Kate is an enthusiastic, adaptable educator with experience in advising, training, facilitation, and planning programs in university settings. An alumnus of both the Fulbright Program and the University of Michigan’s Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE), her passion for higher education, lifelong learning, and relationship building has enabled her to create engaging educational experiences for learners, both domestically and abroad. Prior to becoming a Program Manager with Academic Impressions, Kate had worked in the realms of Student Affairs and International Education at the University of Michigan, the University of Montenegro, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is thrilled to work with AI to serve the higher ed industry in innovative and exciting ways. When she isn’t planning programs around Enrollment Management, you can typically find her hiking, writing, connecting with friends and family, playing volleyball, starring in Montenegrin wine commercials, and exploring the world.
As the Senior Director for Career Advising, Counseling & Education at the Florida Atlantic University Career Center, Brian Montalvo and his team help students build toward their futures by helping them gain or refine career readiness skills required to succeed into meaningful careers. Brian oversees a team of nationally credentialed career professionals who offer 1:1 service, career preparatory workshops/resources, career courses, soft skill education, as well as exploratory programs. Brian has been with the FAU Career Center since July 2006. Brian also teaches in the areas of Career Development, Counseling, and Strategies for College Success at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and he has published national and international articles, essays, and a book chapter on multiple career development topics. He regularly presents on career indecision and innovative career programming at international, national, state, and regional professional conferences. In addition, Brian served on the Board of Directors for the National Career Development Association as a Trustee for Higher Education Career Counselors and Specialist (2015-2017). Through this work, Brian had the chance to travel across the country and meet with many career practitioners. Brian earned an Ed.S in Counseling and Human Systems, an M.S. in Counseling & Human Systems with a […]
Jon is a nationally recognized authority on technology law and intellectual property, particularly copyright law, entertainment, and information privacy. Prior to joining Nova Southeastern University in 2014, Garon was the inaugural director of the Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Law + Informatics Institute from 2011-2014, and has been in legal education since 1991. He is the author of four books and numerous book chapters and articles, including: Pop Culture Business Handbook for Cons and Festivals (Manegiere Publications 2017); The Independent Filmmaker’s Law & Business Guide to Financing, Shooting, and Distributing Independent and Digital Films (A Cappella Books, 2d Ed. 2009); Own It – The Law & Business Guide to Launching a New Business Through Innovation, Exclusivity and Relevance (Carolina Academic Press 2007); and Entertainment Law & Practice (2d Ed. 2014 Carolina Academic Press).
As Vice Provost for Innovation and Workforce Development, Steven Tello oversees strategic leadership and implementation aimed at strengthening and growing our graduate programs, online and continuing education programs and international partnerships. He has been instrumental in the success of many of the university’s programs, including the M2D2 and Innovation Hub business incubators, student DifferenceMaker program, River Hawk Venture Fund and Deshpande Symposium. Tello began his career at the University in 1996, in the Division of Continuing Education, where he supported the design and development of the online education program. He is a tenured associate professor in the Manning School of Business, where he founded the university’s undergraduate entrepreneurship program and the interdisciplinary MS in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship. Tello received his Doctorate of Education in Leadership in Schooling from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2002. He received his M.B.A. from the Isenberg School of Management at the University Massachusetts Amherst and has a B.A. in sociology from the University of Lowell and an M. Ed. in management and administration from Cambridge College.
Dr. Garret Westlake is heading the transformation of VCU into one of the nation’s leading universities for cross-disciplinary collaboration, innovation, and the inclusion of entrepreneurial thinking as a requisite skill for the innovation economy. As executive director, Dr. Westlake advances university-wide student innovation and entrepreneurship through curriculum as well as through curated experiential education opportunities. As a technology entrepreneur, Dr. Westlake founded a social impact company that employed individuals with autism in STEM. Prior to joining VCU, Dr. Westlake served as the associate dean of student entrepreneurship for Arizona State University’s #1 ranked Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He has worked closely with Ashoka U, the Clinton Global Initiative University, and for the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. Students and startups he has mentored have been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for Healthcare Innovation, awarded Rhodes Scholarships, named Resolution Project Fellows, and have been accepted to SXSW and Y Combinator.
