Academic Dean

Born in Pittsburgh, Stephen Maynard Caliendo grew up in a Western Pennsylvania exurb and later attended Clarion University, as a first-generation college student, to study English literature and political science. He earned Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in political science from Purdue University and has taught at the University of Missouri—St. Louis and Avila University (Kansas City, Missouri). He is currently dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of political science at North Central College (Naperville, Illinois).

With Charlton D. McIlwain (New York University), Caliendo is co-author of Race Appeal (Temple University Press, 2011) and co-editor the Routledge Companion to Race and Ethnicity, which is now in its second edition (2022). They have co-authored articles in The Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics, The Journal of Black Studies, and American Behavioral Scientist and entries to a number of edited volumes and specialized encyclopedias.

On his own, Caliendo is the author of Teachers Matter: The Trouble with Leaving Political Education to the Coaches (Praeger 2000), in which he examines the effects of political socialization on attitudes toward American political institutions. His textbook, Inequality in America: Race, Poverty, and Fulfilling Democracy’s Promise (Routledge) is now available in its third edition (2022). He has authored or co-authored dozens of papers presented at national and regional professional conferences and is often called upon to provide analysis for print media stories and to appear on radio and television programs to lend his expertise to national, state and local political issues.

Caliendo has been honored with numerous awards, including the American Political Science Association’s Ralph Bunche Award for Race Appeal (shared with Charlton D. McIlwain), Purdue University’s “Emerging Voice” (alumni) Award (2010), and awards for teaching (2007), research (2011), and service (2009) at North Central College. He was named Professor of the Year at Avila University in 2002. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Jillian, and is the proud father of Amelia, Gianni, and Stella.

Steven Bloomberg serves as President at Southeast Arkansas College (SEARK). He began his tenure on January 3, 2018. Among other accomplishments, under President Bloomberg’s leadership, the College has opened a new campus Food Pantry and Career Closet, developed a new five-year strategic plan, lowered the cost of attendance through a textbook agreement with Cengage Unlimited, opened a new Health and Wellness Facility, SEARK@Seabrook, launched a new strategic marketing plan with the tagline “Make Your Mark at SEARK”, and debuted a new website. 

In less than two years, President Bloomberg has raised over $11 million to support the construction of a new student center/classroom learning complex and 316 units of student housing. Most recently, SEARK became one of the first community colleges in the State of Arkansas to develop a two-year degree program in Cyber Security. 

Prior to his tenure at SEARK, President Bloomberg was most recently the Executive Vice President at Oklahoma City Community College. He is also a certified economic developer and served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Borger, Texas Economic Development Corporation. President Bloomberg has worked for higher education institutions in California, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. 

Jeff W. Coker, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of history at Shenandoah University (Winchester, Virginia), is a thought leader in higher education with more than twenty years of administrative leadership experience at multiple universities, including private and public institutions. Holding degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Ohio University, Coker is the author of books and articles in the fields of American politics, culture, and social thought.  He has served as a mentor of students throughout his career, overseeing undergraduate research initiatives, serving on graduate student thesis committees, and traveling abroad with students. He has served as a grant reviewer for the National Endowment for the Humanities, as a consultant for the College Board, and has experience in university accreditation. The U.S. Department of State has tapped Jeff on several occasions to speak internationally on American history and culture and also on trends in higher education.  

Clay Christensen has been the President at Mountainland Technical College since 2006.  He has responsibility for day to day operations of the multiple campuses in the three county service region and delivery of occupational programs that meet the needs of business and industry.  

Prior to his employment at MTECH he was the Director of Career & Technical Education for Alpine School District.  He had direct supervisory responsibility for Career and Technical Education and Comprehensive Guidance programs, instructors, financial management, and operating budgets.  

Previous assignments include Agriculture Specialist at the Utah State Office of Education with direct supervision and responsibility over secondary and post-secondary agriculture programs.  He also served as the Utah FFA and Young Farmers Educational Association State Advisor.  In addition, he had assignments with coordination of Career & Technical Education and Special Education, Post-Secondary and Technical Colleges.  

He started his educational career as a high school agriculture/welding instructor at Lehi and Uintah High Schools. He has worked in education for over 40 years.  He lives with his wife Lori in Genola and they have three married children, three granddaughters and one grandson.

Dr. Kellie Bean has more than 25 years of experience as an educator and senior academic administrator serving small, non-profit, mission-driven institutions, including Marshall University, Northern Vermont University, Hartwick College, and more. Kellie began her career as Professor of English, at schools like these.

She was the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost for Rio Grande University/Rio Grande Community College from Fall 2021 to Fall 2022 and has recently moved on to her next assignment. Dr. Bean has dedicated her career to increasing access to higher education for traditionally underserved populations. Kellie has worked with institutions on a range of initiatives related to student success, faculty development and support, operational fitness and improvement, strategic curricular planning, workforce development, program creation and implementation.  

She received a PhD in English Literature and Cultural/Feminist Theory from the University of Delaware; a Master of Arts in English as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from The Ohio State University.

Christina A. Clark, Ph.D., serves as the Chief Academic Officer at Marywood  University, providing leadership in all academic matters and working collaboratively with the deans, faculty, staff, students, and administration to further Marywood's mission and vision.

Prior to her appointment at Marywood University, Dr. Clark served as Dean of the School of Design, Arts, and Humanities at Marymount University [Arlington, Va.], where she also was a tenured professor of literature and languages.

Dr. Clark’s academic administration skills include strategic planning, program assessment, recruitment and retention, curricular development, shared governance, university advancement, partnership development, and grant writing, among other issues of critical focus in higher education. She has had extensive leadership development experience, particularly at Marymount and Creighton Universities. Currently participating in the Council of Independent College's Executive Leadership Academy, she previously participated in Leadership Arlington and CASE Advanced Development for Deans and Academic Leaders. Committed to action enabling diversity, equity, and inclusion, she currently serves as chair of the Society for Classical Studies’ Committee on Diversity in the Profession and has served on the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences’ Committee on Cultural Diversity.

Dr. Clark’s professional specialty is in classics. As a scholar, Dr. Clark focuses on the representation of gender and nonverbal behavior in ancient Greek and Roman poetry and her professional contributions and research include peer-reviewed books, book chapters, articles, papers, and reviews. Dr. Clark has been recognized for her accomplishments and contributions with the Gamma Phi Beta’s Shine (Teaching) Award at Creighton University and “Iggy” Award for Outstanding Freshmen Mentors, Role Models, and Advocates, also at Creighton. A member of the Eta Sigma Phi and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, Dr. Clark also was a Junior Fellow at Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies..

Previously, Dr. Clark served as director of the world literature program and the health administration and policy program at Creighton University [Omaha, Neb.], where she also chaired the Classical and Near Eastern Studies department and served as a professor. She has served internationally as an associate professor at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies [Rome, Italy] and has taught in the United States at Iowa State University [Ames, Iowa]; Bowdoin College [New Brunswick, Maine]; Gustavus Adolphus College [St. Peter, Minn.]; Florida State University [Tallahassee, Fla.], and the University of Wisconsin-Madison [Madison, Wisc.].

Growing up in a military family and living in many different areas of the United States as well as the Philippines, Dr. Clark earned a BA in Classics from Georgetown University and a MA and PhD in Classics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her undergraduate education, Dr. Clark spent her junior year abroad at Trinity College [Dublin, Ireland].

Paul Gladen is the Director of Accelerate Montana, the University of Montana’s portfolio of economic and workforce development programs.

Paul is a co-founder of the Montana Code School and the Hellgate Venture Network, an entrepreneurial networking group.  He also serves on the Board of the Missoula Economic Partnership and was the 2017 Montana Ambassador Educator of the Year.

Originally from England, Paul has an MA in Mathematics from Oxford University and an MBA from Manchester Business School.

Dr. Greg Feeney is Provost at Bluegrass Community and
Technical College (BCTC).  In this role, he serves as the chief
academic officer and provides leadership for academic and
student support areas at the college, including adult education,
global learning, and workforce development.  Dr. Feeney served
in other administrative roles including Vice President of
Academics and Workforce Development, Dean of Academics,
Dean of Academic Support, and Assistant Dean of History,
Languages, and Social Sciences at the college.  He achieved the
faculty rank of full professor and has been at BCTC since 1998. 
He earned his doctorate, with an emphasis in interpersonal and
health communication, at the University of Kentucky.  He
completed his masters at Northern Illinois University, with an
emphasis in communication theory and organizational
communication. 

