Dr. Elizabeth Aube-VanPatten is a team culture and people-focused HR Professional. In late 2022, she became the Lead Academic Program Manager for all HR Programs at Western Governors University, where she has served since 2019. In this role, Elizabeth is the overall end-to-end business owner for her programs, including market segmentation, selection, program requirements, curriculum, and student retention. Before her latest appointment, Elizabeth was responsible for all Marketing and Human Resource Management program faculty operations.

Before championing competency-based Education, Elizabeth spent most of her career in higher education. She was an Associate Professor at Johnson & Wales University in the Department of Sports, Entertainment, and Event Management and the first full-time faculty member hired in the Sports Media & Communication program at the University of Rhode Island.

Elizabeth received her PhD in Education from Northcentral University, where her dissertation focused on the importance of mental health advocacy for Division I student-athletes. She also holds an MS from the University of Illinois and a BS from St. John’s University.

Elizabeth is dedicated to advancing equitable access and inclusion in education by identifying students’ individual needs, removing barriers to access, and providing appropriate accommodations for students who need them. She has been recognized throughout her career for being a strategic leader who analyzes trends, utilizes and allocates resources, and facilitates growth within advanced academics and higher education.