REP4 Future of Learning Lab

Laura recently (September 2021) joined GVSU as its new Vice President for University Development following a decade plus role with CCS Fundraising, a premier nonprofit consultancy. She has spent her entire professional career in fundraising, partnering with organizations to identify and unlock their strategic vision during times of monumental change. She is grounded by her belief that all people are intrinsically driven to make a difference in the world around them.

Laura enjoys serving as a thought partner across Grand Valley as the university contemplates how best to meet its most urgent and long-term goals. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, data analysis, major gift program development, multi-constituent fundraising models, and innovative volunteer leadership and donor engagement approaches.

Shorouq Almallah is the Director for the Richard M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI) at Grand Valley State University. She has been working with CEI for the past 15 years in different roles and capacities. In her current role, she is responsible for providing leadership, vision, strategic direction, tactical execution, and operational oversight of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation with a focus on talent development, expanding and growing entrepreneurship education, and innovative curriculum for the university and the community at large. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University in English and Linguistics, with a minor in Middle East Studies, and a Masters of Information Science from Indiana University. She recently completed her Master of Business Administration from Grand Valley State University in June of 2020.

Bill leads HP Education, focused on improving learning outcomes for every student, everywhere.
Bill brings 20+ years of experience in the industry to his current role leading HP Education. Since joining HP in 1998, he has worked across multiple business units including Managed Services, Personal Systems, and the Imaging and Printing Group. Most recently, Bill led Business Development for Personal Systems, including the integration of recently acquired cyber-security company Bromium. Bill's functional experience is diverse and includes marketing, sales, finance, supply chain, services, logistics and operations. His passion for people and the business consistently translates into top and bottom line results.

I use the historical, cultural, and social foundations of education, alongside my 15 years as a Detroit Public Schools teacher, to develop equity-minded educators. As a sociologist of education, I research the relationships between gendered racial socialization and academic achievement.

Annie Bélanger is the Dean of University Libraries at Grand Valley State University. Previously, she was the Associate University Librarian, Information Resources & Academic Excellence at the University of Waterloo. Being an accessibility and inclusion advocate as well as her experiences in academic, corporate, public libraries, and government settings define her career.

Her research now focuses on human-centered leadership and skills development, most specifically on Appreciative Inquiry, inclusive hiring, workplace culture development, and strengths-based empathetic workforce development.

Annie is Québéçoise and disabled. She received her Master’s in Library and Information Sciences from Western University, Canada. She is an ARL Leadership Fellow.

Jesse M. Bernal, Ph.D, is Chief of Staff and Vice President for Inclusion and Equity at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Committed to shared leadership, he joins efforts to focus responsibility for educational equity with institutions and transform systems that historically exclude some communities. With his commitment to social mobility, he supports innovative efforts to create more inclusive campus climates by centering diverse voices. Grand Valley has adopted a social justice and intersectional framework that works for campus and community change.

Dr. Tamara Brown Payne has been working in higher education for more than 16 years. Currently, she is an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Counseling Department at Fort Valley State University. She recently served as the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning for the past two years, in which she created collaborative programs, lecture series, and facilitated dynamic professional workshops. She is a published author and has co-authored research for a book chapter and articles in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Payne has received acknowledgements for her research contributions and her presentations at national/local professional conference on topics such as mental/health issues, relationships, child/human development, counseling, education, and cultural issues. She serves as an advisor and chair of several student organizations. Dr. Payne is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and a Certified Holistic Life Coach.

John Buckwalter, PhD is currently the Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs at Boise State University. Prior to joining Boise State in 2021, Dr. Buckwalter served for 8 years as Dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences at Kansas State University & 6 years at the University of Texas at Arlington as chair of the Department of Kinesiology & then as the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Education & Health Professions. Dr. Buckwalter started his professional career at the Medical College of Wisconsin as a Post-Doctoral Fellow and eventually rose to the rank of Associate Professor of Anesthesiology. Originally from Arkansas, Dr. Buckwalter earned a B.A. in Spanish & B.S. in Health & Physical Education at Centenary College in Louisiana & both a MS & PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Arkansas. He is a Fellow of both the American Physiological Society, & the American College of Sports Medicine as well as an ACE Fellow.