Dr. Elaine Carey is an accomplished historian, acclaimed scholar and passionate academic leader. In 2021, she added dean of Oakland University’s College of Arts and Sciences to the vast list of roles she’s held.

Having originally pursued her Ph.D. in history from the University of New Mexico with the intention of becoming a journalist, Carey’s detour into academia was as unanticipated as it was enlightening. It took hesitantly declining a dream job offer that’s area of focus didn’t correlate enough with her studies for her to make the transition, quickly realizing just how valuable her personal expertise was within the classroom. 

Following her first position post graduate school at The University of Detroit Mercy, she continued expanding her teaching resume through positions at various schools across the nation, whilst simultaneously advancing her remarkable contributions to academic research. Having published dozens of works, she highlights her book Women Drug Traffickers: Mules, Bosses, and Organized Crime as one of her proudest achievements. Instrumental in altering the conversation surrounding women in the drug trade, this source is considered the first to assign focus to the ways in which these women have often been bosses in a number of ways — a focus previously so under explored, several fellow scholars initially assumed Carey’s presentation to be one of fiction. 

Carey’s recent position was founding dean of Purdue University Northwest’s College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. Arriving in 2017 at the university’s inception, she played an instrumental role in the school’s development, collaborating with faculty, administration, librarians and students across all of the university’s colleges on endeavors such as general education offerings. 

Dean Turner is an experienced higher education administrator, communication teacher-scholar and organizational consultant with an extensive background in gender in the workplace, strategic planning, mentoring, change management, budgeting, education technology and international education. Her focus upon collaborative working partnership has allowed her to support the creation of year-round high school to college programs, assessment practices with 100% compliance, faculty and student mentoring programs, award winning faculty educator/learning technology platforms, budget/mission alignment for net revenue gain, and award-winning international programs. 

Her background in organizational communication and commitment to achieving goals that fulfill an organization’s mission has garnered her the opportunity to serve higher education in a variety of roles.Currently she serves as the finance chair for the ACE Women’s Network of Indiana, Vice Chair of Operations for the Muncie Chamber of Commerce, and Principal associate in Communication Resource Associates, LLC. Prior to arriving at Ball State University Dean Turner served as the executive director for the National Communication Association, Associate Dean at Webster University, and Associate Vice President at Saint Louis University. Her peers elected her to serve as president of the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language and Gender and chair of the Organizational Communication Division of the National Communication Association.

As an award-winning teacher-scholar, Dean Turner has published over 40 books, chapters and articles in the area of organizational communication, specifically on topics of internationalization, organizational socialization, customer satisfaction, gender, midwifery and birth, breastfeeding, and the body.  In recognition of the breadth of her background she has been invited to serve on national and editorial boards including the Journal of the Association for Communication Administration, Journal of Media Critiques, Women’s Studies in Communication, Women and Language, Journal of Applied Communication, Management Communication Quarterly, Communication Monographs, and Communications Studies. 

Dean Turner has earned international and national awards for her meritorious work in the field of communication including a Presidential Citation for Service from the National Communication Association, Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators Award for India, Learning Happens Everywhere Award for exemplary collaboration, Faculty Excellence Award and SLU Star Award. Most recently, she was an associate editor for the International Handbook of Organizational Communication that received the NCA Organizational Communication Division 2017 Edited Book Award.

She has presented or consulted for a range of Fortune 500 companies and educational associations, including the Australia and New Zealand Communication Association, American Council on Education, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico Recinto de San Germán, National Brazilian Education Conference, Institute for Curriculum and Campus Internationalization, EducationUSA Training Institution, Boeing, Energizer.

Kimberly Lawless is professor of education (educational psychology) and dean of the College of Education at Penn State. She earned her Ph.D. in educational psychology at the University of Connecticut in 1996; her M.A. in educational psychology from the University of Connecticut in 1994; and her B.A. in psychology from Boston College in 1991. She joined the College this fall after a 20-year career at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where she most recently held the position of associate dean for research in that institution’s College of Education.

Lawless' research, which garnered more than $30 million in grants and contracts during her time at UIC, focuses on the meaningful integration of educational technology with an emphasis on seventh- and eighth-grade students’ STEM and writing skills development.

She has been recognized throughout her career with several honors and awards, which most recently include the 2018 Distinguished Researcher in the Social Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago; and the 2016 Best Paper Award from the Cognition and Engaged Learning in the Digital Age Conference (CELDA).

Stefani Gray Hicswa, Ph.D., became Montana State University Billings’ chancellor in January 2021. She is the first woman chancellor since the university’s founding in 1927.

Hicswa served as president of Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming from 2013-2021. Under her leadership, Northwest College achieved the highest completion rate in its history, and launched comprehensive strategic visioning, enrollment management, and facilities master plans. Prior to Northwest College, Hicswa served as president of Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana for seven years.

A first-generation college student, Hicswa holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Texas at Austin; a master’s degree in adult, community, and higher education from Montana State University; and a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from the University of Montana. She was raised in Dillon, Montana, and is married to Scott Hicswa, a consulting forester. They have two teenage sons.

Scott Dolan is a leader and innovator in the development of flexible and affordable online education. He was named dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Excelsior College in May 2019.

As dean, he provides strategic academic and administrative leadership to the School of Graduate Studies, and is responsible for all academic matters, including strategic planning, budget oversight, and curriculum development, delivery, and assessment. Currently, he oversees programs in business, human resources, organizational leadership, data analytics, cybersecurity, public administration, health sciences, and criminal justice.  Dr. Dolan joined Excelsior College in 2014, and has served in various roles including: Director of Assessment and Program Evaluation, Executive Director of Accreditation, Assessment and Strategy, Associate Dean of Business and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.

Prior to joining Excelsior College, Dr. Dolan worked in the private sector as a Senior Researcher conducting program evaluations of federally- and foundation-funded programs in the P-20 education and health and human services sectors, including projects on the role of technology in education. His experience also includes nearly 15 years as an instructor at the College of Saint Rose, Siena College, Schenectady County Community College, University at Albany, and Excelsior College.

His areas of expertise include assessment, accreditation, strategic planning, and program evaluation, with research interests in complex organizations and political and economic sociology. He is published in his field and has presented widely on current issues in online higher education.  When not pursuing his passion for higher education, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, playing golf, and following his favorite sports teams—especially the Yankees. Dr. Dolan has his PhD in Sociology from the University at Albany—State University of New York.

Devin Byrd, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist and currently serves as the President for Bastyr University. Prior to joining Bastyr, he served as the Vice President for Academic Affairs for Saybrook University where he provided oversight for programs such as the Mind Body Medicine and Integrative Functional Nutrition programs, Counseling, Psychology, and Clinical Psychology degrees. His fiscal responsibility included overseeing budgets for all academic programs (for both Colleges) and the Academic Affairs Operations division (e.g., registrar, library, writing center, department of research).

He spent 13 years at South University in several roles including Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, wherein his responsibilities included oversight for five (5) Colleges and one (1) School of the Institution (Arts and Sciences, Business, Health professions, Nursing and Public Health, Theology and School of Pharmacy), supervision of the College/School Deans, Faculty, and curriculum. An additional function of this role was to oversee the development and launch of new academic programs and to achieve programmatic accreditation (including reaffirmations) and programs offered across eleven campuses.

Dr. Byrd graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and from Virginia Tech with a Master of Science and PhD degrees in Clinical Psychology. During his graduate studies, he completed his pre-doctoral internship at Brown University where he served as the Intern Representative for the Child track and completed rotations at the VA PTSD clinic, Bradley School, Child/Adolescent Inpatient facility, and the Child/Adolescent Anxiety Disorders clinic. His personal interests include spending time with his family and friends, traveling, boating, golf, and home projects.      

Jeffrey Cass is the Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR. Prior to this appointment he was Provost at the University of Houston-Victoria and Professor of English. He also been a faculty member and administrator at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and Texas A&M International University. Jeffrey is a native of Valley Center, CA and received is Ph.D. from the University of California at San Diego. His professional field is British Romanticism and has published in the area of women and Orientalism. More recently, he has published research on the work of John Galt and William Godwin.

Dr. DeWayne Frazier currently serves as the University Provost where he is the Chief Academic and Student Development Officer for Iowa Wesleyan University. Dr. Frazier is known as an academic entrepreneur and his career is marked by enrollment growth through creative academic programming. Dr. Frazier’s portfolio includes the Adult and Graduate Programs, library services, academic support, international education, Registrar Office, Office of Student Development, career services, community service office, campus ministries and the university academic divisions (Business, Education, Humanities, Nursing, and Sciences). Dr. Frazier serves on the President’s Cabinet and is also a full professor in the Division of Business. Under Dr. Frazier’s leadership, Iowa Wesleyan has seen over 100% increase in overall student enrollment in less than two years. Under Frazier’s leadership, Wesleyan has increased international student enrollment by over 600% (18 to 120 students). Frazier has designed and incorporated a step-by-step plan for designing new academic programs and has implemented in the university wide strategic plan metrics to develop a minimum two new programs for review each academic year. Under his leadership the university has launched its first two graduate programs as well as an aggressive micro-credential program. Frazier is a national presenter on academic entrepreneurship.

