ACCSC Leadership Team

  Michale S. McComis

   Executive Director

   (B.A., M.Ed., Ed.D., University of Virginia)

As the Executive Director, Dr. McComis acts as the Chief Executive Officer of the accrediting commission, managing the day-to-day   operation of ACCSC’s Arlington, Virginia office and staff, and overseeing the accreditation process for over 810 accredited and applicant institutions throughout the United States. Michale is also responsible for the Commission’s liaison activities with state and federal agencies, institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations, higher education associations, and coordinates the Commission’s legislative activities.  

Michale’s tenure with ACCSC began in 1994 and during that time he has conducted hundreds of on-site evaluations to ACCSC member institutions, and is a frequent speaker at accreditation workshops and training seminars as well as at state and national conferences on accreditation and higher education. Michale has authored several publications and conducted several research projects for the Commission. Michale’s research specialty is in the area of measuring and evaluating student achievement outcomes and his training seminar topics cover areas such as leadership in private career colleges, the role of accreditation in institutional enhancement, and distance education and degree program development. Michale’s doctoral dissertation is entitled Does Leadership Matter?: The Relationship Between Leadership Characteristics and Student Achievement in Private Career Colleges. Michale has also participated in international accreditation activities in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Brazil, Canada, and the Caribbean and has on behalf of the Commission met with numerous international delegations seeking information about accreditation in the United States.

Michale has served an adjunct faculty member at the University of Virginia where he teaches graduate courses in education policy. Before joining ACCSC, Michale earned experience in the trades by working as an electrician’s apprentice and HVAC technician and through his service in the United States Marine Corps.

Thomas J. Cornacchia
Director of Accreditation

(B.S., St. Francis University; M.Ed., American University)

Tom Cornacchia began his tenure with ACCSC in February 2005 as the Associate Director of Accreditation. In his current capacity as the Director of Accreditation, Tom supervises and manages the staff within the area of institutional review and oversees the ACCSC on-site evaluation visit process and procedures with regard to initial and renewal applications.  Tom also coordinates the activities for initial applicant institutions, as well as conducts on-site evaluations, including specialized reviews. 

Tom and the Institutional Review Management Team are responsible for recruiting and training new team member volunteers, as well as producing the Team Member Update electronic publication.  Tom has 16 years of experience within the accreditation sector and has conducted several hundred on-site evaluations.  He possesses expertise in policy and program development, committee work and agenda development, standards review and analysis, and distance education initiatives.  

Juanita Gurubatham

Director of Institutional Review & Development

(Ph.D., University of Maryland - Baltimore  County)

Dr. Juanita Gurubatham joined the Commission in August 2007 as the Associate Director of Institutional Development.  In her current role, Juanita supports strategic planning and process enhancement activities in the area of substantive change, degree, and distance education applications. Juanita comes to ACCSC with more than 25 years of experience in higher education in the areas of curriculum development, faculty and academic administration, and distance learning. 

Prior to joining ACCSC, Juanita served as the Associate Vice President for Academic Administration and Institutional Research at Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, Maryland.  Juanita holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy with an emphasis in higher education from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. 

Christopher D. Lambert
Director of External Affairs

(B.A., Indiana University of Pennsylvania; M.Ed., University of Virginia)

Christopher Lambert began working with ACCSC in 1996 as an accreditation specialist and during his tenure with the Commission, has participated on hundreds of on-site evaluations to ACCSC-accredited and applicant institutions.   

In his current position as Director of External Affairs, Christopher is responsible for the development and administration of ACCSC’s external affairs and public relations campaign, serving as the primary staff liaison to numerous state and national higher education organizations.   Additionally, as an advocate for accreditation with a strong belief in the transformative power of education, Christopher has represented the Commission on several international endeavors, including participating in accreditation activities in Canada, Brazil and the Caribbean.

Christopher currently serves as the primary staff liaison for the Commission’s distance education committee and is responsible for the development of the Commission’s online training initiative, as well as ACCSC’s publication efforts, including web site design and development. Since 1998, Christopher has also served as a Lead Presenter on the ACCSC Presentation Team, regularly speaking at ACCSC sponsored workshops and seminars, and is a frequent speaker at numerous higher education conferences hosted across the United States.

Anne Santalla
Director of Operations

(B.A., Marymount University)

Anne Santalla joined ACCSC in the fall of 2003. As the director of operations, Anne is responsible for the management and oversight of the administrative and fiscal operations of ACCSC. She has more than 18 years of nonprofit management experience and is a member of both the American Society of Association Executives and the Society for Human Resources Management. Prior to joining the Commission, Anne served as the director of finance and administration for the American Association of University Professors. Anne also previously served as the director of administration and membership for the American Industrial Health Council.

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Bettina Falwell
Manager of Accreditation Operations

(B.S., Columbia Union College; M.S., Capella University)

Bettina Falwell joined the Commission in May 2001 and throughout her tenure with ACCSC, has held several positions within the organization.   In her current position as the Manager of Accreditation Operation, Bettina  is responsible for implementing the operational needs of the accrediting department and ensuring an effective and efficient process for all institutions seeking accreditation from the Commission.

Bettina has 12 years of experience in managing at-risk youth and adult education programs in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Bettina also serves as staff liaison to the ACCSC Compliance Committee.

Aillen King
Manager for Institutional Records

2006 marks Aillen King’s 20th year with ACCSC. As the Manager for Institutional Records, Ms. King is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of ACCSC’s database, which ensures the timely flow of communication and information to respective departments at ACCSC. Additionally, Ms. King’s responsibilities include maintaining the integrity of all institutional files and archives, and institutional record management. Ms. King is the primary staff contact for all changes to school contact information, including changes in school director position, and also serves as the primary staff contact for voluntary withdrawals and school closures.

Lisa J. Miles
Manager of Accreditation

(B.S., University of Missouri)

Lisa Miles began working with ACCSC in November 1996 and has conducted nearly 300 on-site evaluations since then. Prior to her tenure with ACCSC, Lisa was a research associate with the Missouri Proprietary School Certification Program, a compliance reviewer with the Missouri Student Loan Program, a financial aid officer at Central Missouri State University, and a student loan processor at Colorado State University.

As the Manager of Accreditation, Lisa's primary responsibilities include the oversight and management of the accreditation process for both member institutions and initial applicants, as well as coordinating subsequent follow up verification activities that include degree program activities and separate facilities review. Lisa is also a member of the ACCSC presentation team.