October 11-13, 2021 - Midway, Kentucky
HEI 2021 Presidents Conference
Disruption Through Entrepreneuring: Radical Transformation of Higher Education in a Just-in-Time World
REGISTER NOW:
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The Entrepreneuring Frontier:
What Does the Future of Higher Education Look Like?
October 9-10
Niceville, Florida
SPEAKERS
Keynote
Dr. Rufus Glasper
President and CEO, League for Innovation in the Community College
Rufus Glasper is President and CEO of the League for Innovation in the Community College, an
international nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate innovation in the community college
environment in a continuing effort to advance the community college field and make a positive
difference for students and communities.
Dr. Glasper, Chancellor Emeritus of the Maricopa Community Colleges, served as Chancellor from 2003
through February 2016, and held district leadership positions for three decades.
Nationally, Dr. Glasper serves as an advisory board member for the Center for Community College
Student Engagement, The University of Texas at Austin; Community College Research Center, Teachers
College, Columbia University; and The Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research at
North Carolina State University. Dr. Glasper serves on the board of directors for the Education Design
Lab and COMAP, the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications.
He also served as trustee for the Higher Learning Commission and the American Council on Education.
Dr. Glasper is an active community member, serving on the boards of the Arizona Community Foundation and the Arizona State University Center for the Study of Race and Democracy. He is also an emeritus member of Greater Phoenix Leadership.
Dr. Glasper earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Luther College, as well as a
master’s and advanced degrees in school business administration from Northern Illinois University. He
received his doctorate of philosophy degree in higher education finance from the University of Arizona.
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Devyn Maguire
Head of Academic Innovation and Strategy, Packback
Devyn Maguire is a visionary leader, dedicated to transforming education through innovation in AI and human-centered design. As the Head of AI Student Retention Strategies at Packback, Devyn has partnered with secondary and post-secondary institutions for over five years to implement AI technology that fosters student engagement and maximizes learning outcomes. Packback, an AI writing tutor for every student and an AI grading assistant for every instructor is used by over 1,000,000 students and 600 colleges and universities. The platform helps reduce DFW rates in gateway courses by providing students with live, instant feedback on their critical thinking skills as they write.
Devyn is passionate about using AI and analytics to create learning experiences that are accessible, effective, and equitable. Beginning her career as an educator, Devyn experienced firsthand the impact that technology can have on transforming students' lives and improving instructional practices. She has also supported IRB studies that evaluate the impact of AI on student persistence at institutions such as Miami Dade College, Ivy Tech Community College, and SUNY.
Dr. Vince Kellen
Chief Information Officer, University of California, San Diego
Vince Kellen is the Chief Information Officer for the University of California, San Diego, as well as a member of the Chancellor's Cabinet, and vice chancellor and chief financial officer's senior management team. UC San Diego is recognized as a top 15 university world-wide and 7th best public university in the world, with over $1.1 billion in annual research funding, 36,000 students, 16 Nobel laureates who have taught on its campus and 161 faculty with national Academy memberships.Vince's recent work has been in the areas of student success and learning analytics and application of advanced technology in higher education. Vince is a recipient of the CIO Magazine “Top 100” award in 2007 and 2014, was one of InformationWeek’s “Chiefs of the Year” in 2013, received the Computerworld “Honors Laureate” award in 2013, and was one of four recipients selected globally for Dell’s 2012 “Transformational CIO” award. Vince has authored more than 220 articles, four books and more than 150 presentation on IT topics and is a Fellow with Cutter Consortium, a leading IT industry think tank, where writes on digital transformation and data and analytics topics.Vince is a Board of Director member for IMS Global and has served on advisory boards for Apple, Microsoft, Dell, SAP, AT&T and Blackboard. He was previously CIO and Senior Vice Provost at University of Kentucky and CIO at DePaul University. Before his tenure in higher education, Dr. Kellen was an IT strategy consultant working with Fortune 500 firms on marketing and CRM digital transformations. Vince has taught graduate and undergraduate courses on IT strategy, information strategy, and enterprise systems at DePaul University and University of Kentucky. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science, an M.S. degree in information systems, and a B.A. degree in communications all from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
Craig Stepien
Executive Director, Strategic Transformation, NextEra Energy
Craig is a visionary leader committed to leveraging technology to decarbonize the U.S. economy. In his current role, he is leading a transformation of NextEra’s supply chain and construction processes which are responsible for procuring and constructing more renewable energy generators than any other company in the world.
Prior to this role, Craig led a ~300-person organization as Sr. Director, Digital Transformation at NEE. This broad scope included identifying and leading disruptive investments to keep NextEra as the #1 Energy company in the world, oversight of ~$500MM annual IT spend, and executive sponsorship of leadership development programs for high potential employees.
