Marc Booker, PhD

About Booker

With over two decades of experience working with online and distance education students at the post-secondary level in admissions, registrar and academic administration roles, Dr. Marc Booker brings a unique perspective on the trends in higher education from a post-traditional student lens. 

As Vice Provost for Strategy at the University of Phoenix, Booker oversees critical path academic initiatives to improve the student experience such as learning platform implementations, curricular enhancements, developing innovative academic program designs and creating empathetic solutions to drive improved student outcomes. 

For his work supporting the higher education community and life-changing outcomes for students, Booker has been recognized by multiple higher education associations with external awards.  In 2024 he was awarded the UPCEA Business and Operations Award for Operational Excellence connected to his efforts to execute on transformational retention related initiatives in the academic organization at University of Phoenix.  Additionally, in 2024 he was also the inaugural recipient of the Impact award from the Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (PACRAO) for his significant support of the association and was honored with the Thomas A. Bilger award from the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) for his leadership and service.  Dr. Booker also received a 2020 Hall of Fame recognition from Blackboard recognizing his contributions in providing thought leadership and innovation in education; and he was the leader of the team that received the 2023 Anthology Catalyst award in the Teaching and Learning category for the University’s competency-based education programs. 

Throughout his career, Booker has been actively engaged in numerous professional associations in an effort to give back and provide development opportunities to the members of the higher education community. 

Since 2009, Booker has been a regular speaker, contributor, and subject matter expert at national and regional conferences like AACRAO, PACRAO, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), EDUCAUSE and more sharing insight on various topics including leadership, process improvement, change management, prior learning assessment, transfer credit and articulation. 

Widely recognized as an expert in transfer credit and Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), Booker was previously the Vice President of Admissions and Evaluation at University of Phoenix, and during his tenure his office received three Showcase in Excellence Awards from the Southwest Alliance for Excellence for processes related to admissions application, transcript and prior learning assessment processes.  

Booker has also continued to provide thought leadership to the academic transfer credit community and most recently authored the foundational Transfer Articulation 101 online course (2022) for AACRAO, which leads to badging opportunities for participants.  Dr. Booker has also contributed to multiple publications on transfer credit processes as a co-author for AACRAO’s Guide to Best Practices: Articulation Agreements (2019); writing a chapter on international admissions for the AACRAO International Guide (2016), and was a consultant and named contributor to the Transferability of Postsecondary Credit Following Student Transfer or Co- Enrollment (2014) study published by the National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education.

Booker has dedicated numerous volunteer hours to several higher education professional organizations, with some of his most notable achievements coming through his support of PACRAO. Booker has served in several capacities on the PACRAO Board culminating in being President of the association in 2016. However, his proudest achievement for the association has been his work as one of the founding faculty members for the PACRAO Leadership Development Institute, which was formed in 2018. This year-long program serves a cohort of higher education professionals as they develop their competencies while ascending to be the future leaders in our institutions, and in 2022, Booker was named Dean of Faculty for this program.  

Booker holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from the University of Phoenix