Prior to serving at Iowa Wesleyan, Dr. Frazier was the associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School at Campbellsville University in Kentucky. At Campbellsville University, Dr. Frazier oversaw 17 different graduate programs across various disciplines including business, counseling, education, music, social work, social science, and teaching English to speakers of other languages. Frazier was responsible for implementing recruitment strategies, overseeing curriculum development and monitoring program resources. Under his leadership, the Graduate Programs grew steadily from a Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) of 453 in the Fall 2010 to 535 FTE in the Fall 2012. Two of the programs have recently (2014) been ranked by U.S. News and World Report in the top online programs in the United States.

Dr. Frazier came to Campbellsville University after serving three years as the Senior Vice President for International Programs (SVP for IP) at Upper Iowa University (UIU) in Fayette, Iowa. Dr. Frazier was responsible for overseeing UIU’s academic extension centers located in foreign locations. Upper Iowa University currently has centers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. Under Dr. Frazier’s leadership, full-time student numbers at the international academic extension locations have increased from 399 to 831 over the past three years. The enrollment growth reflects a 108 percent increase in total students.  As the Sr. VP for IP, Dr. Frazier oversaw all academic requests, including final grade appeals, internship extensions, appeals from suspension, approval of faculty, and final review of course substitutions. Frazier served on the university wide curriculum committee and graduate curriculum committee as an ex-officio member. He also worked closely with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association on Accreditation to assure that all programs operate within the given principles and parameters of the commission. 

Dr. Frazier has presented at various conferences on topics ranging from job satisfaction to immigration regulations. He has presented at the World Conference of the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education and the NAFSA national conference. Dr. Frazier has presented on “F-1 Students for Admissions Offices” and “International Student Recruitment 101” at the Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers as well as presentations on globalization. He has published numerous articles on topics such as internationalization of the campus and international recruitment.

Dr. Frazier’s earned his Bachelor’s degree from Campbellsville University in Political Science/ Mathematics. He completed his M.A. in international politics at the Patterson School for Diplomacy and International Commerce on the campus of the University of Kentucky and finished an additional M.A. at the University of Louisville in higher education administration. Dr. Frazier completed his Ph.D. in leadership at the University of Louisville. The topic of his dissertation was the “Job Satisfaction of International Educators in the Post-September 11th Era”.

Dr. Best joined UCM in August 1995 as an assistant professor of finance and became a professor in 2005. He was named chair of the Department of Economics and Finance in 2003, associate dean of the Harmon College of Business Administration in 2008 and dean of the college in 2010. Following an extensive restructuring of academic programs, Dr. Best began service as dean of the newly formed Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies in 2011. His strong business acumen contributed to Dr. Best becoming interim senior vice president for Finance and Administration in August 2017, and concurrent with a university administrative reorganization, he was appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer in January 2018. In this capacity, he was responsible for implementing a three-year budget planning cycle for the university, revising university fiscal policies and leading efforts to provide more robust reporting for budget managers. With board oversight, he also helped formalize the university’s contingency reserves guidelines.

Early in his tenure as president, Dr. Best established priorities that include: ensuring a focus on and highlight on academic quality; building a sustainable financial model, which includes automation and streamlining practices; expanding the spectrum of educational opportunities available to students, including seeking out markets beyond undergraduate and graduate degrees; strengthening alumni engagement and developing a strong fundraising arm through the UCM Alumni Foundation, including filling key staff and leadership positions; and engaging marketing and branding efforts to roll out a new slogan and graphic icon that relates to students and assists with building program-level recruitment. He has also challenged faculty and staff to continue a long legacy of being service-minded toward students and to become problem solvers.

Throughout his service at UCM, Dr. Best has shared his financial and administrative expertise to the benefit of the university. Early in his career, he was appointed to a Board of Governors Academic Affairs Subcommittee on Faculty Compensation, which recommended a new faculty compensation model ultimately approved by the board. During the 2014–2015 academic year, he played a role in the development of the university’s Strategic Resource Allocation Model (SRAM) by chairing a team that considered how the budget process could further enhance transparency and accountability, optimally allocate resources to academic programs and directly connect to student success, growth with quality and sustainability and efficiency metrics.

While serving the Harmon College, Dr. Best played a key role in the college’s accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), having been involved in three of the college’s Continuous Improvement Review visits by external teams. He was also engaged with AACSB at a national level, having served on the AACSB Continuous Improvement Review Committee and on numerous peer review teams for other university business programs. As dean, he oversaw the creation of the Donn G. Forbes Center for Financial Studies, funded through a private gift to the university, and facilitated a partnership with the UCM Alumni Foundation to create the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) with an initial allocation of $500,000.

Dr. Best’s tenure at UCM includes a strong record of participation in department, college and university committees that have given him a broad, well-rounded knowledge of the campus community. He has served on the Faculty Senate, Academic Program Review Committee, University Research Committee, University Scholarship Committee, Professional Enhancement Committee and a number of other committees and work groups. His teaching assignments included more than 100 sections of a dozen unique courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels covering concepts in corporate finance, international finance, investments and personal finance. His professional contributions include publication of numerous scholarly research-based articles in peer-reviewed journals and more than 40 presentations at professional conferences, as well as service on the Board of Directors for both the MidAmerican Business Deans Association and the Southwestern Business Deans Association.

Dr. Best began his higher education at Georgia College in Milledgeville, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in management. Advanced study led to a Ph.D. in finance from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Active members of the community, Dr. Best and his wife, Robin Best, reside in Warrensburg, Mo., and have two daughters, Amy Burk and Lindsey Keirsey, and six grandchildren. Previously, Dr. Best served as treasurer and board member of Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County, and he currently serves as a member of Johnson County Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors, Whiteman Area Leadership Council, Missouri Campus Compact Presidential Advisory Board and KCPT Board of Directors.

Dr. Chris Bustamante serves as the Executive Director of the Arizona Community College Coordinating Council (AC4). In this position, he leads the statewide council of presidents/chancellors of the ten community college districts in their work to advance the mission and interests of Arizona’s community colleges. He is also the former president of Rio Salado College (Rio) and the Maricopa Corporate College (MCOR), both located in Tempe, Arizona. The institutions are part of the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) which serves approximately 200,000 students annually. Rio is the largest of the District’s ten individually accredited colleges and serves nearly 50,000 students each year. Dr. Bustamante retired in August 2018 after forty years of public service in Arizona, including over twenty-six years in MCCCD. 

Dr. Bustamante is a well-known advocate for increasing access to higher education and degree completion. In addition, he is highly regarded for forging transformational partnerships with business, government, and educational providers. 

He was appointed President of Rio in June 2010 and President of MCOR in August 2016. Prior leadership roles at Rio include: Vice President of Community Development and Student Services and Dean of Academic Affairs. Previously he served in senior level government affairs positions for MCCCD and as Assistant to the Superintendent for Community and Government Relations for the Phoenix Union High School District, and as a Legislative Assistant in the Arizona House of Representatives. 

A native to Arizona, he holds both a doctorate and master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arizona and attended Pima Community College as a transfer student. 

Dr. Bustamante’s commitment to higher education is noted by his leadership roles nationally and locally. He currently serves as the Board Chair for Higher Learning Advocates (HLA), a Lumina funded advocacy organization, and served as Chair of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) Board of Trustees (2016-17), and as a CAEL Senior Fellow (2020-21); currently serves as a CAEL Advisory Board member (2018-Present) and ED2Work Advisory Council member (2021-). In addition, he served as a board member for the American Council on Education (ACE) (2016-2018) and Chair of ACE’s Commission on Education, Attainment, and Innovation (2014-15). He served on the Board for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) (2015-2017) and its Executive Committee (2017), and as President of the National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) (2014-15). In 2018, he completed service as a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), the Presidents’ Forum Advisory Board, Credential Engine Board, and the Advisory Board for the Higher Education Research and Development Institute (HERDI). In addition, Dr. Bustamante served as President of the Continuous Quality Improvement Network (CQIN/AFIT) and member of its Executive Committee (2012-2018). He currently serves on the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and its Executive Committee. Locally, he was co-chair of the Arizona-Mexico Commission’s Education Committee (2016-2018), Friends of Public Radio Arizona Board Member (2010-2018), and currently serves on the local boards of the Boy Scouts of America and the Be A Leader Foundation in Phoenix. 

