2025 Achievement Award Honorees

Dr. Regina Young Hyatt is Vice President for Student Affairs at Mississippi State University and has served in this role since July 2015.  In her role as Vice President, she provides leadership for the Division of Student Affairs which includes a wide range of departments and programs focused on student health, wellness & safety; student involvement & engagement; and student success. Additionally, Dr. Hyatt regularly teaches in the Student Affairs & Higher Education graduate program and serves on dissertation committees for the Higher Education Leadership doctoral program at MSU.

Prior to her role at Mississippi State, Dr. Hyatt served as the Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.  She additionally worked at the University of South Florida, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, and Palmer College.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in College Student Personnel both from Western Illinois University, located in Macomb, IL.  Her doctoral work was completed at the University of South Florida in Higher Education Administration.  Dr. Hyatt’s research interests relate to women in higher education, technology in higher education, student sense of belonging, and student retention/persistence.

Dr. Hyatt currently serves on the Executive Committee and Program Committee of the Council on Student Affairs, an Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities operational council.  She is a member of the SACSA (Southern Association for College Student Affairs) Foundation Board of Directors. In 2023, Dr. Hyatt was honored as a NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Pillar of the Profession, where she previously served on the NASPA Board of Directors as Region III Director. Active with NACA from her time as a graduate student, Dr. Hyatt served on the NACA Board of Directors from 2004 to 2010 and was Board Chairperson in 2008-2009. She additionally served the NACA Foundation Board from 2016 to 2019 and was Chairperson in 2017-2018. She chaired the NACA National Convention in 2004 and was one of the co-founders of the NACA Student Organizations Institute. Dr. Hyatt serves as an on and off-site reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS COC). She regularly presents at national and regional conferences and often writes for blogs and relevant student affairs publications. Dr. Hyatt also serves as treasurer and President-Elect of the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of the Golden Triangle and is a member of the Board of Directors for Sigma Phi Epsilon National Fraternity.

Grant attended his first NACA conference in Madison, WI in April 1988 and knew campus activities would be his destiny. After eight years out of the field, he took a a 9-month temporary job at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) that lasted 26 years. During his time at UWGB, he served NACA as regional co-op buyer, national co-op buyer, Northern Plains associate member coordinator, ed session coordinator, showcase selection coordinator, assistant showcase coordinator, diversity coordinator and regional chair in 2015. Grant left campus activities to work in union operations in 2020 and retired from UWGB in 2023.

Scott Talarico, President and founder of Neon Entertainment, has successfully led the agency for over 30 years. His passion for the entertainment industry began at Alfred University, where he first caught the "entertainment bug." Since then, Scott has dedicated his career to helping artists find their niche and creating unique, engaging programs for the college and corporate markets. With expertise in radio sales, programming, concert production, marketing, and a background as a drummer, his journey in the entertainment and special events industry has been nothing short of a lifetime adventure.

Sundas Shahid (She/her/hers) is the Programming and Special Events Coordinator at Loyola University Chicago. She has served in this role since June 2021. She oversees Welcome Week, the Department of Programming, Special Events, and Senior send-off. Sundas is a collaborative Student Affairs professional passionate about enhancing students' sense of belonging on campus through leadership development, event programming, community engagement, and mentorship. She earned a bachelor's degree in Photographic Arts and Strategic Communication from the University of Central Oklahoma and a master's degree in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago. As a lifelong learner, her work empowers others to be their most authentic version and lead with courage.

Sundas has volunteered with NACA in various national and regional roles in undergraduate, graduate, and professional staff capacities. She was part of the NACA Live 2020 graduate intern team as well as the 2022 Leadership Fellows Cohort. She has also served as a Facilitator for the NACA Programming Board Institute. Sundas's passion for her work and students is evident in her commitment to personal and professional development.    

Jill Wulfenstein is currently an Associate Director for Programming at the University of Rochester where she advises student orgs and oversees large-scale events like music festivals, comedy shows, and campus-wide celebrations. Her journey in campus programming began as an undergraduate at Utah Tech, where she planned her first major event, a Phillip Phillips concert for the Presidential Inauguration. Jill has continued to pursue the goal of planning exceptional events while mentoring students to instill confidence and pride, just as her advisors did for her.

Eva Sager is the Director for Campus Activities and the Overman Student Center at Pittsburg State University in southeast Kansas. She received her master's degree from Pitt State in 2010 and has been an advisor for Student Government since the fall of 2014. She loves her students' passion and creativity, and her favorite place to hide out during work is at the SGA conference table.

BlackP.R.I.N.T. (Black Proud Resilient Individuals Networking Together) is a program dedicated to supporting and empowering students from underrepresented racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Through a range of services, including academic support, National Pan-Hellenic Council programming, leadership development, relationship building, and entertainment, BlackP.R.I.N.T. aims to create an inclusive campus environment where all students can thrive and reach their full potential.

Jarrick Brown (he/him/his), a dynamic individual shaping the student experience here at CU Denver. Jarrick is a graduate of THE Prairie View A&M University (HBCU outside of Houston) with a degree in mass communications with a focus in radio, television and film, a minor in social behavioral and political science, a master's degree in education administration and is currently pursuing his doctoral degree from the University of Southern Mississippi for higher education administration. Jarrick is a former 2-termed SGA Executive Vice President and served on the executive board of his Campus Activities Board. Currently within NACA, he serves in the esteemed position of Regional Leadership Team Chair for the Central Region and as a member of Diversity Advisory Group, where he brings his passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion to the forefront. In 2023, Jarrick was recognized with the Patsy Morley Outstanding Programmer Award. Jarrick is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and loves to cook, travel, and hang out with friends.