AC’s Director of Admissions and Registrar Named to State-Wide Group

Amarillo College’s Kristin McDonald-Willey, who serves as AC’s Director of Admissions and Registrar, was selected to serve on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Coordinating Board Manual work group with other college and university Texas state reporting leaders.

“It’s wonderful to work with people who truly want to improve and streamline the work we do as community colleges,” she said. “It is always nice to work with peers, and it’s good to know the state offers us all a chance to provide feedback.” 

McDonald-Willey began her service to community colleges with the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Organization (TACRAO), where she now serves as the vice president for records and registration. She has also previously served as committee chair for the Texas Common Course Numbering System and for state reporting ad hoc groups. 

Now that the THECB reporting group has been formalized into a structured workgroup, she said they are on an ambitious timeline to provide feedback on proposed reporting requirement changes, advise on potential roadblocks to change implementation, and complete user testing on newly developed tools. 

“Kristin isn't just a leader in Texas higher education student records and registration; she's a driving force,” said Bob Austin, AC’s vice president for enrollment management. “Her deep expertise in community college state reporting has made her a sought-after sage, while her leadership with TACRAO, the nation's largest state-wide organization of its kind, demonstrates her commitment to shaping the future of the field. Her influence extends far beyond Amarillo College, impacting student success across Texas.” 

McDonald-Willey began serving in her current role in 2020. Before this, she was AC’s associate registrar. Her first role at AC was in institutional effectiveness although she also worked part-time as an ACT/SAT testing proctor and first-year seminar adjunct instructor prior to returning to her first home of enrollment management. She started her career in education as an assistant director of admissions and a resident assistant at West Texas A&M University (WT). 

She earned a strategic enrollment management endorsement from the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers. McDonald-Willey also holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from WT.