Chris and his wife, Mary, live in Tempe, Arizona, where they are raising their three daughters.

On Nov. 12, 2019, the Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) Governing Board unanimously selected Tracy Hartzler to become the sixth president of CNM. She officially began her presidency on Jan. 1, 2020.

Before becoming CNM President, Ms. Hartzler was CNM’s Vice President for Finance and Operations and has been at CNM since 2015.

In September 2021, President Hartzler was one of 25 community college presidents nationwide selected to participate in the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship, managed by the prestigious Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. The program supports community college presidents in the early years of their tenure as they strive for higher and more equitable levels of student success.

President Hartzler has been a key leader among a partnership of five colleges in New Mexico to establish the Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS). The five partner colleges are collaborating on an unprecedented level to implement shared technology platforms that all five colleges will use to improve the student experience from recruitment and enrollment to completion and career, as well as modernizing and streamlining technology and processes that will be consistent across the colleges for administrative, HR and financial services. CHESS’ unique structure allows the colleges to take advantage of the efficiencies of a true college system while retaining their independence and unique connections to their local communities. In addition to CNM being a founding partner for CHESS, President Hartzler also serves as the Vice Chair on the CHESS Board.

Under President Hartzler’s leadership, CNM was one of five community colleges nationwide that helped found and launch Unmudl, a national skills-to-jobs marketplace that provides working learners with the shortest, most flexible and affordable options for skilling up quickly and improving their career prospects. Businesses use the service to find the skilled workers they need to grow. President Hartzler serves as Chair for the Unmudl Steering Committee.

President Hartzler has served the public sector for more than 25 years in education, government, and policy roles. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America. She earned her Master of Education Degree from the University of Virginia with highest honors; and she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree, cum laude, from Saint Mary’s College in Indiana. She is a member of the New Mexico, Indiana (inactive), and District of Columbia Bars.

Dean Gilbert has been a leader in higher education for more than 20 years.  She began her career as a faculty member and over the years has served in a variety of higher education leadership positions.  She became the Dean of the University of Toledo’s College of Arts and Letters on July 10, 2017. 

During her tenure, the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) has seen record highs in retention rates, graduation rates, and external research funding.   Faculty in the College have received numerous accolades for their research excellence including four Fulbright scholars, a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow and a winner of the Kennedy Center’s National Playwright Award.  In addition, students in the college have significantly increased their participation in undergraduate research both on campus and at regional and national conferences.  This past fall CAL students represented over 20% of the student participants in the University’s annual undergraduate research showcase.   In the spring CAL students were part of two teams of students who competed in the international Biodesign Challenge at the Museum of Modern Art in New York city. 

During her first year as Dean, Gilbert led the College through a college-level strategic planning process that identified the following five key values as the foundation for achieving strategic success during the next five years:  Integrity, Excellence, Diversity, Engagement and Innovation.

Dean Gilbert is deeply committed to building the College of Arts and Letters into one of the finest liberal arts colleges, housed in a public university, in the country.  In her first year as Dean, the College approved a new minor in Data Analytics.  In her second year, she led a university-wide initiative to develop new majors in data analytics and data science. Other curricular initiatives under her leadership have included:  a LatinX curriculum infusion project, a graduate certificate in Disability Studies, a re-activated Masters in Public Administration program, and an ongoing effort to develop an interdisciplinary doctoral program in the humanities. 

Gilbert believes that creating a supportive and engaging academic environment is essential to academic excellence.  During her tenure as Dean, the College established a New Scholars Program designed to create an intellectual community for students who are highly engaged in terms of their academic achievements, commitment to service and/or leadership.  In addition to co-curricular activities, Gilbert has prioritized scholarship support for students in need.  Under her leadership the College has created the Strategic Scholarship Initiative designed to support students in academic good standing who need a small amount of financial assistance to stay on track to graduation. 

From July 2014 to July 2017, Professor Gilbert served as the Dean and Director of the Ohio State University, Lima Campus.  During this time the campus saw record increases in retention rates, graduation rates, and fundraising.  Under Gilbert’s leadership, the campus became known for its commitment to community engagement efforts focused on creative collaborations and service.  She also served as a Professor in the OSU Department of Women’s , Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Prior to this position, she had been at the University of Toledo as a full professor and Chair, in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies and the founding director of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies.

In addition to serving as the Dean of the University of Toledo’s College of Arts and Letters, Gilbert is also a tenured full Professor in the Department of Theatre and Film.  For the past 20 years Gilbert has been an independent documentary filmmaker, teacher and scholar. She has been a national producer for public television and has produced two award-winning feature documentaries and several short non-fiction films. Her first feature documentary film, Homecoming Sometimes I am Haunted by Memories of Red Dirt and Clay, premiered nationally on PBS and won several national awards for Best Documentary.  Professor Gilbert also co-authored, with Quinn Eli, a companion book to the film, also entitled Homecoming, published by Beacon Press. Her documentary, Children Will Listen, which followed DC public school children engaged in a year-long theater arts project, premiered at the 2004 AFI Silverdocs Documentary Festival and had a national primetime PBS broadcast premiere.  Her films and videos have been screened in numerous international and national festivals including the Women in the Director's Chair Festival, the Chicago International Television Festival, FESPACO, the Athens International Film and Video Festival, and the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema.

Gilbert is the recipient of several awards and fellowships including the Rockefeller Media Arts Fellowship, Harvard University's Bunting Fellowship, the Kellogg National Leadership Fellowship award and the American Council on Education Fellowship. Dean Gilbert received her bachelor's degree from Yale University, her Master of Fine Arts degree from Temple University and Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska

Tom Gallagher serves as Dean at Missoula College and Point of Contact (POC) Director for Cybersecurity Center of Academic Excellence (CAE2Y) at Missoula College. Tom has been a professor of Information Technology and Computer Science at Missoula College, University of Montana since 2001. Prior to coming to UM, Tom served in the roles of Technology Director and System Administrator. He holds a doctoral and masters degree in Education Leadership from the University of Montana, masters degree in Computer Science from Western Washington University, and baccalaureate degree in Mathematics from Carroll College. His dissertation is entitled Baccalaureate Time-to-Degree for Montana University System Two-year College Transfer Students

Marguerite Cotto had nearly four decades of service to Northwestern Michigan College when she retired in 2021. She started her career at NMC in 1979 as a Spanish instructor. It was a long way from the University of Puerto Rico where she focused on Soil Science and Hispanic Studies. She advanced to become academic chair where she developed one of the richest modern language programs of its kind in the state. She was later tapped to lead the University Center. In that role, her diplomatic leadership style united independent minded institutions under a common goal. That strength also positioned her to lead a group of programs as diverse as College for Kids and the Marine Center as Vice President of Lifelong & Professional Learning. One of her strengths was her ability to connect with a wide variety of people from different backgrounds. The other was to see endless possibilities.

Stephanie was born in Texas, raised in Colorado, and has lived, raised 3 daughters, and worked in Bozeman Montana for 26 years.  All the men in her family where in construction, the ski  industry, and ranching while the women were all educators going back 3 generations.  It is no wonder that her professional life involves connecting industry to education and education to industry. Making these connections supports students as they reach their potential and a diverse local economy.  Dean Gray holds  a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Colorado and a Master of Public Administration from Eastern Washington University. Stephanie has been with Gallatin College for 8 years, and two years the Dean.  Prior to Gallatin College Dean Gray worked in a variety of non-profits in a home for pregnant teens, a teen shelter as a case worker, on a mental health team as a case manager, and at the local Human Resource Development Council as the Youth Development Director.  Without a doubt, her favorite job, and the work that has made the largest difference in peoples lives and the communities future is as the Dean of Gallatin College!