In Craig’s 15+ years with NextEra, he has held several leadership roles in Finance, Business Management, Distribution, Transmission and Six Sigma. Key accomplishments are:
- Redesigned financial processes & organizations across enterprise reducing costs by ~25%
- Won 2015 Chairmen Award for deploying an innovative way to measure renewable revenue - Integrated 4.6M Smart Meters into the FPL restoration process improving costs and reliability - Earned a 6-Sigma Master Blackbelt (MBB) for structuring a wind strategy in ERCOT (Texas)
Prior to joining NextEra Mr. Stepien worked for General Electric for 8 years where he obtained his Six Sigma Black Belt, held various IT leadership roles, and lead GE Healthcare Clinical Services commercial operations/pricing team. He earned his MBA from the University of Florida and a B.S. from The Pennsylvania State University in Management Science and Information Systems.
Craig resides in Jupiter FL with his wife and 3 children. He has lived in 11 U.S. states and visited 44 with his family via an RV, with a goal of visiting all 50. He loves spending free time outdoors, preferably on the beautiful Jupiter FL waterways, with friends and family trying to catch dinner.
Breakout Sessions
Mary H. Hemlepp
Communication Consultant and Former Higher Education System Chief Communication Officer
Mary Hemlepp has 30+ years of experience in crisis communication, public relations, marketing, branding, and media spokesperson training. She is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), a designation earned by only 20% of PR professionals worldwide. Additionally, she received crisis management training from the FBI and earned a certification in crisis communication from the Institute for Crisis Management.
During her career she’s worked with media, managed crisis communications and served as a spokesperson for a variety of organizations including a higher education institution, a national restaurant chain, a national convenience store chain, and a hospital. Mary spent 10 years at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System where she recently stepped down as Chief Communication Officer. She also owned a consulting business where she worked with a large number of businesses and nonprofits from petroleum, primates and pasta to higher ed and health care.
She’s won awards for her work and received the Lexington Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) New Business Owner of the Year and the PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, she has written for a daily newspaper, a business publication and a lifestyle magazine. She is the author of a non-fiction book about women over 50 called “If No One’s Looking, Do We Have to Try as Hard?”
Dr. Terry Allcorn
President of Kentucky Christian University
Dr. Terry Allcorn was inaugurated as Kentucky Christian University’s sixth president on December 3, 2019. He served as a Dean of Business at Valencia College’s West Campus in Orlando, Florida, as Executive Vice President for Florida Christian College, Kissimmee, Florida and Chair of General Education at St. Louis Christian College, Florissant, MO.  His hobbies include playing with his grandson, serving on the security team for the world's largest diamond show in Las Vegas and working on his cabin with his lovely wife Jacqueline.
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Dr. Joe May
Chancellor Emeritus of Dallas College
During his eight years of service, Chancellor Emeritus of Dallas College, Dr. Joe D. May tackled issues from regional workforce needs and minority-owned business growth to mitigating income disparity and promoting equal opportunities. May's vision led to consolidating seven distinct colleges into Dallas College. Dallas College, now a single institution, serves over 150,000 North Texas students. Concurrently, he championed diversity, equity, and inclusion, resulting in his role as the founding president of Rebuilding America's Middle Class (RAMC). He forged strong relationships with public school districts, charter schools, career academies, early college high schools, and P-TECH high schools. Recognizing a shortage of early childhood teachers in North Texas, he authorized Dallas College to offer a baccalaureate degree in Early Childhood Education. Before Dallas College, May led the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, served as the Colorado Community College System president, and led Pueblo Community College. Born in East Texas, May holds a Doctorate in Education from Texas A&M-Commerce, a Master of Education, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Dr. Madeline Burillo-Hopkins
Houston Community College Vice Chancellor Workforce Instruction and Southwest College President
As the Vice Chancellor Workforce Instruction for the Houston Community System, Dr. Burillo is responsible for the strategic vision and administrative leadership of Workforce Instruction for the district, including guiding the Centers of Excellence (COE) workforce programs, apprenticeships, continuing education, employer partnerships, workforce training grants, and Corrections Education partnerships. As President at Houston Community College Southwest College, Dr. Madeline Burillo-Hopkins oversees all operations at HCC’s Southwest campuses including the Center of Excellence in Digital and Information Technology, and four college locations with over 17,000 students per
semester.
Over the past 19 years, Dr. Burillo-Hopkins has been instrumental in bringing innovative educational projects to HCC, including the HCC Drilling Skills and the Safety Simulation Platform facility, named Rig One, the development of the Prior Learning Assessment procedures, featured as a national model in the AACC Community College Times, the launching of the 1st associates degree in Artificial Intelligence in Texas, online continuing education, several federal and state workforce grants, and most recently a
partnership with Apple to teach coding skills using Apples’ new Swift coding language curriculum to students, faculty and k-12 teachers, among many others.
