Nichole Dyer Fannin is the Executive Director of Development at the University of West Georgia (UWG). A native of Trion, Georgia, Nichole has spent nearly a decade working to promote philanthropy and showcase the empowerment that comes from giving – for both the donor and recipient. At UWG, Nichole has served to enhance institutional visibility and success through the institution’s Strategic Plan Steering Team, helping to guide the stakeholder-based process involving more than 1,300 individuals from across campus and community; worked to position the university for success in receiving the Carnegie Foundation’s classification recognition for community engagement in 2020 as part of the Community Engagement Scout Team; and in helping to lead the UWG Foundations to success in the institution’s first-ever comprehensive campaign. Before joining the UWG Office of Development, Nichole served as Regional Director with Action Ministries, Sales Account Manager for Southwire Company, and as the Executive Director for the Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce. Nichole has been actively involved in many organizations and groups, including the UWG Alumni Association Board of Directors, Southwire 12 for Life Mentor Program, Historic High-Country Travel Association, Chattooga County Tourism Committee, Chattooga County Adult Literacy Group, Leadership Chattooga, and the Georgia Academy for […]
Trajan Dubiel, Director of Development, represents Michigan State University in Southwest Michigan working with Spartans and philanthropists. His role also encompasses a major part of the University Advancement talent development program by managing both the Development Associates Program and the Advance-U Program. After earning his Masters degree in Student Affairs Administration from MSU in 2003, Trajan began his fundraising career at Albion College. Trajan returned to MSU in 2013 and spent 7 years as a major gift officer within the College of Communication Arts & Sciences before moving into his current position. Originally from Ohio, Trajan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of Vermont. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Communities In Schools of Michigan.
“I am here to ‘hold up a mirror’ to help you see yourself, your potential, and your future more clearly” Annie started out her career with the goal of becoming the next Barbara Walters. However, the twists and turns of her career path guided Annie from Television news to public relations, then to software training, and finally, to a university professor and administrator. As a speaker and coach, she uses her experience and expertise to help people navigate a career path to their next level of success. Her approach to coaching is centered on the philosophy that you already possess what you need to be successful. Sometimes, you simply need assistance figuring out where you want to go and how to get there. Through collaborative interactions, Annie helps you uncover and gain clarity about your strengths, areas of growth, core values, motivation and vision for your future. Annie’s authentic and humorous approach makes people feel an instant connection to her. She has guided clients in all career levels through strategic career development, job search planning, resume writing, interview preparation, negotiation, leadership evolution, successful supervising, public speaking, and professional branding. With over 20 years of service in higher education as both […]
In her current role as Vice Provost for Faculty Success, Magdalena oversees all aspects of faculty recruitment and the tenure and promotion process, with a deep commitment to supporting diverse faculty who bring asset-minded pedagogies to the classroom. Prior to joining the Office of the Provost in 2020, she was Professor and Department Chair of Chicana and Chicano Studies and the Faculty-in-Residence for Diversifying the Faculty in SJSU’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Magdalena’s current research focuses on the experiences of historically underserved students and faculty in higher education; her work has appeared in a wide range of journals, edited collections, and higher–education news outlets. She is the co-author of The Latinx Guide to Graduate School (Duke University Press, 2023), a book that exposes the unspoken rules and expectations of grad school so that students can merge their academic and cultural identities—finding success not simply to play the game, but to transform institutions and widen the path for those who follow. The granddaughter of Mexican immigrants and first in her family to pursue post-secondary degrees, Magdalena holds a B.A. in English and Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from […]
Jennifer Greer is dean of the College of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky. A former journalist, Greer has spent 25 years in administrative roles, including vice provost, associate provost, acting dean, department chair, and graduate director, at three state flagship universities. She has led leadership development programs for faculty and staff at various levels, has formally mentored new and aspiring administrators, and is working on becoming an ICF-certified coach.
