Dr Niamh Nestor (she/her) is the Director of the University College Dublin Student Advisory Service. Niamh manages a team of advisers whose work is focused on student support, mental health and wellbeing among approximately 38,000 UCD students. Niamh’s background is in sociolinguistics, migration and integration, and her doctoral research focused on Polish children and teenagers who had migrated to Ireland since Poland joined the European Union in 2004. For ten years before coming into her current role, Niamh was the Student Adviser in UCD Veterinary Sciences, providing pastoral support to veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing students.

Niamh is an active member of the community life of UCD. She runs UCD Purl Jam, the university’s craft/creative group. She co-founded the UCD Veterinary Community Garden. She is an active member of the UCD Community Choir. Niamh is involved in the implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives in UCD. She co-chairs the UCD LGBT+ committee as well as the UCD LGBTI Staff Network. She is an active member of Athena SWAN in UCD. She is deeply committed to challenging injustice, intolerance and bigotry and in achieving equality, diversity and inclusion for all. She believes in active allyship and she is passionate about fighting against complacency. The work of Athena SWAN is vital in this regard, and Niamh is particularly interested in empowering and supporting students to continue the fight for equality into the future. Outside of work, Niamh loves to garden, travel, and be creative, recently taking up sewing. She also volunteers for Dublin Lesbian Line.

Ms. Wadad Youssef El Housseini started her career as in higher education as Instructor of Social Sciences at Balamand University in Lebanon where she taught for a decade. In 2001, she joined the American University of Beirut as Director of Student Activities. In 2009, she joined Qatar University as Consultant to VP of student affairs where she resumed the responsibility of Acting Director of Student Activities till May 2012. Her role entitled her to get involved in various strategic initiatives to ensure the success of Qatar University students. She is the chair of the Student Affairs Professional Development committee at Qatar University.

Founding member and former vice president for the IASAS (International Association of Student Affairs and Services). Member of the MENASA-NASPA board for 2020-2023. Recipient of the Wisdom Award of the Commission of Women’s Identities – ACPA in 2021. Interested in Leadership of Higher Education and Student Affairs, assessment and women role in higher education.

Well known for having her finger on the pulse of the region, Wadad continues to be an engaged advocate of professional development, and student affairs leadership in the Middle East.

Maria del Pilar Murguia was born in Bolivia and raised across Italy and Colombia! Her multicultural life experience allowed her to learn firsthand the challenges that living in different countries entails!  With a business background, Pilar started working in International Higher education since June 2003 at John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. The focus of her work at JCU was and is to establish and maintain an environment that supports learning, encourages a strong sense of community, and promotes student development through active engagement in university life. 

Pilar currently directly supervises the areas of Athletics, Outdoor Education Programs, Performing Arts, Student Activities and Trips, and Student Leadership Programs (OL, OSA, Student Clubs). She is part of the board of the Crisis Management Team of her University, as well as the University strategic planning committee.

Pilar is a certified Student Leadership Challenge practitioner, and her continued interest in intercultural leadership makes her curious about all new trends in the field. She is an active member AACUPI, NASPA, EUCA among other associations.

Dr. Kerrie Montgomery Orozco boasts a 25-year career in higher education, specializing in international education, student programming, strategic planning, leadership, and teaching. She's held progressively responsible roles in academic advising, study abroad, and campus life at various institutions. Kerrie is also an accomplished writer, with publications in the peer-reviewed Journal of International Students. 

Kerrie has been an active member of NASPA for more than 20 years. She has held a number of volunteer leadership roles and currently serves as Professional Development Chair for the Global Division, Membership & Engagement Chair for the Mid-Level Administrators Steering Committee, and NASPA-FL Conference Chair. She is a past Chair for the International Symposium, and remains active on the planning committee for the 2024 International Symposium.

Kerrie holds a BA in Classical Studies, dual Masters degrees from the University of Florida in Art History and Higher Education, and a PhD in Higher Education from the University of Denver.

Nour Jaber has served as an academic retention advisor from October 2014 until March 2022 when she was promoted to Director of the Academic Advising Center. She has a bachelors degree in Computer Engineering from the American University of Kuwait.