Dr. Burillo-Hopkins earned the Hispanic Women in Leadership Award for outstanding service in education in 2001. In 2003, she received the HCC Chancellor’s Medallion for Outstanding Service, and in 2010, Dr. Burillo-Hopkins was an HCC Eagle Award recipient for Administrative Leadership. In 2013, D’Mars Magazine selected her as one of Houston’s Top 30 Influential Women. She was again recognized as one of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women in 2015, by Houston Women Magazine. She is currently a candidate to the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors which will be elected in February 2021.
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Proof that hard work pays off, in 1983 Dr. Burillo-Hopkins moved to the U.S. mainland from Puerto Rico, and after completing ESL classes she started as a receptionist in a college financial aid office. Her diligence and thirst for knowledge has propelled her to the top of the education field. During her over 30 years in higher education, she has held multiple administrative positions, and has always been an advocate for workforce education, diversity and equity, culminating with her college Presidency in 2016. She credits her parents, her father from Spain and her mother from Puerto Rico, for teaching
her the importance of higher education and planting the values of hard work, kindness, respect, diversity, integrity, determination and positive thinking, which she still lives by today. Dr. Burillo-
Hopkins holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Puerto Rico, a Master’s in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and a Doctorate in Education in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University.
Dr. Deidre Price
Vice President of Academic Affairs, Northwest Florida State College
Deidre Price, Ph.D., serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Northwest Florida State College. Previously, she led online learning, faculty development, and academic strategies and services at NWFSC following more than 15 years teaching in the college classroom.
Dr. Price’s work has led to the establishment of Career and Technical Education and expanded access to industry-recognized credentials for both dual enrollment and charter high school students. She designs enrichment programming as a marketing and recruitment tool to demystify college programs and destigmatize CTE choices for students.
Dr. Sandy Arteaga
Dean of College Pathways, Teacher Education, and Principal of Collegiate High School, Northwest Florida State College
Dr. Sandy Arteaga, serves as the Dean of College Pathways, Teacher Education, and Principal of Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College. She began her career as a classroom teacher, and has served in roles as a school district administrator, college professor, director of teacher education, and school inspector in Dubai, UAE.
Dr. Arteaga has expanded enrollment in the high achieving Collegiate High School at NWFSC to include the induction of an A.S. degree pathway for students, and initiating the inaugural ninth grade class at CHS pursuing the A.A. track, increasing the opportunities for all high school students to earn multiple industry certifications before graduation, and improving processes and procedures at CHS. She is proposing additional innovative expansion opportunities for Collegiate High School that will create more academic rigorous prospects for children and provide learning experiences for NWFSC teacher education and nursing students.
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Dr. Charla Long
President for the Competency-Based Education Network
Dr. Charla Long is the President for the Competency-Based Education Network, an international consortium of higher education institutions and statewide systems seeking to design, develop, and scale new models of student learning. Additionally, she leads C-BEN’s Consulting Services, which is dedicated to helping institutions with competency-based learning. In 2016, Long was recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the Top 10 Most Influential People in Higher Education for her work in competency-based education. Long is co-author of The Leader’s Guide to Competency-Based Education (2018).
Lisa Marsh Ryerson
Provost at Southern New Hampshire University
Lisa Marsh Ryerson serves as Provost at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). As Provost, Ms. Ryerson is responsible for the university’s academic offerings and the strategic direction for the overall student experience. SNHU currently serves over 170,000 learners around the world and is the largest nonprofit provider of higher education in United States. SNHU offers over 200 programs, from certificates to doctoral level degrees including business, education, liberal arts, social sciences and STEM. Ms. Ryerson is a bold, disciplined, and collaborative leader. Under her leadership, SNHU is continuing to expand access to higher education to learners around the world.
Before joining SNHU, Ms. Ryerson was president of AARP Foundation, the charitable affiliate of AARP. In this role, she set the Foundation’s strategic direction and steered its efforts to realize an audacious vision: a country free of poverty, where no older person feels vulnerable. Ms. Ryerson spearheaded innovative partnerships with other organizations to create and advance effective solutions that help vulnerable older adults increase their economic opportunity and social connectedness. The Foundation generated over $5 billion in income for older adults in its past three-year strategic plan.
Ms. Ryerson has decades of expertise in education —beginning in the classroom and extending through 18 years of service as the president and CEO of Wells College in Aurora, N.Y. Her many accomplishments at Wells College included increasing enrollment by 45%, launching an endowed Center for Business and Entrepreneurship, and revitalizing the economy of the surrounding community.
Gordon Freedman
President, GoEducate
Gordon Freedman is President of GoEducate, Inc., which is based in Austin, TX. www.GoEducate.com is a leading web-scale education-to-employment platform. Freedman is also founder and Vice Chair of the National Laboratory for Education Transformation, www.NLET.org, a California-based 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to transforming education access, equity and pathways to sustainable employment. Freedman founded NLET in 2011 to create an organization that looks three to five years into the future, acting as a broad social, research and organizational platform for the alignment of education and training with the technology of the knowledge economy and youth culture. The nonprofit has received federal and foundation grants in partnerships with universities, community colleges, school districts and research institutes.