Dr. Rebeca Burciaga is the Founding Executive Director of the Institute for Emancipatory Education in the Lurie College of Education at San José State University and a Professor of Educational Leadership & Chicana and Chicano Studies. As the founder of the Emancipatory School Leadership MA Program, she engages students through emancipatory and culturally sustaining approaches to leadership. Dr. Burciaga’s areas of expertise include qualitative methodologies, critical theories (e.g. critical race theory & Chicana feminist theories), and critical pedagogies (e.g. testimonio). Burciaga earned her B.A. from UC Santa Cruz, an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles. She is a co-founder of the Institute for Teachers of Color Committed to Racial Justice and her research has been supported by highly competitive funding sources including the Spencer Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health.

Jaime Casap served as the Chief Education Evangelist at Google for more than 14 years and was the second member of the Google for Education team. In that time, Jaime launched Google’s GSuite tools into higher education and K12. He also launched Chromebooks into education and was the creator of the Google for Education Transformation Framework, a holistic approach to education transformation. Now Jaime is partnering and collaborating with higher education institutions, school systems, and businesses around the world, helping them build transformational policies and practices to elevate education and bring equity, diversity, and inclusion into their policies and practices. Jaime serves as an advisor to dozens of organizations focused on learning, skill development, and the future of work. He is the co-author of “Our First Talk About Poverty,” as a way to talk to children about poverty. He is currently working on his next book.

Lynn Casey is a highly sought-after trend expert, consumer scientist, brand builder, and futurist committed to helping industry-leading organizations unlock the deep human insights that inspire the best and brightest future. She is driven by the belief that every company, brand, and person has a powerful story to tell, and that critical analysis of human culture, behavior, and trends can help uncover the strongest narratives and ensure the biggest leap. Lynn’s distinct voice has unpacked real, human truths for clients including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Paramount Pictures, Conde Nast, Mattel, The North Face, Coty, Sephora, Xbox, Reebok, and Coca-Cola. She is a mentor at the USC Marshall Graduate School, frequent keynote speaker, as well as the author of her weekly newsletter: www.thescoutlook.com. Lynn's current home base is Los Angeles, with a strong serving of New York City.

In a career spanning a period of immense change in global society, Jon has worked with young, creative student leaders in schools across the country teaching English, entrepreneurship, history, game design, Latin and philosophy. Jon has hired and helped develop the professional talents of highly talented educators who have gone on to develop innovative programs in their schools. His book on gamified instruction, Level Up Your Classroom, was published in 2016.​ He continues to work to advance our thinking on how education needs to restructure itself to more appropriately prepare young people who will be solving problems in the 2060s and 2070s.

Sam Chaltain (@samchaltain) is a partner at 180 Studio, a global design collaborative dedicated to advancing people’s understanding of the future of learning — and what it requires. Sam’s writings have appeared in both magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today. A former speechwriter for each of President Obama’s U.S. Secretaries of Education, Sam has also written for Oscar and Grammy Award winning artists. Sam is the author or co-author of seven books; a co-producer of the PBS documentary film, 180 Days: Hartsville; and co-creator of the 10-part online film series, A Year at Mission Hill.

Zane Clampett is a cinematographer based in Bozeman, Montana, specializing in commercial cinematography and indigenous documentary work. Born and raised in the deserts of New Mexico, He moved to Bozeman to attend Montana State University. Since graduating he has had many fortunate opportunities to work with some amazing people, on amazing projects, all over the world.

Ala’Torya attended Paine College and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. She holds a Masters degree in Higher Education with a concentration in College Teaching and Learning and is currently a doctoral candidate for a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Urban Higher Education from the Jackson State University for December 2021. Having over 10 years of experience in higher education in a variety of areas; she has served in Admissions and Recruitment, Alumni Relations, Student Activities, Athletics, and Student Success; with each developing her professionally and personally to better serve today’s student. She currently serves as the First and Second-Year Programs Assistant Director at Fort Valley State University, oversees the New Student Orientation Leaders and all Intro. to the University instruction.

Nicole graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 1997. She worked in the Baltimore City Public Defender’s Office, Juvenile Division and then later in the Juvenile Conditions of Confinement Division. Since leaving the Public Defender’s Office in 2007, she has been an advocate for abused and neglected children in Maryland and assists young adults who are aging out of the foster care system. She is also the managing trustee of the Meridian Foundation, an organization dedicated to the educational advancement of underserved populations.

