In his current role at Gray Associates, Andy provides financial management to the company and contributes to projects in program economics for its clients. Prior to working at Gray, Andy was Director, Strategic Financial Planning and Analysis, with Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. He oversaw Concordia’s budget process and developed an integrated approach to academic program portfolio optimization, with a focus on institutional mission, markets, and margins. He has over 20 years of experience in the financial services, health care, and higher-education industries.
Dr. Botham’s passion for writing proposals was ignited as a graduate student while writing an AHA fellowship. She now directs the Stanford Biosciences Grant Writing Academy, which was based on her successful Tackling Your K course (70% success rate for career development awards!). In 2016, the Grant Writing Academy was honored with an Innovations in Research Education Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Dr. Botham also leads the Stanford Office of Pediatric Research Development and provides strategic advice to faculty and others to enable competitive funding applications and productive research programs. She is a 2021 Department of Pediatrics Collaboration Awardee.
Audra J. Kahr serves at the Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration at Lafayette College. She is the chief financial, business, and administrative officer of the College and provides guidance and leadership to ensure the efficient and effective stewardship of the College’s physical and financial resources. She oversees all finance functions including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, long-range financial planning, asset management, liability management, and risk management. She is also responsible for a range of administrative functions including facilities, sustainability and business services, including dining and the bookstore. Ms. Kahr plays a vital role in supporting the College’s strategic vision and developing the collaborative, innovative culture of Lafayette. She previously served as Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer for 18 years at Cedar Crest College. Ms. Kahr spent nearly five years in public accounting at Deloitte & Touche serving retail and higher education clients in the northeast region. Ms. Kahr serves on the board of directors and program and services committee at EACUBO. Ms. Kahr is passionate about community service and is a member of several boards and committees in her local community holding leadership roles in each. Ms. Kahr is a certified public accountant.
Darrin Hicks is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Denver. Darrin’s teaching and research centers on public deliberation and community collaboration, with a particular focus on designing and evaluating decision-making processes regarding inclusion, equity, transparency, and authenticity. Darrin has developed measures to assess the quality of deliberative and collaborative processes and the impact process quality has on implementation success and program outcomes, which have been employed in a wide array of contexts including public health, education, and municipal governance.
Kate Willink is the inaugural Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and an Associate Professor of Communication Studies. The Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (VPFA) works closely with the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor and faculty members across the university to support the continued excellence of DU faculty by enhancing faculty development initiatives, increasing faculty diversity, and building a strong, inclusive, and collaborative faculty community. Through collaboration and innovation, Kate works closely with deans and department heads to recruit and retain high-quality faculty, support faculty career advancement, and to create collaborative department cultures that support transparency, equity, trust and belonging.
Kathleen’s women’s philanthropy expertise results from strategic designs to engage more women at universities (Cornell University, University of San Francisco, Duke University, The College of William Mary), nonprofits (American Red Cross, Women Moving Millions, the National Jewish Federations of America, the National Women’s History Museum), sororities (Alpha Chi Omega Foundation, the Alpha Phi Foundation) and girls’ schools (Louise S. McGehee School, NCGS). Kathleen translates the research on how women give into practical actions fundraisers can take in her book, Gender Matters: A Guide to Growing Women’s Philanthropy (2018).
In her current role, Dawn leads institutional efforts in building an excellent and diverse faculty through inclusive policy development, faculty mentoring and advancement, and leadership training. She also oversees the Office of Institutional Research, the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, and the University Ombuds Office. Prior to her current position, she served as Associate Dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures. Dawn earned her BA and MA degrees in Spanish from New York University and her Ph.D. in Romance Philology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Jianping has served 39 years in higher education in China and in the U.S. Her own journey from an unwanted girl from China to a college president in the U.S. inspires Jianping to passionately champion for equal opportunities for all, especially for those who have been deprived. As the only female Asian American college president in the state of New Jersey and only a few in the country, she is determined to give back by helping those who are on their quest to become more impactful leaders. Jianping firmly believes in the untapped and underutilized potentials in each person. In her coaching process, she focuses on building up individuals’ intellectual capacities. She serves as a thought partner with her client in discovering his/her own unique strengths and passions in a safe space through thought-provoking questions that open possibilities and options that have not been explored before. The client can expect the outcome of long lasting personal and professional growth. To learn more about her view on and approach to leadership coaching. Jianping holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Fielding Graduate University, a Master’s degree in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Master’s degree in English Literature […]
Elizabeth has been serving in her current role at Washington State University since July 2020. A first-generation college student, she earned her MA and Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Amherst after earning her BA at the University at Albany, State University of New York. From 2017 to 2020, Elizabeth served as dean of the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences at Binghamton University, one of the largest universities in the SUNY system. Before her tenure at Binghamton, she spent nearly 16 years as a professor and leader at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Elizabeth served as a professor, anthropology department chair, and associate vice chancellor for research and engagement, among other roles. She worked toward making the institutions she’s served more accessible, diverse, and inclusive. Elizabeth is committed to leadership development in the institutions she serves, as well as in academia more broadly; she often serves as a faculty fellow for the Higher Education Leadership Programs for Women (HERS), which aims to create and sustain a diverse network of bold women leaders.
In his current role at NC Agricultural & Technical State University, P. Kevin oversees the Major Gifts Team and works to support other constituencies around campus to include academic areas like colleges and nonacademic areas such as centers of excellence, the library, and the band. He has a background in the management of major gifts, annual giving, leadership annual giving, planned giving, parent & family giving and prospect management & research. A native of High Point, NC, P. Kevin was an English major at NC A&T State University. Following graduation from NC A&T, he worked as a District Executive for the Boy Scouts of America for several years until transitioning into Higher Education philanthropy in 2007 where he served as Director of Development for Leadership Gifts at UNC Wilmington. He has since moved around the system having served in other roles at UNC Greensboro, WSSU and back to UNC Wilmington into the role of Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Development. In September 2016, P. Kevin was able to return to his alma mater into his current role at NC A&T. P. Kevin resides in High Point, NC with his wife of 17 years, Tia, their daughters Trinity and Winter, two […]
