Alina Asif
Admissions, student success, and healthcare operations
Since 2020, helping students and patients move from a first question to a completed next step.
- Chicago, Illinois
- English, Urdu, Punjabi
From peer tutor to director
I started at College of DuPage in 2020 as a peer tutor while finishing my own associate degree there. I transferred to the University of Illinois Chicago, earned a B.S. in Health Information Management, and then an M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership and Policy Studies.
Today I direct admissions and student services across two campuses at Stellar Career College, teach as adjunct faculty, and still support students at College of DuPage. Most of the people I have worked with are adults balancing work, family, and school. I know that path because I walked it.
Retention usually turns on removing a practical obstacle, not on motivation.
From caterpillar today to butterfly tomorrow.
Caterpillar
Growth takes time, and much of it happens before anyone else can see it. A student asking for help, trying again after a setback, or beginning to trust their own judgment is already making progress.
Chrysalis
Supporting that growth means being consistent. It means listening, explaining a process clearly, following up, and helping students find the resources they need. It also means giving them room to make decisions and build confidence in their own abilities.
Butterfly
Students do the hard work of learning, adapting, and continuing when things get difficult. Seeing someone I once welcomed move forward with confidence and independence gives me a deep sense of achievement. Their success belongs to them, and knowing I was someone they could rely on makes my work meaningful.
Every stage of growth deserves care.
What the work adds up to
Across nine cohorts since 2023, 92% of completed applications became enrollments.
Each cohort brings more than 200 new students across two campuses.
My team runs more than 400 applicant interviews per cohort, using rubrics I designed.
We hold more than 500 information and orientation sessions a year.
In the course I built, 94% of students earned a C or higher: 33 of 35.
I have led more than 18 meet and greet events for new students.
Every inquiry gets a response within 24 hours. In practice it averages one to two business hours.
Two fields, one way of working
My experience spans higher education and healthcare. Both depend on the same thing: helping someone through a process that feels complicated from the outside.
Higher education
- Admissions and enrollment leadership across two campuses
- Student services, orientation, and early intervention with faculty
- Partnerships with 11 to 12 high schools in DuPage County, Chicago, and Northwest Indiana
- Final decision maker on transfer credit for 15 to 20 applicants per cohort
- Accreditation compliance and institutional representative at ACCSC board meetings
Healthcare
- B.S. in Health Information Management
- Patient Care Liaison and MRI Tech Aide at Duly Health and Care, working in Epic
- RX Shift Supervisor at CVS Pharmacy, resolving insurance rejections and prior authorization holds
- Admissions for clinical programs in sonography, radiologic technology, MRI, practical nursing, surgical technology, and medical assisting
- Healthcare data certificates from UC Davis
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- Radiologic Technology
- MRI
- Practical Nursing
- Surgical Technology
- Medical Assisting
- Jan 2020. The departure. College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn. While finishing an Associate of Science, becomes a Peer Tutor at the college.
- Mar 2020. Healthcare begins. CVS Pharmacy, Lombard. Joins CVS as RX Shift Supervisor. Trains five team members, supervises interns, and resolves insurance rejections and prior authorization holds.
- May 2020. Associate degree earned. College of DuPage. Graduates with an Associate of Science, GPA 3.64. Promoted to Academic Assistant I, then transfers to the University of Illinois Chicago.
- Spring 2022. Bachelor's degree earned. University of Illinois Chicago. Completes a professional practice internship at UI Health Family Medicine in March and April, analyzing provider scheduling in Excel and Tableau. Graduates in May with a B.S. in Health Information Management, GPA 3.65.
- Oct 2022. Into patient care. Duly Health and Care, Lombard. Joins Duly as Patient Care Liaison and MRI Tech Aide, coordinating between patients, families, and clinical teams in Epic.
- Feb 2023. A carriage uncouples. CVS Pharmacy. Completes three years at CVS.
- Sep 2023. Into admissions leadership. Stellar Career College, Chicago and Crown Point. Leaves Duly to become Manager of Admissions and Student Services. Builds orientation, onboarding, and staff training where none existed.
