A Network for Michigan's Learning Center Professionals
The Michigan College Learning Center Association (MICLCA) connects learning support professionals at Michigan's colleges and universities through professional development, networking, and advocacy for student success. MICLCA is the Michigan affiliate of the International College Learning Center Association (ICLCA), part of a national network of learning center professionals.
Supporting the People Who Support Students
Our members work in tutoring centers, academic support programs, supplemental instruction, and learning assistance at community colleges and four-year institutions throughout Michigan. We provide a professional home for the people doing this work: a place to share evidence-based practices, develop professionally, and advocate for the resources our programs and students need.
What we do:
We support learning assistance professionals in developing and maintaining programs that enhance student learning. We promote professional standards in administration, curriculum design, evaluation, and research. We act on learning assistance issues at the local and state levels, and we provide opportunities for professional development, networking, and idea exchange through conferences, workshops, and publications.
How MICLCA came together
- March 2026 Bylaws adopted by the founding board
- April 2026 Incorporated as a Michigan nonprofit corporation
- May 2026 Recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity
- May 2027 First annual conference and officer elections
Connected to ICLCA
MICLCA is the Michigan affiliate of the International College Learning Center Association (ICLCA), which has been promoting excellence among learning center professionals since 1986. ICLCA provides the national framework of professional standards, certifications, research, and professional development that MICLCA brings to Michigan.
Learn more at iclca.world ↗Certifications
Learning Center of Excellence (LCE) certification for programs and individual Leadership Certification for professionals.
Annual Conference
The ICLCA Annual Conference brings together learning center professionals from across the country and internationally each fall.
Publications
The Learning Assistance Review (TLAR) is ICLCA's peer-reviewed journal. ICLCA also publishes Best Practice Guides and a Glossary for Student Success.
Professional Development
Summer Institute, webinars, leadership roundtables, and a consulting service for learning center programs.
Founding Board of Directors
MICLCA's founding board was announced in October 2025 at the ICLCA national conference. The board serves from the time the organization was approved through the first annual meeting at which elections are held.
Joe Salvatore
Joe has directed the Science Learning Center at the University of Michigan since 2017, leading a team of more than 350 student and professional staff who support undergraduates in the natural sciences. He joined the SLC in 2004 as Study Group Program Manager and served as its first Assistant Director and later Associate Director. Joe holds a B.A. in creative writing from Miami University and an M.A. in higher education administration from the University of Michigan. He has presented widely on collaborative learning, tutor and facilitator training, and equity in STEM, and was a 2019 New Leadership Academy Fellow.
Angela Zanardelli
Angela oversees Wayne State University's primary learning support services and its student progress tracking system, developing interventions in partnership with faculty, academic leadership, and student support offices. She also leads the university's Student Success Collaborative. Angela began at Wayne State in 2007 as a Learning Specialist working at the intersection of cognition and physical wellness, later completing training through the Neuroscience and the Learning Brain Institute at UC Santa Barbara and building a program that helps staff and faculty apply cognitive neuroscience research in their work with students. She holds a B.S. from Southern Illinois University, an M.A. in counseling from Wayne State, and a higher education teaching certification from Harvard University.
Vacant
This seat is open. The Secretary records meeting minutes, maintains the bylaws and organizational archives, manages the membership roster, and serves on the Professional Development Committee. Any MICLCA member in good standing is eligible. If you are interested, please get in touch.
Sarah Clark
Sarah has directed the Chemistry Success Center at Grand Valley State University since 2014 and teaches introductory chemistry as a Senior Affiliate Faculty Member in the Department of Chemistry. She is active in the chemistry education community, serving on the program committee for the 2026 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education and presenting at previous BCCE conferences on tutor training and supplemental instruction. Her work with the Chemistry Success Center has earned several awards, including GVSU's Pew Excellence Award for Teaching and Learning Enrichment.
