Robert C. McGowan serves as program coordinator for professional development and communications with the Center for First-generation Student Success. In this role, he leads the Center's virtual professional development series and the First-Generation College Celebration while serving as strategy and content for the email newsletter. Robert also supports the Center's presence at conferences and events and the Center's overall communication plan–working to strengthen a national network of scholars and practitioners to cultivate data-informed, asset-based narratives of student success that drive innovation and acknowledge this crucial population’s deep intersectionality.

Previously, Robert served as the inaugural program coordinator for The University of Scranton’s first-generation student success initiative, where he collaborated with stakeholders to build a robust network of resources designed to ease the college transition while influencing key early momentum metrics and student success outcomes.

A proud first-generation college graduate, Robert earned his B.S. in psychology and philosophy from The University of Scranton, where he was inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu (ASN), the Jesuit honor society. Robert remains an active member of ASN.

Dr. Gudrun Nyunt is an assistant professor and program coordinator of the higher education and student affairs programs at Northern Illinois University. She teaches courses in the Master’s of higher education and student affairs, the Ed.D. in higher education administration, and the Community College Leadership Ed.D. programs. Her research interests focus on employment in higher education, student mobility, and student, staff, and faculty well-being.

Dr. Eric Agee Jr. is a 2022 graduate of the NIU's Ed.D. of High Education: Community College Leadership program. He is a native of Birmingham, AL, and currently works as the Athletic Director/Health and Physical Education Instructor at Lawson State Community College. Located in Southwest Birmingham, Lawson State Community College is 1 of 12 two-year HBCUs in the U.S. His dissertation title was "We Made It. Now what? A Qualitative Case Study Exploring How the Transition of Black Men to a Historically Black Community College is Influenced by Orientation 101”. 

Dr. Jacob Cushing is currently the Director of Student Recruitment and Onboarding at the College of Lake County. With over a decade of dedication to higher education access and inclusion, he has consistently aimed to enhance the educational experience for both domestic and international students. His scholarly pursuits are rooted in amplifying international student success initiatives, with a specific focus on strategic acculturative support models. Dr. Cushing holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Master of Arts in Education from Truman State University, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration and Community College Leadership from Northern Illinois University. Dr. Cushing's academic background, extensive international travel, and experience living and working abroad have equipped him with unique insights and perspectives that have enriched his professional contributions and further underscores his commitment to fostering an environment of inclusivity, innovation, and excellence.

Dr. Kimberly Hollingsworth serves as president of Olive-Harvey College, one of City Colleges of Chicago, located on Chicago’s far South Side. Dr. Hollingsworth has over 25 years of experience in higher education. She is passionate about serving underrepresented student populations, which has led her to work in community college settings. Her current institution, Olive-Harvey College, serves thousands of students annually in their pursuit of a certificate, degree, high school equivalency, or to learn English as a second language. Dr. Hollingsworth has participated in and helped lead 2 HLC reaffirmation visits, has successfully written grant proposals totaling over $10M, has developed strong and sustainable shared governance models while at the City Colleges of Chicago, and is known for her experience in strategic planning and strategic enrollment management. 

Peter Lake is a professor of law, Charles A. Dana Chair, and the Director of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education Law and Policy at Stetson University College of Law. He has spent 30 years in the classroom teaching law students and served as Stetson’s interim director of Title IX compliance in 2015. He is an internationally-recognized expert on higher education law and policy. He has been quoted or referred to in hundreds of newspapers and court opinions throughout the United States, including the Supreme Courts of California and Massachusetts in 2018. Professor Lake, an award-winning academic, has authored numerous law review articles, books, and other publications. Professor Lake is a highly sought-after speaker, and he has served as a presenter or keynote speaker at several hundred international, national, regional, and local meetings. He has trained thousands of campus personnel on student safety and other issues, including student mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, Title IX and sex discrimination, and First Amendment issues. Professor Lake is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and serves as a Senior Higher Education Consulting Attorney at the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC.

Dr. Kimberly Lowry is a distinguished leader in community college administration, with over two decades of experience at the forefront of higher education leadership. Having served in various executive roles, including tenure at the esteemed Aspen Institute, Dr. Lowry brings a wealth of expertise in strategic planning, organizational development, and stakeholder engagement. As a nationally recognized expert in community college leadership, she is deeply committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and student success in higher education.

Dr. Lowry's dynamic leadership style, coupled with her passion for empowering aspiring leaders, has made her a sought-after speaker and facilitator. Through her engaging workshops and presentations, she shares practical strategies, innovative solutions, and actionable insights tailored to the unique challenges facing community colleges today. With a focus on fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and promoting student-centered approaches, Dr. Lowry inspires and equips participants to lead with confidence and effectiveness in their respective roles.

Dr. Monique Perry-Graves, a seasoned visionary leader, has showcased remarkable versatility across a distinguished two-decade career in business, education, and the non-profit sectors. As the Executive Director of Teach for America North Carolina, she played a pivotal role in merging TFA's state affiliates into a unified statewide model, significantly contributing to the organization's programmer expansions, including core teacher programming and the Ignite high-impact tutor fellowship.