Kim is a social entrepreneur, advocate, and innovator who is serving as the Global Director of Social Innovation for Steelcase. Steelcase is an innovative, 105-year-old international design and manufacturing company for office furniture, architectural and technology products. Kim has a passion for building a culture of equity, opportunity and partnering with organizations to lead transformational impact around the world. She has scaled innovation and designed social impact programs over multiple sectors and continues to look for changemakers to accelerate and amplify globally. Kim is also on the Board of Directors for HATCH.

Beth Day-Hairston is a Professor of Education and the new dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies at Fort Valley State University. Dr. Day-Hairston most recently came from Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), where she served as chair of the Department of Education. Under Day-Hairston’s leadership, she co-created an After-School Program with the local Boys and Girls Club to help impact the achievement gap for low-performing students. Dr. Day-Hairston earned her Ph.D. in Special Education and Literacy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a former special education teacher. She was the 2000 recipient of the coveted Wachovia Excellence in Teaching Award and the 2011 Alumni Achiever of the Year Award. Dr. Day-Hairston’s research interests includes service-learning which has yielded over 100 projects with her undergraduate and graduate students. She brings her interest in design thinking and experiential learning experiences to her new position.

Elizabeth Doyle serves as the Executive Associate for Presidential Initiatives, Inclusion and Equity at Grand Valley State University. In this role, she engages the community to activate ideas aligned with the university's vision and strategy. She’s energized by the signature approach for this work, which begins with incorporating multiple voices and experiences into every collaboration. Elizabeth has a master's in educational leadership and was the first in her family to graduate from college. She's passionate about creating relevant and equitable learning experiences in higher education.

Kirk has been working at the intersection of Innovation and Equity since 2014, specializing in helping teams and organizations reimagine how they tackle complex problems, develop leaders, and design programs. Working nationally across sectors, he provides a unique approach focusing on interactive and dynamic experiences. Alongside his own work, he also supports other agencies in innovation as well as being an executive coach at Stanford's d.school.

Oman Frame has more than 20 years of experience in teaching and diversity leadership. He is a gifted motivator and educator who combines real-world topics with academic rigor to makes learning personally meaningful. Oman conducts professional workshops in diversity, equity and inclusion issues at professional conferences and in schools around the nation. He creates curriculum that helps educators and students understand the effects of oppression on underserved communities and inspires commitment to social justice. Oman coordinates diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for the Paideia School in Atlanta, GA, where he also teaches sociology. He is active in coordinating Race Day, an annual full-day program that gives voice to the unique experiences of students of color in schools, and Gender Day, a day of focus on the struggle for gender equity. Oman was featured in Ned Hollowell’s Positively ADD: Real Success Stories to Inspire Dreams and has been an 11 Alive News Teacher of the week.

I am a Freelance Filmmaker who is focused on both the creative and technical aspects of visual communications. Over the last fifteen years, I have dedicated my time to creating high-quality moving media. My experience ranges from long-form Documentaries to commercial work and brand stories.

Greg Gersch is passionate about drawing and considers it an indispensable tool for communication, inspiration and problem solving. Prior to starting his Graphic Recording practice in 2009, he headed a graphic design firm specializing in brand identity and marketing, earning several distinctions for his logos.

Greg studied art history and fine art, graduating with honors from the University of Michigan. He is a member of the IFVP and has conducted drawing workshops for visual practitioners.

Dr. Guillory-Lacy is an Assistant Professor for the Emancipatory Educational Leadership Master’s Program in the Lurie College of Education at San José State University, and co-coordinated the Summer 2021 SJSU x REP4 Learner Design Summit.

Bruce Haymes is currently founder and president of Coleytown Advisors, a strategic consultancy based in Connecticut, and chairman of the board of directors of Toluna Corporation, a digital consumer insights company based in Europe. He is also an executive-in-residence at Progress Partners, a venture capital fund and investment advisory firm. He was most recently the chief partnership officer in the Office of the President of Northeastern University focused on innovation, joint ventures and investments.
Previously, Bruce was the managing director of Nielsen Ventures at The Nielsen Company (NYSE: NLSN). He was responsible for Nielsen Innovate, Nielsen’s startup investment and innovation platform based in Israel. He is also an alum of Time Warner. Bruce holds a J.D. from The George Washington University and a B.A. in economics from Tufts University.