Dave began his tenure as the President of Sauk Valley Community College in July of 2015.  He serves on the Board of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges, Dixon Area Chamber of Commerce/Main Street, KSB Hospital, KSB Foundation, Sauk Valley Community Leadership Program, Sterling Noon Rotary Club, and the Shaw Media Advisory Board.  In 2021, he was selected as the Dixon Citizen of the Year and the Sauk Valley Area Chamber Champion. Prior to coming to SVCC, he served 28 years as an administrator and as an English professor at community colleges in Florida, Minnesota, and Kentucky.  Dave has taught graduate courses in ethical leadership in Minnesota and Kentucky.  He is the editor of and contributing author for Ethical Leadership in Community Colleges: Bridging Theory and Daily Practice and the co-editor of Ethical Decision-making in Community Colleges: Not Losing Our Way, in which he and his wife Linda wrote a chapter on narcissistic leadership.  Dave earned his B.A. in English from DePauw University, his M.A. in American Literature from Indiana University, and his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida.  He and Linda, a clinical psychologist, have been married for more than 36 years; they are parents of three kind, intelligent, and beautiful adult daughters and have three wonderful grandchildren.  Dave is the fourth of eleven children and grew up in small-town Indiana.  He is a cyclist and a life-long Packer fan.

Dr. Paul R. Watson II serves as the Vice President for Instruction at Kellogg Community College. Prior to that appointment, he has served Pennsylvania College of Technology in multiple administrative roles, as a high school teacher in Jefferson, New York, and as an assistant professor of mathematics at Houghton College. 

With an outlook that systems-thinking effects positive change, Watson creates and supports leadership teams and communities that are bases for sustainable change. As a transformative leader, he excels in building relationships that allow for authenticity, transparency, and collaboration where one can exemplify the curiosity, inquiry skills, and scholarly competencies needed to investigate an idea and transform it into meaningful action. Additionally, rooted in the personal belief that all students can learn and can be successful, Watson’s emphasis on the learning paradigm provides a focused perspective on student success. He is committed to ensuring the academic and economic empowerment of diverse learners and their communities by developing authentic partnerships that ensure safe and equitable learning environments that promote belonging, active engagement, and student success. He regularly engages with students, faculty and staff – sharing a meal, attending performances or athletic events, participating in student orientations and leadership development programs, as well as intentionally making connections in hallways and offices. 

He has extensive experiences in higher education, and has successfully worked to provide intentional and innovative pathways for transfer, dual and concurrent enrollment, continuing education, workforce development, and career and technical education. Watson fully engages in fostering community connections as respected partners and has been recognized at the state-level for his work on chamber of commerce taskforces, civic organizations, and contributing towards multi-county economic development efforts. He has had the opportunity and experience in advocating at the local, regional, state, and national level for meaningful change in legislation that would positively affect his community, higher education, and students.  

Watson serves as a Higher Learning Commission Peer Reviewer, and serves on the Executive Board of the Council of Accreditation for Two-Year Colleges.  

Watson holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership & Management from Drexel University, an M.S. in Teaching & Curriculum from the University of Rochester, an M.S. in Mathematics Education from Syracuse University, and a B.A. in Mathematics from Houghton College. 

A first-generation college student from a rural, working-class family, Laurie Chesley understands the transformative power of education first-hand.   Her entire career has been dedicated to helping other students have the same life-changing experience that she was fortunate to have.  It has been the honor and privilege of her life to serve this mission.  

Prior to becoming the sixth President of Central Oregon Community College, Chesley was the provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs at Grand Rapids (Michigan) Community College. She taught English at a variety of higher education institutions for 14 years, serving diverse student populations.  She has 20 years of administrative experience, including as interim dean of learning at Northwestern Michigan, assistant vice president for academic affairs at Ferris State (Michigan) University, dean of humanities at Montgomery County (Pennsylvania) Community College, and then associate dean and dean of arts and sciences at Grand Rapids Community College, before becoming its vice president in 2015.

As the president of a community college – one of “democracy’s colleges” – that serves a diverse district spanning over 100,000 square miles, Chesley understands the importance of providing both the access and the supports needed by all learners who are seeking a better future – through enrichment courses, basic skills development, job training, certifications, degrees, or transfer to a four-year institution.  

Marnel Niles Goins is the Dean in the College of Sciences and Humanities at Marymount University in Arlington, VA. Prior to this appointment, she was Professor of Communication at California State University, Fresno for 12 years. She is a native of Philadelphia, PA. She earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Communication and Culture at Howard University in Washington, DC and her BA from the Department of Communication at Oakwood College in Huntsville, AL. She taught courses in Small Group Communication and Organizational Communication and has a special interest in gender and racial dynamics in organizational settings.

At Marymount, a number of new academic programs have been developed under Marnel’s leadership, including a graduate certificate program for Ethics and Leadership in Criminal Justice, which launched in the Fall 2021 semester, and a B.S. in Engineering. Also new is the 4+1 M.A. in English program, which enables students to earn a B.A. in Literature & Languages or Digital Writing & Narrative Design and a M.A. in English & Humanities over five years of study at Marymount. This program facilitates a student’s transition from a broad-based liberal arts B.A. into a flexible, customizable and interdisciplinary M.A. program that concludes with a thesis or an advanced internship practicum that addresses the student’s professional goals.

Marnel has several books, book chapters, and articles published in the Communication discipline She is co-editor of The Routledge Handbook of Gender and Communication and Still Searching for Our Mothers’ Gardens: Experiences of New Tenure-Track Women of Color in ‘Majority’ Institutions. She has articles published in Communication Studies, Women & Language, and The Alliance of Black School Educators, in addition to book chapters published in Let’s Communicate and the Routledge Handbook of Applied Communication Research. She has presented papers and panels at a number of conferences, including the National Communication Association convention, Western States Communication Association convention, and Eastern Communication Association convention.

Marnel is President of the Western States Communication Association. She is the former President of the Organization for Research on Women and Communication, a former member of the National Communication Association’s Executive Committee,  past Chair of the National Communication Association’s Black Caucus, and former Secretary of the National Communication Association’s Group Communication Division. 

Dr. Jennifer Wimbish, President Emeritus for Cedar Valley College (CVC) of the Dallas College System, was the first African American President of the College.  She is the CEO of BW Success Strategies, Incorporated, a consulting firm focused on strategic planning, success coaching, and solutions connected to problem-solving.  Her leadership journey has included her serving as Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Lansing Community College in Michigan; Dean of Students and Faculty Counselor at Brookhaven College in the Dallas, Texas area; and teacher and counselor within the public school system of Corpus Christi, Texas.  She is a member of the steering committee for the Texas Poor People’s Campaign, and a Co-Chair for the Dallas Affiliate Group.  Dr. Jennifer Wimbish is also a member of the Dallas Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Dr. Wimbish has designed and taught leadership courses, presented at leadership conferences across the nation, and published a guide to student leadership.  Her recent book, Leadership Wisdom for All Generations, is being used for professional development across the nation with a variety of populations.    Recently, she has engaged in professional development for students, and college professionals relative to the topics of Multigenerational, Collaborative Learning, Equity in the Classroom, and   Pathways to Career Success. She is a member of the Presidents’ Roundtable, a national organization committed to training and mentoring individuals aspiring to become college presidents.  Dr. Wimbish is also active with her Church’s Outreach and Economic/Workforce Programs.   

Dr. Wimbish’s legacy includes a number of key accomplishments.  She is the founder of the Corpus Christi, Texas Black History Cultural Committee, an organization that more than forty years later continues to engage the community in historical, cultural, and equity related activities.    While in Michigan, as Provost of Lansing Community College, she was instrumental in uniting organizations to develop both transitional housing for homeless families and increase access to technology for underserved populations.   At CVC, she led the college to recognition as a military friendly campus, established several Early College High Schools, and initiated a Minority Male program to influence positively college youth.  The college’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapter won the title of Most Distinguished Chapter in the world, contributing to Wimbish receiving its prestigious Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award.  Moreover, the college enrollment, completion and graduation rates increased significantly.  Dr. Wimbish’s dynamic leadership has been acknowledged through such awards as the National Role Model Award from Minority Access, Incorporated, and the Woman of the Year Award from the Dallas Women’s Council. 

 Her involvement in the Dallas community includes service with the Best Southwest Partnership and Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce Boards, Methodist Hospital Citizens Advisory Group, and Head Start of Greater Dallas.

 Dr. Wimbish holds a Doctorate in Higher Adult and Lifelong Learning Education from Michigan State University, a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Texas A & M University in Kingsville, Texas, and a Bachelor’s Degree in History Education from Hampton University.  She is proudest of being a daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother.

Dr. Ricky Shabazz is an enthusiastic, student-centered leader with over 20 years of executive experience advancing academic achievement, educational equity, diversity, and improving access to higher education. He is an effective public speaker and team builder with an accomplished track record developing collaborative partnerships that improve student success. He specializes in enrollment management and cultivating institutional policies, processes, and culture that provide personalized student experiences and improves student outcomes. Dr. Shabazz's demonstrated strengths include using data informed decisions to lead high impact models of practice, promoting innovative solutions that stimulate inclusive dialogue amongst all stakeholders, and being a passionate lifelong learner who is absolutely committed to the mission of community colleges to educate a diverse community of learners.

