Jamie Merisotis Merisotis
Lumina Foundation
CEO
Keynote Jamie Merisotis from the Lumina Foundation
Presidential Panel Moderated Q&A
Jamie Merisotis is a globally recognized leader in philanthropy, education, human work and talent development, and public policy. He has been Lumina’s president and CEO since 2008. He previously was co-founder and president of the nonpartisan, Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Higher Education Policy and also served as executive director of a bipartisan national commission on college affordability appointed by the U.S. president and congressional leaders. Merisotis is the author of the acclaimed book America Needs Talent, named a Top 10 Business book of 2016 by Booklist, and his second book, Human Work: In the Age of Smart Machines, will be released in October 2020.
He is often requested as a media commentator and contributor. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, National Journal, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Washington Monthly, Politico, Roll Call, and other publications.
Merisotis has extensive global experience as an advisor and consultant in southern Africa, the former Soviet Union, Europe, and other parts of the world. A respected analyst and innovator, Merisotis is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
He is the recipient of numerous awards and holds honorary degrees from several universities and colleges. Merisotis also is a trustee for a diverse array of organizations around the world. He serves as chairman of the Council on Foundations and is a past chairman of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the world’s largest museum for children. He also is on the board of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and serves as a special adviser to the executive committee of the London-based European Access Network.
Lumina Foundation
CEO
Keynote Jamie Merisotis from the Lumina Foundation
Presidential Panel Moderated Q&A
Jamie Merisotis is a globally recognized leader in philanthropy, education, human work and talent development, and public policy. He has been Lumina’s president and CEO since 2008. He previously was co-founder and president of the nonpartisan, Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Higher Education Policy and also served as executive director of a bipartisan national commission on college affordability appointed by the U.S. president and congressional leaders. Merisotis is the author of the acclaimed book America Needs Talent, named a Top 10 Business book of 2016 by Booklist, and his second book, Human Work: In the Age of Smart Machines, will be released in October 2020.
He is often requested as a media commentator and contributor. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, National Journal, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Washington Monthly, Politico, Roll Call, and other publications.
Merisotis has extensive global experience as an advisor and consultant in southern Africa, the former Soviet Union, Europe, and other parts of the world. A respected analyst and innovator, Merisotis is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
He is the recipient of numerous awards and holds honorary degrees from several universities and colleges. Merisotis also is a trustee for a diverse array of organizations around the world. He serves as chairman of the Council on Foundations and is a past chairman of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the world’s largest museum for children. He also is on the board of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and serves as a special adviser to the executive committee of the London-based European Access Network.
Davis Jenkins Jenkins
Community College Research Center Teachers College, Columbia University
Senior Research Scholar
Regional Cross-Sector Talent Partnerships
Davis Jenkins is a senior research scholar at the Community College Research Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College. He works with colleges, schools, community groups and employers in communities and states across the country to find ways to improve educational and employment outcomes for students from groups that have been poorly served by the U.S. educational system. Together with Thomas Bailey and Shanna Jaggars, he co-authored Redesigning America’s Community Colleges: A Clearer Path to Student Success (Harvard University Press, 2015), which has helped to catalyze a national “guided pathways” whole-college reform movement. For the past five years, Jenkins has led research involving over 100 colleges nationally on the implementation of pathways reforms and their effects on student outcomes and college performance. More recently, Jenkins and his team are studying the efforts of colleges that were early adopters of guided pathways to partner with employers, universities, and K-12 schools in creating cross-sectoral education pathways designed to advance economic mobility and workforce development in their communities. Jenkins earned a Ph.D. in public policy analysis from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s in religion from Princeton University.
Community College Research Center Teachers College, Columbia University
Senior Research Scholar
Regional Cross-Sector Talent Partnerships
Davis Jenkins is a senior research scholar at the Community College Research Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College. He works with colleges, schools, community groups and employers in communities and states across the country to find ways to improve educational and employment outcomes for students from groups that have been poorly served by the U.S. educational system. Together with Thomas Bailey and Shanna Jaggars, he co-authored Redesigning America’s Community Colleges: A Clearer Path to Student Success (Harvard University Press, 2015), which has helped to catalyze a national “guided pathways” whole-college reform movement. For the past five years, Jenkins has led research involving over 100 colleges nationally on the implementation of pathways reforms and their effects on student outcomes and college performance. More recently, Jenkins and his team are studying the efforts of colleges that were early adopters of guided pathways to partner with employers, universities, and K-12 schools in creating cross-sectoral education pathways designed to advance economic mobility and workforce development in their communities. Jenkins earned a Ph.D. in public policy analysis from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s in religion from Princeton University.