A proud new father, Ty Hobson-Powell (26) is a native Washingtonian and lifelong community advocate. After graduating from high school at 13, he went on to become the youngest student to ever matriculate at Howard University in its history. After gaining his Bachelor's degree at age 15 from the University of Baltimore and his Master’s degree at 17 from Liberty University, Ty began his career in public service with DC’s Dept. of Employment Services availing supports to some of the District’s most disadvantaged residents through his work with the D.C. Department of Employment Services He also worked for Hillary for America in the 2016 presidential election as a field organizer in Erie, Pennsylvania. Currently, Ty serves as Founder and Director of Policy for Concerned Citizens Demanding Change and is a lead organizer with the 51For51 D.C. statehood campaign.

Lorelee Isbell is the executive director of the Career Center and the Office of Professional, Continuing, and Distance Education at Shippensburg University (SU) of Pennsylvania. Lorelee drives innovation to strengthen career readiness, expand workforce development opportunities, and support regional economic growth in South Central PA. Prior to her time at SU, Lorelee spent almost 23 years at the Office of the Chancellor for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. During her tenure, she managed two higher education centers in Harrisburg and Philadelphia, focused on increasing access to higher education in those areas and providing meeting and event space for a variety of companies and organizations. Lorelee earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Messiah College and her master’s degree in organizational development and leadership from Shippensburg University.

Humanitae Advisors is a nonprofit organization providing stewardship services for intellectual property public goods with an emphasis in the arena of postsecondary transformation to expand equitable student success. Our stewardship provides protection, management, and maintenance of goods that are undergoing continued revision, enhancement, and tailoring by a community of stakeholders sharing common goals.

REP4 has kindly invited Humanitae's participation in this event as an observer so we might mutually learn more about each other.

Dr. Kemi Jona is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Digital Innovation and Enterprise Learning at Northeastern University. His portfolio includes the design of digital experiential learning platforms and the formation of strategic enterprise partnerships for talent development to enable seamless, lifelong learning pathways for all learners. Dr. Jona has worked at the forefront of the learning sciences and learning technologies fields for over 20 years. He is thought leader in applying insights from cognitive and learning sciences to the design of technology-mediated learning environments and in developing innovative partnerships for new talent and credentialing strategies.

Driven by curiosity to test our assumptions of learning and school, Rob builds enterprise learning pathways to and through higher education. He blurs the lines between K-12 and higher education for learners of all ages and interests to create more equitable and inspiring learner outcomes.

Yarrow is Founder of HATCH and H360.ai, is an Aspen Institute Fellow, RSA Fellow, and named 2015 top 100 creatives in the U.S. by Origins. He is a pioneer of social networking and has been building communities for twenty years. In 1999, Yarrow created an online network – The Hero Project, which grew to 1.5 Million users and was acquired by FOX. In 2004, Yarrow founded HATCH, connecting global influencers to accelerate solutions for the UN’s SDGs. Yarrow is featured in the book Talent for Humanity, is on the Advisory Board for the Water Innovation Accelerator (WIA), was honored with the Audfest Impact Award in 2019, and has led think tanks with Intel, Hasbro, Ernst & Young, NASA, spoken at TEDx, Vivatech, EarthX, Day One, and Business Innovation Factory Summit (BIF).

Christine Lai is a cross-sector collaboration catalyst connecting capital, ideas, opportunities, and people for positive social change. She currently works in the space of funders, foundations, and the future. As a “free agent,” she works in-between institutions, organizations, initiatives, and projects in service of the collective to benefit the many vs. just a few. She supports foundations/funders with their community and learning strategies, to ensure they are in right relationship with the individuals/organizations they support, guiding giving through co-learning and participatory process

Diana Lawson, joined GVSU in 2014, as Dean of the Seidman College of Business. She brings extensive experience leading business programs and a wealth of international engagement to GVSU. Previously, she has held positions as dean of the Herberger Business School at St. Cloud State University, interim dean at the University of Maine's College of Business, Public Policy, and Health, and the Wickes Chair in International Business at Saginaw Valley State University. Dean Lawson is respected nationally and internationally, and held positions as an invited and visiting professor and scholar at universities in France, Moldova, and Turkey. Dean Lawson earned her Ph.D. from Kent State University, an M.B.A. and M.A. from Kent State, and a bachelor's from the State University of New York College at Cortland. In addition to administrative responsibilities, Dr. Lawson teaches in Seidman’s Executive MBA and professional development programs.

