Alumni Spotlight: Terry Burleson, Jr.
“It’s rewarding to help students from diverse backgrounds navigate complex systems and find success. One of the best parts of my job is calling that alternate student who’s been waiting for that acceptance call.”
Terry Burleson, M.A. ’25, serves as Manager of Recruitment and Student Outreach at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Michigan. With more than twelve years of experience in student success and community engagement, he has worked extensively in advising, program implementation, event coordination, and civic participation. Terry manages KCC’s selective admissions programs, oversees international student admissions and compliance, and implements recruitment and enrollment strategies that promote access and belonging for all students. A W.K. Kellogg Foundation Global Fellow, he is connected to a worldwide network of innovative leaders committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive. He has also fostered critical thinking and self-advocacy through his long involvement with interscholastic speech activities and currently serves as a council delegate to the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association. Terry’s work reflects his dedication to equitable education and building self-sustaining, empowered communities. Through his studies in the HESA program, he continues to deepen his understanding of leadership and student development in higher education. He remains passionate about creating pathways for all learners to reach their potential, both in and beyond the classroom.
Eva Hughes (M.A. '23)
Eva is Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life at WMU, fostering student growth through academic and co-curricular engagement.
Danyelle Gregory (M.A. '14)
Dr. Danyelle Gregory leads WMU’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, developing programs, assessing impact, and fostering an inclusive, equitable campus for all.
Alumni Spotlight: Jonathan Pulley
“I saw a very clear pathway at Western to help make education more accessible for underrepresented populations and get technical training on how higher education systems work.”
Jonathan Pulley (M.A. '18) is the Director of Grant Development at the McGregor Fund, where he leads efforts to strengthen community partnerships, develop grant opportunities, and advance equitable funding strategies. A respected voice in philanthropy, Jonathan champions authentic community engagement and collaborative ecosystems, with a deep commitment to racial justice and student access to education.
Jonathan credits his path to the HESA program at Western Michigan University for preparing him to navigate complex higher education and philanthropic systems. “I saw a very clear pathway at Western to help make education more accessible for underrepresented populations and get technical training on how higher education systems work,” he recalls. His graduate assistantship at WMU’s Career Center allowed him to advise over 1,200 students, fostering his focus on bridging gaps in educational access.
Reflecting on the cohort experience, Jonathan notes, “You got to build a relationship and rapport with folks who are similar in their journey. Those relationships now help me connect quickly with colleagues doing similar work at a statewide and philanthropic level.”
The HESA program offers a practice-based experience where I can apply and consolidate my academic learning and graduate assistantship practice in developing skills and competencies needed to thrive in the field.
"The HESA program was the main reason I loved graduate school and I would recommend it. Even for someone like me who doesn't know if they want to build a career in student engagement, the program is extremely versatile and I feel well prepared for a range of careers.
"You're going to be able to spend time in the lab or with your professors or with small groups. Most of the classes that I took as a doctoral student had less than 15 students in them. And so it was really engaging. And I felt like I could get a lot from every one of the classes that I took."