Robert Manasier is a serial entrepreneur and brand builder, with experience in over 130 international startups and over 400 products/services commercialized, 1000s of acceleration/commercialization campaigns, as the CEO of In Focus Brands (a branded go-to-market acceleration firm). In addition to In Focus, Robert currently serves as Entrepreneur-in-Residence of the NYS Innovation HotSpot Program, UAlbany Innovation Center, IgniteU NY and the Sage Colleges; Managing Director of the EDA Fund and the Diamond Point Co-Development Fund; Chief Strategy Officer for the SaaS firm: The CrowdBuild; Board Member for Autonomy Distributors and Parkhurst Field Foundation and President of IFP Films, EDA Labs and Empire Custom. He also currently serves as Saratoga Springs Sports Tourism Chair and Saratoga Springs Recreation Commission Member. With over $100M raised for startups, an average of 20—25% uptick in revenue for his acceleration clients, over $1B in sales and a 2.6x return on his management of the DPCD Fund and a nearly 100% retention of staff over decades, strong culture creation and fiscal controls are coupled with clear and direct revenue results.
Helping organizations achieve their missions through a focus on employee success is Lisa’s professional passion! Her career path in human resources has taken her primarily to higher education and healthcare institutions with a brief stop-over in the legal profession. Lisa currently serves as the Senior Associate Director and Interim Director of Human Resources at Colorado College where she oversees the human resources function with her primary emphasis on leadership and professional development, employee relations, salary administration, organizational development, and consultation with college leadership. Lisa has a Masters degree in Administrative Studies/Human Resources from the University of South Dakota and is SPHR and SHRM-SCP certified. In her spare time, Lisa can be found hiking the mountains of Colorado with her best hiking buddy, Koa the standard poodle!
An accomplished leader and emerging higher education scholar, Kyra Lobbins plays a key role in the overall leadership, direction, and national reputation of Adler University – a graduate institution uniquely dedicated to advancing social justice. As Chief of Staff, Kyra provides support and counsel to the President and key leaders across Adler’s three-campus system – with a focus on operations and administration, institutional advancement, and development of the Board of Trustees. Kyra joined Adler in May of 2021, after an 8-year tenure at Clemson University – most recently serving as the deputy chief of staff in the Office of the President. During her time at Clemson, Kyra served as a member of the University’s Executive Leadership Team, working closely with their President and Chief of Staff along with other leaders across campus on strategic initiatives in student recruitment, academics, communication, alumni engagement, diversity and inclusion, fundraising, and university operations. Prior to that, Kyra served as Director of the President’s Leadership and Strategic Initiatives, which included developing and overseeing the President’s Leadership Institute (PLI). She has spoken nationally on PLI’s success and popularity with faculty and staff at Clemson and has consulted with other universities about creating a similar model. Kyra […]
Dr. Gary Meyer is a communication professor and director of the FELOS Faculty Leadership Development program at Marquette University. Meyer has served in a variety of administrative roles over the past two decades including senior vice provost for faculty affairs, vice provost for academic affairs, and associate dean in the Diederich College of Communication. Dr. Meyer has published two books along with more than 25 scholarly journal articles, and in 2002 was recognized for teaching excellence, receiving Marquette’s highest teaching award. Dr. Meyer returned to the faculty in 2025 where he teaches courses in persuasion, leadership, and change management. He enjoys hiking, traveling, and reading during his free time.
Eric is a professional educator with over a decade of experience in the classroom ranging from teaching drama and English in Kokomo, Indiana to teaching literature and philosophy in international schools in Indonesia and South Korea. Most recently, he has begun a scholarly career in teacher education and higher education instruction for diverse learners. He serves as the UDL and Accessibility specialist for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and conducts private consulting related to inclusive education practices in higher education via his consultancy: Innospire.org. Eric holds a Ph.D. in Inclusive Education from UT, Knoxville, a M.Ed from Grand Valley State University, and B.A. in Secondary English Education from Taylor University.
