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Steve Dandaneau is Associate Provost at Colorado State University and Executive Director of the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities (UERU). In these roles, Steve provides leadership for an association of U.S. research universities focused on equity/excellence in undergraduate education and collaborates with colleagues to strengthen the undergraduate experience at CSU.

Dandaneau previously served as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies at Kansas State University; Associate Provost and Director of the Chancellor’s Honors and Halsam Scholars Programs at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Visiting Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park; and Director of the University Honors & John W. Berry Sr. Scholars Programs at the University of Dayton. He earned a B.A. in Economics (with honors) from Michigan State University and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Brandeis University.

Catherine is a recognized leader in managing international visitor protocol, facilitating benefactor and donor stewardship, and executing event and protocol management for distinguished visitors and delegations. She has provided protocol and business etiquette instruction throughout the United States and managed events and delegation itineraries in the US, Central America, South America, and Europe. She was recently featured as a guest on the Emily Post Institute’s Awesome Etiquette podcast, discussing protocol in today’s world.

In addition to being the founder of Wilson Protocol & Etiquette Consulting, LLC, Catherine previously worked as the Director of Protocol, Stewardship, and Partnerships for Notre Dame International at the University of Notre Dame, and Director of Special Projects and Media Relations for the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the 60th Judicial Circuit of Indiana, as well as several other roles. She serves as an advisory board member for Fūrinkazan Venture Company, LLC, a global entrepreneurial finance & startup advisory firm that empowers under-estimated founders who want to start or scale their companies by providing them with the tools and resources to understand and navigate the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Catherine earned both her bachelor’s degree in philosophy and her master’s in nonprofit administration magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame, as well as a certificate in hospitality and tourism management from Florida Atlantic University and a Sustainable Events Professional Certificate from Events Industry Council. She is a graduate of The Protocol School of Washington®’s protocol officer training and is licensed through PSOW as an intercultural protocol and etiquette trainer. She is also certified in GlobeSmart Profile and Inclusive Behaviors Inventory through Aperian Global.

Catherine has been an active member of Protocol & Diplomacy International - Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) since 2016 and has served as a Forum volunteer, Member Buddy, Communications Committee Co-Chair, and Chair of the 2022 International Protocol Education Forum, as well as a member of the Events Committee and the Select Committee on Professional Behaviors, Ethics, and Responsibilities. Catherine joined the PDI-POA Board of Directors in 2020, serving as Vice President for Communications (2020-2022), and assuming her current role as President in September 2022.

Outside work and volunteering, Catherine enjoys solving crossword puzzles, visiting Disney theme parks, crocheting, baking, and spending time with her husband Bill and son Liam and their golden retriever Saoirse.

Jennie Babcock is the UERU Coordinator (Virtual Events, Communications, and Technical Support) with the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities. In this role, Jennie is dedicated to creating engagement, fostering community, and facilitating meaningful conversations in online spaces to advance equity and best practices in undergraduate education.

With over a decade of experience in both higher education and K-12 education, Jennie has diverse experiences in both in-person and online educational settings. Prior to joining UERU, Jennie spearheaded initiatives on inclusive educational practices, created a program to support the education of students experiencing homelessness, and led efforts to spark meaningful conversations that enact and create change. Jennie is deeply passionate about undergraduate education and the transformative impact it has on people's lives.

Jennie holds a B.A. in English Literature from Regis University, a Certification in Secondary Montessori Education, and is currently pursuing her M.S. in Student Affairs and Higher Education at Colorado State University.

In her spare time, Jennie enjoys snuggling her cats, catching every Shakespeare play she can fit into her schedule, and planning yet another trip to her favorite place in the world, Scotland. 

Zoe Coats is a Student Coordinator for the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities. In this role, she works to support the UERU team in aspects of data management, member relations, and event coordination. She has been working with UERU since the beginning of 2023.

Zoe received her A.A. from Aims Community College in 2022 and graduated as a member of the National Society for Leadership and Success. She is currently working toward her Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Business with concentrations in Integrated Visual Studies and Management and Innovation at Colorado State University. Zoe is also a member of the CSU Honors Program and the Community for Excellence as a scholarship awardee.

Outside of work, Zoe enjoys painting, reading fantasy novels, and trying out new coffee shops.

Jentel Tilson is a student coordinator with the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities. In this role, she provides support and assists in event coordination, video editing, member relations, and project management. She has been with UERU since the beginning of the Spring 23’ semester at Colorado State University, where she is currently a student studying Psychology and Clinical Counseling.   

Prior to working with UERU, she was a grants intern for A Precious Child, a nonprofit that serves disadvantaged children throughout the Metro Denver area, between 2021 and 2022. Jentel assisted in tracking and organizing prospective funders who donated approximately $550,000 in grant funding to A Precious Child during the first quarter of 2022. She received her A.A at Front Range Community College and graduated as a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. Jentel has received over $35,000 in scholarship funding while attending Colorado State University in 2022 and is a member of the Community of Excellence at CSU as a scholarship awardee.