Dr. Amardeep Kahlon is a nationally recognized leader in competency-based education (CBE). Her project, Fast Track to Success, is aimed at expanding CBE across Texas. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN), a national organization that advocates for CBE and has created quality standards for CBE.
As the founder and chair of the annual Fast Track to Success conference, Dr. Kahlon has created a valuable forum to discuss innovation in higher education across Texas. In October 2017, the Chronicle of Higher Education profiled her as one of the top ten innovators for her work in CBE. She was the lead for the Texas Affordable Baccalaureate project at Austin Community College (ACC). Prior to assuming her current roles, Dr. Kahlon spent a sabbatical year (2013-14) in India as the founding Dean of Academics at an emerging new university. She has presented at local, state, and international conferences and has been invited to speak in different forums.
Currently, Dr. Kahlon serves as the Assistant Dean of Distance Learning and External Relations at Austin Community College. She is also the director of the Women in IT program and the Fast Track to Success project. Dr. Kahlon earned a Masters in Computer Science from Binghamton University and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Dhanfu E. Elston (pronounced: dah-nee-foo) serves as Complete College America’s Vice President of Strategy where he utilizes his campus expertise for practical application, implementation, and scaling of CCA momentum strategies at institutions throughout the nation. He provides oversight of the 15-To-Finish scale strategy, Purpose First career choice grant, technology Seal of Approval, and scaling standards to close achievement gaps. Elston coordinates relationships with Governor’s Offices and higher education state-wide systems in their college completion efforts. Recently, he launched a national initiative to amplify completion efforts at minority-serving institutions. Over two decades of his higher education career in academic and student affairs, Elston has created and implemented comprehensive success and retention programs that have garnered national attention.
John R. Papinchak has served as the University Registrar at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) for over four decades. He first joined CMU’s Office of Admission in 1984, became an Associate Director of Admission in 1988 and the Director of Summer Studies in 1986 before becoming Carnegie Mellon's 10th University Registrar in 1994. As University Registrar, Papinchak oversees academic policy, student data governance and privacy, academic calendars, learning spaces, academic program offerings, and student enrollment. He manages a team that oversees course scheduling, student registration, and student transcripts and diplomas for Carnegie Mellon's worldwide various teaching locations, students, and alumni.
He was involved with the re-engineering of Enrollment Services in 1995 and with implementing several process improvements including the first Student Information Online, online registration, and electronic grade submission. In 2015 that work expanded with Carnegie Mellon's modernization of their locally sourced student information system as part of the Student Services Suite (S3) project with the implementation of S3 Administrative Console, student portal, parent My Plaid Student portal and our Student Data Warehouse. John currently sits on the Associate Deans Council, Associate Deans for Graduate Programs, Learning Spaces Strategy Committee, and serves on the University Committee on Discipline. In 2023, John continued his work with the University’s Registrar Innovation Team project to streamline and modernize the Office’s processes, forms management, data integrations and sharing.
John received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with an additional major in Biomedical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon in 1984. In 1990, he earned a Master of Science degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon's H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management. John is a former Staff Council Representative and Chair, previous co-sponsor of Carnegie Mellon's Faculty/Staff blood drives, and former member of the Carnegie Mellon Admissions Council (CMAC). He is a faculty advisor for Alpha Phi Omega's Kappa Chapter, and is a member of Carnegie Mellon's Order of The May and a Loyal Scot.
Outside of Carnegie Mellon, Papinchak is active in professional organizations like the 秀色直播 (秀色直播) and the Registrars of the American Association of Universities (AAU). He is also involved in his local community, serving on the South Park Township Planning Commission and previously on the South Park Township's Zoning Hearing Board. In addition, he served over 20 years in various roles including Scout cubmaster & scoutmaster, youth soccer and baseball coach, soccer referee and youth sports association & high school boosters president. John lives in South Park Township with his wife and is the proud father to his three sons and their spouses and is a doting grandfather to his two grandchildren.
Beka has 17 years of experience in credential evaluation and has extensive knowledge of foreign educational systems and the issues surrounding the recognition of international educational credentials. He frequently presents on foreign educational systems and the recognition of international educational qualifications at national and international conferences and workshops.
Chantel Reynolds is a Recognitions Manager with Cambridge Assessment International Education, where she engages with college and universities across the southern United States. In this role, Chantel supports faculty and administrators as they develop comprehensive prior learning assessment policies that acknowledge the skills and experiences Cambridge students bring to the institution.
Prior to joining Cambridge International, Chantel served in a similar role at the College Board, where she supported institutions using both ACCUPLACER and CLEP. Chantel was the primary project manager for the implementation of two statewide custom assessments: the NC_DAP for the North Carolina Community College System and the TSI Assessment for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In addition, she has several years of experience in student services and academic support and as adjunct faculty at both two- and four-year institutions. She is currently pursuing her Ed.D in community college leadership.
