Board of Directors

Dr. Laci Fiala, an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology at Hiram College, teaches a variety of courses in Criminal Justice and Sociology majors, such as Introduction to Sociology, Research Methods, Law & Society, Criminology, Senior Capstone, and a variety of electives and special topics. She also has expertise with special topics ranging from victimology, school violence, and substance use and crime to social inequality, childhood and family.

Dr. Fiala is also a self-professed “numbers nerd” and quantitative researcher who specializes in survey research methodology and content analysis. Her research emphasizes youth, young adult, and family issues. She has published and presented on topics ranging from school violence to young adult financial management to new parent experiences.

Prior to Hiram, Dr. Fiala was a professor of sociology at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio. There she taught over 20 different courses in sociology and criminal justice as well as specialty courses in the Honors Program and Global Scholars Program on topics such as cross-cultural issues in education, victimization and gender inequalities. She also served as chair of the faculty for three years and was the co-director of the Honors Program. Dr. Fiala currently serves on a number of committees at Hiram, including Assessment and Academic Program Review, and is the current director of the college’s Honors Program.

Biography coming soon.

Karrie M. Jean is the Assistant Director of the Indiana University South Bend Honors Program. She also holds two bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and philosophy with honors from IU South Bend. Karrie has worked full-time in higher education for 7 years and is currently finishing up her thesis to receive her Master’s in Applied Mathematics. Her thesis is focused on improving retention in higher education using operations research methods. Karrie decided to serve as the Mid-East Honors Association Treasurer because of her passion for the honors education experience and the ways in which the Mid-East Honors Association enriches that experience for students, faculty, and staff. As an honors alumni, honors programs/colleges and those who participate in them hold a special place in her heart. Additionally, Karrie has held a treasurer position in the past with her local chapter of a national women’s fraternity, so she felt she had skills that would be valuable to the Mid-East Honors Association Treasurer position.

Lauren DelSignore serves as the Secretary for the Mid-East Honors Association and works as the Director of Dean’s Executive Operations at the David C. Frederick Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh. Lauren is responsible for supporting the Dean and acts as a liaison and ensures confidentiality of high-level, sensitive information to support operational success. Lauren assists with the strategic planning process, administrative goals and priorities while overseeing special events and marketing and communications. Lauren is a proud 2x alumna of the University of Pittsburgh where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and her Master of Education in Higher Education Management. In her free time, Lauren enjoys working out and spending time with her husband and their pets.

Amy Scrima is the Chair of Social Sciences, Humanities and Education at Lake Michigan College. She is also Psychology faculty and Director of the Honors Program. Amy attended Western Michigan University where she earned a Ph.D. in Behavioral Science and did her undergraduate work at Purdue University in both Psychology and English. She has worked in training and system development, instructional design and organizational management but found her greatest source of motivation in teaching and has been committed to improving her student’s educational opportunities at LMC for over 15 years. Amy is on several civic engagement boards and actively volunteers in her community of Southwest Michigan where she lives.

Debbie Bachmann is the Past President of the Mid-East Honors Association, with an extensive career of over 30 years in secondary and higher education. In her capacity, she oversees a dedicated Board responsible for cultivating educational experiences that foster advancements and innovations in honors programs across the five states surrounding Indiana.

A passionate advocate for community service, Debbie is committed to ensuring that educational access and opportunities are available to all individuals. Proudly an Alumna of Purdue University Northwest, she has contributed her skills and dedication to the university for the past twenty-one years, currently serving as the Administrator of Honors College Student Leadership and Programming.

Beyond her role at the university, Debbie is actively engaged in the community. She holds the position of Board President at the Hammond Education Foundation and is a valued member of the Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and The Challenger Learning Center Board of Directors. Recognizing her outstanding commitment to service, Debbie was honored with the 2022 Northwest Indiana Influential Women of the Year award.

In addition to her professional and community commitments, Debbie finds joy in involvement with organizations and events that emphasize philanthropy and giving back. In her leisure time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, exploring new places, and traveling, cherishing the company of her beautiful children and grandchildren.

Jordan Keeley is a student representative of the Mid-East Honors Association Board. She has been the President and Vice President of the Indiana University-South Bend Honors Program Council and currently serves as the Social Media Executive. She is a first-generation college student and is also the President of the First-Generation Club on campus. She is currently a senior pursuing her Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Additionally, she is taking a course at her church to obtain credentials in ministry with a focus on prayer. Jordan can be found serving in a variety of environments both on and off campus. On campus, she has been found serving in the food pantry and also helping to mentor both new and returning students. One of her favorite places and ways to serve the community is with her local church, the Vineyard. She organizes and participates in service projects here and has also served at the local animal shelter, which has been one of her favorites.

After finishing her undergraduate degree, Jordan plans to take her NCLEX to become a Registered Nurse with hopes to begin working in the NICU. Jordan also has dreams of creating a non-profit health clinic for children and adolescents. In her free time, Jordan enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She also loves to go hiking and spend time outdoors. She is very excited to utilize the leadership skills and knowledge she has obtained this far and use it to help those attending MEHA. She absolutely adored her experiences with MEHA and cannot wait for others to gain a similar love for the Mid-East Honors Association Conference.

Kaysea Hartman is a student member of the Mid-East Honors Association Board. She is a first-generation student majoring in Biochemistry and Crime, Law, & Justice. In her role on the MEHA Board, she assists in the planning process of the conference. Kaysea previously attended the Mid-East Honors Association conference of 2023 as a student presenter and is a student member of the MEHA Board for the 2024 conference. After presenting by herself during her first year, Kaysea was excited to join the board for 2024.

Back in her hometown, she currently works as a pharmacy technician. Kaysea is involved in her community, where she participates in various events across campus, such as Writers in Residence, Chemistry Club, and Medicus. After finishing her Biochemistry and Crime, Law, & Justice majors, she hopes to attend medical and law school. Her love of science continues to drive her toward her goals. She hopes to become a corner in the future and determine what events or causes led to a person’s death. Kaysea views the job like a puzzle, needing pieces to be put together. She is speaking for the dead. In her free time, Kaysea enjoys reading and dirt biking with her father. She is a music lover and played the violin thoughout high school. She is an only child with a small immediate family, but her love and appreciation for them keeps her going in hard times.

Asya Abed is a dedicated first-generation college student at Cleveland State University, pursuing a major in Early Childhood Education. Driven by a passion for creating nurturing and inclusive classroom environments, Asya aspires to help young students thrive and grow into their best selves. Outside academics, Asya is an enthusiastic volleyball player who enjoys working out, reflecting her commitment to a balanced and active lifestyle.

An engaged member of the CSU community, Asya frequently volunteers at campus events and enjoys giving back to her community. She holds a leadership role as the president of Mandel Vikes, an organization aimed at enhancing community engagement within the Honors College.

Family is a cornerstone of Asya’s life, and their unwavering support has been a source of strength through challenging times. Asya values empathy, confidence, hard work, creativity, and accountability, and these principles guide her personal and professional endeavors. A lover of dogs and an advocate for meaningful connections, Asya is committed to making a positive impact both on and off campus.

Megan Swain is a student member of the Mid-East Honors Association Board. She is a current senior at Hiram College majoring in both Biology and Environmental Studies.

Megan has previously attended the Mid-East Honors Association conference in 2024 as a student presenter. Her presentations were focused on her passion of ecology and botany. Her other passions include community service and making education accessible, inclusive, and diverse.

After Megan completes her undergraduate degree, she hopes to find a job in ecology education. Connecting students with the world around on a socio-environmental level.