Freedman formerly served as Vice President Global Education Strategy for Blackboard Inc, during its growth from 100 million dollars in annual revenue to an exit at 1.4 billion dollars. During his tenure, Freedman traveled to 19 countries examining learning models and policy strategies, launched the Blackboard Institute and provided thought leadership for the company globally. Freedman's career began as a committee staff investigator in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. He was a print journalist and a network news producer in Washington, DC and a film and television executive producer in Los Angeles.
John Hadad
Director of Business Partnerships
John Hadad is a Product and Implementation specialist with a passion for building and delivering solutions-oriented Education technology. Driven by a commitment to expanding access to educational opportunities and career advancement, John has consulted on the development and adoption of technology solutions aimed at removing barriers and inefficiencies. In addition to his Education technology, John has a background in Human Capital Management and Talent Acquisition.
Prior to joining GoEducate, John led Product development and implementations for multiple statewide initiatives under the California Community College Chancellor's Office
Dr. Hector Balderas
President, Northern New Mexico College
President Balderas brings many years of experience in public service to his new role at Northern, working to build coalitions and unify opposing constituencies. Personally, and professionally, he is a champion of the underserved, those whose voices are not normally heard.
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President Balderas was raised by a single mother in the village of Wagon Mound, New Mexico. Growing up in public housing and on food stamps, he learned the importance of compassion and respect, and gained the conviction that everyone—no matter their background—deserves the same opportunities to succeed.
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He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from New Mexico Highlands University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Mexico Law School. After law school President Balderas became a Bernalillo County Assistant District Attorney, was elected to a seat in the N.M. House of Representatives at age 29, where he worked with bipartisan coalitions to pass several pieces of important legislation. He then served two terms as New Mexico’s State Auditor, where he had oversight of $60 billion in assets collectively held by over 1,000 government entities.
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During his two terms as New Mexico’s Attorney General, President Balderas transformed the Special Prosecutions Division, Special Investigations Division, New Mexico Human Trafficking Task Force and expanded the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. His Criminal Appeals Division obtained several landmark Supreme Court opinions and his civil court victories include the largest Tobacco Settlement payment in state history.
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As Attorney General, Mr. Balderas focused on keeping children and families safe, empowering New Mexican families and small businesses for financial success and protecting New Mexico’s pristine environment.
Dr. Ivan Lopez
Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Northern New Mexico College
IVAN LOPEZ HURTADO received his B.S. degree in Industrial Physics Engineering from Tec de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico, 1995, an M.S. degree in Automation from Tec de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico, 1998, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA, in 2008. He completed the Institute for Educational Management Program at Harvard University in 2022.
Since 2016, he has served as the Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Northern New Mexico College. He is also an Associate Professor of Engineering and Technology, and he has previously served as Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology and Chair of the Department of Engineering at the same institution. He was also the Program Director for the Mechatronics Undergraduate Program and Tec de Monterrey, Campus Juarez.
He served as the director of multiple grants in those roles, including the U.S. Dept. STEM Title III, NIH NM-INBRE project, NSF S-STEM project, U.S. Dept. of Ed-CCRAA, Title V, PPHOA (Co-Director), PNM Smart Grid, NSF S-STEP (Co-PI). He is a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and a Program Evaluator for ABET. He also serves as a statewide New Mexico Academic Advisory Committee member to the NM Higher Education Department, the NM EPSCoR Statewide Advisory Board Member, and the NM-INBRE Steering Committee member.
Panelists
Panel #1
Moderator: Dr. Devin Stephenson
President, Northwest Florida State College
An Alabama native, Dr. Stephenson has extensive experience in community college executive administration having served in President/CEO positions in Alabama, Missouri, and Kentucky. He is currently the President/CEO of Northwest Florida State College, in Niceville, Florida. He is a former member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Board of Trustees and chair of the SACSCOC Compliance and Reports Committee. He currently serves as a visiting committee chair with the Commission.
Additionally, he serves as a member of the Florida College System Council of Presidents and State Regional Education Board’s Executive Council. Stephenson is a noted speaker on leadership, organizational change, and professional/personal development. In 2022, he was awarded the Phi Theta Kappa Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction.
He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Executive Committees of the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County and Florida’s Great Northwest. He serves as a member of the Economic Development Alliance of Walton County Board of Directors. Most recently, he was selected by his peers as the Chair of the Marketing/PR Initiative of the Florida College System Council of Presidents.
Stephenson led the development of the College’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan that is characterized by an aggressive agenda to place the College at the forefront of regional transformation in the areas of economic, community and workforce development. Within the Plan’s framework are objectives/goals designed to advance the College’s culture of accountability and highlights NWF State College’s excellence in academic programming, fine/performing arts and athletics.
During Stephenson’s tenure at Northwest Florida State, the College Foundation’s corpus has advanced to over $61 million and grant acquisitions have surpassed $66 million in the last four academic years.