Dr. Georges Chedid holds a PhD in neuropsychology and cognitive science from the University of Montreal. He is the Director of the Counseling Center at the American University of Kuwait. Dr. Chedid has a wealth of experience leading teams of counselors and art therapists, and training professional therapists. He showed an impact on the mental health, wellbeing, and academic success of students with disabilities and mental health disorders by providing an array of high-quality services at AUK. He plays a key role in Student Affairs by contributing effectively to the organization of events and workshops at the Art Room. Dr. Chedid is a mindful leader who encourages inclusion and diversity and continually strives to enhance the quality of life for students with disabilities and mental health issues. He effectively manages and supervises the counseling center staff, clinical operations, art and music therapy rooms, budgets, and daily operations.

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.

Diana Ali is currently the director of policy research and advocacy at NASPA. Diana analyzes emerging policy issues at state and federal levels, creates tools for student affairs professionals to understand and respond to these issues, and organizes and supports NASPA advocacy and civic engagement efforts. Since moving to the area, Diana has been a non-profit advocate and is currently a mental health group facilitator in the Chicagoland community. She served as an AmeriCorps volunteer for two years and graduated with a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Ke’Ana Bradley is the Director of Justice, Equity Diversity and Inclusion, and Early Career Initiatives for NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Ke’Ana’s role with NASPA involves contributing to ongoing association efforts related to equity and social justice through programming and research as well as coordination of programming for early career students and professionals such as Careers in Student Affairs Month, the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows and Graduate Associate Programs, and the New Professionals and Graduate Student Steering Committee. Ke'Ana brings 17 years of varied experience in higher education. Prior to joining the NASPA staff, Ke'Ana's roles included Director of Student Life at Mountain View College, International Student Advisor at Lynn University, Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Services and Programs at the University of Notre Dame, and Coordinator of Student Activities and Multicultural Student Affairs at both Southern Methodist University and Texas Woman's University. Ke'Ana holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington, a master’s degree in Counseling from Southern Methodist University, a master's degree in Communications from The University of the Incarnate Word, and a bachelor’s degree in Communication from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Ke'Ana is also a Licensed Professional Counselor (TX). Ke'Ana lives in the Dallas area with her husband and their two kiddos. 

Born in Harlem, New York and raised by a single parent in the South Bronx, Dr. Salvador Mena is a graduate of the New York City public school system, and was the first in his family to attend college. Leaving New York City to attend the University of Maine proved to be a transformative experience that inspired him to pursue a career in higher education and reaffirmed his commitment to issues of inclusion and social justice.

After joining Rutgers in August of 2014 as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Dr. Mena was elevated to the role of Senior Associate Vice Chancellor in 2017, and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs in 2018. As Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, he managed the day-to-day operations of the Division of Student Affairs and helped provide leadership for the 25 offices and departments that make up the division. Specifically, he supervised the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Engagement, and departments of Dining Services, Residence Life, Student Centers and Activities, and Cultural Centers.

With a robust professional history of serving students in various administrative roles at both public and private colleges and universities, Dr. Mena has held positions at the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Maryland–College Park, Goucher College, Brown University, Illinois State University, and the University of Maine.

Professionally, Dr. Mena has also been involved with a number of higher education professional organizations, including NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. He served a two-year appointment on the ACPA/NASPA Joint Task Force on the Future of Student Affairs and served as the inaugural co-chair of NASPA’s Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community. He also served as a faculty member and organizer of NASPA’s inaugural New Professionals Institute and served on the 2017 NASPA Annual Conference Planning Committee. He currently serves an editorial reviewer for the NASPA Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice (JSARP) and was recently recognized as a Pillar of the Profession by NASPA. Dr. Mena is a regular presenter at national conferences and has published in the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice and contributed a book chapter in Cultural Centers in Higher Education: Perspectives on Identity, Theory, and Practice, Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing. He’s also served as a consultant to institutions on organizational change and diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.

Earning a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Master’s of Education in Student Development and Higher Education Administration from the University of Maine, he received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Mena’s dissertation study titled – The New South: A Case Analysis of Latino Students Attending a Historically Black University in North Carolina – focused on understanding the growing phenomena of Latinos enrolling at HBCUs in the South.

Lauren Parish is a Licensed Professional Counselor and founder of ADELLA Counseling & Wellness, PLLC located in Houston, Texas. Lauren believes that everyone deserves a cathartic space where they feel safe, valued, and seen. She is passionate about mental health advocacy, recognizing that mental health services are a privilege that should be experienced by all who are in need.