In her current role, Sarah oversees annual giving, legacy giving, corporate and foundation relations, student support initiatives, and development for the (non-health) academic colleges and community-facing organizations at the university. She also serves on the leadership team for the University’s Advancement program and is engaged in managing the University’s $2.5 billion comprehensive campaign, Imagine New Heights. Sarah’s appointment in Advancement began September 1, 2019, and she continues to hold the position of Adjunct Professor of Biology at the University of Utah. For 27 years prior to moving to University Advancement, Sarah was Executive Director of the Natural History Museum of Utah at the University of Utah. Sarah and her team of staff and board developed a $103 million new building, exhibits, and landscape for the Natural History Museum of Utah—the Rio Tinto Center—which opened in 2011. Working in museums since she was an undergraduate at the University of Puget Sound, she received an M.S. at Fort Hays State University, and a Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico, all in biology. Prior to moving to Utah, she was Curator of Mammals at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and held adjunct faculty appointments in the biology departments at […]
As Dean of Rutgers School of Business-Camden, Rutgers University, Dr. Adya steers the direction of the school through strategic growth of undergraduate and graduate programs, an executive education unit, as well as Centers of Excellence. Her current priorities include developing and implementing strategies for bridging academic scholarship with industry, and developing the school as a model for access to high-quality business education. She previously served as Chair of Management at Marquette University. As a scholar in information systems, currently her research interests include the design and use of decision aids, as well as the participation and experiences of girls and women in information technology careers.
Monica J. Casper is Dean of the College of Arts and Letters and Professor of Sociology at San Diego State University. She brings to her work extensive administrative experience, including leadership development, faculty affairs, ADEI, strategic planning, and more. In 2021, she received the ChangeMaker Award from the International Association of Maternal Action and Scholarship for her efforts to better understand and address the needs of working mothers. She is deeply committed to fostering a humane, collegial, and equitable workplace. A First-Gen scholar, she is the author of numerous articles and books, including, most recently, Babylost: Racism, Survival, and the Quiet Politics of Infant Mortality, from A to Z (Rutgers University Press, 2022).
Monica Jacobe is currently the Director of Advising for the Undergraduate Division of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where her team supports diverse students from pre-matriculation to graduation. She has spent nearly 25 years in higher education focused on faculty development and student success, as well as on assessment and management of student learning in a variety of leadership roles serving domestic, international, and multilingual learners. Her focus has always been on questions of equity in and access to education for diverse students, leading data-informed decision-making, and seeking to “educate educators” on contemporary student realities. As a first-generation college student herself, Monica seeks to empower students to be agents of their own success, and to ultimately give voice to those who do not arrive feeling authorized to speak. As the author of dozens of essays and book chapters, her research and writing interests include higher education and academic labor, humanities education, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. She holds a PhD in English Language & Literature from The Catholic University of America, an MFA in Creative Writing from The American University, and a BA in English and Mass Communication from Emory & Henry College.
Wayne is the inaugural Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion and a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences at Michigan Technological University. As Vice President, he is responsible for providing vision, strategic leadership, and thoughtful change management for campus diversity, equity, inclusion, and sense-of-belonging (DEIS) initiatives. Wayne works collaboratively with Michigan Tech faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external constituents to advance the University’s commitment to all aspects of diversity and inclusion. His senior leadership role includes communicating the value proposition of DEIS initiative educational and innovation impacts on the University’s overall performance-related scholarship and research. Additionally, he coaches University leaders to become culturally proficient in order to promote and sustain culturally responsive leadership. Prior to joining Michigan Tech, Wayne served as Assistant Research Professor and Chief Diversity Officer for the Applied Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University. He is the founder and principal of Oasis Strategic Consulting LLC and earned his PhD in Workforce Education and Development, with emphasis on Human Resources, along with an MEd in Counselor Education (both from Penn State). Additionally, he holds certificates from the Harvard University Institute for Management and Leadership Education (Cambridge, Massachusetts), and the Cornell University School of […]