Stephenson is a fierce advocate for the College in the Florida Legislature and has experienced much success in bringing home state appropriations for new construction, renovation, and general operations. He championed the passage of Florida HB75 allowing all 28 Florida College System institutions to waive fees for active-duty military and provide access to higher education.
He earned an Associate in Science from Walker Junior College, followed by a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Birmingham-Southern College, and both master’s and doctoral degrees in the Administration of Higher Education from the University of Alabama. Dr. Stephenson and his wife, Judy, are the proud parents of two adult children, Jon and JuliAnne.
Panelist #1: Dr. Randy Hanna
Dean, Florida State University Panama City and FSU College of Applied Studies
Randy Hanna has served as the Dean and chief executive officer of Florida State University Panama City since 2016. He previously served as Chancellor of the Florida College System, the largest system of higher education in Florida.  As Dean, he has been focused on enrollment growth and student success initiatives. A critical part of his focus has been on developing new programs to meet the needs of Northwest Florida.  He was the Managing Shareholder of Bryant Miller Olive, a multi-state law firm focused on finance, local and state government and public private partnership law. He has been engaged in higher education policy for more than 25 years, including serving as a member of the board of trustees of two state universities and a community college.
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The university has created a number of new degree programs at FSUPC including bachelor degrees in mechanical engineering, hospitality management, commercial entrepreneurship, and financial planning and master’s degrees in systems engineering, law enforcement intelligence and organizational management and communication.  In addition, the nurse anesthesia program began admitting students in the first doctoral program at FSU PC.
During his tenure, FSU PC started residential housing with a 380-bed facility overlooking North Bay and opened The Collegiate School at FSU PC, a research laboratory high school with priority given to students from military families.
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Randy is married to Jerri Hanna and they have two adult children.
Panelist #2: Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims
Troy University – Phenix City Campus Vice Chancellor
Dionne M. Rosser-Mims, Ph.D. is a talented and accomplished individual who has made significant contributions in her professional career and personal endeavors. Born and raised in a culturally diverse community, Dionne developed a deep appreciation for inclusivity and the power of education to transform lives. Her academic journey began with a strong focus on the social sciences. After earning three bachelor’s degrees from Piedmont University she recognized the importance of lifelong learning and pursued a master's degree in public administration and a doctorate in adult education from the University of Georgia, gaining a comprehensive understanding of human behavior within professional settings.
Currently, Dionne is a full professor of adult education and former Dean of the College of Education at Troy University (TROY). Appointed Vice Chancellor of the Troy University Phenix City Campus effective October 1, 2020, Dionne has served in a range of administrative positions during her TROY tenure. She completed Harvard's Women in Educational Leadership Institute and is the recipient of the 2023 East Alabama Chamber Individual Leader of the Year Award, 2021 Women in Leadership Member Community Outstanding Senior Scholar award, the 2013 Wallace D. Malone, Jr. Distinguished Faculty Award, a 2016 Chancellor’s Fellow, and past president of Troy University’s Faculty Senate serving two years consecutively. Dionne has nearly 20 years of adult education experience to include work in collegiate teaching, as well as training and development. Over the past twelve years, she has engaged in a range of international-related work to include having led study abroad experiences, negotiated agreements with Kyambogo University and Makerere University, and served as a 2019 workshop presenter in the inaugural year of the Higher Education Resource Services, East Africa Leadership Academy held at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. She has authored four books with the most recent 2020 co-edited publication titled Pathways into the Political Arena: The Perspectives of Global Women Leaders. Dionne has also published over 15 articles and book chapters combined and delivered conference presentations and speaking engagements at the regional, national, and international levels. She is the co-founder and former co-editor in chief of Dialogues in Social Justice: An Adult Education Journal, a peer- reviewed open-access journal.
Dionne's expertise lies in cultivating diverse and inclusive workplaces, implementing effective talent development strategies, and optimizing organizational performance through effective leadership development initiatives. She has worked with a range of audiences including adult and youth community groups, nonprofit organizations, local government officials, academic associations, and international associations to offer facilitation services in the areas of team building, group dynamics, leadership assessments, conflict management, communication, board development, strategic planning, and experiential learning. Outside of her professional endeavors, Dionne is an advocate for social justice and equality. She actively volunteers with local non-profit organizations that focus on education, mentorship, and empowerment of underprivileged communities. Dionne maintains membership and serves in leadership positions in several professional and non-profit organizations. Selected appointments include service as a board member of the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley and chair of the Community Schools United Steering Committee, co-chair of the Chattahoochee Hub for Innovation and Production of Semiconductors, member of the Phenix City Rotary, East Alabama Chamber of Commerce ex-officio board member, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) board member, Alabama School Readiness Alliance board of directors, and she is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Panelist #3: Dr. Henry Mack
Lead Higher Education Consultant and Lobbyist, The Southern Group.
