Lessons From Liaison’s Leaders:
Expert Insights for the Year Ahead

Stephen Taylor
Vice President, Enrollment Strategy, Liaison

Steve joined the Liaison team in 2020 after almost 20 years in higher education administration. Leading teams and driving innovation at schools like Harvard Business School and ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business, Steve’s experience has focused on the intersection of people, process, and systems as drivers of smart growth. His most recent school position was as Associate Dean for Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business, where he led the unit responsible for all graduate business programs. He holds undergraduate degrees in general studies and information systems and graduate degrees in business administration and philosophy.

Todd Abbott
Vice President, Liaison

Todd Abbott is a higher education leader with 28 years of experience. As a Vice President at Liaison, he partners with colleges and universities to strengthen their enrollment operations and achieve their strategic goals. His expertise spans enrollment, marketing, and student retention, including leadership roles on campus and in the industry. A former Dean of Enrollment, Todd champions data-informed strategies that prioritize student success and institutional growth.

Sarah Coen
Chief Growth Officer, Liaison

Sarah Coen joined the team at Liaison as the Chief Growth Officer after 30+ years in the higher education industry. She has served in executive enrollment positions on college campuses and spent nearly 20 years as a consultant and then as a Senior Vice President of Consulting Services at RNL. She brings extensive industry knowledge, campus experience, and a passion for leading teams to success. Sarah has a bachelor's degree from Miami University and a master's degree from Central Michigan University.

Craig Cornell
Vice President of Enrollment Strategy, Undergraduate and State Systems, Liaison

Craig Cornell is the Vice President for Enrollment Strategy at Liaison. In that capacity, he oversees a team of enrollment strategists and brings best practices, consultation, and data trends to campuses across the country in all things enrollment management. Craig also serves as the dedicated resource to NASH (National Association of Higher Education Systems) and works closely with the higher education system that Liaison supports. Before joining Liaison in 2023, Craig served for over 30 years in multiple higher education executive enrollment management positions. During his tenure, the campuses he served often received national recognition for enrollment growth, effective financial aid leveraging, marketing enhancements, and innovative enrollment strategies. Craig has published, consulted, been a keynote speaker, served on multiple boards, chaired national committees, and has presented for many state and national organizations on the many facets of strategic enrollment management and effective financial aid leveraging. 

Karen Jacobs
Vice President, Account Management, Liaison

Karen Jacobs brings over three decades of experience in higher education administration and client success to her role as Vice President, Account Management at Liaison. With a career spanning various leadership positions at institutions such as Thomas Jefferson University and Penn State Abington, Karen has demonstrated a commitment to strategic enrollment management and fostering positive client relationships. In her current role at Liaison, Karen leads the strategic direction surrounding association growth and retention of Liaison's solutions among associations, schools, and programs. Her expertise in areas such as program partnerships, admissions, and enrollment management allows her to provide invaluable guidance to clients seeking to optimize their use of Liaison's services. Prior to joining Liaison, Karen served in leadership roles at Thomas Jefferson University, where she directed undergraduate and graduate admissions operations and spearheaded strategic enrollment management initiatives. Her extensive experience in admissions, recruitment, and CRM software implementation has equipped her with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing higher education institutions today. Karen holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in professional communication from La Salle University. She is passionate about empowering institutions to achieve their enrollment and student success goals through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions.