About

The  60 year curriculum . . . .

Researchers estimate that by 2050 women could live to an average of 89 to 94 years of age and men to an average of 83 to 86.  That means that we will work longer and change jobs more often.  We will need to keep abreast of rapid changes in the workplace and in society.  Maintaining a healthy mind and body will be of utmost importance to help us remain vibrant and independent longer.

That is why PACE, OU’s community outreach unit, works collaboratively across the University with our expert faculty to provide flexible, innovative and relevant programming for all ages across the life-span. 

Whether you are improving your career, improving your health or enriching your mind we want to be there to help you enjoy the journey.

Work hard, play hard and keep PACE with OU!

PACE Staff Directory

Vacant
Director of Professional and Continuing Education

Carrie Sliwinski
Assistant Director
[email protected]
(248) 370-3177

Carrie Sliwinski, the Assistant Director for Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) has been with Oakland University (OU) since 2000. Carrie began at OU as a student assistant while she completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree. In 2006, she became a full-time staff member and has been working at Oakland University since then in various roles including the Continuing Education Office Assistant, School of Business Administration Events Coordinator, and the Assistant to the Associate Dean. Carrie has continued her studies while working at Oakland University receiving a Masters of Training and Development from OU in December 2015.

In her current role as the Assistant Director for PACE, she is responsible for leading the registration and enrollment team, acts as technical manager for Banner Flexible Registration system, is customer service liaison and implements business and compliance operations for PACE. Carrie is also the Interim Director of the Personal Financial Planning Certificate Program. 

Lori Crose
Senior Account Development Director
[email protected]

Lori Crose has been with Oakland University since 2000 in various leadership roles. As the Senior Account Development Director for Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), Lori develops custom programs for university departments, schools and colleges.  She collaborates with academic leaders to develop new programs, alternate delivery options and strategies to grow program enrollment using new adult learning approaches in development at Oakland University. In addition, Lori creates partnership programs with governments, businesses and organizations to support workforce development needs. 

Prior to higher education, she worked in the healthcare industry serving as laboratory research assistant at both Illinois State University in Bloomington, Illinois and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois. Later, she served as Senior Microbiologist at Pharmacia-Upjohn in Kalamazoo, Michigan. While there, her research on Streptomyces transposons resulted in several white paper publications and she received numerous awards for her contribution to antibiotic production process improvements.

Lori earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 2002 from Oakland University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois College in 1981. She has served two terms as the Central Region Secretary for the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) organization and served on the Central Region Planning Committee in 2015. She recently served as a member of the Oakland County’s Workforce Development Business Roundtable and represented Oakland University Representative on the Oakland County Emerging Sectors Educational Consortium.

Gina Wilcox
Registration and Compliance Assistant
[email protected]
(248) 370-3177

Gina Wilcox is the Registration and Compliance Assistant. She has been at Oakland University since 2022. Gina is a retired teacher who spent 33 years in the classroom. She taught many different subjects to special needs students and general education students. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education from Eastern Michigan and a Master degree in Educational Technology from Lawrence Technological University.

As Registration and Compliance Assistant she is responsible for assisting students with registration and program questions. She also assists the PACE program directors with their enrollment and registrations needs.

Debbie Whitlock
Office Assistant
[email protected]

Debbie Whitlock, PACE Office Assistant, joined Oakland University in August 2024. With a diverse career focused on customer service, process improvement, and attention to detail, Debbie's genuine passion for helping others is evident in her work. Most recently, she was part of the Purchasing Department at a local school district and brings extensive clerical accounting and administrative experience to her role. Debbie is excited to contribute to the PACE Department at OU.

In her role as Office Assistant, Debbie’s responsibilities include managing various administrative tasks related to PACE record keeping, such as processing payment requisitions, handling contracts, reconciling credit card statements, and managing invoice payments and fees for PACE programs.

Stephen Anderson
Director, Advanced Placement
[email protected]

Stephen Anderson is the Director of Advance Placement Summer Institute. He is responsible for planning, staffing and facilitating all APSI sessions. In addition, he works with other members of PACE to market APSI sessions, registration and budgeting.

Stephen completed his Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership from the University of Michigan, Flint in 2015. In addition, he completed his Master’s in Education from Wayne State University in 2011, completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from OU and a Bachelor of Business Administration and Associates of Business Marketing from Baker College. Before pursuing administration work, Stephen studied abroad at Oxford University through Oakland University and taught English in Niger, Romania and Jordan.

Tonia D. Wernette
Director of Paralegal Program
[email protected]

Tonia Wernette is the Director of Oakland University’s Paralegal Program, where she also teaches Ethics and Law Practice Management. An alumna of Oakland University, she holds a bachelor’s degree in English and History and has earned her ABA-approved paralegal certificate. She is committed to shaping the next generation of legal professionals with a strong foundation in ethics and practice management.

Erin Schmotzer
Unit Marketing and Enrollment Coordinator
[email protected]

Erin Schmotzer serves as the Unit Marketing and Enrollment Coordinator for PACE and the Oakland University Graduate School, where she focuses on promoting and raising awareness of educational programs for adult learners. In her role, Erin develops engaging promotional materials, manages social media platforms, and contributes compelling content for newsletters and websites. She also collaborates with PACE staff to promote summer camps, enhancing outreach and engagement.

With 20 years of experience in the advertising and marketing industry, Erin brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to her position. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising from Michigan State University, equipping her with the skills to effectively connect with diverse audiences and drive enrollment initiatives.