Le is a founding partner at 180 Studio, a global design studio that helps communities design places, tell stories and set strategies that advance our collective understanding of the future of learning and one another. During his 30-year career as an architect, Le has consistently produced award-winning education projects that underscore his passion for making the world a better place through design. Le currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the Academy for Global Citizenship, a public charter school located in the city of Chicago. Le’s projects have been published in periodicals including Architectural Record, World Architecture News and Edutopia. In 2007 he collaborated with Bruce Mau to publish The Third Teacher. Le has blogged for Fast Company and is a frequent speaker at national and international venues. Le has a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degree and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana | Champaign.

Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, President for Amarillo College since 2014. Amarillo College was named a 2021 Top Five Institution and Rising Star for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Russell’s leadership is focused on improving student success through systemic and cultural change centered on one word: LOVE. Under Russell’s leadership, Amarillo College developed the systemic Culture of Caring targeting removal of poverty barriers that was featured in The Atlantic (June 2018) and in the documentary on AmazonPrime, The Antidote. Dr. Lowery-Hart previously served as Vice-President of Academic Affairs for Amarillo College and named the National Council of Instructional Administrators Academic Leader of the Year for 2014. He received his Ph.D. from Ohio University; M.A. Texas Tech University; and, B.S. from West Texas State University.

Mei works collaboratively across sectors to build bridges between informal and formal learning systems. She is committed to creating experiences that leverage and elevate learners' sense of agency, under empowered communities and social innovation.

Royce Mann is a 19-year-old activist and poet, now running for Atlanta School Board. Since videos of his original poem "White Boy Privilege" went viral in 2016, when he was 14 landing him on every major network and in countless international publications.

Philomena V. Mantella is President at Grand Valley State University. Her entrepreneurial disposition and her drive to expand access to the university quickly became evident. She brings more than three decades of higher education experience to her role. She not only leads where she is, she develops transformational collaborations with other institutions. She strategically designs partnerships to improve pathways for diverse learners across their lifetimes and enterprises. Building collaboration across sectors and focuses institutional integrity for the noble cause of education are core values.

Corey is the President and Excecutive Director of CAPS Network, empowering high school students to fast-forward into their future through real-world business projects and the development of professional skills. Prior to CAPS, Corey served as Director of Statewide Programs for the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship.

In July 2015, CAPS launched CAPS Network, a consortium of school programs committed to this model of profession-based education. CAPS Network has grown to include 76 affiliate programs, including over 140 school districts across 19 states and three countries.

Mona's professional experience centers on innovation and strategy in leadership practice to advance business performance through education and workforce development initiatives. Over the past two decades, Mona has specialized in higher education and organizational development programs, designed effective go-to-market strategy, forged coalitions with Fortune 50 - 500 companies, and built industry ecosystems to advance technical and universal skill development. As the U.S. Industry Director, Mona reports into the Chief Digital Office of Microsoft U.S. Her role identifies domestic market opportunities, builds assets, and drives innovation all aimed at achieving more meaningful contribution to the advancement of education in the United States. Mona is passionate, creative, and relationship-focused. She believes greater success comes from collaboration, diversity, and broader perspectives. By working together, we can accomplish the unimaginable!

Zineb is the co-founder of two charitable organizations, Youth x Youth & the Weaving Lab. Youth x Youth is a movement to radically reimagine the future of education with the goal of accelerating the process of young people influencing, designing, and transforming their education. The Weaving Lab is global organization with the mission of advancing the field of weaving, understood as the practice of interconnecting ideas, people, projects, organizations, places, and ecologies to enhance system change.

Dr. Oluseyi is an inventor, educator, author, humanitarian, and TV personality. He is also Astrophysicist and Space Science Education Lead for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Hakeem is passionate about improving lives through advancing knowledge, science, empowering underserved populations, and promoting understanding of the universe between peoples. He is a professor at the Florida Institute of Tech, and a contributor to Discovery Channel and National Geographic. In 2002 Hakeem began visiting African schools to inspire students, and was selected as a TED Global Fellow.