Dr. Henry Mack currently serves as lead higher education consultant and lobbyist for The Southern Group, Florida’s largest lobbying firm, helping to direct all education and workforce developments strategy, advice, and advocacy. He joined The Southern Group in the summer of 2023 after a distinguished career in higher education, including serving as the Senior Chancellor at the Florida Department of Education.
As Senior Chancellor, he was responsible for Florida’s public and nonpublic institutions of higher education—overseeing a $3 billion dollar budget with a combined K-20 student enrollment of 1.5 million, annually. He led the Divisions of Florida Colleges, Career and Adult Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, Blind Services, the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Workforce Education and Economic Alignment, and the Commission for Independent Education. He was directly responsible for the State of Florida’s workforce education strategy, budget, operations, policy and finance, grants and administration, and, together with the Governor’s Office, responsible for all higher education and workforce education legislative and policy priorities.
Prior to his appointment at the Florida Department of Education, Dr. Mack served as a Vice President for Workforce Education and Innovation at one of our nation’s largest colleges, Broward College. At Broward, Henry oversaw the college’s career and technical education programs, the development of new baccalaureate degrees, and the college’s business incubator and accelerator.
Dr. Mack earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theology and philosophy from the Catholic University of America and doctorate in education administration and philosophy of education from the University of Miami. He currently holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Miami, teaching philosophical theology, and a faculty appointment at Florida State University, teaching philosophy of education.
Henry currently lives in Tallahassee with his wife, Ashley, and three children, Hadley, Holden, and Arden.
Panelist #4: Dr. Larry Ferguson
President, Ashland Community and Technical College
Dr. Larry Ferguson serves as the president of Ashland Community Technical College in Ashland,
Kentucky. He is also currently the acting president for the Kentucky Community and Technical
College System (KCTCS) which includes sixteen colleges throughout the Commonwealth.
Dr. Ferguson previously served as the Acting Chancellor and a Vice-President for KCTCS. He has
over thirty years of leadership experience in both the private sector and higher education. He
has served in executive level leadership positions with responsibilities for academic affairs and
resource development. He has also been engaged in workforce development for multiple
industry sectors including manufacturing, financial services, information technology, and
healthcare. Additionally, he has significant experience in economic development at both the
local, state, and national levels. During his career he has had the fortunate opportunity to serve
as an instructor, college dean, vice-chancellor, college president, system vice-president, system
chancellor and system president.
Panel #2
Moderator: Dr. Jay Box
Chief Leadership Innovation Officer, Higher Education Innovation
Dr. Jay K. Box has 30 years of outstanding community college leadership, including as
President of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) – one of the top 10 systems in the country. He served on the White House’s American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, the national board for Rebuilding America’s Middle Class, and the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board. Dr. Box was also a member of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s National Advisory Group, the American Association of Community Colleges’ Sustainability Education and Economic Task Force, Southern Regional Education Board’s Commission on Career and Technical Education, and the Aspen Institute’s Innovation In Higher Education
Working Group. Dr. Box is the 2020 recipient of the Lifetime Leadership Award from Higher Education Innovation.
Panelist #1: Devin Stephenson
President Northwest Florida State College
An Alabama native, Dr. Stephenson has extensive experience in community college executive administration having served in President/CEO positions in Alabama, Missouri, and Kentucky. He is currently the President/CEO of Northwest Florida State College, in Niceville, Florida. He is a former member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Board of Trustees and chair of the SACSCOC Compliance and Reports Committee. He currently serves as a visiting committee chair with the Commission.
Additionally, he serves as a member of the Florida College System Council of Presidents and State Regional Education Board’s Executive Council. Stephenson is a noted speaker on leadership, organizational change, and professional/personal development. In 2022, he was awarded the Phi Theta Kappa Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction.
He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Executive Committees of the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County and Florida’s Great Northwest. He serves as a member of the Economic Development Alliance of Walton County Board of Directors. Most recently, he was selected by his peers as the Chair of the Marketing/PR Initiative of the Florida College System Council of Presidents.
Stephenson led the development of the College’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan that is characterized by an aggressive agenda to place the College at the forefront of regional transformation in the areas of economic, community and workforce development. Within the Plan’s framework are objectives/goals designed to advance the College’s culture of accountability and highlights NWF State College’s excellence in academic programming, fine/performing arts and athletics.
During Stephenson’s tenure at Northwest Florida State, the College Foundation’s corpus has advanced to over $61 million and grant acquisitions have surpassed $66 million in the last four academic years.
Stephenson is a fierce advocate for the College in the Florida Legislature and has experienced much success in bringing home state appropriations for new construction, renovation, and general operations. He championed the passage of Florida HB75 allowing all 28 Florida College System institutions to waive fees for active-duty military and provide access to higher education.
He earned an Associate in Science from Walker Junior College, followed by a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Birmingham-Southern College, and both master’s and doctoral degrees in the Administration of Higher Education from the University of Alabama. Dr. Stephenson and his wife, Judy, are the proud parents of two adult children, Jon and JuliAnne.
