm applicant eligibility and readiness to undergo the evaluation process. Additionally, she serves as the staff liaison to the Preliminary Review Committee (PRC) and Medical Laboratory Technology Programmatic Accreditation Committee (MLT-PAC).
Education
Master of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Gina Rice-Holland Program Specialist
Ms. Gina Rice-Holland joined ABHES in November 2019 and currently serves as the Program Specialist. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits.
Education:
Master of Science in Higher Education Administration, Bay Path University, Longmeadow, MA
Master of Business Administration, University of Phoenix, Arlington, VA
Bachelor of Science in Business Management, University of Phoenix, Arlington, VA
Associate in Computer and Information Science, ECPI University, Manassas, VA
Alison Roope Accreditation Specialist
Alison Roope joined ABHES in April 2022 and currently serves as an Accreditation Specialist. Her primary responsibilities include application review, strategic project support, and peer review visits. She also serves as a staff liaison to the Substantive Change Committee, the Distance Education Committee, and the Pharmacy Technician Committee.
Ms. Roope has over 16 years of higher education accreditation, licensure, and compliance experience. Throughout her career, Ms. Roope has served as an Accreditation Specialist, Compliance Officer, Associate Director of Compliance, and Director of Operations in postsecondary institutions. She is an active member of the education community, serving on advisory boards, regulatory committees, and evaluation teams. ”
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Management, Barton College, Wilson, NC
Amy Rowe Associate Executive Director of Membership Services
Ms. Rowe joined ABHES in August 2003 and currently serves as the Associate Executive Director of Membership Services, Ms. Rowe oversees the initial and renewal accreditation activities and manages the Commission’s school agenda. She is also responsible for overseeing the development and maintenance of various training opportunities for member institutions and programs and co-presents workshops and webinars. Additionally, she is responsible for conducting preliminary consultation visits to confirm applicant eligibility and readiness to undergo the evaluation process. Ms. Rowe is a member of the ABHES Leadership Team.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Melissa Santillana Program Coordinator
Ms. Melissa Santillana joined ABHES in May 2021 and currently services as a Program Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits. As a coordinator, Ms. Santillana provides support and interpretive guidance on accreditation standards to institutions and evaluators before, during, and after the onsite visit.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies with a Concentration in Elementary Education, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Alyssa Smith Accreditation Coordinator
Ms. Alyssa Smith joined ABHES in October 2022 and currently serves as an Accreditation Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities include coordinating and conducting on-site evaluation visits. As a coordinator, Ms. Smith provides support and interpretive guidance on accreditation standards to institutions and evaluators before, during, and after the on-site visit.
Education
Master of Arts, Speech-Language Pathology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Bachelor of Arts Hearing and Speech Sciences and Disorders, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Denise Thelemaque Office Manager
Ms. Thelemaque joined ABHES in October 2019 as the Office Manager. Ms. Thelemaque’s primary responsibilities include general office oversight, processing of change in director notifications, annual conference and workshop preparation, and administrative assistance to the leadership team. Denise comes with 25+ years of combined experience providing high-quality training and management in the banking and financial services industry and executive-level client services in various industries.
Education
University of Massachusetts – College of Management and Professional Studies, Boston, MA (2 yrs)