Carrie Besnette Hauser
Colorado Mountain College
President & CEO
Presidential Panel Moderated Q&A
Since 2013, Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser has served as president and CEO of Colorado Mountain College, a public institution enrolling nearly 20,000 students annually at 11 campuses in the central Rocky Mountains. Previous to CMC, Hauser held leadership roles at the Kauffman Foundation, Metropolitan State University of Denver and the Daniels Fund. While at Daniels, she was a loaned executive advising Denver’s mayor on a citywide college scholarship program and assisting the Metro Denver Sports Commission on an initiative to attract top-tier sporting events, including the Olympic Games. She co-chaired the 2012 Women’s Final Four.
Hauser is currently a governor’s appointee to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and a member of the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) board and El Pomar Foundation Northwest Regional Council. At the national level, she serves on the American Council on Education Board of Directors and the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Economic Advisory Council, and is past president of the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA).
Hauser’s prior board service includes American Rivers, the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, Vail Valley Partnership, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and its foundation, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, Metro Denver Sports Commission, American Red Cross Mile High Chapter and Visit Denver. Two previous gubernatorial appointments were to Colorado’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Reform and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. She has been recognized as the 9News Leader of the Year and one of the Fifty for the Future of Colorado.
Hauser’s background includes teaching assignments at UCLA, the University of Denver and Colorado State University. She has held research and legislative staff roles as well as positions with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and the University of Arizona, her undergraduate alma mater. She earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from UCLA and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of Business.
An avid outdoorswoman and athlete, Hauser has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro (raising funds for the NSPA), climbed to the Mt. Everest base camp and held the proud title of “swamper” while working many summers for Hatch River Expeditions in the Grand Canyon, near her beloved hometown of Flagstaff, Arizona. She and her husband enjoy skiing, hiking, boating, biking and exploring the Rocky Mountain West and remote places around the world.
Colorado Mountain College
President & CEO
Presidential Panel Moderated Q&A
Since 2013, Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser has served as president and CEO of Colorado Mountain College, a public institution enrolling nearly 20,000 students annually at 11 campuses in the central Rocky Mountains. Previous to CMC, Hauser held leadership roles at the Kauffman Foundation, Metropolitan State University of Denver and the Daniels Fund. While at Daniels, she was a loaned executive advising Denver’s mayor on a citywide college scholarship program and assisting the Metro Denver Sports Commission on an initiative to attract top-tier sporting events, including the Olympic Games. She co-chaired the 2012 Women’s Final Four.
Hauser is currently a governor’s appointee to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and a member of the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) board and El Pomar Foundation Northwest Regional Council. At the national level, she serves on the American Council on Education Board of Directors and the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Economic Advisory Council, and is past president of the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA).
Hauser’s prior board service includes American Rivers, the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, Vail Valley Partnership, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and its foundation, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, Metro Denver Sports Commission, American Red Cross Mile High Chapter and Visit Denver. Two previous gubernatorial appointments were to Colorado’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Reform and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. She has been recognized as the 9News Leader of the Year and one of the Fifty for the Future of Colorado.
Hauser’s background includes teaching assignments at UCLA, the University of Denver and Colorado State University. She has held research and legislative staff roles as well as positions with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and the University of Arizona, her undergraduate alma mater. She earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from UCLA and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School of Business.
An avid outdoorswoman and athlete, Hauser has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro (raising funds for the NSPA), climbed to the Mt. Everest base camp and held the proud title of “swamper” while working many summers for Hatch River Expeditions in the Grand Canyon, near her beloved hometown of Flagstaff, Arizona. She and her husband enjoy skiing, hiking, boating, biking and exploring the Rocky Mountain West and remote places around the world.
Dr. Richard Williams
Dixie State University
President
Presidential Panel Moderated Q&A
As the 18th president in Dixie State’s rich and storied history, Dr. Richard B. Williams is eager and qualified to help the university carve out its niche. He recognizes the importance of moving quickly and methodically when deciding what programs and offerings the institution should focus on, build and add.
