Member Highlights
Celebrating the Strength of TAICEP’s Global Community: Welcoming New Voices, Honoring Trusted Expertise
TAICEP proudly celebrates the vibrant diversity of our international credential evaluation community—from the fresh perspectives of new members to the enduring contributions of seasoned professionals. As our network grows, we recognize the value of both innovation and experience in shaping the future of our field. Join us in welcoming new colleagues and honoring those whose dedication continues to inspire collaboration, mentorship, and excellence across the globe.
Name: Ana Chavez
Hometown: Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
Organization: International Education Evaluations, USA
The place you currently call home: Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
What inspired you to join the TAICEP community? The community at TAICEP is very friendly and eager to support and share their knowledge with all professionals involved in the field of international credential evaluations, not only at their amazing annual conferences but also in virtual presentations, sharing resources and databases to help members stay up to date in the field.
What is your favorite/most useful thing about TAICEP so far? Providing knowledge and networking opportunities between the TAICEP members to connect through their conferences and email group. Learning new practices and taking advantage of the many resources that TAICEP offers to its members.
How would you summarize TAICEP in a single word? Collaborative
Is there anything else you want to share with the community about yourself? I’ve been in the field of international credential evaluations for more than 6 years, and it’s been an incredible journey knowing that I am contributing with so many professionals looking for their dream jobs or college degrees. It’s been 6 years of growth and connecting with such amazing people in the field, and I had the pleasure of presenting at my first TAICEP Conference in Quebec last year, and looking forward to continuing to contribute to the community. The most adventurous thing I have done so far was skydiving at South Padre Island, TX!! And I’m looking forward to repeating it!!
Name: Olivea Dodson
Hometown: I was a military child, I never lived anywhere long enough to be a “hometown”, but we were stationed at Ft. Cavazos (formerly Ft. Hood) twice, does that count?
Organization: Transcript Research, USA
The place you currently call home: Garland, Texas, USA
How long have you been a member of TAICEP: 5-10 Years
The best part of being a member of TAICEP? The supportive community
Have you been involved in any events or activities with TAICEP? TAICEP Standing Committee and TAICEP workshop/webinar presenter
How would you summarize TAICEP in a single word? Evolving
Is there anything else you want to share with the community about yourself? Favorite conference was Chicago. It was my first and it made me realize how underserved the credential analysis community was by other organizations Most adventurous thing – motherhood How did I end up at TR? I was pregnant and did not want to go back to work and Peggy needed help with her new business; the rest is history! Advice for newbies – Find yourself 2 people. One who is just as new to everything as you are, and one who is seasoned. Allow the seasoned professional to mentor you and figure things out as you go with the other newbie.
Name: Wendy Garcia Guerrero
Hometown: Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
Organization: International Education Evaluations, USA
The place you currently call home: Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
How long have you been a member of TAICEP: 5-10 Years
The best part of being a member of TAICEP? The sense of community and collaboration. The opportunity to connect with professionals from diverse backgrounds, share experiences, and discuss the challenges of credential evaluation has been invaluable.
Have you been involved in any events or activities with TAICEP? TAICEP Standing Committee, TAICEP Conference Committee and TAICEP workshop/webinar presenter
How would you summarize TAICEP in a single word? Supportive
Is there anything else you want to share with the community about yourself? I’m passionate about mentoring newer members and sharing the lessons I’ve learned along the way. It’s been a rewarding experience to grow alongside this community, and I look forward to continuing to engage with fellow members and contributing to the ongoing success of the field.
Name: Shelby Cearley
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Organization: Adtalem Global Education
The place you currently call home: Levelland, Texas, USA
How long have you been a member of TAICEP: 10+ Years
The best part of being a member of TAICEP? The ability to network with so many knowledgeable people all around the world.
Have you been involved in any events or activities with TAICEP? TAICEP Director and Board Committee, TAICEP workshop/webinar presenter
How would you summarize TAICEP in a single word? Collegial
Is there anything else you want to share with the community about yourself? To new TAICEP members: welcome! TAICEP has an amazing and growing set of resources available to you, and I encourage you to set aside some time to look at them so you know where you can start your search for information when needed. Do not be nervous about posting questions to the Gaggle listserv: our TAICEP membership is SO knowledgeable, and many are willing to share their expertise with you via this excellent resource. Also, TAICEP is a volunteer organization, and there are so many ways that you can volunteer to help us, no matter what level of credential experience you may have. Consider joining one of our committees, answering questions on the Gaggle listserv, or providing information (such grading scales, sample redacted credentials, new digital providers, etc.) to our many resources.
Name: Megan Gesell
Organization: TAICEP
About Me: If I am not at my desk, you will probably find me mowing the lawn or out riding a horse. At night, there is usually a cat—or sometimes two—curled up on my lap.