As San Diego City College's President and CEO, Dr. Shabazz provides executive leadership at one of the most innovative and socially active community colleges in the nation with a focus on student completion, success, and social justice. He has previously held positions as Vice President of Student Services, San Bernardino Valley College; Dean of Student Services, El Camino College Compton Center; Associate Director of Admissions, Harvey Mudd College; MESA Program Director and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of California, Davis (UCD); and Analyst in the University of California Office of the President.

Dr. Shabazz earned an Ed.D. in educational leadership, a master's degree in educational administration from California State University, San Bernardino, and a bachelor's degree from UCD. His research expertise is in increasing college access for underrepresented students.

Dr. Shabazz was the first person in his family to attend college. His mother was a teenage parent and his father is a veteran. He takes pride in helping students from diverse communities achieve academic excellence and building highly effective teams. Dr. Shabazz serves on the boards of Sharp Hospitals, the San Diego Workforce Partnership, the Jackie Robinson YMCA, YPO Pacific West, A2MEND, The President's Round Table, and a host of other community agencies.

San Diego City College is an Aspen Institute Top 20 community college that is accredited by the ACCJC. City College is a Hispanic Serving Institution serving approximately 17,000 students in credit and noncredit programs. City College has nearly 1,000 employees and an annual budget of approximately $70 million.

Kenny Daugherty joined Myers McRae in 2008 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and was named President in 2016. Identifying and attracting highly qualified, undeclared candidates to searches is one of his specialty. 

His ability to relate to search committees and candidates stems from his 28 years of managerial experience in public and independent institutions. Throughout his career in higher education, he had responsibilities that involved interdepartmental cooperation and personnel management at multiple levels. He became known for his ability to assess candidates, which resulted in his placement on numerous search committees for professional staff and administrators across the university community.

His career in higher education administration began at the University of Alabama, where Mr. Daugherty served in the areas of facilities, planning, and services for Housing and Residential Life. During his 11-year tenure at the state flagship institution, he designed and managed the facility planning process that included a seven-year plan for building renovations, projects, and new construction, as well as developed, implemented, and maintained a building audit system for housing facilities. As a University Total Quality Management Facilitator, he led TQM teams in the Housing and Recreation departments. With student services, he also served as a judicial officer for the university.

In 1996, he joined Mercer University as Assistant Vice President for Development, steadily progressing in leadership roles to Vice President for Advancement Administration by 2003. He provided strategic management and planning for 10 operational areas including development, capital campaign, alumni services, public relations, government relations, records and research, admissions, and financial aid. Additionally, he had a major role in recruiting volunteer leadership and major contributors for Mercer University. During his career at Mercer, the university had a 35 percent growth in donors.

In the area of admissions, he assisted with the restructuring of the Admissions Office, including the development and implementation of recruiting and scholarship strategies for incoming undergraduates. In the first year of the restructuring and redesign, freshman enrollment increased by over 50 students making it the largest freshman class in Mercer history while SAT averages rose by 67 points.

Mr. Daugherty earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mercer University. While in graduate school, he served as the Assistant Men's Basketball Coach, recruiting high school and junior college basketball players in the Southeast and Midwest and hiring and supervising the managerial staff.

Dr. James Dale (J.D.) Rottweiler became the 11th president of Cochise College on July 1, 2009. A first-generation college graduate himself, J.D. understands the importance of education in enhancing one’s quality of life.

J.D. earned a bachelor of arts in sociology with a Japanese minor in 1990, and a master of arts in sociology in 1992 from the University of Wyoming. In 2005, he earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy from the University of Utah. His dissertation, “Presidential Profiles: University Presidents by Institutional Type, Control, and Reputation,” established mobility patterns for American university presidents.

J.D.’s area of expertise is in cultural studies and social mobility. He has spent a significant amount of time in Japan and produced the documentary film “A 20th Century Matsuri: The Secularization of the Japanese Religious Festival.” A teacher at heart, J.D. enjoys any opportunity to teach others the subtle meanings and influences of culture and social structure.

J.D. has over 25 years of higher education experience, ranging from small, rural colleges to large, multi-campus, urban institutions. Prior to becoming president of Cochise College, he was executive vice president for academic services and professor of sociology at Central Wyoming College. He has served as associate dean of instruction at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City, Iowa, and on the faculty at Ricks College, now Brigham Young University – Idaho, and was associate professor/chair of the Department of Sociology at Salt Lake Community College. He also is a consultant/evaluator with the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

J.D. is a graduate of the Community College Leadership Initiative Consortium, the Salt Lake Leadership Academy, and Leadership Fremont County in Wyoming. In 2006, he was recognized as one of Wyoming’s “40 under 40,” individuals under the age of 40 making a difference in Wyoming.

J.D.’s wife, Melanie, is also an educator; the couple has three children, and two grandsons.

Dr. Daria J. Willis serves as the 17th president of Everett Community College, an institution with over 19,000 credit and non-credit students in the Seattle Metropolitan area. She is the school’s first African American president and fourth woman in this role in its 78-year history. Everett Community College is one of eleven community colleges nationwide that earned recognition from Achieving the Dream as a “Leader College of Distinction.” EvCC was recognized for increases in the number of students completing math and English requirements during their first year, year-to-year retention and degree completion. 

Drawing from her experience as a first-generation college student and a student parent, Dr. Willis has partnered actively with public school districts, four-year universities, local businesses, and not-for-profit organizations to offer services and support to students from all backgrounds. She is a member of the American Association of Community College’s Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Aspen Ascent President Advisory Group, and the Presidential Advisory Board for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Her community service activities include the United Way of Snohomish County, the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County, and the Girl Scouts of Western Washington. 

Dr. Willis was named a 2018 recipient of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges’ “40 Under 40” Award. She is a graduate of Florida A&M University and Florida State University, earning her BA, MA, and PhD in African American History. 

Dr. Lori Sundberg is the 5th president of Kirkwood Community College and the first female to serve in that role. Sundberg holds a Doctor of Business Administration in Management from St. Ambrose University (2003) as well as a Master in Business Administration in Marketing from Western Illinois University (1998). She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Knox College with a double major in Economics and History (1995). Prior to coming to Kirkwood, Sundberg served for eight years as the President of Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois. Sundberg was the 6th president for Carl Sandburg College and the first graduate and female to lead the institution. She has more than 25 years in community College leadership.

Lee D. Lambert, J.D., has been Chancellor of Pima Community College since July 2013. Chancellor Lambert has long held that community colleges such as Pima are uniquely positioned to address systemic educational and economic inequity. Throughout his community college career, he has been an innovator in connecting industry and community colleges in order to revitalize communities through educational opportunity in an age marked by rapid technological and demographic change.

A graduate of The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., Chancellor Lambert appreciates the lifelong value that a Liberal Arts education provides for thousands of our students. Chancellor Lambert received a Juris Doctor degree from Seattle University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Evergreen. Chancellor Lambert is a U.S. Army veteran. He was born in Seoul, South Korea, grew up on three continents, and graduated from high school in the Olympia, Wash., area. 

Dr. Sandra Bauman is currently serving as the Dean/CEO for Helena College.  Prior to moving into her current position, Bauman served as the college’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Modern Language from MSU-Bozeman; her Master’s degree in Public Relations from MSU-Billings; and her Doctorate in Adult and Higher Education from MSU-Bozeman, where her dissertation was on student success and retention of 2-year college students. Before her roles with Helena College, she served as Director of Academic Success for Great Falls College MSU, where she also served as an instructor and academic advisor. Additionally, she was the Director of Financial Aid at University of Providence (formerly University of Great Falls) and worked for many years with the Montana Guaranteed Student Loan Program, serving as a default prevention counselor, Default Prevention Manager, and Client Services Manager.

Dr. Josh Baker is the vice president of instructional services at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado. He oversees academics, including supports such as libraries and tutoring. Pikes Peak Community College (PPCC) offers more than 200 certificates and degrees and prepares students for transfer and/or employment in a variety of fields. PPCC serves nearly 20,000 students annually at three campuses and other off-site locations.

Prior to PPCC, Josh was a campus and academic dean at Bates Technical College in Washington, an assistant dean at Vincennes University in Indiana, and a faculty member/coordinator/program manager/coach at Highline College in Washington. 

Josh earned a doctoral degree from Oregon State University, where he completed the Community College Leadership Program and researched actions of community college presidents that increased organizational trust. His master’s and bachelor’s degrees are from Brigham Young University. 