Prior to his arrival at Dixie State, Williams served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Indiana State University. In this position, he worked with all university academic departments and focused on helping students succeed in their studies while attending the university, and he continued to help them as they started their careers.
Before he was appointed provost, Williams was the founding dean of ISU’s College of Nursing, Health and Human Services. In this capacity, he created a vision for a robust college while carving out niche offerings. Under his direction, school enrollment increased 100 percent, and retention went up 21 percent.
Williams also served as an associate dean of the College of Education at the University of Northern Iowa, where he was a faculty member and executive associate director of the School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services. During his tenure at UNI, Williams proposed a new baccalaureate degree in athletic training. In three years under his leadership, the athletic training program’s passing rate on the Board of Certification exam was 100 percent, compared to the national average of 27 percent.
While at UNI, he helped create a private/public partnership with the local hospital, medical community, and university, which resulted in the construction of a two-story human performance center that served the surrounding rural communities. Williams holds a Bachelor of Science degree in lifestyle management from Weber State University, a master’s degree in athletic training from Indiana State, and a PhD in curriculum and instruction from New Mexico State University. Williams has authored numerous published articles, manuscripts and abstracts that he has presented at several national conferences. In addition, he has held leadership positions within the National Athletic Trainers Association and other organizations.
Dixie State University
President
Presidential Panel Moderated Q&A
As the 18th president in Dixie State’s rich and storied history, Dr. Richard B. Williams is eager and qualified to help the university carve out its niche. He recognizes the importance of moving quickly and methodically when deciding what programs and offerings the institution should focus on, build and add.
Prior to his arrival at Dixie State, Williams served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Indiana State University. In this position, he worked with all university academic departments and focused on helping students succeed in their studies while attending the university, and he continued to help them as they started their careers.
Before he was appointed provost, Williams was the founding dean of ISU’s College of Nursing, Health and Human Services. In this capacity, he created a vision for a robust college while carving out niche offerings. Under his direction, school enrollment increased 100 percent, and retention went up 21 percent.
Williams also served as an associate dean of the College of Education at the University of Northern Iowa, where he was a faculty member and executive associate director of the School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services. During his tenure at UNI, Williams proposed a new baccalaureate degree in athletic training. In three years under his leadership, the athletic training program’s passing rate on the Board of Certification exam was 100 percent, compared to the national average of 27 percent.
While at UNI, he helped create a private/public partnership with the local hospital, medical community, and university, which resulted in the construction of a two-story human performance center that served the surrounding rural communities. Williams holds a Bachelor of Science degree in lifestyle management from Weber State University, a master’s degree in athletic training from Indiana State, and a PhD in curriculum and instruction from New Mexico State University. Williams has authored numerous published articles, manuscripts and abstracts that he has presented at several national conferences. In addition, he has held leadership positions within the National Athletic Trainers Association and other organizations.
Brad L. Mortensen Mortensen
Weber State University
President
Presidential Panel Moderated Q&A
Dr. Brad L. Mortensen was named the 13th president of Weber State University in December 2018. Mortensen joined Weber State in 2004 as associate vice president for Support and Government Relations.
Beginning in 2007, Mortensen served as vice president of University Advancement for 11 years. As vice president, he developed partnerships and philanthropic resources to promote educational access, student success, inclusiveness, and faculty and staff vitality. He led communication and strategic efforts to strengthen alumni and community connections. In 2018, he began guiding Weber State’s efforts to support regional economic development. Active with several northern Utah organizations, he has chaired the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Northern Utah. Utah Business recognized him as 2018 CXO of the Year.
His prior professional endeavors include the Utah System of Higher Education, Utah Governor’s Office, Arizona legislature and two policy fellowships.
Mortensen earned a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University, a master’s degree from Syracuse University and a doctoral degree from the University of Utah.
Originally from Lyman, Idaho, Mortensen and his wife, Camille, are the parents of four children, including one who graduated from Weber State and another who plans to attend in fall 2019.
Weber State University
President
Presidential Panel Moderated Q&A
Dr. Brad L. Mortensen was named the 13th president of Weber State University in December 2018. Mortensen joined Weber State in 2004 as associate vice president for Support and Government Relations.