Nathan Sparks
Executive Director, One Okaloosa Economic Development Council
A 24 year veteran of the economic development industry, Nathan Sparks began his career as a Research Analyst with the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.  In this role, Nathan was heavily involved in the state’s automotive recruitment strategy. Nathan later joined The St. Joe Company where his primary responsibility was the implementation of a comprehensive economic development branding and marketing strategy for the northwest Florida region. Following his time with St. Joe, Nathan served as Executive Director of the Brunswick and Glynn County (Georgia) Development Authority, where he spearheaded the development of three new industrial parks and was responsible for generating tens of millions of dollars of new investment and hundreds of new jobs.
Since 2013, Nathan has served as Executive Director of One Okaloosa EDC, a non-profit private-public partnership dedicated to supporting the economic vitality of Okaloosa County and its municipalities. While at One Okaloosa, Nathan’s efforts to champion workforce development partnerships, economic incentive programs and industrial site inventory have resulted in a number of successful locations and expansions from a diverse set of employers companies including Boeing, Gulf Air Group, MAG Aerospace, Vertex Aerospace, On-Point Defense Technologies, Dynamic Software Solutions, Dunkin’ Brands, GS Gelato, Props Craft Brewery, Suncoast Converters, RaceChip, Beast Code, Allegiant Airlines, American Elite Molding, Fort Walton Machining and US Meltblown.
Nathan is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and holds a B.A. in International Studies and Economics from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. He was awarded a Certificate in Leadership from Northwestern University in 2021 and a Certificate in Economic Development from the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute in 2002.
Dr. Paul Hsu
Founder, Hsu Educational Foundation
Paul S. Hsu, Ph.D. serves as Founder and Chairman of HSU Educational Foundation.
An Engineer, Entrepreneur, Business Leader, Author and Public Servant, Paul is a first-generation immigrant who came to America in 1976, receiving citizenship in 1980, later successfully achieving his American Dream.
Paul founded Manufacturing Technology, Inc. (MTI) in 1984, serving the DoD in avionics and battlefield electronics. Following MTI, Paul built three successful businesses - Total Parts Plus, Inc., an internet-based data content company providing electronic component obsolescence management and engineering services; ActiGraph, LLC, an electronic medical device manufacturer of a product that collects biometric data; and Crestview Technology Air Park, an airport development providing infrastructure for aerospace and technology-driven solutions in Northwest Florida.
Currently serving a 2-year appointment as Chairman of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Paul has previously served in numerous Presidential Appointments and public service roles. He was recently selected by the USDoT Secretary to serve on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Drone Advisory Committee (DAC).
Paul’s establishment of the HSU Educational Foundation Inc. led to the development of HSU Innovation Institutes of learning, hosting business-to-student initiatives that inspire and prepare tomorrow’s workforce with high-demand STEM skills.
Receiving an M.S. degree in 1978 from the University of Central Missouri in Industrial Management and System Engineering, Paul received his Ph.D. in 1992 in Engineering Management from LaSalle University and in 1995, completed a three-year Executive Educational Program at Harvard Business School. Since 2014, Paul holds a Sr. Research Fellow position in the Harvard University Asia Center. In 2014, Paul authored and published Guardians of the Dream, The Enduring Legacy of America’s Immigrants.
Marcus Chambers
Superintendent, Okaloosa County School District
Marcus D. Chambers, Superintendent, Okaloosa County (FL) Schools, has passionately served students, parents, his community, and fellow public educators for more than 26 years. Before assuming the role of Superintendent in 2020, Mr. Chambers served in multiple school-based leadership positions in Okaloosa County
Mr. Chambers is proudest of his years spent in the English Language Arts Classroomfrom 1998-2003 because it is there that he learned the foundations of helping studentsachieve their educational goals, which, even today as the Superintendent, influences thedecisions he makes. His peers recognized this remarkable capacity to help students achieve their best and named him First Year Teacher of the Year in 1999 for RuckelMiddle School.
By working in a number of other significant school and district leadership positions, Mr. Chambers has built a comprehensive understanding of K-12 public education. Thesepositions include serving as Okaloosa County’s Safe School’s Specialist from 2003-2005. Driven to learn more about every facet of K-12 public education, Mr. Chambers then served as an Assistant Principal at Niceville High School before being named thePrincipal at Longwood Elementary School from 2006-2008. During his tenure,Longwood Elementary earned the coveted No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon SchoolAward, which recognizes public schools for their progress in closing achievement gaps in student subgroups. His knowledge of classroom and school leadership in both theelementary and high school arena would prove invaluable as his leadership at PryorMiddle School helped to significantly improve student achievement scores each year in spite of the school’s rapidly growing Free and Reduced Lunch Rate. Because of hisextensive knowledge of public education and student achievement, Mr. Chambers wasnamed principal of Niceville High School in 2011 and served until he was asked to fill the role of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in 2012. He served asthe Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction from 2012-2018 while also serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources from 2017-2018. Mr.Chambers was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis as Superintendent of Okaloosa County Schools in 2019. Most recently, in August 2020, he was elected to continueserving the citizens of Okaloosa County as Superintendent of Schools.
