Dr. DeRionne Pollard was named president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in July of 2025. Her passion for higher education has driven her leadership in several roles, most recently as the president of Nevada State University, Montgomery College (MD), and Las Positas College (CA).

Dr. Pollard’s career in higher education began in the classroom teaching English and she remains deeply committed to life-long learning for her students and herself. A student-centered ethos is at the core of her leadership and she is a champion for access, fairness, and opportunity for all. Throughout her career, Dr. Pollard's vision has been grounded in a belief that higher education is a pillar of economic mobility and community strength.

Dr. Pollard’s experience in the higher education sector is rich, having served on the American Association of Community Colleges’ 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges, the Commission on Academic, Student, and Community Development, and the Board of Directors. Dr. Pollard is a member of the National Board of Directors and Executive Committee for Generation Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the success of teen parents and parenting college students. 

Dr. Pollard was named one of Washington’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian Magazine, won a 2017 Academic Leadership Award from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and a Visionary Award from the Washington Area Women’s Foundation. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies in higher education from Loyola University Chicago.

Dr. Pollard is the first woman to be named president and CEO of AACC and now serves as the nation’s leading advocate for community colleges.

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.

Kimberly M. Lowry serves as the Vice President of the Texas Association of Community Colleges and Executive Director of the Texas Success Center. In this leadership role, Kim spearheads initiatives aimed at enhancing student success and community college leadership across Texas.

Prior to joining TACC, Kim was the Director of Leadership and Impact at The Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program. There, she played a pivotal role in developing strategies and executing initiatives that significantly advanced student success and community college leadership nationwide. Her leadership substantially contributed to the professional growth of numerous community college presidents and the overall enhancement of community college education standards.

Dr. Lowry's career is distinguished by her dedication to fostering educational excellence and her ability to lead impactful programs. As a nationally recognized expert on community college student success and a published author, Dr. Lowry has made substantial contributions to the field through her research and thought leadership. Before her tenure at The Aspen Institute, she held several key positions, including Vice President of Instruction and Student Services at Lone Star College-Houston North and Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Engagement and Success at Houston Community College. Her efforts have consistently led to significant improvements in student retention, graduation rates, and overall student engagement.

Kim graduated from Antelope Valley Community College before transferring to California State University, Long Beach, where she earned both her M.S. in Counseling with an emphasis on Student Development in Higher Education and her B.A. in Psychology. Dr. Lowry then earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of North Texas, where her research focused on community college choice,African American students, and student- high-achieving athletes.

Dr. Lowry remains actively involved in numerous professional associations. She has served as the Director of the Community College Division for NASPA, as well as a board member for the National Council of Instructional Administrators and the Southern Region of the National Council on Black American Affairs.

Dr. Peter Reyes Barbatis has been an educator for more than 35 years. Having served as a student affairs practitioner for colleges in New York, California, and Texas, he is currently the Vice President for Student Services/Enrollment Management at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, Florida since 2012. His division encompasses the offices for student support services and initiatives that promote access, engagement, retention and completion. From 2018-2022, he served as the interim Provost of the Lake Worth Campus, where he functioned as the chief site administrator and coordinated academic, business, and student services activities. As of May 2025, he also serves as the chief site administrator for the Belle Glade Campus.

Dr. Barbatis has experience in the classroom having taught developmental mathematics and student success skills. He has a bachelor’s in History and a master’s in Counselor Education from the University of Florida, and a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Florida International University. His dissertation, entitled, Perceptions of Underprepared College Students Regarding their Academic Achievement was selected as the 2009 Dissertation of the Year by the National Council on Student Development.

He is a strong student advocate who says, “Education can open minds and hearts to think beyond current boundaries. It can force us to think and rethink, to create new visions, and free us to a new dimension otherwise not possible. For those of us called to work with students, it is our duty and obligation to make a difference and facilitate this transformation.”