A recognized thought leader and speaker, Dr. Perry-Graves has earned prestigious accolades such as the A. Wade Martin Innovator of the Year award from the State of SC and recognition as a Power 100 Leader by the Charlotte Business Journal. Noteworthy distinctions include being named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Mecklenburg County and an Aspen Institute Presidential Fellow for College Excellence. Transitioning from business to higher education, Dr. Perry-Graves began as an early college faculty member and ascended to pivotal senior administrative roles. As Chief Enrollment + Campus Opera<ng Officer, she drove transformative milestones, expanding enrollment and revenue, fostering staff development, and implementing a comprehensive strategic enrollment management (SEM) strategy for improved student retention.

In board roles at local, state, and national levels, Dr. Perry-Graves has contributed to organizations like Education NC, Western Governors University NC, Association of Junior Leagues International, Florence Crittenton Services of NC, and NC Central University's College of Arts and Sciences. She has chaired board committees focusing on governance/nominating, development, and CEO succession planning, and served as an appointed member of the NC Governor's task force on educator diversity.

As the founder of P. Glavid & Company in 2016, specializing in strategic advising and leadership consulting, Dr. Perry-Graves launched Lights & Lessons: Wisdom at Work (TM) in 2023, providing a platform for practical workplace insights.

Dr. Perry-Graves earned her undergraduate degree in English from NC Central University, a master's in strategic communication and leadership from Seton Hall University, and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Florida.

Kim Kruchen-Spaulding has worked in higher education for the past 10 years in a variety of roles, including academic affairs, student activities, assessment, and strategic resources. She holds an M.Ed. from the University of Virginia where she interned for the Council for Advancement of Standards and conducted research. Kim served as the Director of the Office of Assessment & Planning in the Division of Student Affairs at CU Boulder from 2017-2022. In April 2022, she began a new role at CU Boulder as the Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives. Her current work focuses on change management, researching effective strategies that impact students, and developing reporting practices for the division.

Shaun came to UF in 2017 to direct the new Office of Assessment and Research in its mission to champion a culture of evidence-based decision making for Student Life. Prior to this role Shaun served the University of West Florida for 12 years in a progression of experience including creating the Outdoor Adventures program, supervising Recreational Sports programming, instructing undergraduate and graduate courses, and managing assessment initiatives for Student Affairs. His leadership style and strategies for building assessment capacity draw from his bachelors in animal behavior, masters in experiential education, and doctorate in physical education and health.

Erica Eckert, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education Administration in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services at Kent State University. Before becoming a faculty member, she served for 15 years in a variety of administrative roles managing assessment, accreditation, program review, technology and data systems, survey development and data analysis, and academic and admissions operations.  She teaches courses on technology, business and finance, and assessment and accreditation in higher education and co-authored Business Practices in Higher Education: A Guide for Today’s Administrators (2nd ed.)  Dr. Eckert’s research explores how higher education organizations navigate systems and structures, including assessment and accreditation.

Darby Roberts, Ph.D. is director of Student Affairs Planning, Assessment & Research in the Division of Student Affairs at Texas A&M University. She has been working in student affairs assessment since 1998. As a faculty member in the Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education master’s program at Texas A&M, Darby has students submit professionally written documents in her student affairs assessment class. She has been actively involved in the NASPA Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community (twice as co-chair), as well as the Student Affairs Assessment Leaders organization. In 2023, she co-authored Student Affairs Assessment: Theory to Practice (2nd ed.) and co-edited Assessing Student Leadership, a monograph in the New Directions for Student Leadership series. She also co-edited Learning is Not a Sprint: Assessing and documenting student leader learning in cocurricular involvement. In the past several years, Darby has also contributed chapters to several books on student affairs assessment and student learning. She frequently presents at conferences and consults with campuses on their assessment needs. 

Shannon Dean-Scott, Ph.D. is an associate professor in the student affairs in higher education program at Texas State University. She has taught research and assessment courses for 10 years and was a practitioner leading various assessment projects prior to her faculty role. She is involved in the NASPA Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community and co-edited the book, Using the CAS professional standards: Diverse examples of practice which was endorsed by NASPA, ACPA, and CAS. Her current research focuses on multicultural consciousness of undergraduate students, assessment practices, and teaching pedagogies.

Miranda Swanson joined Cornell Engineering in 2017 as Associate Dean for Student Services. Her portfolio includes Engineering Admissions, Engineering Advising, Engineering Career Center, Engineering Learning Initiatives, and the Engineering Registrar, as well as support for Diversity Programs in Engineering. She works with college leadership to prioritize Cornell Engineering’s undergraduate goals, represents the college on university initiatives, and collaborates with partners across Cornell to support student success. Prior to Cornell, Miranda spent 16 years in graduate student affairs at the University of Chicago, most recently serving five years as Dean of Students in the Physical Sciences Division. At UChicago, she also served as a Dean-on-Call, Sexual Assault Dean-on-Call, and Bias Response Team member. Miranda holds a BFA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a MA in Humanities from the University of Chicago. From January 2018 to June 2022 she chaired Cornell's University Student Services Leaders (USSL) group.

Liane Fitzgerald joined Cornell University in 2016 as Director of Engineering Advising. She earned her B.S. in Professional and Technical Communication from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and her M.S. in Academic Advising from Kansas State University. Preceding Cornell Engineering, Liane spent five years as the Manager of Student Services, and seven years prior as a Senior Academic Advisor, both for the Computer Science Department at RIT. From July 2020 to June 2023 she chaired the Professional Academic Advising Leaders (PAAL) group at Cornell. In 2022 her PAAL colleagues nominated her for Cornell University President's Awards for Employee Excellence "Thoughtful Leader Award."