Dr. Mary A. Papazian, president of San José State University since July 2016, is a scholar of the 17th century metaphysical poets who leads the founding campus of the California State University system. Milestones during her tenure include the construction of the Interdisciplinary Science Building; Town Hall events hosted by SJSU’s Institute for the Study of Sport, Society and Social Change; development of the East Side Promise to support local students; and the launching of a ten-year strategic plan, Transformation 2030. She also brought a group of government and civic leaders together to announce plans to redevelop state-owned property in downtown San Jose to help meet the affordable housing needs of faculty, staff, and students. In June 2020, Dr. Papazian announced plans to address systemic racism at SJSU. She holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in English from the University of California, Los Angeles. She and husband Dr. Dennis R. Papazian have two adult daughters.

Dr. Charles E. Patterson
Interim President
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Charles Patterson’s nearly two decades of service within higher education is diverse, having served as an instructor, dean, foundation executive director and chairperson, vice president for research and economic development, president, and executive within the U.S. Department of Education. 
Dr. Patterson was appointed Interim President of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in April 2021 by the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. His leadership term commenced July 1, 2021. President Patterson is a member of the State System’s Executive Leadership Group, comprised of university presidents and the chancellor of the State System for the purpose of effective leadership and management oversight of the State System’s strategies and initiatives. 
Previously, Dr. Patterson served as the president of Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. Under his leadership,

Have held leadership roles at GVSU for 20+ years, ranging from student affairs to the School of Engineering to the Office of the Provost. Currently serve as chief academic officer overseeing academic and student affairs. Prior work in the Office of the Provost included responsibility for planning, assessment and accreditation. Is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering, was the Interim Director of the School of Engineering, and the Sebastian Chair of Engineering Cooperative Education and Educational Development where he oversaw the operations of the School of Engineering, assessment and accreditation efforts, and the mandatory cooperative education program. Served in the university Career Center for 10+ years, the last five as director for the campus.

My name is Cassandra Portes I have worked at the Southwestern Michigan Urban as a Program Specialist. My role includes coordinating a Scholarship Program called Future Force for 9th through 12 grades, Social and Emotional and STEAM Programs for 3rd through 8th Grades, and Summer Camps bridging the Gaps in Education for pre-k through 8th Grades as well as Summer Youth Leadership Camps. This past summer I was able to serve as a Mentor for REP4. I serve on several boards in Battle Creek that impact education for all students. I have found that bridging educational gaps to be my true passion.

My name is Jenifer Pui. I go by either Jenifer or Pui. My pronouns are she/her/hers. I was born and raised in Burma/ Myanmar. As a first-gen Burmese immigrant, I'd like to support and guide our Burmese youth in the community so that they are more equipped to navigate education system better and have access to resources to move further.

Pete Risse is Associate Dean, for Boise State University’s Division of Extended Studies.

He is passionate about his team’s mission to empower students and the communities they serve by providing affordable access to high-quality, community-focused pathways to impactful educational opportunities.

Mr. Julian Sanders is a senior student at Grand Valley State University pursing a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and minoring in Criminal Justice. He plans to attend law school in the fall of 2022 following the completion of his undergrad in December 2021. Julian transferred to GVSU in the fall of 2019, since then he has made it his mission to serve in various Presidential initiatives and University capacities while advocating and ensuring inclusion and equity are embedded in the community. Those capacities include but aren’t limited to; REP4, 2020 Learner Engagement Challenge, GVSU student action teams, Emcee and student speaker for GVSU 35 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Program. In addition, Julian is a former GVSU Student Senator and is currently a fellow candidate in the Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies.

Dr. Tova Sanders is an Associate Teaching Professor and Affiliate Faculty for the Center for the Study of Higher Education and Talent Strategy at Northeastern University. As the first remote faculty, Tova has mentored 60+ change leaders in their doctoral work from 9 countries including Brazil, Ecuador, Japan, China, Zimbabwe, Kuwait, Canada, Korea and the US. She is an innovative thought leader with 20+ years of experience creating, implementing, and managing cutting-edge learning and leadership development initiatives in globally diverse settings. Her primary interests include social justice, the future of work and learning, and the curation of personalized learning pathways through partnerships with learners, industry experts and community change agents. She lives in Western Michigan and is currently collaborating with the Suffolk County House of Corrections on the development of a program that integrates the arts with re-entry curriculum for Persons who are Incarcerated.