Dr. Russell E. Kaufman has more than 20 years of experience in education technology leadership. He currently serves as Chief Information Officer at Palm Beach State College, where he provides strategic oversight for the College’s information technology operations, including enterprise systems, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data analytics, and client support services. In Fall 2025, Institutional Research was realigned under his leadership, further integrating data, analytics, and technology to support institutional effectiveness and student success. Throughout his career, Dr. Kaufman has led major institutional initiatives, including enterprise system implementations, cybersecurity program enhancements, and the development of data-informed decision-making practices. He has played a key role in advancing digital transformation efforts that improve access, engagement, and outcomes for students, while also modernizing the College’s technology environment to meet evolving workforce and educational needs.

Prior to joining Palm Beach State College, Dr. Kaufman held leadership roles at Miami Dade College, where he supported network services, media services, and campus IT operations. He is actively engaged in statewide and national conversations on the role of technology in higher education and regularly collaborates with peer institutions to advance innovation and best practices. Dr. Kaufman holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master of Science in Information Systems, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He is committed to leveraging technology to expand opportunity, improve student outcomes, and support the mission of public higher education.

Brooke Barrick serves as the Associate Director of the Parent Scholars Program at Howard Community College, where she leads strategic initiatives that support the academic success, retention, and holistic well‑being of student parents. With deep expertise in program development, advising, and student-centered operational design, Brooke advocates for the visibility and value of parenting students in higher education.

In her role, Brooke oversees the full lifecycle of the Parent Scholars experience— from outreach and intake to eligibility review, goal setting, individualized coaching, and ongoing academic support. She is passionate about dismantling systemic barriers that disproportionately affect student parents and works collaboratively across campus departments to build structures that enhance access, stability, and belonging.

She has championed National Student Parent Month on professional platforms and continues to develop data-informed practices to shift institutional culture and drive policy change. With a commitment to equity, compassion, and practical innovation, Brooke brings a nuanced understanding of the challenges student parents face and a clear vision for how colleges can better support their success.

Amanda Messatzzia joined Wor-Wic Community College in February 2009 and has held a variety of roles across the institution, including positions in Career Services, Financial Aid, and Student Success. She also served as the college’s Registrar prior to being selected as the Associate Dean of Enrollment Management and, now, as the Dean of Enrollment Management, where she oversees enrollment strategy and initiatives designed to support student success from inquiry through completion.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication arts and a master’s degree in post-secondary education from Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from The University of Southern Mississippi, where her research focused on new student onboarding.

Her work is shaped by her experience as a first-generation college student and a passion for integrating academic, financial, and social supports into the new student experience. This perspective continues to fuel her commitment to building pathways that make college access and success possible for all students.

Katie Abreu serves as the Director of Financial Aid at Wor-Wic Community College, where she has spent the past eight years helping students and families navigate the financial aid process and access the resources they need to pursue their educational goals.

Prior to joining the financial aid office, Katie worked directly with students as the Director of TRIO Student Support Services and as a STEM grant coordinator. These roles strengthened her commitment to expanding educational access and supporting students from diverse backgrounds as they pursue postsecondary opportunities.

With three children at different stages, including one in a high school CTE program, one working as a CNA while in nursing school, and another in the workforce, Katie has seen firsthand that the traditional college pathway is not the right fit for every student. This perspective has strengthened her belief that students benefit from having multiple options that align with their interests, strengths, and career goals. She is passionate about ensuring colleges provide a range of educational options that meet students where they are while also expanding access to funding that supports multiple pathways into the workforce and meaningful careers.

Brian joined Delaware Technical Community College in August 2019 as their first Collegewide Director of Financial Aid, overseeing financial aid operations at all four of Del Techs campuses. With over 30 years of experience serving in financial aid-related positions, he began his career working in the student loan industry at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) and later Edfinancial Services in Knoxville, Tennessee.

In 2009, he was excited to take his student loan experience and begin working on a college campus, directly supporting students. Prior to joining Del Tech, Brian helped administer financial aid at other institutions, including Tennessee State University, Temple University, Immaculata University, and Bryn Athyn College. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from Tusculum College (now Tusculum University) and a Master’s Degree in Education from Tennessee State University. A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Brian has made Magnolia, Delaware, his home with his wife, Monica, and their two children, Leora and Prescott.  