Beginning in 2007, Mortensen served as vice president of University Advancement for 11 years. As vice president, he developed partnerships and philanthropic resources to promote educational access, student success, inclusiveness, and faculty and staff vitality. He led communication and strategic efforts to strengthen alumni and community connections. In 2018, he began guiding Weber State’s efforts to support regional economic development. Active with several northern Utah organizations, he has chaired the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Northern Utah. Utah Business recognized him as 2018 CXO of the Year.
His prior professional endeavors include the Utah System of Higher Education, Utah Governor’s Office, Arizona legislature and two policy fellowships.
Mortensen earned a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University, a master’s degree from Syracuse University and a doctoral degree from the University of Utah.
Originally from Lyman, Idaho, Mortensen and his wife, Camille, are the parents of four children, including one who graduated from Weber State and another who plans to attend in fall 2019.
Astrid S. Tuminez Tuminez
Utah Valley University
President
Presidential Panel Moderated Q&A
Dr. Astrid S. Tuminez (pronounced too-MEE-nez) was appointed the seventh president of Utah Valley University in 2018, and is the institution’s first female president. Tuminez brings to UVU a broad and rich experience in academia, philanthropy, technology, and business. Born in a farming village in the Philippine province of Iloilo, Tuminez moved with her parents and six siblings to the slums of Iloilo City when she was two years old.
Her pursuit of education eventually took her to the United States, to Brigham Young University, where she graduated summa cum laude in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in international relations and Russian literature. She earned a master’s degree from Harvard University in Soviet studies (1988) and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in political science (1996).
Before assuming her current position, Tuminez was a world leader in the fields of technology and political science, most recently serving as an executive at Microsoft, where she led corporate, external and legal affairs in Southeast Asia. Tuminez is also the former vice dean of research and assistant dean of executive education at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, the premier school of public policy in Asia. She and her husband, Jeffrey S. Tolk, have three children. In her spare time, she enjoys running, dancing and martial arts.
Utah Valley University
President
Presidential Panel Moderated Q&A
Dr. Astrid S. Tuminez (pronounced too-MEE-nez) was appointed the seventh president of Utah Valley University in 2018, and is the institution’s first female president. Tuminez brings to UVU a broad and rich experience in academia, philanthropy, technology, and business. Born in a farming village in the Philippine province of Iloilo, Tuminez moved with her parents and six siblings to the slums of Iloilo City when she was two years old.
Her pursuit of education eventually took her to the United States, to Brigham Young University, where she graduated summa cum laude in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in international relations and Russian literature. She earned a master’s degree from Harvard University in Soviet studies (1988) and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in political science (1996).
Before assuming her current position, Tuminez was a world leader in the fields of technology and political science, most recently serving as an executive at Microsoft, where she led corporate, external and legal affairs in Southeast Asia. Tuminez is also the former vice dean of research and assistant dean of executive education at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, the premier school of public policy in Asia. She and her husband, Jeffrey S. Tolk, have three children. In her spare time, she enjoys running, dancing and martial arts.
Raymond Cross Cross
University of Wisonsin System
President
President Ray Cross, Opportunities and Challenges Implementing a Dual Mission Model
Raymond W. (Ray) Cross, Ph.D., began his appointment as the seventh president of the University of Wisconsin System on February 15, 2014.
The UW System’s two doctoral universities, 11 comprehensive universities, 13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges, and statewide UW-Extension annually serve more than 181,000 students, and reach more than one million Wisconsin citizens through outreach, public broadcasting, and continuing education programs. Cross leads a UW System workforce of some 40,000 faculty, academic and classified staff, and graduate assistants. He is also responsible for the UW System’s $5.9 billion annual budget, made up of state support, federal funding, tuition and fees, and private gifts. He reports to the UW System Board of Regents.
Previously, Cross served as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin-Extension from February 2011 through February 2014.
From 1998 until coming to Wisconsin in 2011, Cross was president of Morrisville State College, a residential agriculture and technology college of the State University of New York (SUNY). He led that school in developing and implementing a new college vision and strategic plan, which strengthened the institution’s academic quality, promoted the development of several new academic programs, integrated technology into all programs, encouraged entrepreneurialism and innovation, and established applied business centers throughout the college. Cross also spearheaded several agriculture, energy and technology initiatives, including the ThinkPad University partnership with IBM and a biodiesel co-generation project, and made rural entrepreneurship a priority.
