Board of Advisors
Jimmie Gahagan, Ph.D.
Jimmie Gahagan is the Associate Vice President for Transformative Student Experiences at Virginia Commonwealth University. He teaches leadership classes and encourages students’ engagement in high-impact practices such as study abroad, internships, undergraduate research, peer leadership, and service-learning. He is passionate about supporting students’ integrative learning and leadership development. Jimmie is originally from Va. Beach, VA and received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Richmond. His master’s and Ph.D. are both from the University of South Carolina where he worked prior to coming to VCU. Jimmie enjoys engaging with students and is always open to playing basketball, golf, and board games.
Allan C Mathew, Ph.D.
Allan Mathew is the Director of Graduate Admissions at Tufts University in Boston, MA. Before joining Tufts, he served as the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Enhancement at the University of Texas at Dallas. Over the past decade, he worked in college admissions and enrollment management at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He started his career at Messiah University and holds a B.A. degree in Health & Exercise Science from Messiah University and an M.A. in Higher Education from Messiah University. He completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University, and his dissertation was titled, “Transforming Academia and Admissions: The Experiences of Chief Enrollment Officers of Color.” Allan’s research interests often lie at the intersection of race, allyship, higher education, Christian higher education, legal issues, affirmative action, and admissions/enrollment management. He has taught Legal & Ethical Issues and Enrollment Management for the Graduate Program in Higher Education Leadership at Messiah.
Tim Sceggel, Ed.D
Tim Sceggel was named the Vice President for Athletics at LeTourneau University in May 2022. He comes from Covenant College in Georgia, where he served for 15 years. In addition to his role in athletics at Covenant, Tim also served as the chair of the Health, Wellness, and Coaching department. He was part of the two-person team that developed and launched the Sport Management major at Covenant. He has also taught graduate courses for several CCCU institutions, including Messiah University. Sceggel was instrumental in the development of the Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership degree at Messiah. In addition to his bachelor's degree in sociology from Covenant, Tim holds a master's degree in sport administration from the University of Louisville, where he also served on the Sport Administration Advisory Board. Additionally, he earned a doctorate from the University of Alabama in Higher Education Administration, where his research focused on the faith development of student-athletes in the context of Christian college athletics.
Amy VanDerWerf Carroll, Ed.D.
Amy VanDerWerf Carroll is a Senior Consultant for Student Success at CREDO Higher Education Consulting. She has a unique blend of problem-solving skills, creativity, and a systems-oriented approach and collaborates with colleges and universities to foster positive change. Her vast experience in leading and coaching teams empowers her to support campus leaders as they navigate challenges, drive organizational growth, and remove obstacles to student success.
Prior to her work with CREDO, Amy served as the dean of Student Engagement and Care at University of Northwestern in St. Paul, MN. She also worked in various roles for residence life at Messiah University (PA). Amy received her master’s degree from Geneva College (PA) and her doctorate from Azusa Pacific University (CA). Her dissertation topic centered around structures and practices that foster academic and student affairs integration.
Marcus Washington, M.A.
Marcus Washington is a 2014 graduate of the Graduate Program in Higher Education with a concentration in Student Affairs at Messiah University. He currently works as a Student Success Manager for Galvanize, Inc. and has a demonstrated history of working in ed tech, higher education & K-12 education. Marcus is skilled in nonprofit organizations, coaching, adolescent programming, admissions counseling, and therapeutic crisis intervention. Marcus served as a Resident Director at High Point University (NC), Assistant Director of Residence Life at DeSales University (PA), and as the Director of Housing and Residence Life at Catawba College (NC).