This session will explore how colleges in the Maryland-DC-Delaware area have approached implementing the Workforce Pell program from a Financial Aid perspective. The conversation will include strategies, successes, challenges experienced, and what comes next. Participants are encouraged to share their insights on how they are preparing for this new proces

Tim McDuffie is the Associate Dean of Transfer Skills Development. He is a first-generation college graduate from Norfolk State University, where he earned his degree in Music Education with an emphasis on Vocal Performance. Tim also holds a master's degree in Homeland Security from The University of the District of Columbia in Washington, DC. A dedicated HBCU alumni, Tim has 25 years of experience mentoring young men and working in education. His most recent role was serving as the program lead for the Male Achievement Program at the El Centro Campus. With a robust background in Workforce Development and Transfer Services in Higher Education, Tim is committed to community service and actively engages with the homeless population. He is a proud member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc., and advocates for using one's abilities for the betterment of society.

Christina Mortellaro is the Director of SUNY Genesee Community College’s TRIO Adult Educational Opportunity Center, a federally funded program supporting first-generation and low-income adults across western New York. She previously served as Assistant Director and Student Advisor for GCC’s TRIO Upward Bound and began her career as a Rochester Youth Year AmeriCorps VISTA focused on anti-poverty work. Christina also represents Western New York in the Association for Equality and Excellence in Education, serves on GCC’s Inclusive Excellence Committee, and supports local library boards. She holds an MSEd in Higher Education Administration from SUNY Brockport and dual B.A.s in English and Communication from SUNY Geneseo.

Robin A. Van Dorn is a SUNY Reconnect Student Success Coach at Genesee Community College, supporting adult learners through individualized academic, career, and financial aid coaching. She brings more than 30 years of experience in education, including prior service as Assistant Director of the TRIO Adult Educational Opportunity Center and as an adjunct professor teaching reading, career planning, and college transition courses. A National Board-Certified Teacher with New York State certification in Elementary Education and Reading, Robin has extensive experience supporting first-generation and diverse learners. She holds Education Associates, Bachelors, and Masters degrees from SUNY Genesee Community College, SUNY Geneseo, and SUNY Brockport and is deeply committed to expanding equitable access to higher education.

Dr. Jason Abreu is currently Vice President of Student Affairs at Tarrant County College – Trinity River Campus and is a student-centered higher education leader with more than 20 years of experience across the K–20 education sector, including over 15 years in senior administrative roles within complex college systems. A proud first-generation college graduate, he brings a deeply personal commitment to advancing access, belonging, and student success. Recognized as a visionary and transformational leader, Dr. Abreu is known for his strategic thinking, collaborative leadership style, and dedication to inclusive excellence. His leadership philosophy is rooted in a “Students First” approach, ensuring that policies, programs, and institutional initiatives align with the goal of supporting students’ persistence, achievement, and completion. Throughout his career, Dr. Abreu has held leadership positions at institutions across Florida, South Carolina, and Texas, overseeing key areas within student affairs including enrollment management, admissions, registration, financial aid, veteran services, and comprehensive student support initiatives. His work has led to measurable improvements in student engagement, retention, and institutional effectiveness. Dr. Abreu has also served as an adjunct faculty member, mentoring students in leadership and organizational development. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and both a graduate and doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University. He is also a graduate of NASPA’s Student Affairs Law & Policy Certificate Program. 

Dr. Brownlee is an inclusive educator who proudly served as the sixth president of the Community College of Aurora. Within the first two years of his presidency, President Brownlee has already brought about significant change and improved the student success agenda at the Community College of Aurora. These successes include CCA embarking upon its first capital project in 24 years, record-breaking capital and scholarship fundraising, the hiring of CCA’s largest and most diverse faculty ranks in the college’s history, improved student completions by more than 20%.

Dr. Mordecai publishes frequently, including serving as a columnist for EdSurge. He also teaches for Lamar University and the University of Charleston. Dr. Mordecai has been featured on several local, state, and national platforms, including the American Association of Community Colleges Community College Journal, NASPA Leadership Exchange, EdUp Experience, EdTech Magazine, and Colorado Sentinel. In 2023, Dr. Mordecai was named 40 Under 40 by the prestigious Denver Business Journal and the Community Leader of the Year by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. In 2022, he was featured by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education Magazine as a “New School” leader representing the next generation of college presidents.