Cross served as president of Northwest Technical College in Bemidji, Minn., from 1992-98. Previous to that he was a department head and a professor (1977-92) at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.
Cross received his doctorate in college and university administration from Michigan State University. He earned a master's degree in industrial education at Central Michigan University and a bachelor's degree in technical education from Ferris State University. In 2007, Colgate University awarded Cross an honorary doctorate of science.
In addition to his career in academia, Cross has experience in the private sector as a design engineer, small-business owner and consultant to business, industry and government. From 1967-70, Cross served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was awarded four medals for his service.
University of Wisonsin System
President
President Ray Cross, Opportunities and Challenges Implementing a Dual Mission Model
Raymond W. (Ray) Cross, Ph.D., began his appointment as the seventh president of the University of Wisconsin System on February 15, 2014.
The UW System’s two doctoral universities, 11 comprehensive universities, 13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges, and statewide UW-Extension annually serve more than 181,000 students, and reach more than one million Wisconsin citizens through outreach, public broadcasting, and continuing education programs. Cross leads a UW System workforce of some 40,000 faculty, academic and classified staff, and graduate assistants. He is also responsible for the UW System’s $5.9 billion annual budget, made up of state support, federal funding, tuition and fees, and private gifts. He reports to the UW System Board of Regents.
Previously, Cross served as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin-Extension from February 2011 through February 2014.
From 1998 until coming to Wisconsin in 2011, Cross was president of Morrisville State College, a residential agriculture and technology college of the State University of New York (SUNY). He led that school in developing and implementing a new college vision and strategic plan, which strengthened the institution’s academic quality, promoted the development of several new academic programs, integrated technology into all programs, encouraged entrepreneurialism and innovation, and established applied business centers throughout the college. Cross also spearheaded several agriculture, energy and technology initiatives, including the ThinkPad University partnership with IBM and a biodiesel co-generation project, and made rural entrepreneurship a priority.
Cross served as president of Northwest Technical College in Bemidji, Minn., from 1992-98. Previous to that he was a department head and a professor (1977-92) at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.
Cross received his doctorate in college and university administration from Michigan State University. He earned a master's degree in industrial education at Central Michigan University and a bachelor's degree in technical education from Ferris State University. In 2007, Colgate University awarded Cross an honorary doctorate of science.
In addition to his career in academia, Cross has experience in the private sector as a design engineer, small-business owner and consultant to business, industry and government. From 1967-70, Cross served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was awarded four medals for his service.
Brian Barker Barker
Colorado Mountain College
Director of Marketing & Communications
Marketing & Branding Dual Mission institutions
Colorado Mountain College
Director of Marketing & Communications
Marketing & Branding Dual Mission institutions
Dr. Michael Lacourse
Dixie State University
Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs
Moving Beyond the Dual Mission to Open Education
Dixie State University
Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs
Moving Beyond the Dual Mission to Open Education
Alan Hall Hall
Utah System of Higher Education
Regent
Opportunities in Crisis. Finding ways to Innovate
Opportunities in Crisis. Finding ways to Innovate
Mr. Hall is an award winning entrepreneur, venture capitalist, philanthropist, author, speaker and well known advocate for public education.
Mr. Hall is the founder of MarketStar Corporation, a global out sourced marketing and sales company.
He is also the co-founder of Mercato Partners, a top performing growth equity venture capital fund.
Alan is the past chairman of the Utah Technology Council, the past chairman of Weber State University’s board of trustees and the Ogden Weber Chamber of Commerce. He is the chairman of Ogden Pioneer Days and vice chair of the Ogden Union Station Museum. He serves as a board member of the Utah System of Higher Education which oversees sixteen colleges and universities.
He and his wife Jeanne are the chairman and president of the Alan and Jeanne Hall Foundation (www.hallfoundation.org). The Halls have six married children and twenty grandchildren.
Mr. Hall graduated from Weber State in1969 with a degree in psychology. He earned an MBA from Brigham Young University in 1972.
