Anthea Sweeney, J.D., Ed.D. Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

HLC employs multiple Vice Presidents of Accreditation Relationships (also referred to as "HLC Staff Liaisons") who manage portfolios of colleges and universities as they navigate higher education accreditation. After successfully leading HLC's Legal and Regulatory team for five years and spearheading the agency's successful journey through its most recent recognition cycle, I look forward to continuing to serve institutions more directly during this exciting time in higher education.

Chicago Il

A title change recognized the growing complexity of regulatory oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Education and the need for a closer alignment of this role with the Department's Accreditation group as well as Federal Student Aid.

Chicago, Il

Served on HLC's Executive Leadership Team. Led the Legal and Governmental Affairs team which provides legal support to the organization, ensures consistency in decision-making through policy development and interpretation, coordinates complex evaluations of member institutions, and manages HLC’s relationships with federal and state government agencies as well as with other accreditors. Chaired HLC's Accreditation Policy Committee which develops and formulates proposed policies (or revisions) to the HLC Board of Trustees for consideration. Also served on HLC's Enterprise Risk Management Committee, Liaison Council, Implementation Council, and Crisis Communications team.

Chicago, Il

Directly managed the accreditation relationship for a dynamic portfolio of institutions while navigating critical processes such as eligibility, candidacy, initial accreditation, substantive change, change of control, sanctions, show-cause orders, teach-out and voluntary resignation (including pending withdrawal). Managed the Eligibility process by which new institutions seek accreditation. Worked closely with the Legal and Governmental Affairs team on rapidly emerging crises. Served as a key information resource on institutional data to official decision-making bodies of the Commission, namely the Institutional Actions Council and the Board of Trustees. Collaborated with others on training HLC's peer corps and presenting at annual conferences for the organization. Authored staff analyses for institutions deemed at risk of being out of compliance and worked directly with those leading evaluations of visits. Served on various ad hoc committees and working groups, including HR Advisory Committee.

Nashville, Tn

Provided consultant services to a community college in a doctoral capstone experience that identified leading indicators of student completion by analyzing historical data using fixed effects regression to develop statistically significant predictors of college completion based on interactions developed from student characteristics and academic milestones.

Assisted the Associate Dean for Academics while providing systematic policy guidance and administrative oversight for student-related requests, including evaluation of transfer credit, study abroad approvals, leaves of absence, withdrawals, counseling regarding good standing, and credit overloads. Oversaw new student Orientation. Supervised the Academic Success department.Institutional ServiceFaculty Teams: Assessment Team (Member, 2009 - 2011); Academic Standards and Outputs Team (Member, 2011-2012).Other Committees: Orientation (Chair), Graduation (Member), Annual Awards Ceremony (Chair, 2007-2010), Student Employment (Member), Transfer Attrition (Member), Safety (Member).Coordinated and facilitated a conference on Assessment and Student Learning Outcomes (May, 2010).

Drove curriculum design within the Academic Success department while hiring, supervising and developing new academic support professionals. Chaired the Annual Awards Ceremony committee.

Led the development of a comprehensive, systematic academic success program that encourages students to continually improve their performance through targeted interventions which take into account their individual learning styles while teaching study and exam skills.

Taught Negotiations, a required 3-credit course, using simulations as the major form of assessment during Fall 2007-Spring 2009. Collaborated with a senior faculty member in designing and teaching an intensive course on Small Firm and Solo Practice.

Held progressive responsibility as an attorney representing major money center banks as sole lenders and administrative agents in bilateral and syndicated credit facilities, secured as well as unsecured transactions including financing partnerships, standby letter of credit transactions and subscription transactions for REOC borrowers. Successfully led "safety net" financings for major securities clearing corporations consistently every year to the tune of approximately $4.3 billion by end of tenure.

Represented several major money-center banks in syndicated credit facilities at a top-ten nationally ranked firm. Transactions included aircraft financings involving mortgage-backed loans, as well as cross-border leveraged lease financings and major leveraged buyout transactions. Drafted numerous documents including credit agreements, security agreements and ancillary documentation. Significant experience with coordination of closings, and client counseling.

Brookville, Ny

Successfully designed, coordinated and supervised every aspect of all on-site recruitment events from small “Campus Preview Days” to large Open Houses for the Admissions Department of the (then) eighth largest private university in the country. Supervised a large team of students who counseled prospective students through the application process. Contributed to a consistent pattern of increased enrollment during time as a full-time member of the Admissions Counseling Team through targeted interactions with prospective students from first contact through matriculation.

Ed.D. - Higher Education Leadership & Policy

Dean's Tuition Scholarship; Ray L. Hamon Scholarship Capstone Project: Bell, Nathan, Irvin, Melissa, and Sweeney, Anthea Title: Living.

J.D., Law, Magna Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Editor-in-Chief, Touro Law Review (2000-2001) Associate Editor, Touro Law Review (1999-2000)U.S. District Court.

B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) & M.A., Modern Comparative Languages & Accelerated Political Science

Activities and Societies: Phi Eta Sigma (National Freshman Honor Society) Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society) Siena.

Education record

Admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department in 2002 (now.