I am originally from northern Minnesota, but over the years I have lived in Marietta, Georgia; Hoffman Estates, Illinois; and South Padre Island, Texas. Eventually, I missed my family and the vibrant fall colors enough to return to northern Minnesota—though I definitely did not miss the snow or those -30°F winters!
For the past 10 years, my husband and I have enjoyed a wonderful seasonal rhythm: summers in northern Minnesota and winters in southern Arizona. We bring our horses with us, which means I get to ride year-round—something I am incredibly grateful for.
I have also been fortunate to travel to Canada, Iceland, England, New Zealand, and Mexico. Each trip has deepened my love for meeting new people and exploring different cultures.
My Role at TAICEP: I began working for TAICEP in March 2023. My official title is Wiki & IT Support Manager, but my role continues to grow and evolve. I manage our internal wiki, databases, and websites, and I coordinate email campaigns and social media outreach. I also support planning for our annual conference, contribute to committee projects, assist with newsletter and training initiatives, and help maintain a strong and engaging digital presence.
One of my favorite parts of the job is helping plan the annual TAICEP conference. I genuinely enjoy event planning, and traveling to each conference location is a wonderful bonus. Getting to see everyone in person is always a highlight of the year! (Is anyone packing for Croatia yet? I am!)
My Journey in Education: My passion for international education began in college, where I worked in the study abroad and international programs office and had the opportunity to study abroad in Iceland. After graduation, I held various roles in international admissions and marketing, including working with Robert Prather—still my favorite boss to this day. Getting the chance to work with him again and be part of the TAICEP family has been truly special. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is reconnecting with the international education community.
Looking Forward: As I continue growing with TAICEP, I’m excited about the opportunities to collaborate, learn, and contribute to meaningful projects that support our global community. Being part of an organization that values connection, innovation, and support makes every day fulfilling. I look forward to what’s ahead and to continuing this journey with such an inspiring group of professionals.
Name: Robert Prather
Organization: TAICEP
How long have you been a member of TAICEP? 10+ Years
A Kentucky, USA native, I’m the Executive Director for TAICEP, a role I have proudly held for over a decade and for which I owe an eternal debt of gratitude to Margit Schatzman. I currently live in Harrodsburg, KY (on the river Dix), not far from my hometown of Lexington.
My Role at TAICEP: My main job is to keep the organization running smoothly, enabling our members and volunteers to flourish and ensuring the organization’s success. The most rewarding part of my work is collaborating with our fantastically talented and generous volunteers from around the world. Their commitment to advancing our profession is what makes this organization so special.
If I had to describe TAICEP in just a few words, it would be: Supports our profession.
- Reading: I am currently jumping between George Saunders’ “A Swim in a Pond in the Rain” and Morgan Housel’s “The Psychology of Money.”
- Media Scrolling: I enjoy following a range of thinkers on social media, such as Tom Bilyeu, Mo Gawdat, Neil Howe, Michael Every, and Geoffrey Hinton, for their thought-provoking ideas (even if I don’t always agree with them!).
- Watching late-night YouTube videos: My go-to at 3 a.m. is watching people build almost anything…such as cabins in remote corners of the world or mesmerizing, ear-tickling ASMR videos of chefs whacking and clacking out beautiful dishes in their woks. (Hey, it’s 3 a.m… it doesn’t have to make sense.)
- Listening to Music: My tastes vary from traditional and folk to uplifting and soothing. I avoid “nervous” jazz/classical, talking, angry, or irritatingly repetitive music.
Name: Susan Mertz
Organization: Purdue University, USA
What inspired you to join the TAICEP community? A coworker! I have worked with international transcripts for several years, but it was nice to find a community specifically for it!
How would you summarize TAICEP in a single word? Community
What’s your favorite/most useful thing about TAICEP so far? I really appreciate the community of skilled people who are so willing to offer help and advice about what can be a very grey-area profession at times. Even if I don’t often participate, I love reading the emails about specific transcripts and attending the informational webinars.
Is there anything else you want to share with the community about yourself? My favorite food is chocolate! Anything chocolate.
Name: Karin Christoph Brown
Organization: One Earth International Credential Evaluations, USA
How long have you been a member of TAICEP? 10+ Years
How would you summarize TAICEP in a single word? Indispensable
The best part of being a member of TAICEP? The collegial community!
Have you been involved in any events or activities with TAICEP? TAICEP Committee and TAICEP Conference Committee
Is there anything else you want to share with the community about yourself? Growth and comfort do not coexist: Be bold, stay curious, keep learning, get involved! Some of the best adventures, both personal and professional, come from the fringes, or further, of one’s comfort zone. I am grateful to my TAICEP colleagues, who challenge me in the best ways, support me unconditionally, and who are like chosen family in this professional home.