Josh and his wife, Toni, invest their free time in the activities of their three kids, and enjoy exploring the beautiful hiking trails of Colorado.

Since her hire at Bates as the dean of continuing education, apprenticeship and child studies in 2013, Dr. Lin Zhou served as dean of instruction and executive dean before becoming the vice president of institutional effectiveness and student success in 2016. Previously, she held the positions of associate dean of extended learning, and director of branch campus and continuing education at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. 

Dr. Zhou holds a Ph.D. in education, with an emphasis in community college leadership, from Oregon State University, a master's degree in business administration from City University in Seattle, an Associate Degree in computer science and networking technology from Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and an Associate Degree in accounting from Renmin University of China. In 2017, Dr. Zhou participated in the Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management, administered by the university's Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Zhou is a member of the Washington State Community and Technical Colleges, where she chaired the Capital Budget Committee and served on the Executive Committee during the 2019-2020 academic year.  Dr. Zhou is a member of the Board of Trustees for the American Technical Education Association and the Past President of Region 6.  She also serves on the board for the Pierce County Workforce Development Council and College Sparks Foundation, City Club of Tacoma. In November 2019, Dr. Zhou was appointed as the Board of Trustee for the Washington State Adult Education Advisory Council. Dr. Zhou was also appointed to serve on the board for Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) in February 2021. 

In addition to her career in education, Dr. Zhou has experience in the business sector as a project manager for IT companies in China. Dr. Zhou is the college's first female president, and the first female Chinese immigrant to serve as president at a public two-year college in Washington state.

Dr. Waded Cruzado has served as the 12th president of Montana State University since 2010. She is well known for her understanding of the Morrill Act, which created the land-grant university system, and she is a passionate champion of the tripartite land-grant mission of education, research and public outreach.

MSU has set new student enrollment records under Cruzado's leadership, becoming the fastest growing and largest university in the state, and students routinely win prestigious national awards, including Rhodes, Goldwater, Truman and Udall scholarships. Cruzado is also known for placing student success as the campus’s top priority. 

During Cruzado’s tenure MSU’s research enterprise has flourished; the university tallied an all-time high for research expenditures in 2019–2020, totaling $167 million, and MSU has competitively won more than $650 million for sponsored research projects. MSU is classified as R1 in the Carnegie Classification for "very high research activity," and is one of only two universities nationally with an R1 classification that is also classified as Very High Undergraduate enrollment.

Under Cruzado’s leadership the campus has seen numerous major construction and renovation projects. Current projects include the renovation and repurposing of Romney Hall and the construction of a new American Indian Hall. Completed projects include Norm Asbjornson Hall, Jabs Hall, Gaines Hall and the Animal Bioscience Building. Cruzado has also overseen significant improvements to student facilities, including new residence halls, recreation and dining facilities. 

Philanthropic support has grown for MSU during her tenure. Among other efforts, MSU’s comprehensive fundraising campaign raised more than $413 million, and construction is underway on MSU’s donor-funded Bobcat Athletic Complex.

Cruzado has provided new pathways to higher education with the establishment of Gallatin College MSU, and she obtained approval to designate the Honors Program as the Honors College. MSU also won a grant for the LaunchPad, a program that introduces entrepreneurship as a viable career option and provides university students and alumni with support for entrepreneurial ventures.

MSU’s national reputation is strong. Notable recognition includes winning the C. Peter Magrath University Community Engagement Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching awarded MSU its community engagement classification. Cruzado has also enhanced alumni and community relations. One visible community project is the CatWalk, an annual celebration of the relationship between MSU and the community.

Cruzado chairs the board of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and is a commissioner of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. She has also served on numerous boards; current board memberships include the American Council on Education, Campus Compact, U.S. Bank and the Burton K. Wheeler Center. 

Her awards include the “Hero” Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Montana Chapter; the Chief Executive HR Champion Award from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources; and the Michael P. Malone Educator of the Year from the Montana Ambassadors. She also was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International and was awarded the Seaman A. Knapp Memorial Lectureship.

Cruzado previously served as executive vice president and provost at New Mexico State University. A native of Puerto Rico, she has a son and a daughter and two grandchildren.

Teresa Rivenes, PhD and Ed.D, is in her third year as the Vice President of Instruction at Tillamook Bay Community College which is a small rural community college on the beautiful Oregon Coast. Teresa started her higher educational journey teaching psychology and sociology at Park University and then at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where she also served as campus center director. From there she went to work at Great Falls College-MSU where she fell in love with the mission of community college and community college student success. Believing that community college is the foundation of democracy, and a primary driver for socio-economic equality, Teresa cannot imagine a future where she does not further the work of community college.

Teresa has 19 years of experience leading teams to successful outcomes and 11 years of experience in midsize rural community college leadership which she considers her primary area of expertise. She is passionate about relationship based management, curriculum outcomes design, strategic planning for long term success, innovative educational solutions, and building community partnerships that support student success and economic mobility. Teresa is a recognized voice in Oregon academic affairs serving as Chair of the Oregon Chief Instructional Administrators (CIA) a statewide group consisting of Vice Presidents from all of Oregon’s 17 community colleges. Since 2013 she has also served as an NWCCU peer accreditor and chair of several mission fulfillment visits. 

Teresa’s awards include the Distinguished Scholar award (2020) from Montana State University for her research in community college governance and unfunded mandates, the Rising Star in Education (2019), the 21016/2017 President’s Innovation Award, and the 2017 John And Suanne Rouesche Award among others. She graduated from both Leadership Great Falls and Leadership Medford. And, she is a 2020-2021 NWCCU Assessment fellow. 

Teresa and her husband Bret live walking distance from the ocean where they share their home with two Old English Bulldogge’s, Diesel and Diva, who rule the house. Their seven grown children live across Montana and Oregon. Besides the dogs, their joys in life include their nine beautiful grandchildren.

Dr. Tim Cook has spent the last 30 years working to improve student success at the individual and system level so all students can achieve their educational goals. He has a proven record of developing partnerships with business and education that lead to mutually beneficial outcomes. A first-generation college student, Dr. Cook personally understands how community colleges provide economic mobility for students and the communities where they live.

A native of Oregon City and proud graduate of Oregon City high school, Dr. Cook joined Clackamas Community College as its eighth president in 2018.

Prior to Clackamas, Dr. Cook was the chief academic officer at Clark College in Southwest Washington. Dr. Cook led the implementation of the college’s initial three Applied Bachelor’s degrees. He championed the redesign and remodel of the Culinary Institute and led the guided pathways college initiative.

Dr. Cook has worked as a faculty counselor, he taught courses in human development and sociology as a tenured faculty member for more than 14 years. He has served as division chair for the behavioral sciences, director of counseling and acting dean of student success and retention. He successfully co-led a college’s comprehensive accreditation self-study.

Dr. Cook earned a doctorate in community college leadership from Oregon State University. He holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Lewis & Clark College and a bachelor’s degree in English from Western Oregon University. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, three children and puppy. An avid runner, he has completed 33 marathons in 22 states.

Dr. Daniel P. Corr has served as the ninth president of Arizona Western College in Yuma, Arizona since 2016. Dr. Corr is focused on facilitating student success, increasing access to higher education, creating a comprehensive strategic plan, and fostering a climate of innovation, collaboration and stewardship at AWC. 

He has always placed an emphasis on establishing and maintaining community partnerships. He also remains committed to being responsive to local business needs. Locally, he serves on the Yuma County Workforce Development Board, the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority Board of Directors, the Yuma County Ag Producers Scholarship Fund Review Committee, the Yuma Education Consortium, the Arizona Western College Foundation Board, and the Consortium for Higher Education Sonora-Arizona.   Additionally, Dr. Corr Daniel serves on the AZ network (RRN)for the “Reskilling and Recovery” work in Arizona pairing College programs and resources to upskill and reskill workers for economic recovery.  Under his leadership, AWC Career & Technical Education created the first Community College Manufacturing Program with TBIC certification (Transatlantic Business & Investment Council) to train students in the U.S. with global electrical and construction standards to attract more European companies to our community, and provide a well-prepared workforce. 

Dr. Corr serves on a number of additional local, state, and national boards.  However, his greatest passion is for AWC’s students and their success. This focus on student success and community partnerships is why you will hear Dr. Corr exclaim “It is a great day to be a Matador!”

Dr. Michael Reed is currently serving as the Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost for the Pennsylvania College of Technology.  The Pennsylvania College of Technology is a national leader in applied technologies and a special affiliate of the Pennslyvania State University (Penn State). Prior to the provost role, Mike served as the Vice President for Academic Operations, and as the Dean and Assistant Dean for the School of Sciences, Humanities and Visual Communications.  In all of these roles, Mike has had the opportunity to work closely with industry and faculty experts to ensure students are equipped to advance within their chosen degree fields.