In my 23rd year at GVSU, I have served in a variety of roles, but my roots are as a faculty member in the Dept. of Writing. I have international experiences that have impacted me deeply and positively and I spend over 15 years as GVSU's Chief International Officer, supporting global learning for students, faculty, and staff. A small town Wisconsin boy who loves city life and exploring this fragile world.

Artist, Dad, Lecturer @ MIT Sloan, Founder @ Tilt, social enterprise focused on artfully enabling the necessary transformation of leaders and culture to progress bleeding-edge initiatives. On McKinsey’s think tank for Learning Innovation. Pioneered curricula at the edge of leadership + skills retraining for the future of work + learning @ MIT Sloan, Harvard iLab, Stanford d.school, Berklee ICE. Lived in an Australian Aboriginal community for 3 years to study art’s impact on cultures of survival. Continues to be a visiting art critic + exhibit in NY, London, Miami.

At HATCH, Jared works to educate, accelerate, and invest in entrepreneurs who are creating solutions to social problems. Also an Instructor at Prescott College, Jared teaches courses in Ecopsychology, The History of Psychology, Philosophy of Science, and Human Development.

Dr. Sherril Soman has a diverse background of experiences serving in a number of leadership roles at the university, including associate vice president for Enrollment Development and university registrar, director of Financial Aid, interim assistant vice president for Academic Affairs, and interim associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She earned a doctorate in chemistry from Purdue University in 2000 and a B.S. in chemistry from Prairie View A&M University in 1992. Dean Soman has extensive expertise in curriculum development, leading through change, assessment and strategic planning.

I am a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Grand Valley State University and a Presidential Fellow for the Advancement of Learning. I hold a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University and came to GVSU in 2011, where I now teach mathematics courses, conduct research on teaching and learning, and build communities of practice for improving the educational experiences of students. I am a former Scholar-in-Residence at Steelcase, where I conducted research and outreach on active learning classrooms. I am the author of _Flipped Learning: A Guide for Higher Education Faculty_ and am at work on his second book, on alternative grading practices, with Prof. David Clark. I blog on teaching, learning, math, and productivity at rtalbert.org and on alternative grading practices at _Grading For Growth_ (https://gradingforgrowth.substack.com/). I live in Allendale with my wife, three teenage kids, and four cats.

A proud native Detroiter, Tiffany Taylor is the Chief People and Impact Officer at Global Silicon Valley Ventures and ASU + GSV Summit, an education technology-focused venture capital fund. Prior to joining the GSV team, Tiffany spent 11 years at Teach For America as a national Vice President and Deputy Chief People Officer as well as Executive Director of the Detroit region. Tiffany worked as a special education then deepened her understanding of issues affecting underrepresented communities through her work as an education policy consultant and affordable housing developer. Tiffany graduated from the University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Afro-American and African Studies. She also earned a Master’s degree in education from St. Joseph’s University and a Masters’ degree in Urban Planning from the University of Maryland. Most recently, Tiffany completed the Leading Change and Organizational Renewal program at Harvard Business School.

Milos Topic is the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Digital Officer at Grand Valley State University. He has 24 years of experience in positions of increasing responsibilities focused primarily on technology, innovation, strategy, operations and leadership. His experiences range from startups, to Fortune 1000 companies to contributing across multiple universities (both public and private) over the past two decades.

Dr. Marlene Tromp is the 7th president of Boise State University. She is committed to supporting students and faculty, serving and advancing the state of Idaho, and helping the university foster research excellence to increase discovery for its students and the world. Before joining Boise State in July 2019, Dr. Tromp was the campus provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of California at Santa Cruz, ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 26th best public university in the country. Before joining the University of California system – broadly recognized as the premier public university system in the country – Dr. Tromp was the dean of Arizona State University’s New Interdisciplinary College of Arts and Sciences and the vice provost of the university’s West Campus. She grew up in Green River, Wyoming, a trona mining town along Interstate 80 that saw its population jump three-fold in the 1970s when nearby mines led an economic boom.

