Leamur Kahanov has over 25 years of higher education experience as a provost, dean, and professor. She has extensive experience in revising general education essential learning outcomes, creating faculty mentorship programs, academic affairs and institutional strategic planning, and developing academic programs. Kahanov previously served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Chief Academic Officer for Stockton University. In this role, she had oversight of the seven academic schools and all academic support services. Prior to Stockton, Kahanov served as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Oneonta.
Monica Glina is Assistant Dean for Faculty Development, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Executive Director of the Academy of Medical Educators and the Director of the Medical Education concentration at New York Medical College. She has a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from Boston University and a doctorate in pedagogy. She was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Educational Research at the University of Oslo in Norway. She has extensive experience conducting educational research and has served as senior research associate, project director and discourse coach on a number of grants sponsored by the Department of Education, Institute of Education (IES), the National Academy of Education, the Spencer Foundation and the Templeton Foundation. She has published on and has specific expertise in classroom discourse, democratic pedagogy and teacher education. She is also an instructor in the Department of Educational Foundations at Montclair State University and has prepared curricula for a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses, such as Psychological Foundations of Education, Assessment of Learning, Methods of Research and Testing and Evaluation.
Karen Nercessian is Associate Vice Provost for Strategy and Implementation and oversees strategic initiatives and priorities and their successful implementation for the Office of the Provost. Karen’s portfolio includes faculty well-being and the faculty life span, supporting the needs of faculty as New York University community members and caregivers, through sustainable, accessible, and equitable programs and initiatives. Karen is responsible for promoting academic mission integration within the University’s administrative units, and she is responsible for and oversees the strategic direction and priorities of the Work Life Office as well as the Global Research Initiatives, and is the Provostial liaison for the Provostial Centers and Institutes. In her role, Karen is responsible for coordinating efforts with the Office of the President, and acting as the point of contact with schools and administrative units such as Global Campus Safety, Office of Construction Management and Facilities, Office of General Counsel, University Human Resources, Information Technology, Office of Compliance and Risk Management, and Faculty Housing. Karen also helps guide the many Provostial committees and working groups mostly around Disabilities, Inclusion and Accessibility, Work Life, and Art in Public Spaces. Karen is a Global Inclusion Officer for the Office of the Provost, and is part […]
Shelley Anna became the vice provost for faculty at Carnegie Mellon University on July 1, 2023. In this role, she provides counsel as a senior academic leader overseeing academic policies related to faculty affairs and offering support and resources to faculty and academic administrators across the university. She leads the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty, which oversees a number of important programs, including: faculty appointment, review, retention and promotion; faculty professional development programs; the dual career program; diversity and inclusion programs for faculty; faculty leaves; and Incoming Faculty Orientation. Anna joined CMU as a faculty member in 2003 in the College of Engineering (ENG). Prior to becoming vice provost for faculty, she was ENG’s associate dean for faculty and graduate affairs and strategic initiatives. As associate dean, Anna oversaw graduate and faculty affairs and advanced strategic priorities and new initiatives, including co-chairing ENG’s 2023 strategic plan development. In faculty affairs, Dr. Anna worked to ensure an equitable reappointment, promotion and tenure process and navigated the significant and lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on faculty development. Anna, in collaboration with Dr. Alaine Allen, ENG’s associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, and their counterparts at two other universities, […]
I support faculty and academic leaders on their journeys to transform their careers and the colleges and universities that they serve. Dr. Sheila Smith McKoy is a transformative higher education leader with over 30 years’ experience in leading change and innovation. Dr. Smith McKoy has served at large private and public universities, small private institutions, Research I universities, faith-based institutions, and an HBCU. She coaches in the areas of faculty development, leadership development and equity change management, and well-being. Her coaching practice is informed by her deep experience in change management, equity, inclusion and diversity as well as her deep expertise in faculty development and leadership development. She enjoys working with clients who aspire to lead at the provost and vice provost levels, as department chairs and directors, and clients who wish to deepen their equity and inclusion practice. She has a special interest in working with faculty members seeking insights about their best next steps in the changing environment in higher education. As importantly, as a coach trained in the CoActive process, she works with clients to find their next best steps. Over the course of her career, she has led efforts to build and refine academic programs, curricular innovation, and student success interventions as well […]
