In her role at Rutgers University, Anna provides strategic leadership to ensure that the institutional commitment to equity is reflected in the research, educational, and public engagement efforts that occur throughout the university, and that focus extends to faculty, staff, and students. She currently leads the University and Inclusion office and the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement on the New Brunswick campus, championing the role of diversity and inclusion in achieving excellence and strengthening the institutional commitment to its diverse community on and off campus. Prior to joining Rutgers University, Anna served as Associate Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her significant accomplishments in that role included leading the integration of diversity throughout the campus strategic plan, executing the university’s campus climate survey, creating diversity infrastructure through climate advisors in executive areas and diversity officers in schools and colleges, and leading the National Science Foundation funded ADVANCE program in pursuing innovative organizational change strategies to spur institutional transformation and support racial and gender equity in the faculty ranks.
Sharon is the Academic Director and Professor of Educational Leadership at Washington State University Vancouver and Chair of Educational Leadership and Sport Management for the WSU multi-campus system. Her scholarship broadly addresses two concerns: (1) to help teachers and school leaders better understand the key role leadership plays in K-12 schools, and (2) to explore how education, in K-12 schools and universities, is currently structured and influenced by social and organizational complexity. Sharon’s interests in education and organizational change are an extension of her desire to encourage improvement, the development of communal leadership, and social justice through institutional and systemic reform. Her recent books include Educational Leadership, Organizational Learning, and the Ideas of Karl Weick: Perspectives on Theory and Practice (2019, with Bob Johnson, Routledge), A Case Study Approach to Educational Leadership (2019, with Julie Gray, Routledge), and Mindful Educational Leadership: Contemplative, Cognitive, and Organizational Systems and Practices (2023, Routledge). She is past editor of the Journal of Research on Leadership Education and Director of the UCEA Center for the Study of Academic Leadership.
Cindy has over 25 years of professional experience promoting student development and success through her work as a Student Affairs professional. Her career includes work at large and small as well as public and private institutions. Residence Life was Cindy’s introduction to student affairs, allowing her to achieve progressively expansive roles—most recently, as the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Rider University. Having coached, mentored, and supervised hundreds of professional and student staff, Cindy grounds her efforts in the belief that elevating the strengths and attributes of others is exponentially motivating and inspiring. During her career, Cindy has focused on building partnership bridges throughout and amongst the campus divisions on behalf of students. Once in place, these bridges provide safe and accessible paths for students to traverse both the predictable and unexpected challenges that college life presents. Cindy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Science in Counseling with a Higher Education concentration, both from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Her background in counseling established the solid foundation upon which she has built the strong leadership competencies and human development skills that guide her work. Cindy marks her time at […]
Dr. Andrew Lyon has over 30 years of experience as a chemist, bioengineer, educator, and entrepreneur and currently serves as the Founding Dean of the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler School of Engineering at Chapman University, a role that has seen the successful launch and meteoric growth of Chapman’s first steps into engineering education and research. Prior to his current role, he served as Dean of the Schmid College of Science and Technology at Chapman University from 2014-2018 and was a key leader in Chapman’s rapid expansion in the STEM disciplines. Before arriving at Chapman, Dr. Lyon spent 15+ years at the Georgia Institute of Technology as a member of the Chemistry & Biochemistry faculty and directing a research program aimed at creating new types of biomaterials for regenerative medicine applications. He also served as the Chair of GT Chem & Biochem just prior to joining Chapman. In addition to his role at Chapman, he is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Sanguina, Inc. and SelSym Biotech, Inc., two early-stage biotechnology companies. He is the recipient of the NSF CAREER, Beckman Young Investigator, Research Corporation Research Innovation, and Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards, an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, and […]
Jenn believes in the transformative power of higher education and values curiosity, perspective-taking, and active listening in developing relationships as a leader at any level of an institution. As a Senior Learning & Development Manager at Academic Impressions, she most often works with development and alumni engagement professionals, deans, and other academic leaders who are invested in maintaining collaborative relationships with alumni, donors, and other constituents. Jenn designs engagements that help leaders improve interpersonal relationships, foster a thriving team culture, strengthen donor engagement, and align alumni and donors’ passions with initiatives of purpose. Prior to joining Academic Impressions in early 2022, Jenn spent a decade as a higher education leader. Her professional experience with individual and team supervision, strategic planning, program and policy development, crisis response, and student support services, along with several years of service as an alumni board member, informs how she approaches her leadership and organizational development work with advancement and academic leaders. Jenn received her dual B.A. in Spanish and Intercultural Studies from Elmhurst College (now Elmhurst University), her M.A. in Higher Education & Student Affairs from University of Connecticut, and her Ed.D. in Student Affairs Administration & Leadership from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She works […]
Autumn Joseph (she/they) is an Operations Manager at Academic Impressions. Autumn works on a wide variety of projects related to program and process development. She enjoys problem solving and finding new efficiencies with the rest of the wonderful Operations Team. Autumn recently received her MBA from Colorado State University. When not working, you can find Autumn exploring Colorado on foot or on a bike, or playing with her dog and cat.
Grace Oh-Willeke is a Project Coordinator at Academic Impressions. In this role, she is responsible for managing the day-to-day tasks and projects of the development team. Grace collaborates with departments across the company to ensure that technological improvements meet their needs. Grace has a bachelor of arts in environmental science from Colby College and enjoys gardening, camping, and spending time outside.
René is from Honduras, Central America. He is a husband and dad, with a degree in Computer Science and has been a full-stack developer for more than 10 years. He has worked for different industries such as financial, e-commerce, and now Higher Ed. He is passionate about bringing valuable user experience and solutions through coding.
Dr. Raquel Wright-Mair is an Associate Professor of Higher Education at Rowan University. She conducts research that is grounded in social justice, equity, and inclusion in higher education. Dr. Wright-Mair’s research agenda seeks to transform and advocate for the creation of more equitable and inclusive campus environments for underrepresented populations, specifically for racially minoritized faculty members. Dr. Wright-Mair also works collaboratively with the National Institute for Transformation and Equity (NITE) as a faculty researcher, conducting work focused on cultivating supportive campus environments that maximize success among diverse populations. Dr. Wright-Mair has produced several publications and national presentations focused on social justice, equity, and inclusion across higher education. She is also co-editor and contributing author for the book: College Students and Their Environments.