- Jan 2024. Into the classroom. Stellar Career College. Begins teaching as adjunct faculty and writes the syllabi for College Study Skills and BIO 211 Healthcare Information Technology Management.
- Early 2025. Two promotions. College of DuPage and Stellar Career College. Promoted to Academic Assistant II at College of DuPage in January, and to Director of Admissions and Student Services at Stellar in February, leading a team of four including two managers.
- Dec 2025. Master's degree earned. University of Illinois Chicago. Graduates with an M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership and Policy Studies, GPA 4.00.
- Today. Still moving. Director of Admissions and Student Services, adjunct faculty, and Academic Assistant II, all at once.
The journey so far
Some roles ran at the same time. Each one joins the train as a carriage and stays aboard until it ends.
- Jan 2020
The departure
College of DuPage, Glen EllynWhile finishing an Associate of Science, becomes a Peer Tutor at the college.
On board- College of DuPage, Peer Tutor
- Mar 2020
Healthcare begins
CVS Pharmacy, LombardJoins CVS as RX Shift Supervisor. Trains five team members, supervises interns, and resolves insurance rejections and prior authorization holds.
On board- College of DuPage, Peer Tutor
- CVS Pharmacy, RX Shift Supervisor
- May 2020
Associate degree earned
College of DuPageGraduates with an Associate of Science, GPA 3.64. Promoted to Academic Assistant I, then transfers to the University of Illinois Chicago.
Ticket: Associate of Science, College of DuPage, 2020, GPA 3.64On board- College of DuPage, Academic Assistant I
- CVS Pharmacy, RX Shift Supervisor
- Spring 2022
Bachelor's degree earned
University of Illinois ChicagoCompletes a professional practice internship at UI Health Family Medicine in March and April, analyzing provider scheduling in Excel and Tableau. Graduates in May with a B.S. in Health Information Management, GPA 3.65.
UI Health internship, Mar to Apr 2022Ticket: B.S. Health Information Management, University of Illinois Chicago, 2022, GPA 3.65On board- College of DuPage, Academic Assistant I
- CVS Pharmacy, RX Shift Supervisor
- Oct 2022
Into patient care
Duly Health and Care, LombardJoins Duly as Patient Care Liaison and MRI Tech Aide, coordinating between patients, families, and clinical teams in Epic.
On board- College of DuPage, Academic Assistant I
- CVS Pharmacy, RX Shift Supervisor
- Duly Health and Care, Patient Care Liaison
- Feb 2023
A carriage uncouples
CVS PharmacyCompletes three years at CVS.
On board- College of DuPage, Academic Assistant I
- Duly Health and Care, Patient Care Liaison
- Sep 2023
Into admissions leadership
Stellar Career College, Chicago and Crown PointLeaves Duly to become Manager of Admissions and Student Services. Builds orientation, onboarding, and staff training where none existed.
On board- College of DuPage, Academic Assistant I
- Stellar Career College, Manager of Admissions
- Jan 2024
Into the classroom
Stellar Career CollegeBegins teaching as adjunct faculty and writes the syllabi for College Study Skills and BIO 211 Healthcare Information Technology Management.
On board- College of DuPage, Academic Assistant I
- Stellar Career College, Manager of Admissions
- Stellar Career College, Adjunct Faculty
- Early 2025
Two promotions
College of DuPage and Stellar Career CollegePromoted to Academic Assistant II at College of DuPage in January, and to Director of Admissions and Student Services at Stellar in February, leading a team of four including two managers.
On board- College of DuPage, Academic Assistant II
- Stellar Career College, Director of Admissions
- Stellar Career College, Adjunct Faculty
- Dec 2025
Master's degree earned
University of Illinois ChicagoGraduates with an M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership and Policy Studies, GPA 4.00.