I support leadership journeys in the transitions – life never goes as planned, and I coach leaders to be nimble and pivot to achieve growth during challenging times. Using a strengths-based approach, and expertise as a human resource management practitioner and scholar, Karen uses her nearly 25 years of higher education experience to support you navigating the interruptions. As a coach, she brings her expertise as a senior certified human resource management professional and Gallup-trained coach to her work with clients. Her knowledge of staff and faculty affairs (having worked in organizations governed both with and without collective bargaining agreements), fiscal responsibility, strategic planning, public/private partnerships and accreditation informs her depth of understanding. That knowledge has shaped her recognition that higher education leaders must lead by example with integrity, transparency, and vision, all while having to make tough decisions executed under competing constraints. In her coaching conversations, she partners with clients to tackle their leadership challenges along with their own personal goals and career aspirations. Karen has been using her passion for employee success to help her colleagues be successful in their personal and professional lives. She supports her clients’ growth by helping them examine their leadership path and goals […]
Developing strong leaders who lead strong institutions. Former University President, Kina S. Mallard, Ph.D. has been leading leaders for over 30 years. She is a skilled coach and consultant, engaging workshop facilitator, and dynamic speaker. She has an extensive background in working with the strengths of leaders and moving them from good to great. Dr. Mallard has coached higher education leaders at all levels. She has developed and led national workshops on various leadership topics. launched faculty and women’s leadership programs, and consulted with and coached presidents and vice-presidents as they lead their institutions and leadership teams in supporting the mission of their universities. Kina’s enthusiasm for supporting and cultivating strong leaders in higher education drives her coaching practice. She believes the leaders she works with are creative, resourceful, and whole. They have the answers to their questions and the solutions to their problems inside them. Her approach is to walk alongside them with deep listening and provocative questions helping them expand their possibilities and move from point A to point B. Kina’s experience allows her to view leadership through different lenses, having served at every leadership level in higher education including Department Chair and Associate Provost at Union University, […]
With over two decades of experience in higher education philanthropy, Renee is a speaker and facilitator on advancement topics. She has extensive experience in building collaborative teams, managing complex projects and leading alumni and donor relations efforts. Renee most recently served as the Associate Vice President of Advancement and Foundation Administration at Western Michigan University. In this role, she directed the operations for University Advancement, including finances, HR and training, along with the operations of the WMU Foundation. Additionally, Renee oversaw the implementation of the $550 million Empowering Futures Gift, a historic philanthropic contribution dedicated to creating pathways to graduation and student success, increasing retention and improving student resilience. Prior to joining WMU in 2009, Renee worked as a development officer at both Washington University in St. Louis and the University of California, Davis. Within the community, Renee a past president and board member of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. Born and raised in California and a proud graduate of St. Mary’s College of California, Renee and her husband reside in Portage, Michigan.
With over a decade of experience in higher education and operations, Autumn brings a rich background in supporting first-generation students and navigating her own career path. Autumn’s expertise extends to community engagement and self-empowerment, where she equips individuals with self-advocacy and boundary setting skills. Autumn is dedicated to empowering individuals to confidently navigate their professional and personal lives, leveraging her experience in fostering growth and resilience. Autumn currently resides in Portland, Oregon.
Alex Juarez is currently serving as an HR Learning and Development Partner at Dallas College in Farmers Branch, Texas. She previously served in other human resources support roles at local school districts and city government. Outside of work, Alex volunteers with her local SHRM chapter, enjoys bird watching, card making, reading, and baking desserts.