Inspired by the inclusive, warm, and selfless environment provided by her grandmother and mother, Lauren decided to pursue a career in social services and education. Her experiences include protective services casework, education equity and access, college and career counseling, and mental health therapy. Her extensive background in education combined with her dedication to mental health advocacy, uniquely positions her to address the challenges and provide valuable insights into supporting DEI initiatives in the face of political adversity.

Lauren received her bachelor degree from the University of New Orleans and her master’s and doctorate degrees from Prairie View A&M University.

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.

Dr. Scott Sheehan currently serves as the director of Advising and Career Communities at the Greene Center for Career Education and Connection at the University of Rochester. He is a proud alumnus of SUNY Plattsburgh, where he received a BA in History and Political Science and an MS in Student Affairs and Higher Education. Scott received his Ed.D. from the University of Rochester in Higher Education Administration. His professional interests include student well-being, the intersection of public policy and student success, and career and workforce development.  

Scott is passionate about higher education public policy and educating others about the implications of federal and state policy development and implementation.  He is the current Director of the Public Policy Division (PPD) at NASPA and is the youngest member of the NASPA Board of Directors in the history of the organization.  Through the PPD Scott has helped create and facilitate educational opportunities for NASPA members.  These educational opportunities include panel discussions among leading thought experts in campus free speech and expression, consideration of race in the admissions process, and Title IX regulations.  During the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference, Scott led the team that created the first Public Policy Division Case Study Competition.           

D’Najah Pendergrass Thomas (She/Her) is a practitioner whose work is centered around organizational behavior with a focus on recruitment, professional development, and career advancement. Committed to helping organizations and communities bring about transformational change in these areas, she currently serves as director of The Placement Exchange (TPE) - a partnership of ACUHO-I and NASPA, in collaboration with NACA, NODA, ASCA, and AFA. 

Monica Nixon serves as Vice President for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Previously, she held diversity, equity, and inclusion and student affairs roles at Saint Joseph’s University, Seattle University, Colgate University, the University of Puget Sound, and the University of Virginia, for which she currently serves on the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Fund alumni board.

Monica received her Master of Arts in Counselor Education and her B.A. in English in 1995 from the University of Virginia. She earned a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington, where her dissertation focused on the positionality and agency of women of color chief diversity officers in higher education institutions. Monica co-authored a chapter in the 2012 NASPA-published book Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Higher Education and has served actively with NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, ACPA – College Student Educators International, and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education.

Dr. Robert Anthony Valdez serves as the Director for Conference and Event Services and Interim Director for Catering for University Housing and Dining here at The University of Texas at Austin. He oversees the planning, coordination, and execution of a wide range of events, from events and large-scale university functions to intimate gatherings and high-profile catering services.

With over 19 years of experience in higher education and hospitality, Dr. Valdez brings a wealth of expertise to their role. He is known for his meticulous attention to detail, strategic thinking, and ability to manage complex logistics with ease. Under his leadership, the Conferences, Events and Catering team has consistently delivered outstanding experiences that meet the unique needs of each client, ensuring every event is executed flawlessly. Dr. Valdez has unique experience in his roles at UT Austin that has equipped him with a deep understanding of the industry, as well as a strong network of vendors and partners that he can leverage to deliver exceptional service.

Dr. Valdez is passionate about creating memorable experiences and takes pride in his ability to bring students’ and University visions to life. Whether it’s a small or large event or an intimate catered affair, Dr. Valdez approaches each project with the same level of dedication and enthusiasm. He truly believes in UT Austin’s motto What Starts Here Changes the World. Dr. Valdez wanted to change the world and has by sitting on the Presidential HIS Steering Committee for The University of Texas at Austin. He brought to life an annual traditional event called Longhorn Fiesta and has thousands in attendance each year. 

In addition to his professional achievements, he received his bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Business Administration with a focus on accounting and finance from Our Lady of the Lake University and a doctorate in higher education leadership and administration from Colorado State University. Dr. Valdez also sits on numerous boards for higher education associations across the United States. This allows him to know and understand trends within higher education. 

When not planning the next big event, Dr. Valdez enjoys spending time with his family, which are here today in this crowd. He loves going for walks with his 15-year-old Pomeranian named Ozzy, and really loves to relax by any body of water. This helps him stay creative and inspired in his work. When does he sleep… it’s the mystery we will never know