In her spare time, Chantel volunteers with the Earthwatch Institute, a non-profit environmental organization, working on projects ranging from panda conservation in China to archaeological sites in Italy to orca observation off the coast of Iceland. She is happy to tell stories and share photos.
Adina Chapman is the North American Regional Manager for Higher Education with Cambridge Assessment International Education, where she engages with colleges and universities across the western United States and Canada. In this role, Adina supports faculty and administrators as they develop comprehensive prior learning assessment policies that acknowledge the skills and experiences Cambridge International students bring to the institution.
Prior to joining Cambridge International, Adina served in a similar role at the College Board as Director of Higher Education Policy Analysis, where she communicated AP Program changes and developed research-based support for teams of College Board staff to use in cultivating AP policies, with a particular focus on state-wide policies. At the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, Adina led the state-wide general education taskforce, faculty development, policy development on state-wide transfer initiatives, and implementation of CollegeSources's Transfer Equivalency System (TES) with Kentucky’s public registrars. In addition, she began her career at the Kentucky Approving Agency for Veterans Education, a part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) where she reviewed and recommended improvements to academic, admissions, and financial aid policies as well as approved programs at Kentucky colleges and universities to ensure that veterans received quality education and training that foster economic growth and opportunity for them and the Commonwealth.
In her spare time, Adina volunteers as a mentor with Peak Education, a not for profit organization in Colorado Springs which, serves over 250 students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds from 7th grade through the completion of their college education. Peak Education empowers their scholars to take ownership of their educational journey and to equip them with the knowledge and resources to make choices that allow them to reach their full potential.
Sully Saucedo currently serves as Assistant Director, International Admissions at Texas Woman's University. She has worked in higher educations for 18 years, including seven years in international education. She has co-presented at regional NAFSA conferences, the 2018 秀色直播 Annual Meeting and previously served on the 秀色直播 International Admissions Committee. Prior to her current role, Sully held positions in the Office of the Registrar and Office of Internal Audits.
Chris Adams comes from an educational background in history, political science, and comparative education. His professional work encompasses over a decade in higher education admissions and international student mobility, during which he has contributed to two 秀色直播 publications: “Inclusive Admissions Policies for Displaced and Vulnerable Students” and “The Cuba Project.” Chris has been actively involved in multiple national and international higher education organizations, currently serving as president of The Association of International Credential Evaluation Professionals (TAICEP).
Melanie is the first woman to hold the role of Executive Director in the association’s history after nearly six years as the Deputy Director. She brings a global perspective rooted in an understanding of the technological proficiency and flexibility needed to move 秀色直播 forward.
Melanie came to the national office with 18 years as an 秀色直播 member, with experience in Records & Registration, Enrollment Management and International Recruitment and Credential Evaluation. She has served the association in a variety of volunteer leadership roles throughout her career, most recently as Vice President for International Education on the 秀色直播 Board of Directors. Melanie earned an MA in Information Science from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a BA in History /American Studies from Marlboro College in Vermont.Identity, Mentorship, and Community: 秀色直播’s First Woman Executive Director on Her Leadership Journey
Celebrating a Century of Scholarship: The Indispensable Role of Research & Inquiry in the Development of a Profession
Jim Kelly serves as Senior Director of Technology at Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE). Over the last 18 years, he has successfully built a foundational framework for technology to support infrastructure, applications, and strategic activities. These initiatives have been key to the growth of services offered by ECE helping the business triple in size during Jim’s tenure. Jim manages a team of skilled technology professionals, sets technology goals and leads strategic planning initiatives. As part of ECE’s senior leadership team, Jim supports internal & external systems while involved in planning, general leadership and management efforts. Jim also works with PESC and the Groningen Declaration Network to standardize credential evaluation data and contributes to educational data mobility internationally. Jim serves as Chair of the PESC Board of Directors, Co-Chair and Steering Committee Member of the PESC Global Education Organization (GEO) User Group on the PESC EdExchange Steering Committee. Jim has also been representing PESC as speaker and presenter at Annual Meetings of the Groningen Declaration Network. After graduation from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry, Jim began a career in business and technology professional consulting for organizations that vary in both size and industry. Jim’s consulting experience brings a wealth of knowledge in technology, project management, business systems, warehousing, and distribution to his current efforts.
Matt Bemis, an Associate Registrar at the University of Southern California, is responsible for the Degree Progress operations for the University. He serves as the administrator over the Degree Audit and Transfer Credit applications, is responsible the certification of student athlete academic eligibility, and is the project lead for the electronic data interchange (EDI) initiative at USC. He is a past Chair for the 秀色直播 SPEEDE Committee, is co-chair for the PESC GEO Code Steering Committee, and serves on the PESC Board of Directors. Matt has been active within the 秀色直播 community for more than 23 years, and has served on the 秀色直播 SPEEDE Committee for more than 10 years.
