Meet the first ever Metaversity Director, Dr. Muhsinah Lateefah Morris. A BS chemistry graduate of the HBCU Clark Atlanta University. She obtained an MS & PhD from the Harvard of the South, Emory University in Biomolecular Chemistry. Dr. Morris has been part of and leading Morehouse’s Metaversity project since the Spring of 2021. She’s won awards for Teaching Excellence at Morehouse College, Best Emerging Technology and Innovation from CBRE, First Place Unconventional Innovation in Industry by T-Mobile, and Educator of the Year for 2022 by STEM Women Atlanta. She resides in McDonough GA with her husband and five sons. One of her sons has autism and she advocates for the entire autism community as a member of the Community Advisory Council and advocacy Ambassadors for Autism Speaks. She’s a VR pioneer in education and is transforming learning globally. She is affectionately known as Dr. M.O.M. (Molder of Minds) by all her students. She continues to mold the minds of educators and students globally in the Metaverse. She is a member of the XR Advisory Council for the XR Association and Futurist Council for Jobs for the Future (JFF). Her goal is to authentically transform the educational system for our future […]
Mr. Mintz serves as the Department Chair for IT Technology within the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). In that role, he manages Graduate and Undergraduate Programs in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Data Analytics, and Digital Media and Web Development. He also is responsible for an Immersive Pilot effort to explore adding Virtual and Augmented Reality educational content to UMGC courses. Dan brings his experience as the US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) departmental CIO from 2006-2009 and business acumen from serving as a CTO and a COO in the federal business marketplace. Dan is a former Federal 100 winner and is a speaker at conferences and events on the impact of technology, and management challenges in Government and commercial organizations, and cyber-security issues.
O’Neil A.S. Outar serves as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at the Rhode Island School of Design. As a member of the President’s Cabinet, his responsibilities include fundraising, alumni and family relations, and Museum engagement. Under his leadership since 2018, opportunities for alumni and family engagement have expanded dramatically, and RISD has had the best three fundraising years in its history. O’Neil and his team have allowed RISD to make significant increases in student financial aid, including the launch of a new fellowship program for MFA students, and their efforts have led to many improvements to RISD’s Providence campus. Prior to RISD, O’Neil was the Interim Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement at the University of Pittsburgh, where he prepared the organization for a comprehensive campaign. He launched a range of important initiatives at Pitt, including the Chancellor’s Global Advisory Council, the Pitt Day of Giving, and the university’s first scholarship stewardship event—all in support of the university’s highest priorities. From 2014 –2016, O’Neil was the Senior Associate Dean and Director of Development for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. As the chief development officer for Harvard’s largest academic unit, he led the $3.2 billion Campaign for Arts […]
Heather L. Rist is a licensed professional counselor, educator, and consultant in Arizona with a specialty in trauma and trauma-informed care. Heather’s professional career has included community mental health, domestic violence and sexual assault services, private practice, and she is currently the trauma expert on the Employee Assistance and Wellness team for Northern Arizona University. Heather maintains ongoing certification as a Clinical Trauma Professional and is clinically trained in evidence-based trauma treatment. As a consultant, Heather’s mission is to share trauma-informed philosophy and practice in health care and higher education settings, fueled by the understanding that if we can create trauma-informed environments, our systems will become healthier, more effective, and more efficient. Heather lives in Flagstaff, AZ with her family and two dogs.