Anitha Vadavatha is deeply engaged at the intersection of technology, innovation, science & business, and is an advisor to exponential tech companies, venture capital and impact funds. She founded Misu Labs & co-founded AB Plus Ventures and served on the advisory council of Shadow Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund. Anitha is an alumna of Singularity University and in 2018 was named ‘Top Ten Frontier Women’ by UN-Fifth Element Group, in partnership with Thomson Reuters & Morning Star. She advises AI, Crypto/Blockchain, Biotech-Healthcare companies at SU Ventures, SU Smart City accelerator & California Life Sciences Institute. She serves on the Advisory board of Kalpana Chawla Scholarship for innovation, entrepreneurship & Space and was a mentor at MIT Emerging Worlds. Her career spans over two decades with venture backed technology startups, Fortune 100 corporations, and management consulting in Financial Services, Technology & Non-Profit sectors in the US and India.

Kara Van Dam, PhD, serves as the Vice Provost for Graduate & Lifetime Learning at GVSU. In this role, she oversees GVSU's growth in supporting adult and nontraditional learners, as well as returning alumni, at the undergraduate and graduate level by expanding regionally-distributed, multimodal, career-ready educational opportunities. She also drives and coordinates enterprise-enabled solutions. Prior to coming to GVSU, Dr. Van Dam served as the Vice President of Overseas Academics and Dean of Arts & Sciences at the University of Maryland Global Campus. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, a BGS in Linguistics, French and Anthropology from the University of Michigan. She also holds an MBA from Kaplan University where she served as the Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, Dean of Faculty, and Dean of the School of General Education.

Hello! My name is Vinson and my pronouns are they/them/theirs and he/him/his. I am a third-year undergraduate student at San José State University. I am currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Management and a Double Minor in Child & Adolescent Development and Transformative Leadership. In the future, I hope to contribute to advancing the field of education as a higher education professional and nonprofit leader. I am passionate about ensuring that students from underrepresented backgrounds have equitable access to educational opportunities and resources to reach their fullest potential. My work centers on empowering LGBTQ+ young people to believe that they can be successful as their authentic selves. I am a passionate scholar committed to serving the communities that I am a part of through an interdisciplinary and community-based approach.

Adam is a long time experimenter at the intersection of design, social impact, and education. He is the Global Manager of Social Innovation at Steelcase — working to accelerate systems change in areas of education, equity, and climate action — and an executive coach at Stanford's d.school.

A leader in education & equity-centered design, Daniel works to advance justice through education & community engagement. Prior to his role as President + CEO of the Steelcase Foundation, he led the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology where he worked towards equity and innovation. Prior to that, he was co-founder and principal of GR University Prep Academy. In 2020 he was elected to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees for Grand Rapids Community College. Daniel has served on many local boards and statewide committees, as well as a number of national initiatives. He believes deeply in the innate brilliance of community and the importance of centering the voices of those so often ignored. These beliefs and his passion for liberation and justice drive his work with community. Daniel has an EdD in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, he received his MEd in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University and his BA from University of Iowa.

Xavier is a Junior Political Science Major from McDonough, GA. On campus he is heavily involved in many different organizations, including the Boys to Men mentoring program where he serves as a Senior Mentor, he is a Presidential Bluecoat Ambassador where he serves as the Captain. Xavier also serves as a Representative for the College of Arts and Sciences for the Student Government Association at Fort Valley. Lastly, he has ahd the honor of being a part of the inaugural group for the Residential Leadership Community (RLC), which is a Live-In Community where leaders on campus come together and further their leadership knowledge. A personal note from Xavier - I just want to say I am very thankful for this opportunity. It is an absolute honor and pleasure to be a part of this program. Thank you!

David was named Toy-Inventor-of-the-Year twice in the last 5 years, an engineer, artist & Co-founder of Salient Technologies, a creative product development firm. He turns ideas into a reality… everything from NASA space valves to kids wheelchairs; from ski bindings to the leading toys & games.

Ken Zahrt is Director of Foundation Relations at Grand Valley State University. He has nearly ten years of experience in development, including stops at Michigan State University and Kettering University. He was most recently Director of Development for 826michigan, a nonprofit organization that operates after-school writing and tutoring centers for k-12 learners in Ann Arbor and Detroit. Ken is a Grand Valley alumnus. He now lives in West Michigan with his wife and two children.