Staff Contacts

Eileen M. Soto, M.A.

Senior Director of Assessment and Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO)

eileen.soto@lmu.edu

Eileen serves as the Senior Director of Assessment and Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO). In this role, she collaborates with faculty, staff, and administrators to lead university-wide assessment and accreditation activities. She is instrumental in supporting the design and implementation of both institutional and program-level assessment projects. She works alongside the Academic Planning and Review Committee and degree program departments on Academic Program Reviews. Eileen provides workshops, training, and consulting for faculty and staff, strengthening LMU’s commitment to evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement in assessment, program evaluation, and accreditation.

Prior to joining LMU, Eileen served as Director of Educational Effectiveness at Biola University, where she transformed the university’s assessment culture to focus on student success. She led faculty development initiatives, guided accreditation efforts, and oversaw state authorization processes to expand student access. Her expertise in WSCUC standards and strategic leadership in accreditation are a valuable asset to LMU. Eileen earned a B.A. in Psychology from California State University Fullerton and an M.A. in Education with an emphasis in Educational Leadership from Biola University.

Susan A. Suh, Ph.D.

Senior Assessment Specialist

susan.suh@lmu.edu

Susan serves as the Senior Assessment Specialist within the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at Loyola Marymount University. In this role, she collaborates with the Senior Director of Assessment as a thought partner to develop clear strategy, vision, and implementation of program assessment across LMU. She is in the key role of managing assessment initiatives to improve student learning, e.g., by consulting and collaborating with faculty and staff across the institution in support of their academic program review process and by implementing annual institution-wide assessments.

Prior to joining LMU in December 2024, Susan has worn many hats, e.g., as a lecturer of research methods and intro sociology and a researcher of college access and urban inequality at UCLA, as an engineer conducting company-wide quality assurance assessment for a steel company, and most recently as grants manager for a fund that supports CBOs advancing the civic engagement of underserved communities. Although Susan’s work background has always focused on evidence-based assessment to identify the status of conditions, programs, and processes and their impact on the constituents served, she is happy to be back in higher education doing so. Susan earned a B.S. in Materials Science from Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science and a Ph.D. in Sociology from UCLA.

Ronak Macwan

Graduate Research Assistant in Assessment

rmacwan@lion.lmu.edu

Ronak Macwan is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Science at Loyola Marymount University. In his role with the Office of Assessment, he supports research and data analysis projects that enhance student learning, program effectiveness, and institutional development at LMU.

Before joining LMU, Ronak completed advanced studies in Biotechnology, Biodiversity Management, and Project Management. He has co-authored research on coral reef restoration and climate adaptation in India, with academic interests focused on sustainability, climate resilience, and nature-based solutions. Alongside his academic pursuits, Ronak brings extensive experience in event coordination and leadership from his involvement in student and alumni initiatives, as well as over 15 years of experience as a pencil portrait and charcoal artist.

Ryan Bran

Undergraduate Research Assistant in Assessment

rbran@lion.lmu.edu

Ryan is currently an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems & Business Analytics at Loyola Marymount University. He plays a role in supporting the University’s Educational Effectiveness and Assessment office. His responsibilities include monitoring, analyzing, and enhancing university-wide assessment, accreditation, and institutional change efforts to improve the learning environment at LMU.

Prior to joining the team, Ryan was a Special Events Assistant at Loyola Marymount University and assisted in property management for his family business. These experiences developed his skills in data organization and operation analysis, which he hopes to enhance. Ryan wishes to pursue a MBA after he finishes his education in 2027.