It is this comprehensive K-12 leadership experience that gives Mr. Chambers the fullpicture of K-12 education, allowing him the ability to understand the unique needs ofeach level in public schools. Mr. Chambers believes in the power of effective training andhis extensive professional training and development have been ongoing throughout hiseducational career. Awards such as the Okaloosa County Reading Leader of the Year in 2010 and the Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Achievement Award in 2013 aretestimonies to this training and development. Mr. Chambers’ professional organizational involvements include The Chambers of Commerce in Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Destin and Niceville-Valparaiso, Association for Supervision and CurriculumDevelopment (ASCD), Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS)and The Okaloosa County Association of School Administrators. He also serves on theBoard for Florida School Labor Relation Services.
Mr. Chambers learned early in his life the direct and powerful impact an individual can have on his society through lessons from his father, a decorated Veteran in the United States Air Force and after retirement, an ROTC Instructor. Mr. Chambers’ father, ChiefLes Chambers, was even recognized in the Florida House of Representatives in 2009 forhis dedicated service to his community and country. Chief Chambers passed thiscommitment and passion to give back to his community on to his son. Mr. Chambers,like his father, is passionate about helping his community and was awarded the Southern Hero Award for Outstanding Community Service and Leadership in 2010. Mr. Chamberscoaches children’s teams in basketball and baseball and is a Mentor in Okaloosa County Schools.
Mr. Chambers has been happily married to Krissinda, an English and Leadership Teacher at Niceville High School, for 25 years. Together, they have two wonderfulchildren, Peyton, 21, and Camden, 19.
Dr. Mary Landon Darden
President, Higher Education Innovation
Dr. Mary Landon Darden is the Founder and President of Higher Education Innovation, LLC and author of two books co-published with the American Council on Education and Rowman and Littlefield: "Entrepreneuring the Future of Higher Education: Radical Transformation in Times of Profound Change (2021)", which is the Winner of the 2021 American Book Fest Award (education/scholarly) and "Beyond 2020: Envisioning the Future of Universities in America (2009)", which was adopted as a textbook in the higher education administration doctoral program at Harvard University.
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Darden served in higher education leadership in colleges and universities for more than two decades. She holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration and a M.S.Ed. from Baylor University, and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Texas, Permian Basin (UTPB). Her final job in the academy was as dean of a non-traditional Concordia University Texas campus in San Antonio.
Darden awards include the 2001 National Exemplary Award in Community Education from The National Council of Continuing Education and Training, the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award from UTPB, and was named one of the 2023 “Top Ten Most Visionary Leaders Transforming Education” by CIO Views magazine. Darden is a regular keynote speaker on the future of higher education both in the U.S. and U.K.
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Dr. Frances Winters
Chief Learning Officer, GoEducate
With a doctorate in educational leadership and a research background in supportive communication techniques and nonverbal immediacy, Frances brings the academic perspective to GoEducate, Inc. Onboarding Frances to lead the learning and development team at GoEducate was a natural progression for her to continue mentoring and leading students beyond the college classroom to a successful pathway in future careers. She understands the difficulty of transitioning from high school into college and defines her role at GoEducate as one that is will continuously provide education and opportunities to students of all skills and backgrounds, to fill regional in demand jobs while also encouraging individual interests; whether this includes career training, technical and vocational education or a 2-or 4-year college route.
Frances has taught interpersonal communication, public speaking and organizational communication at CSU Sacramento, Los Rios Community College District, Sierra College, University of the Pacific and UC Davis. She holds a bachelors and masters degree in organizational communication from University of the Pacific and a doctorate of education in educational leadership from Drexel University.
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Dr. Irvin R. Clark
Associate Dean of Student and Strategic Initiatives, Florida State University Panama City
Irvin R. Clark, Ed.D is a native Floridian (Greensboro) who came to Panama City in July 2017 to join Florida State University Panama City (FSUPC) as the Associate Dean of Student and Strategic Initiatives.
Prior to the appointment at FSUPC, Dr. Clark was the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. He joined Radford University in 2013 as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. He served Savannah State University (1993-2013) in Savannah, Georgia in a variety of roles over a 20-year period with his last role being the Vice President for Student Affairs. Prior to his long tenure at Savannah State University, Dr. Clark played professional football for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a defensive lineman (1991 season) and served in the U.S. Navy (1983-1987).
Dr. Clark earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science (1991) from Florida A&M University; a Master of Science degree in Public Administration (1999) from Savannah State University in Georgia; a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Change (2003) from The Fielding Graduate University in California; and is a Certified Lay Pastor (2016) with the United Methodist Church.
Dr. Clark is married to Betsy Clark,and they have a blended family of five children.