Holly Christopher
Holly is a faculty member in Academic Support and Tutoring Services at Grand Rapids Community College, where she has been part of the campus community since 2003. She began as an adjunct instructor in the Biology Department, became Tutorial Coordinator of the Biology Tutoring and Learning Center in 2007, and was elected Department Head in 2025. Her work centers on student success, tutor development, and curricular support, with leadership in CRLA certification, tutor training, and co-curricular assessment. Holly holds a B.S. in biology from Alma College, an M.S. in biology from Bowling Green State University, and a graduate certificate in teaching and learning in postsecondary education from Michigan State University.
Membership
Join a community of learning center professionals committed to evidence-based student support across Michigan. The membership year runs July 1 through June 30.
Founding Professional
You can become a founding professional member of MICLCA by registering for your first MICLCA membership in 2026. Your support will help MICLCA get off the ground as we prepare for our inaugural MICLCA conference. Founding memberships are valid through June 30, 2027.
- Open to anyone actively involved in or interested in postsecondary learning centers in Michigan
- Voting privileges
- Eligible to run for a MICLCA officer position on the pre-announced slate of candidates at the inaugural MICLCA conference, to be held in May 2027
- Register for the 2027 MICLCA conference at the member rate, $35 less than the nonmember conference fee
- Founding memberships are only available until December 31, 2026
Student
- Open to graduate or undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time in a Michigan institution
- Voting privileges and committee service
- Access to all events and resources
- Not eligible to hold office
- Proof of student status required
Emeritus
- Open to anyone retired from the learning center profession
- Full voting privileges
- Access to all events and resources
- Stay connected with the professional community
- Not eligible to hold office
Lifetime
- Awarded to individuals recognized by MICLCA for service to the profession
- Full voting privileges
- No dues, ever
- Access to all events and resources
- By recognition only
A note on checkout: Zeffy keeps its service free for nonprofits by showing a suggested contribution to Zeffy at checkout. It is optional and separate from your MICLCA dues; to pay dues only, choose “Other” and set the amount to $0.
Membership payments are processed securely through Zeffy, a nonprofit payment platform. MICLCA does not store credit card or bank information. The membership year runs July 1 through June 30.
MICLCA is the Michigan affiliate of the International College Learning Center Association (ICLCA). MICLCA board members are required to be current, active ICLCA members, and all MICLCA members are strongly encouraged to join ICLCA as well. ICLCA membership provides access to national conferences, professional certifications, the TLAR peer-reviewed journal, and a network of affiliates across the country. Learn more and join at iclca.world/Membership ↗
Conferences & Professional Development
Connect, learn, and grow with colleagues from across Michigan's learning center community.
MICLCA Inaugural Annual Conference
Our first annual meeting will bring learning center professionals from across Michigan together for presentations, workshops, and networking, and will include MICLCA's first officer elections.
See conference details →Learning Centers Across Michigan
Every few months we feature one Michigan learning center, told by someone who works there.
We are collecting the first feature now. If your center does work worth sharing, whether that is a program you built, a problem you solved, or a student outcome you are proud of, we would like to hear about it. A few photographs and two or three paragraphs is all it takes.
Centers at any Michigan institution are welcome. You do not need to be a MICLCA member.
Tell us about your center →Looking for a specific program? Browse all 161 learning centers in the directory.
Tools & Resources for Learning Centers
Michigan-specific resources and connections to the national professional network. Open to everyone.
Michigan-Specific Resource
Michigan Learning Center Directory
A searchable directory of 67 Michigan colleges and universities and their 161 learning centers and academic support programs.
Michigan-Specific Resource
Michigan Learning Center Job Board
Open positions in learning centers, tutoring programs, and academic support offices at Michigan colleges and universities. Looking to hire? Post your open positions for free.
Contact MICLCA
Have questions about membership, events, or getting involved? We'd like to hear from you.
General Inquiries
For questions about MICLCA, membership, or events, use the contact form or email us directly.
Interested in Presenting?
We welcome proposals for conference presentations, webinars, and workshop sessions from learning center professionals at all career stages.
Connect with ICLCA
Learn more about our parent organization and the broader learning center community at iclca.world.