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We are excited to announce the distinguished speakers joining us at the conference, which will be themed "Empowering Excellence-Preparing for NOW!" These accomplished individuals will share insights and real-time innovative ideas to inspire and guide us as we navigate the profession and students we have NOW. These speakers bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that will undoubtedly spark conversations and empower vibrancy and accountability.
Nichole Lewis, Major Speaker Chair
Join us on Saturday, Nov 2, at 6:30 PM for the Opening Ceremony on UNC Charlotte's beautiful campus and on Sunday, Nov 3, at 1:00 PM for the SSAO/AVP/DOS Summit in the Le Meridien Charlotte.
The featured speaker is Dr. Amelia Parnell, the President of NASPA. 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. As a frequent keynote speaker at national and regional conferences, Amelia presents on 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 teaching opportunities and is energized by making complex concepts easy to understand. As an adjunct instructor and lecturer, she has had enriching engagements with students and peers. 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. Dr. Parnell 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 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.
Join us on Monday, Nov 4, at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM for the Featured Session: Hour of Empowerment in the Le Meridien Charlotte.
The featured speaker is Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson, an educator, author, and executive coach. Known in her community as Dr. PBJ, she gives educators the strategies for accomplishing purposeful work without burnout. Dr. PBJ is an educator of almost 25 years and an Executive Coach for over 10 years. She holds a doctoral degree in Education Administration, served in executive leadership at colleges and universities, and facilitated leadership training as a faculty member for the Center for Creative Leadership. Dr. Jackson has worked in higher education at many levels, from student assistant to president’s cabinet, and has been the recipient of several professional awards and accolades. Dr. Jackson founded EduCare Training and Consulting, LLC, with the purpose of pouring into those who pour out so much. Much of her work is specifically focused on equipping and refreshing educators. Compassionate work can carry a high price tag: your mind, body, spirit, and relationships may be in distress as you serve the needs of others. Dr. Jackson leads her community to serve well without paying an ultimate price. Dr. PBJ is the creator and host of the Disrupting Burnout podcast and the author of the Amazon #1 new release and Amazon best-seller, Disrupting Burnout: The professional woman’s LIFELINE to finding purpose.
Join us on Monday, Nov 4, at 11:00 AM in the Le Meridien Charlotte to hear Dr. Kevin R. McClure.
Dr. McClure is the Murphy Distinguished Scholar of Education and Associate Professor of Higher Education in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. As one of the nation’s leading experts on higher education leadership, management, and finance, Kevin is focused on helping college and university leaders build better organizations. What does this long title mean in practice? Kevin spends most of his time on current research projects focusing on improving the higher education workplace. These projects include leading a group of staff and faculty to study my college’s workplace culture. He’s working with doctoral students to collect data on turnover among higher education employees across North Carolina. He’s also writing a book about how we create more caring colleges and universities. Kevin is perhaps best known for his commitment to public scholarship and projects that will make knowledge accessible and actionable. This means working on freely available reports with organizations like the American Council on Education, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the Association for the Study of Higher Education. As a big fan of podcasts, Kevin loves exchanging ideas about higher education with guests and hosts on various podcasts. He also frequently offers expert commentary for national media outlets like The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, BBC America, and USA Today. Kevin earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in International Education Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park. Before becoming a faculty member, he held professional positions in residence life, international programs, and academic affairs at the University of Maryland, College Park. Although he finds enormous joy in his work as a professor, he never forgets his roots as a staff member and graduate assistant.
Join us on Saturday, Nov 2, at 6:30 PM for the Opening Ceremony on UNC Charlotte's beautiful campus.
In her role with the award-winning nonpartisan network of 200+ nonprofit organizations, practitioners, and scholars, including representatives of universities in the U.S., one of Ms. Shafer’s focal areas is the sharing of frameworks, tools, and resources that support educators and student leaders to play essential roles in preserving and promoting social empowerment and civic engagement. This includes the building and rebuilding of trust, social cohesion, and measures of peacefulness. Patricia is also a Global Ambassador for the Institute of Economics & Peace (IEP), a leading think tank working to create a paradigm shift in how citizen leaders think about peace. She has made presentations, led workshops with more than 20,000 people, and designed, delivered, and implemented programs in 15 states and 18 countries. Her mission is to “make learning to be a peacebuilder a rite of passage for everyone” and to equip others to “Build Peace. Repeat the Peace.” In 2022, she received the Melanie Greenberg Award for Excellence in US Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding. Previously, Patricia held senior positions in change management and communications in two global Fortune 100 companies. She holds a Master’s degree (MSc) in Consulting and Coaching for Change - a joint venture of Oxford University, UK, and HEC France; an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management; and an MA in Journalism from The Ohio State University. She is also one of 1,500+ people recognized as a Rotary Peace Fellow, a designation from Rotary International, one of the world’s largest humanitarian and service organizations. Patricia is currently co-authoring a book titled “Peace is a Verb: Stop. Think. Build.”
Join us on Sunday, Nov 3, at 1:00 PM to hear Dr. Sandra Jordan, Chief of Staff for SACSCOC in the Le Meridien Charlotte, and for her interest session on Monday, Nov 4, at 9:00 AM.
Dr. Sandra Jordan is the Chief of Staff and Vice President at the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Prior to joining the Commission, she completed 35 years in higher education at institutions across the south and in New Mexico. In 2012, she became the Chancellor of the University of South Carolina Aiken and served in that role for nine years. Before becoming Chancellor, she served in several cabinet-level positions at numerous universities, including Academic Vice President and Provost, Dean, and Department Chair.
Before joining SACSCOC, she chaired the Principles Review Committee in 2016-2018. She has served on or chaired numerous reaffirmation committees since 1990, and she was presented with SACSCOC's highest award for service to the profession (James T. Rogers Distinguished Leadership Award).
Dr. Jordan is also active in developing future higher education leaders, training new presidents, and devoting time to mentoring cabinet-level professionals through the national American Academic Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C. She was honored by the South Carolina Legislature, was the winner of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Award for Excellence, received two awards for excellence in Cyber Security Education from the state of South Carolina, and twice recognized for exceptional leadership in education from the floor of the United States Congress. Finally, throughout her career, she has worked extensively to expand international educational partnerships by negotiating agreements and building alliances with universities in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