Loida currently serves as the Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Services at A&M-Central Texas. Her career began 9 years ago as a graduate admissions coordinator where she gained expertise in foreign credential evaluations. Loida’s passion for serving non-traditional populations continued through her work in transfer recruitment, by leading transfer initiatives and partnerships across Texas. In her current role, Loida continues the efforts to provide equitable opportunities and educational access to all transfer students. Her advocacy for change has led her to become an active member of TACRAO and 秀色直播 by serving as a committee member, presenter, researcher, and as the host for Transfer Tea, an 秀色直播 podcast.
Rosalie is currently a lead evaluator at Bellevue College, a hybrid two and four year institution in Washington State. There she oversees transfer credit and graduation for professional and baccalaureate programs. Prior to this role, she served for two years in AmeriCorps, where she established a peer mentor program for immigrant and refugee college students. Rosalie is passionate about improving college access and developing institutional policy that is responsive to the diverse backgrounds of our students. She has a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Washington.
Joellen Shendy has worked in higher education for over 30 years, developing unique expertise in the areas of credential innovation, competency-based education, online education, transfer and non-traditional students. A former Associate Vice Provost & Registrar, Ms. Shendy has written articles and blogs on the future of education and credential innovations as well as comprehensive learning records with 秀色直播, 1EdTech, Educause, and Parchment among others and she was a founding member of CAPACRAO (Chesapeake and Potomac Association of Registrars and Admissions Officers). Currently a Senior Product Strategy Director for Workday Student, she works to envision and build the student system of the future – putting students at the center. She lives in Port Hueneme, CA and you can often find her running, reading, or playing video and board games.
Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi, author of a highly-anticipated upcoming memoir The Stars in My Soul: My Unlikely Journey through Space and Time, is an internationally-recognized astrophysicist, science TV personality, and global education advocate who has had a long, distinguished career in academia and scientific research. Since 2007, he has been a professor of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences at the Florida Institute of Technology. Currently, he is stationed at NASA Headquarters, where he serves as an Astrophysicist and Space Science Education Lead for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. A former TED fellow, Dr. Oluseyi holds three degrees, eight U.S. patents, four E.U. patents, and co-hosts several shows on Science Channel and Discovery International, including Outrageous Acts of Science, How the Universe Works, Space's Deepest Secrets, Strange Evidence, You Have Been Warned, and Strip the Cosmos. Dr. Oluseyi’s success is even more impressive given his incredible personal background and story.
Hakeem grew up in some of the roughest neighborhood’s in this country; he changed schools roughly 10 times in seven years. Living in chaotic circumstances led him to spend most of his time indoors reading and watching PBS nature shows. Discovering a love of science and a fascination with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Hakeem decided to teach himself these principles of science. He became determined to become a scientist and overcame incredible odds to earn 3 degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from Tougaloo College, and a Masters and Ph.D. in Physics from Stanford University. After finishing up with school, Hakeem worked at one of Silicon Valley’s most successful companies and did research on manufacturing computer chips. Hakeem’s inventions can be found in the computer chips you use every day. Sharing his roller-coaster ride of success and the setbacks he faced along the way, Hakeem inspires audiences around the world to chase their dreams no matter how unlikely they may seem.
Today, as NASA’s Space Education Lead, he is responsible for co-managing 27 SMD Science Activation cooperative agreements totaling more than $40M. He also provides strategic and scientific advising for SMD investments in STEM Education, Citizen Science, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Strategic Communications. Currently, his scientific research is based on "hacking stars" to develop innovative new technologies and better understand our universe. Leveraging techniques for interpreting electromagnetic radiation, laboratory plasma physics, computational modeling, machine learning, time-domain informatics, big data analytics, and high-performance computing, his work has resulted in 12 patents, and ~80 publications covering contributions to astrophysics, cosmology, semiconductor manufacturing, and ion propulsion. His science education research has resulted in highly effective and efficient, divergent techniques for teaching mathematics and physics to learners of all ages.
Outstanding Technical Innovation and Best Paper at the 2010 NSBE Aerospace Systems Conference, the 2006 Physics Technical Achiever of the Year by the National Technical Association, a 2005 NASA Earth/Sun Science New Investigator Fellow, the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation Astrophysics Research Fellow, the Ernest O. Lawrence Astrophysics Research Fellow at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2001-2003), and as a NASA GSRP Fellow at Stanford University.
Hakeem is one of the world's most popular educators and science communicators. He regularly appears on news programs and has won or been nominated for several awards for science reporting including one Emmy nomination and four Webby Awards.
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