With more than twenty years of experience in higher education, Mr. Schroeder has designed and coordinated academic and student support programs at multiple levels, including a state flagship research university, a private liberal arts college and a rural community college. During the past five years, Mr. Schroeder has developed STEM-specific programming to expand bridge opportunities for high school students, to improve instruction in first-year STEM gateway courses, to enrich out-of-class STEM experiences for first and second year university students, and to foster collaboration among silo-based university departments.​
Calling on her thirty years of experience as both a chemical engineer and an attorney, Nan Joesten is a consultant and executive coach with expertise in analyzing STEM degree persistence and identifying cost-effective strategies to increase student success outcomes. A sought-after speaker, author, and workshop facilitator, Nan is passionate about higher education and increasing graduation rates for STEM students. Nan served for many years on the Dean’s Advisory Council at her alma mater, the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she co-chaired a recent task force on student retention. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley Law School, Nan was honored with the school’s Boalt Hall Young alumnus achievement award in 2010. She is also a 2012 recipient of CU-Boulder’s Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award.
Since 1991 Dr. Scharberg has served as a SJSU faculty member in the department of chemistry. She has also served as director of the science education program and associate dean of the College of Science. As associate dean, Dr. Scharberg focused on STEM student success, retention, advising, and curricular design as well as course and program assessment plans and strategies. In January 2011, Dr. Scharberg was appointed to her current position, and she coordinates all aspects of supporting and promoting student success at SJSU including improving retention and graduation rates and overseeing academic support services.
Dr. Ludwig has been with Western Governors University for seventeen years and has been responsible for developing the systems, policies, and procedures that created the foundation of the competency-based university. She is currently responsible for the academic services of the university that include the Office of the Registrar, career and professional development services, alumni relations, term break and withdraw recovery teams, orientation and student success teams, field placement for the Teachers College and College of Health Professions, and information technology initiatives that impact the student experience. Dr. Ludwig was involved in the original Title IV distance demonstration project and guided the early development of the university’s system to deliver Title IV aid. She has a passion for delivering student services that support on-time progress to graduation, retention, and overall student satisfaction.
Prior to becoming AVP Joel had been the senior director for planned giving. In his new role Joel has assisted the colleges at DePaul University with gift planning and growth in major gifts and has brought charitable estate planning to the forefront of giving at DePaul University. Currently, Joel is working on special planned gifts that take advantage of the present interest rate environment and assists DePaul University in raising funds through principal gift solicitations. Previous to joining DePaul University, Joel was director of gift planning at the Art Institute of Chicago. He is trained as a certified financial planner and has worked in the private sector with clients, handling a variety of financial planning issues. He has over twenty-five years of experience in planned giving with previous experience at CARE, Rotary International, and the American Cancer Society. Joel has been active in the Chicago Council on Planned Giving, where he is the past program chair, and he is involved in the Financial Planning Association of Illinois and the Chicago Estate Planning Council.
Amjad Ayoubi oversees academic and career advising, success coaching, academic support services such as tutoring and supplemental instruction and academic services for student athletes. Amjad joined Tulane University after Hurricane Katrina; helped rebuild Career Services operations; and later helped reorganize, expand, and enhance academic advising. In 2012 Amjad and his staff initiated a new success coaching department modeled after a life coaching model. Amjad supports a team of dedicated staff who helped increase the retention rate at Tulane from 87% to 92% and the graduation rate from 78% to 83% in the past six years. Amjad believes that integrating academic and career advising is critical to the overall success of students and the university. He also believes that building an ecosystem that contains integrated academic and career advising will help students connect their education to their future career goals and will help the university deliver services in a more coherent and intentional manner.
Scott Heflin is a Senior Program Coordinator and Head VA Certifying Official for Northern Arizona University. He has over 12 years of experience with Veteran Affairs and their Educational Benefits. Scott started his career working with education and helping veterans through the University of Phoenix as their Senior Compliance Auditor. Scott has personally been involved and conducted many state / federal audits throughout the nation. Due to his extensive knowledge in this field Scott has been contacted by multiple institutions within and outside the state of Arizona for guidance and processing procedures.
Dr. Brenda Flannery is Dean for the College of Business at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Her other roles at the University have included Assistant Vice President for Undergraduate Studies and International Education, Director for the Center of Entrepreneurship, and Professor of Management. As Dean, she is a member of the President’s Expanded Cabinet and responsible for the strategic and operational success of the College of Business. Dr. Flannery’s academic, community and industry partnership work has spanned campus-wide and external initiatives included developing, delivering and publishing about service-learning and entrepreneurship programs, developing and supporting international academic partnerships, building interdisciplinary teams for external advancement outcomes, and designing curricula for transformational, real-world student learning. Awards have included 2009 Campus Technology magazine’s top technology innovation award, 2012 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Excellence in Curriculum Programming Award, 2014 Greater Mankato Growth Business Education Partnership Award, and numerous teaching honors.
Rachel LeBlanc manages the non-traditional education business for the Division of Academic and Corporate Engagement. She has over ten years of experience working with faculty and industry experts to create education solutions to meet business needs. These solutions meet a variety of workforce needs for audiences from entry-level workers to executives. Throughout her career, Rachel and her team have provided education solutions for several industries including defense, life science, high-tech, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and construction. Rachel has a B.S. and M.S. in the life sciences, as well as an M.B.A.
Angie Martin is the Vice President for Financial Planning and Chief Budget Officer for the University of Kentucky. She is responsible for the stewardship and accountability of all University assets and financial resources. Angie is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville and a master’s degree from Xavier University. She previously held positions of Vice President for Finance at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and the Assistant Vice President for Planning and Budgets at Morehead State University.
