Rita Kumar is a Professor of English and the Director of Honors at the University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash College and teaches courses in English Composition and Literature. She served as the inaugural executive director of the Faculty Enrichment Center from 2019-2023 where she provided the conceptual and organizational leadership for the center. She developed and oversaw the center’s core programming. As an interdisciplinary collaborator, trained in mentoring at the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) and with 27 years of teaching experience she created opportunities for programming that are based on the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is the 2013-14 recipient of the UCBA Innovative Teaching Award for her inventive use of Problem-based learning (PBL) in the classroom. She is the co-editor of the 2021 book, Equity and Inclusion in Higher Education: Strategies for Teaching. Rita is a member of the UC Academy of Fellows for Teaching and Learning. Her research focuses on Problem-based learning (PBL), Lesson Study, inclusive classroom practices, improving students’ information literacy skills and faculty development. She has shared her research globally in over one hundred professional presentations. Her work has been published in journals such as Teaching English in […]
Diane Zosky has been the interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Illinois State University since 2018. She has a Ph.D. in clinical social work from Loyola University Chicago. Zosky is a Professor of Social Work and previously was the Director of the School of Social Work at Illinois State University for 8 years. Her research and teaching areas include intimate partner violence and culturally responsive practice.
Heather R. Taft, Ph.D. has been creating and teaching entirely online biology courses since 2015. As Lead Faculty she oversaw the creation, revision, and maintenance of biology, geology, physics, and chemistry courses, many of which incorporate laboratory components. She also helped oversee the design of courses in CSU Global’s new pre-nursing program. Dr. Taft holds a Master’s degree in Education focused on online science education, and a Graduate Certificate in E-learning and Online Teaching.
China is the founding Executive Director of the TEAM (Teaching, Enrichment, Advising, Mentoring) Center in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Texas Southern University (TSU). During her 16-year career in higher education, China taught at the university and community colleges level, directed faculty development centers, and developed programming for faculty, administrators and students. Her scholarly work, teaching, research, and service focus on adult learning, educational and faculty development, equity pedagogy, and culturally responsive approaches to teaching within higher education learning environments. She is widely known for the pedagogical transformation of higher education educators through critical self-reflection.
Arthur is currently the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Prior to coming to NYU School of Medicine, Arthur was the Sidney D. Caplan Professor of Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia, where he created the Center for Bioethics and the Department of Medical Ethics. He has also taught at the University of Minnesota, where he founded the Center for Biomedical Ethics, the University of Pittsburgh, and Columbia University. He received his PhD from Columbia University.
A career path starting in the White House and navigating the worlds of Operative National Politics, Public Policy, Investment Banking, Loss Mitigation/Risk Management solutions and Academia, has resulted in the contrarian leadership of a group of subsidiaries that focus on the consequences of social economics, health care, and public policy. Ms. Robinson’s professional path in healthcare started in 1976 as a Health System Agency (HSA) Certificate of Need reviewer in Newark, New Jersey. She participated in the implementation of the Medicaid waiver program in the City, and was designated co-bankruptcy trustee representative for the reorganization United Hospital. She was also appointed adjunct faculty at Columbia University School of Public Health (Program in Public Health Education – Noreen M. Clark, Ph.D – Director) developing and implementing education training programs for consumers and providers (CEU-credits) participating in the regional planning and review mandates. In 1978 she was recruited to join the Health System Agency of Southeastern PA, located in Philadelphia, a newly formed organization under a Federal Court settlement. From 1979 to 1986 Ms. Robinson held several White House, Congressional and local government staff positions. In 1986 Ms. Robinson was recruited to participate in the start-up of the National Health Care Finance […]
For more than 25 years, Nancy has represented colleges and universities in matters related to faculty, staff and students. She understands the unique challenges that exist on campus and is recognized for her depth of experience in analyzing and problem-solving controversial matters. She has litigated tenure-related disputes, academic integrity matters, student conduct cases and staff terminations. She provides proactive advice and counsel to her clients to assist them in resolving education and employment issues and making significant decisions. Nancy also leads investigation teams for educational institutions; Nancy and her team conduct prompt, thorough and confidential internal investigations on issues related to compliance, personnel, and sexual misconduct. She is a certified Level 2 ATIXA Civil Rights Investigator. As evidenced by the awards she has received and programs she participates in, Nancy takes an active role in the legal and local community. She has been appointed as the Woman Governor to the Pennsylvania Bar Association and represents the interests of women lawyers in Pennsylvania. She also serves as the Chair of the Diversity Team for the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She has been selected in a survey of her peers as a Pennsylvania “Super Lawyer” and included in The Best Lawyers in America. […]
Rod earned his doctorate in Human Environment from Michigan State University. Prior to joining SHSU, he served as a School Director at Texas State University and Department Chair at Northwood University. He also held faculty positions at the University of Tennessee- Knoxville, the University of South Carolina. From 2013-2016 Rod was visiting professor of Marketing at Lancaster University Management School in the United Kingdom. He spent 16 years in industry prior to entering academia. Rod’s research interests are in small retailer entrepreneurship, especially within rural communities. His research appears in the Journal of Retailing, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Journal of Marketing Management, Journal of Business Research, and Journal of Small Business Management, and he has conducted or collaborated on research in China, Chile, Russia, Korea, England, and Japan. Rod serves on several editorial boards and served as President of the American Collegiate Retailing Association, and the Council for Administrators of Family and Consumer Science.
Now in his 11th year in college admissions, Tony has spent his career promoting the idea that “nothing can change a life like education”. He strives to ensure that educational communities are diverse and inclusive, both for students and professionals. At Lamar University (TX) where he currently serves as Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Recruitment, he has enacted progressive admissions policies that put students first. Additionally, Tony is a strong believer in professional involvement often speaking on topics of leadership and management at state and national conferences. Tony was recognized as the Texas Association for College Admissions Counseling Rising Star in 2016, and has served the National Association for College Admissions Counseling as both an Assembly Delegate and faculty for the Admissions Middle Management Institute.
At the University of Nevada, Beth supports a talented staff of instructional designers, technologists, artists, and computer programmers as they provide professional development and creative services to faculty. She collaborates with academic and administrative units throughout the university to develop a shared understanding of the needs of online students and to build a robust online learning ecosystem. Her research interests include the public understanding of science, informal education, and community engagement. She came to UNLV in 2008 from the Eppley Institute at Indiana University, where she was the project manager on the development of a competency-based online training platform for the U.S. National Park Service. Beth holds a B.A. in communication, an M.S. in outdoor recreation and resource management, and a Ph.D. in leisure behavior.
