With nearly twenty-five years of experience in both the private and institutional practice of architecture, Peter has been responsible for nearly $1 billion worth of construction over the last decade at the University of Delaware and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Peter served as the project director for the architectural firm Ayers Saint Gross of Baltimore, MD during the design of the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Laboratory, and then as the University Architect during its construction. With these dual roles as reference, Peter can provide a unique perspective on the design and implementation of Delaware’s STEM facility. Peter is a member of the Society for College and University Planning, the US Green Building Council, the American Institute of Architects, and the Association of University Architects. His professional focus is on the beneficial impacts of collaborative planning with faculty, staff, and students.
With nearly three decades of fundraising and non-profit operational and management experience, Cathy Kerley has developed a sharp eye for how non-profits can build energized, strategically focused organizations. As a fundraiser who quickly built her own successful track record, she also consults with other colleagues and non-profits to set priorities, build robust boards and create the ways and means for them to succeed. Cathy’s fundraising experience spans governmental agencies, non-profits and institutions of higher education. Her successful grant writing skills drew the attention of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, which invited her to develop a training program for sites across Texas. She then led the Office of Student Affairs at the University of North Texas to exceed a record annual fundraising goal of over $2 million. Cathy has conducted board training, fundraising and grant writing retreats and workshops across Texas and has presented at numerous local, state and national conferences. In 2010, she joined TWU and has since created and leads the fundraising efforts for the university’s Office Corporate and Foundation Relations.
John Lofy is assistant director of the Victors for Michigan campaign at the University of Michigan. Prior to his work in development, he worked as a freelance journalist and editor of the alumni magazine Michigan Today. He holds an MFA in creative writing from U-M, and attended the University of Wisconsin as an undergraduate.
Rebecca Bahan has been working in the field of international education for nearly fifteen years. In her current position, she oversees all aspects of campus internationalization, including the areas of international student services, immigration compliance, international academic advising, and international enrollment management, with a focus on agent and university partnerships. During her tenure in international affairs, Rebecca has been fortunate to travel to over forty countries and has focused her attention on various cities in China for the past several years. Rebecca has served as a NAFSA leader and workshop presenter, has participated in AIRC agent training, and is currently conducting research on cross-cultural training for faculty and staff.
Ben is very passionate about the role Appreciative Advising plays in the relationship between a student and advisor. He is an advocate of technology in advising and the positive relationship effects, specifically the use of virtual advising, mass communication, social media, and automated systems. Combining these two practices has enabled Ben to connect with his students in a deeper, more meaningful and intentional method. His incorporation of technology stems from his undergraduate work in Visual Communication Technology. Further, most technology innovations typically require a certain level of expertise and funding. Ben possesses the ability to find inexpensive and simple ways to implement technology, that you can start implementing immediately on your campus. Ben currently serves as the Director of Student Affairs for The Patton College of Education at Ohio University. In this role, he supervises six professional academic advisors, who utilize Appreciative Advising as their advising philosophy. He is responsible for many college initiatives, rooted in Appreciative Advising, which focus on recruitment and retention. He began furthering his education in fall 2017, in the higher education doctoral program at Ohio University. Early research interests include social media, Appreciative Advising, first-generation students, and student-athletes, to name a few. Ben previously served […]
Eva is a vice president on Moody’s Higher Education and Not-for-Profit Team. She covers the ratings of higher education and not-for-profit institutions across the US, particularly in the western states. Eva has authored multiple publications including Moody’s higher education annual outlook and special comments on the topics of Title IX, sequestration, student loans, philanthropic giving and the impact of need-blind admissions. Prior to joining Moody’s, Eva held positions at Empire State Development Corporation, managing economic development financial incentives to New York State businesses and major institutions, and at New York University. Eva holds an A.B. from Middlebury College and an M.B.A. from New York University with a concentration in economics and management.
Deb served in a variety of career services leadership roles at University of Oregon Career Center for over thirty years first as associate director of the centralized Career Center, then as director of Career Services at the Lundquist College of Business supporting MBAs and finally as director of the Career Center. In each of these roles she excelled at innovative program development, relationship management both on campus and with employers and teaching/counseling, always putting the needs of students first. She also led the inaugural strategic planning process for the division of student affairs as well as internally at the career center. Although formally retired, Deb has discovered that she is not very good at retirement and remains active in the field consulting with the UO graduate students in the applied sciences and leading review teams of career services operations for two major universities. Deb has had the privilege of serving as president of the National Association of Colleges and Employers and the Western Association of Colleges and Employers where she grew as a leader, led many significant initiatives on behalf of the profession and developed friendships that will last a lifetime. She was inducted into the NACE Academy of Fellows […]
Rick has served as Iona’s library director for more than 10 years. Prior to that he served as the Assistant Director of Libraries for Public Service & Systems, the Systems Librarian, and Circulation Librarian. Rick is a tenured Associate Professor, and has taught courses in film, mass communication, and library instruction. He has served as a consultant and member of evaluation teams for the New York State Education Department (NYSED). An avid photographer, he has had his work displayed at juried exhibits, and an article published in The Journal of Pastoral Counseling, “Through the Woods: A Photographic Look at Resiliency.”
For the past fourteen years, Tim Vick has been deeply involved in the success, retention, and progression of beginning college students. He has, in his role as an administrator, directed academic advising, academic testing, academic resource centers, and new and transfer student orientation. Most recently, he led the development and implementation of Middle Georgia State College’s freshman year experience (FYE) program. In addition to directing the program, Tim taught several FYE seminar classes each semester. Tim also designed, and taught for the past twelve years, a beginning course for the School of Information Technology at Middle Georgia State. Tim is currently ABD toward receiving an EdD in Higher Education Leadership. He has presented at several regional, statewide, national, and international conferences on the topics of student success and retention; the successful development, implementation, and assessment of freshman-year programs; and integrating technology into educational settings.