I partner with leaders to connect deeply with their own values and strengths so they can empower others to move their organizations to the next level of excellence. Sherilyn is Professor Emerita at the University of Washington, a retired academic pediatrician and an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with over 30 years of experience in academic medicine in the U.S. Her deep knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of academic faculty informs her coaching focus and approach. Sherilyn’s areas of coaching expertise include developing leadership skills, optimizing scholarly productivity (including grant writing and manuscript preparation), program development, navigating the promotion process, transitioning to retirement, increasing satisfaction with clinical responsibilities, enhancing teaching abilities and developing long-term career goals. Sherilyn’s coaching approach is person-centered and leverages appreciative inquiry, foundations of contemporary neuroscience and design thinking. She works with clients to identify their core values and individual strengths to co-create a safe space for productive experimentation toward achieving their goals. She is continuously exploring and leveraging concepts and techniques from a wide variety of leadership and coaching fields to meet her client’s needs. Sherilyn has successfully coached mid- and late-career faculty transitioning into new leadership roles, participating in institutional strategic planning, negotiating workplace […]
I help clients achieve success on their own terms within the challenging realities of the higher ed landscape. Heather draws upon her supervisory experiences as a department chair and executive editor of an international interdisciplinary journal to help her clients find positive, constructive approaches to their unique challenges in bringing out the best in individuals, teams, and academic units. Heather helps mid-career faculty revitalize their careers by restoring their connection to the passion and purpose that first sparked their dedication to their academic fields. Academia is rough terrain that many faculty navigate alone. It’s natural to adopt habits like overworking and people (or institution)-pleasing to cope with early career stresses without realizing the cost of shifting focus from their true aspirations. These habits take root over time, giving life to self-undermining behaviors like perfectionism, impostor syndrome, chronic dissatisfaction, and disengagement. Drawing from the evidence-based methods in positive psychology, insights from cognitive behavioral theory, the proven effectiveness of coactive coaching, and her knowledge of best practices in academia, Heather guides her clients in reorienting their career trajectories toward their true aspirations, aligning their goals with professional benchmarks, charting a path to productivity and fulfillment, and taking continuous steps toward this new […]
I empower clients to manage and lead with conviction, achieve success, and change reality within their existing cultures. Ron is a university administrator and executive coach with over 4 decades of experience in higher education that includes two decades of administrative experience at major universities. A core component of his approach to coaching is assisting his clients in understanding the systems in which they are employed and negotiating such systems to accomplish their career goals. In his coaching approach, Ron frequently uses evidenced-based approaches from clinical psychology and behavior management. He frequently employs humor in his work with clients while managing to teach clients within a strategic framework to build productive and supportive relationships in the work setting. Ron has a great deal of experience in working with faculty, Program Directors, Chairs, Deans and Vice-Presidents within the University setting. Over the years, he has mentored countless administrators so that they have been able to ascend the academic career ladder. Ron’s careful blend of evidenced-based clinical approaches coupled with an emphasis on life balance with family and the work setting have made him a successful mentor of many individuals who have gone on to have impressive, productive and prestigious careers. Ron […]
Supporting faculty into leadership positions and fostering their own professional development over the life course of their careers (from faculty member to deanship) Jane has over 30 years of experience in higher education serving most of that time in leadership positions. Her experiences include her role as a department chairperson, as a dean at two different institutions and her combined role as Dean and Associate Provost. However, her passion was her 20 years of service in her role as a dean. Her experience includes her time spent as a dean at a teaching institution within a unionized environment. She carries another valuable perspective from her role as a dean at large research intensive (R1) institution that was not unionized. Her career encompassed multiple leadership roles at the state and national levels. This included her role as chair of the board for a large national educationally focused organization, her multiple experiences moderating panel discussions for congressional reviews at the federal level, and her appointments to state commissions by the Governor. Jane appreciates the opportunities and challenges deans encounter in higher education as they navigate leading large complex academic units. She has become an expert in assisting new deans and veteran deans […]
Helping academics align their professional and personal lives with their values, strengths, and passions so they thrive, rather than just strive and survive. Suzanne coaches faculty at all career stages, including new faculty, those finding their way after tenure, and faculty serving in academic leadership roles for their institutions. Suzanne is currently the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and a Full Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California Santa Cruz. She also an International Coaching Federation (ICF) certified coach and trained facilitator, who enjoys helping academics thrive personally and professionally. As Associate Vice Provost, she is responsible for providing support and professional development for new faculty, department chairs, and other academic leaders in inclusive and effective leadership. She has served in variety of other leadership roles including vice-chair of her department, graduate program chair, and the president of the largest scientific society in her field. Suzanne first encountered coaching at a time of major transition in her life. Being coached helped her design a life she loves that is aligned with her values and passions. Having seen the power of coaching, she decided to train and certify as a coach because […]
Josh is Northern Arizona University’s Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. He oversees the university’s comprehensive HR functions including: Benefits, Hiring & Recruitment, Employee Relations, Employee Learning and Development, Payroll, Employee Assistance and Wellness, and the Equity and Access Office. In addition to serving as NAU’s VP for Human Resources since 2018, Josh was appointed and served as the university’s Interim Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff from March 2020–July 2021. Josh has over 20 years of higher education human resources experience. Prior to joining NAU in 2018, he was the CHRO at Metropolitan State University Denver, where he transformed their HR function and became a key member of the President’s Cabinet. His public higher education HR career began with the Maricopa Community College District, where he held progressively responsible HR roles for over 18 years. His Ed.D. and M.Ed. are in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, where he also earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resources. Josh has served on numerous state and national higher education HR boards and committees. His higher education HR service includes board positions at the state, regional, and national levels. He currently serves on the […]