Ticket: M.Ed. Instructional Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Illinois Chicago, 2025, GPA 4.00On board- College of DuPage, Academic Assistant II
- Stellar Career College, Director of Admissions
- Stellar Career College, Adjunct Faculty
- Today
Still moving
Director of Admissions and Student Services, adjunct faculty, and Academic Assistant II, all at once.
On board- College of DuPage, Academic Assistant II
- Stellar Career College, Director of Admissions
- Stellar Career College, Adjunct Faculty
Problems I have solved
Meet and greet moments
I meet students at the beginning of their journey. Watching them find their wings is the part of my work I never get tired of.
At Stellar Career College, I have led more than 18 meet and greet events as Director of Admissions and Student Services. Each one gives me the chance to hear students' goals, answer their questions, and begin a relationship that continues throughout their time with us.
I want students to feel comfortable coming to me when they need help. Sometimes that means explaining the next step, connecting them with the right person, or simply taking the time to listen. Those everyday conversations matter to me as much as celebrating their milestones.
To my students: thank you for trusting me with your questions, sharing your goals, and letting me be part of your journey. Watching you grow is why this work means so much to me.
What I believe about this work
Find it early
By the time a student says they are in trouble, weeks are gone. I watch attendance, early grades, and response times so we can act while there is still time.
Ask before assuming
The reason someone is not moving forward is often not the one they give first. I would rather ask than build a solution for the wrong problem.
Build systems, not heroics
Good outcomes should not depend on which staff member a person happens to reach. I build processes that make support consistent.
In the classroom
Adjunct faculty at Stellar Career College since January 2024, teaching every 12-week quarter. I wrote the syllabi, learning outcomes, and assessments for both courses I teach, and I serve on program advisory committees.
College Study Skills
College navigation, time management, goal setting, study strategies, academic communication, self-advocacy, and using institutional resources.
94% of students earned a C or higher.
BIO 211 Healthcare Information Technology Management
Online, 12 weeks, 5 quarter credit hours
I wrote the syllabus, learning outcomes, and assessments for this online course. It prepares allied health students to manage patient information accurately in both paper and electronic form. Each of its ten modules has a recorded lecture, slides, and a weekly quiz, with a midterm and a final exam.
My goal is for students to understand not only how health information is handled, but why accuracy and privacy matter to the patient behind every record.
Toolkit
Enrollment and student success
Enrollment and student success- Funnel management
- Applicant evaluation and interviewing
- Orientation design
- Early intervention
- Transfer credit evaluation
- Partnership development
Leadership
- Supervising managers
- Hiring and onboarding
- Training design and delivery
- Performance coaching
Data
- Tableau
- Power BI
- SPSS
- R
- SQL foundations
- Excel
Compliance
- ACCSC accreditation
- Title IV (R2T4)
- FERPA
- HIPAA
- Policy and procedure development
Systems
- Epic
- GoHighLevel CRM
- TracCloud
- Blackboard
- Microsoft Office
Education
2020Associate of Science
College of DuPageCompleted May 2020
GPA3.64
2022B.S., Health Information Management
University of Illinois ChicagoCompleted May 2022
GPA3.65- 2025
M.Ed., Instructional Leadership and Policy Studies
University of Illinois ChicagoCompleted Dec 2025
GPA4.00
Certificates
IBM
- Databases and SQL for Data Science with Python
- Introduction to Data Engineering
University of California, Davis
- Analytical Solutions to Common Healthcare Problems
- Healthcare Data Quality and Governance
- Healthcare Data Literacy
Recognition and service
Student Chancellor Award
University of Illinois Chicago
Honors
- AwardRita Finnegan Award
- AwardHuman Relations Award
- Academic honorLatin Honors
- ScholarshipILHIMA Scholarship
- ScholarshipGIC HIMSS Scholarship
- ScholarshipSTEM Scholarship
Service and affiliations
- ACCSC board meetingsInstitutional representative
- UIC Health Information Management Advisory Committee
- AHIMA
- ILHIMA
- GIC HIMSS
- Phi Kappa Theta
Let's talk.
I am always glad to hear from people working in admissions, student success, and healthcare access.