Prior to joining the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Mike worked in public education for over 20 years, most recently serving as the principal for the Williamsport Area High School, a large urban public high school in Williamsport, PA and at SciTech High School, a STEM magnet school in Harrisburg, PA. At Williamsport, Mike worked closely with Advanced Placement and career and technical education programs to assist in the transformation of their high school, and at SciTech, he worked diligently to connect students and teachers with high demand, industry leaders and the local colleges. Both high schools created a culture of rigor and relevance and demonstrated historic achievement growth in all areas measured by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Mike earned his bachelor of science degree in secondary education through Clarion University.  He completed his master’s degree and school counseling certification at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and his school administrative certifications were awarded through the Pennsylvania State University.  Michael completed his doctoral studies through Drexel University with a focus on innovation and a concentration in educational leadership. 

Michael has an extensive background in collaborative and system leadership, innovation, career readiness, instructional design, formative assessments, comprehensive literacy, problem-based learning, data driven decision-making, instructional coaching, and professional development.

Michael is active in the community, recently serving the Salvation Army as their board’s vice chairperson, and he currently serves on the Lycoming County Chamber of Commerce’s Advisory Board. In addition, Mike routinely volunteers in youth development programs and assists at a local outdoor conservation club. 

Kimberly Moffitt (Ph.D. in communication/media studies from Howard University) joined the UMBC community as an assistant professor of American Studies. Before assuming the role of interim dean for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, she was professor and director of the Language, Literacy and Culture doctoral program and affiliate professor of Africana Studies. A media critic whose research focuses on mediated representations of marginalized groups as well as the politicized nature of Black hair and the body, Dr. Moffitt has published several articles and book chapters, as well as five co-edited volumes, including Michelle Obama and the FLOTUS Effect: Platform, Presence, and Agency (Lexington Books, 2019), Gladiators in Suits: Race, Gender, and the Politics of Representation in Scandal (Syracuse University Press, 2019), Blackberries and Redbones: Critical Articulations of Black Hair and Body Politics in Africana Communities (Hampton Press, 2010), The Obama Effect: Multidisciplinary Renderings of the 2008 Campaign (SUNY Press, 2010) and The 1980s: A Transitional Decade? (Lexington Books, 2011). Her latest work explores the black body in Disney programming and the impact of colorism on Black teens. Dr. Moffitt often writes op-ed articles for the Baltimore Sun and is a frequent guest on local public radio, television, and Internet broadcasting programs. She is a member of the public service sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the secretary of the board of the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE), and the founding parent and former board member of Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys Charter School, a 4th-8th college preparatory school.

Steve began his 20-plus year career in higher education at Sauk Valley Community College where he spent 16 years serving students as a faculty member in the Department of Biology, 14 years as the advisor of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and two years as President of the Faculty Union. He spent his last eight years at Sauk Valley as a senior administrator supervising various departments. In his last role as vice president, Steve provided leadership over all for-credit and non-credit academic programs, student services, the Small Business Development Center, adult education (G.E.D./E.S.L.), and student recruitment. While at the College, Steve also served as a Higher Learning Commission peer reviewer where he participated in over ten accreditation reviews of community colleges.

In 2020, Steve was hired at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College as their fifth President. He currently serves as a Board Member for the Cambria Regional Chamber of Commerce, Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, and the Southern Alleghenies Workforce Development Board. He is also a member of the Greater Johnstown Regional Partnership, the Ebensburg Rotary Club, and the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Executive Roundtable.

He earned an associate degree from Southwest Virginia Community College, both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from Virginia Tech, and a doctorate in community college leadership (Ed.D.) from Ferris State University.

Dr. David Krueger is a higher education professional with over 30 years extensive experience in collaborating and partnering with Career and Technical Education (CTE) professionals, university administrators, industry and community leaders.  Dr. Krueger began his career as a high school agriculture teacher and CTE professional in Idaho before moving to Michigan to earn a doctorate degree in Agriculture and Extension Education at Michigan State University and begin preparing the next generation of CTE professionals. Dr. Krueger has collaborated on many CTE curriculum projects around the country and started CTE programs to meet the needs of the ever-changing skilled workforce landscape.

In the summer of 2018 Dr. Krueger accepted the position of Dean in the College of Technical Sciences at Montana State University – Northern. Dr. Krueger directs the college which offers a wide range of degrees and programs through a blend of applied, project-based curricula that educates a diverse group of students. Graduates of the College are equipped with strong analytical capabilities, the latest in cutting-edge technologies, and the skills for innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. They continue to fuel the economic and technological development of Montana and beyond. The College of Technical Sciences strives to become a leader nationwide in shaping new concepts of applied technical and apprenticeship education. 

Dr. Coll was born in Havana, Cuba, and migrated to the United States during the 1980 Mariel Boat Lift. After serving as a noncommissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps, he completed a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Saint Leo University, his master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Central Florida, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Education and Supervision from the University of South Florida. 

Dr. Coll is the Dean of the School of Social Work and Acting Dean of the College of Education at Portland State University. Additionally, he has held administrative and faculty positions at Texas State University, University of Southern California, and Saint Leo University. His research interests have been predominantly on worldview development and counseling veterans with a focus on veteran transition. He is the author and co-editor of numerous publications, including The Counselors Primer for Counseling Veterans, Linus Publications; co-editor of The Handbook of Military Social Work, Wiley Press; Student Veterans in Higher Education: A Primer for Administrators, Faculty, and Advisors, Lyceum Books and most recent Civilian Lives of U.S. Veterans: Issues and Identities, Praeger Publishing. 

He is a graduate of the American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows Program, University of California, Berkeley, Executive Leadership Academy (ELA), Harvard’s Institute for Management Development Program (MDP), Harvard’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE). 

Roberta “Robbie” Teahen’s professional experiences include secondary and postsecondary teaching and leadership roles.  Dr. Teahen most recently served as Associate Provost at Ferris State University and as founding director of the Doctorate in Community College Leadership.  Effective January 2021, she will continue teaching and dissertation advising in this nationally recognized leadership program. 

Prior to joining Ferris as a dean and her subsequent associate provost role, Dr. Teahen spent more than 30 years at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan, where she began as an adjunct faculty member and concluded her career as the Dean of Workforce Development.  Throughout her long administrative career, Dr. Teahen has consistently taught in the areas of business, education, and leadership.  Teaching assignments have included undergraduate and graduate teaching for Northwestern, Ferris, Western Michigan University, and Michigan State University.

She earned her doctorate in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education at Michigan State University in 2000.  Professional endeavors include extensive service to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) as a team chair, assessment mentor, and member of the Institutional Actions Council.  She is also a long-serving board member of the Community College Baccalaureate Association and serves on a committee of the Association for the Advancement of Learning in Higher Education.

Recent recognitions include the Athena Grand Traverse Award in 2014, the Distinguished Woman in Higher Education recognition by the Michigan chapter of the American Council on Education (ACE) in 2015, and being selected as a Fellow of Northwestern Michigan College, the college’s highest honor, in 2020.

Robbie is committed to the value of education and learning and regularly helps others to advance their educational and professional careers.  In her personal life, she has been married for 50+ years, has two beautiful and intelligent grown daughters, and three amazing grandchildren.  For fun, she enjoys theatre, travel, golf, cooking, and time with many good friends.   

Seth Bodnar currently serves as the 19th president of the University of Montana where he works alongside students, faculty, staff and the community to ensure students from all walks of life and backgrounds have access to a quality education that prepares them for successful careers and lives as engaged, service-minded citizens.

Before coming to the University of Montana, President Bodnar was a senior executive at the General Electric Company, serving as its first-ever Chief Digital Officer and leading GE Transportation’s Digital Solutions business. Prior to GE, President Bodnar served on faculty at West Point where he taught economics.

President Bodnar graduated first in his class from West Point, received both the Rhodes and Truman scholarships, and earned two master’s degrees from the University of Oxford. President Bodnar had a distinguished military career, serving in the 101^st Airborne Division and the U.S. Army’s First Special Forces Group. As a member of the Army’s elite Green Berets, he commanded a Special Forces detachment on multiple deployments around the world and later served as a special assistant to the Commanding General in Iraq.

President Bodnar is the son of two educators and the husband of a fifth-generation Montanan. He is very proud to be raising three kids in Montana, and he considers it a great honor to be working on behalf of public education in such a special place.