Dr. Taléa R. Drummer-Ferrell is the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). Within the Division of Student Affairs, Dr. Drummer- Ferrell’s portfolio has oversight for the Health and Wellbeing units including University Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Campus Recreation, and Health Promotion and Wellness. Dr. Drummer-Ferrell also works directly with various graduate student groups and supports the overall strategic direction of the Division of Student Affairs. 

Prior to her current role, Dr. Drummer-Ferrell was the Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at Kent State. She has also held roles within the Student Multicultural Center, Intercollegiate Athletics, Upward Bound, Residence Services, and Student Organizations including Fraternity & Sorority Life. Throughout her career, her focus has been on advocacy, leadership, academics, diversity, and the empowerment of the individual student. Dr. Drummer-Ferrell teaches a short course at the University of South Carolina through the National Resource Center for First Year Experience and Students in transition entitled "Underrepresented at a PWI – Supporting Students of Color through their transition within a Predominantly White Institution”

Dr. Drummer-Ferrell attended undergrad at Miami University where she became a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Family Studies. She earned her Master’s Degree from the University of Louisville in College Student Personnel, and earned her Doctor of Philosophy from Kent State University in Higher Education Administration & Student Personnel. Dr. Drummer-Ferrell’s research interest is around transitioning and how identities play a role within various experiences. 

Dr. Drummer-Ferrell resides in State College, PA with her five-year-old daughter, Gayle and is the proud wife of her Husband, Colin Ferrell who is the Defensive Line Coach at Rutgers University. 

Benjamin M. Williams is the Assistant Dean of Students at Miami University where he oversees restorative practices in conduct and Title IX cases, outreach for the Office of the Dean of Students, and manages Campus Climate Concerns, and supports students in crisis. Prior to this role, he has worked in higher education for ten years and most recently served as a Development Officer and the Director of Student Orientation & Family Engagement at Georgia State University. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Georgia State University, his Master of Science in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Miami University, and is completing his Ph.D. in Education Policy Studies at Georgia State University studying sense of belonging and campus ecology.

Outside of his professional work, he volunteers with a variety of organizations included NASPA as a memberFoundation Board of Directors and the Co-Chair of the Mid-Level Administrator Steering Committee, Board of Directors for Equality Ohio, and on the Board of Visitors for the College of Arts & Sciences at Georgia State University.

Leiana Boldon is a second-year master’s student in Illinois State University’s College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) program. She serves as a NASPA Graduate Associate and currently holds several positions in the Bloomington-Normal area. She works as an academic support services graduate assistant at ISU, serves as the live-in house director for Alpha Omicron Pi – Beta Nu Chapter, and works as a practicum student in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Illinois Wesleyan University. Off the clock, she loves to sing, explore new restaurants, and host game nights.

Leiana received her Bachelor of Science in Music Business in 2021 from ISU. She was exposed to the field of student affairs during her senior year working as an admissions tour guide and applied to the CSPA program soon after. Leiana will be graduating in May of 2024, and her areas of interest include academic advising, academic success, admissions, assessment, and first year experience curriculum development. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, she’s excited and eager to explore outside of the Midwest as she begins her student affairs career.

Dr. Amelia Parnell is an accomplished higher education executive and an internationally recognized thought leader regarding current issues and emerging trends in the field. She is a passionate advocate for higher education as a tool for personal advancement and impact, and she seeks opportunities to partner with organizations and individuals who share her sincere commitment to centering students' needs.

In her prior role as vice president for research and policy for NASPA, Dr. Parnell led many of the association's scholarly and advocacy-focused activities and fostered partnerships with college administrators, researchers, grant makers, and other higher education professionals.

As a frequent keynote speaker at national and regional conferences, Amelia presents on topics related to higher education, student affairs, college affordability, student learning outcomes, and institutions' use of data and analytics. She has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and PBS NewsHour.

Amelia recently completed four years of service on the Board of Directors for EDUCAUSE, where she was Chair of the Finance & Investment Committee and the Audit Committee. She is also the past chair of the Higher Education Equity Network (HEEN), a collective impact network representing more than 25 organizations at the forefront of addressing racial equity in higher education.

Amelia enjoys opportunities to teach, and she is energized by making complex concepts easy to understand. She has had enriching engagements with students and peers as an adjunct instructor and lecturer and she is the author of the book, You Are a Data Person, which she wrote to encourage all higher education professionals to discover and embrace their unique data identity.

Amelia holds a Ph.D. in higher education from Florida State University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business administration from Florida A & M University.