Dr. Schwartz is the newly appointed President of Paradise Valley Community College. In this role, she will provide enthusiastic leadership, support, and the dedication necessary to foster an environment that allows the tremendous community of faculty, staff, and students to continue to innovate, learn, and provide students with the opportunity to continue to innovate, learn, and grow together. She is a passionate educator committed to the community college mission and the success of all students. 

With more than 20 years of higher education experience, Dr. Schwartz joined Paradise Valley Community College in February 2019 as the Vice President for Student Affairs. In this role, she provided leadership to the Student Affairs Division and was committed to creating equitable and affirming spaces for all students to achieve academic and personal success. 

Dr. Schwartz previously served as the Dean of Pathways and Student Success and the Dean of Student Affairs at Front Range Community College in Colorado. She also served as the Director of the Center for Human Enrichment at the University of Northern Colorado – a program focused on the success of first-generation college students. She began her career working in residential living-learning environments at the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She believes education should connect with the whole person, inspire creativity, enhance self-awareness and lead to the desire and capacity to be a life-long learner. 

Dr. Schwartz’s educational credentials include a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado; a Master of Arts in Student Development in Postsecondary Education from the University of Iowa; and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Central College in Iowa. She continues to give back to the higher education community by teaching graduate-level courses at Arizona State University, the University of Colorado-Denver, and the University of Denver. Dr. Schwartz and her family enjoy living in Arizona, where they spend a lot of time on the soccer pitch, enjoying time outdoors, and connecting with the community.

Dr. Reyna M. Anaya serves as Vice President of Student Success at the Community College of Aurora (CCA). A student-centered and equity-driven leader, she is committed to advancing transformative pathways that support students in achieving their educational, personal, and professional goals. Through inclusive and collaborative leadership, she has strengthened student services at CCA and contributed to system-level impact across the Colorado Community College System.

A recognized voice in student affairs, Dra. Anaya contributes through scholarship, mentorship, and national service. She is actively engaged with NASPA and HACU and has held leadership roles with ASCA. She currently serves on the NASPA Board as Director of the Community College Division (2026–2028), following service as Senior Student Affairs Officer Representative, 2025 Annual Conference Community College Representative, and 2026 Region IV-West Conference Co-Chair.

Her leadership has been recognized at institutional, regional, and national levels, including fellowships with HACU’s La Academia de Liderazgo and the Dr. Ted Martínez, Jr. National Community College Hispanic Council Leadership Program, as well as multiple awards for her contributions to education and community college leadership, including the 2025 Region IV-West Community College Professional Award. 

Dra. Anaya earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado. Her scholarship explores intersectionality, equity, and holistic student success. Most importantly, she values time with her familia and centers community and cultural wealth in both her life and leadership.

Tonjua Williams, Ph.D., became St. Petersburg College's seventh president on July 3, 2017. A St. Petersburg native, Dr. Williams began her tenure with the college in 1986, rising through the ranks in a variety of academic and administrative roles.Prior to becoming President, Dr. Williams was Senior Vice President for Student Services from 2013 to 2017. She has served in nearly every area of the college: Provost, Associate Provost, Director of Special Programs, Program Coordinator, Academic Advisor, Recruiter, Senior Accounting Clerk, and Adjunct Faculty.

Dr. Williams earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Barry University, a master's degree in Counselor Education from the University of South Florida, and bachelor's degrees in Business Administration and Humanities from Clearwater Christian College.

In 2016, Dr. Williams was awarded the prestigious Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence, making her part of the inaugural class of the Aspen Presidential Fellows. She is a graduate of Leadership Florida, Leadership Tampa Bay, Leadership St. Pete, the Chancellor's Leadership Program, and the Executive Leadership Program at the University of Florida.

Selected by the presidents of the Florida College System, Dr. Williams served as Chair of the Florida College System Council of Presidents for the 2022-23 academic year and Legislative Session.