Name: Aysel Karimli
Hometown: Baku, Azerbaijan
Organization: QuadraBay, United Arab Emirates
The place you currently call home: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
How long have you been a member of TAICEP? 2-5 Years
The best part of being a member of TAICEP? The best part of being a member of TAICEP is the access to a global network of credential evaluation professionals, which helps me learn best practices and stay updated with international standards. It also offers excellent opportunities for networking and building meaningful professional connections.
Have you been involved in any events or activities with TAICEP? Member of TAICEP Director & Board Committee and TAICEP Conference Committee
How would you summarize TAICEP in a single word? Networking
Is there anything else you want to share with the community about yourself? Having lived and studied in Glasgow, it was a perfect feeling to return after ten years and present at the TAICEP annual meeting held there. This year, I am excited to continue that journey by presenting in Croatia. TAICEP has been an incredible space for professional growth and collaboration. My advice to new TAICEP members is to be engaged, reach out, and take advantage of the support within this global community.
Member Spotlight: Taiji Hotta, Ph.D. – July 2025 TAICEP Talk Newsletter
Thank you for inviting me as the first interviewee of the TAICEP Talk Newsletter. I am not sure if I am qualified for that, though.
First, let me explain why I associate with TAICEP, since my situation differs greatly from many other people in TAICEP. I was a professor at a university and was in charge of student mobility programs and projects for almost three decades. However, I had no work experience as a credential evaluator. I retired on March 31st.
In 2020, I was appointed the first executive director of the National Information Center for Academic Recognition Japan (NIC-Japan) by the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE), a major QA agency of higher education in Japan. NIC-Japan was established by the Japanese government as a partial fulfillment of conditions as a signatory member state towards UNESCO’s AsiaPacific Regional Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education, the so-called “Tokyo Convention.”
So, I had a mission to establish the NIC-Japan as an information center of higher education both domestically and internationally. Since higher education institutions are doing international credential evaluation (hereafter ICE) of students, NIC-Japan is responsible for providing full support for them to improve their ICE capacity. So, my answers below are not exactly answering your questions.
Who do you turn to with questions or difficult credentials?
Our biggest dilemma is that many higher education institutions lack ICE professionals for their international admission. However, (1) the size of their international student enrollment tends to be small, and (2) they tend to give entrance exams in Japanese on campus directly. So they can still determine the academic performance of candidates.
Now, the Japanese government asks higher education institutions to expand the size of international student enrollments. So, it may be the time for Japan to start accepting international students by examining their academic credentials through direct admission from overseas. If this happens, many universities need practical training of their staff members on ICE.
As a senior advisor of NIC-Japan, my current mission is to design some capacity-building activities of ICE for our higher education institutions.
Including myself, we (Japanese international credential evaluators) do not have any organization where we can ask for advice on difficult credentials in Japan. Thus, NIC-Japan will try to establish such a network domestically in the future. I am now seeking some assistance from overseas organizations, such as TAICEP.
Other than looking at education credentials, what else does your job involve each day?
Since the NIC-Japan is a center under the supervision of the NIAD-QE, I am also involved in the intergovernmental project to establish some aligned standards for student mobility in the Asian region. Moreover, I am also serving as a director at Large for TAICEP. Thus, I try to liaise between TAICEP and other organizations and networks for further development of various collaborations among them. As a third mission, I work for AACRAO to provide some country profiles of educational systems for the AACRAO-EDGE.
How much pressure do you feel to “get it right” with credential analysis, and where do you turn to relieve that stress?
I constantly feel stressed since the current three missions at NIC-Japan, TAICEP, and AACRAO are very important. In many cases, I have no confidence to be successful because all those missions are new to me. My weakest and most stressful situation is that I do not have any work experience as a professional international credential evaluator. The more I work, the more I realize that I must somehow get real work experience at some organization of ICE in the world. Otherwise, it is difficult for me to design and provide effective practical training to Japanese and other Asian higher education institutions in the future. However, I do not know how to get such work experience remotely from Japan. As for my relaxation, I love sports. So, I created free time for some light exercises in the morning. I shifted all my work in the afternoon. So, I can relax and refresh every morning and then work in the afternoon. Moreover, I also love to play tennis with my 12 year old son during weekends.
Do you have a favorite credential story?
Unfortunately, I do not have any story to share with you since I do not yet have work experience as an international credential evaluator.
However, the biggest shock/surprise to me after associating with TAICEP is how much fraudulent practices are being done worldwide with advanced technology. I was scared by attending those workshops and concerned about future Japanese and Asian higher education.
By the way, I love “Wayback Machine.” That is a very interesting site. (Ha ha ha)
Taiji Hotta, Ph.D.
Senior Adviser, NIC-Japan
Visiting Professor, National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education
Resource person, ACCRAO EDGE
Director at Large, TAICEP
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