Utah System of Higher Education
Regent
Opportunities in Crisis. Finding ways to Innovate
Opportunities in Crisis. Finding ways to Innovate
Mr. Hall is an award winning entrepreneur, venture capitalist, philanthropist, author, speaker and well known advocate for public education.
Mr. Hall is the founder of MarketStar Corporation, a global out sourced marketing and sales company.
He is also the co-founder of Mercato Partners, a top performing growth equity venture capital fund.
Alan is the past chairman of the Utah Technology Council, the past chairman of Weber State University’s board of trustees and the Ogden Weber Chamber of Commerce. He is the chairman of Ogden Pioneer Days and vice chair of the Ogden Union Station Museum. He serves as a board member of the Utah System of Higher Education which oversees sixteen colleges and universities.
He and his wife Jeanne are the chairman and president of the Alan and Jeanne Hall Foundation (www.hallfoundation.org). The Halls have six married children and twenty grandchildren.
Mr. Hall graduated from Weber State in1969 with a degree in psychology. He earned an MBA from Brigham Young University in 1972.
Ann Millner Millner
Utah Legislature
Senator
Utah's Dual Mission Model Moderated Policy Leader Panel
Dr F. Ann Millner serves as the State Senator for District 18. She serves in Senate leadership as the Senate Majority Assistant Whip. She serves on several committees including the Executive Appropriations Committee, the Legislative Management Committee, and the appropriations subcommittees for both public and higher education. Additionally, she is a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures Executive Committee. She has sponsored legislation focused on economic development specifically related to commercialization of new technologies and workforce preparation, public and higher education and improving affordable healthcare. Last year she was awarded the Utah Business Legislator of the Year by the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce as well as the Utah Technology Council Legislator of the Year.
She is a Regents Professor of Health Administration and Former President at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Under Dr. Millner’s leadership as president from 2002 to 2012, Weber State became a multi-campus institution, experienced nearly a 40 percent increase in enrollment, initiated a major facilities revitalization effort, expanded its network of community partnerships, launched WSU-Davis, emerged as a regional center for economic development and earned national recognition for its undergraduate research and community-based learning initiatives.
Dr. Millner currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Intermountain Healthcare, the Board of Directors for Merit Medical and the Advisory Board for Zions Bank. In addition, she is Chair of Ogden United, and a member of the Advisory Board for the Kem Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, and the Governor’s Taskforce on Educational Excellence.
Utah Legislature
Senator
Utah's Dual Mission Model Moderated Policy Leader Panel
Dr F. Ann Millner serves as the State Senator for District 18. She serves in Senate leadership as the Senate Majority Assistant Whip. She serves on several committees including the Executive Appropriations Committee, the Legislative Management Committee, and the appropriations subcommittees for both public and higher education. Additionally, she is a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures Executive Committee. She has sponsored legislation focused on economic development specifically related to commercialization of new technologies and workforce preparation, public and higher education and improving affordable healthcare. Last year she was awarded the Utah Business Legislator of the Year by the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce as well as the Utah Technology Council Legislator of the Year.
She is a Regents Professor of Health Administration and Former President at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Under Dr. Millner’s leadership as president from 2002 to 2012, Weber State became a multi-campus institution, experienced nearly a 40 percent increase in enrollment, initiated a major facilities revitalization effort, expanded its network of community partnerships, launched WSU-Davis, emerged as a regional center for economic development and earned national recognition for its undergraduate research and community-based learning initiatives.
Dr. Millner currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Intermountain Healthcare, the Board of Directors for Merit Medical and the Advisory Board for Zions Bank. In addition, she is Chair of Ogden United, and a member of the Advisory Board for the Kem Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, and the Governor’s Taskforce on Educational Excellence.
Brad Wilson Wilson
Utah Legislature
Speaker of the House
Utah's Dual Mission Model Moderated Policy Leader Panel
Brad R. Wilson
Brad Wilson has represented the Utah’s 15th district for nearly a decade and currently serves as Speaker of the House, a position he has held since 2018. During his service in the legislature, he has championed policies to make Utah one of the strongest, most diverse, and most business friendly in the nation.
Off Capitol Hill, Speaker Wilson is the president and CEO of Destination Homes, a residential homebuilder honored as the Northern Wasatch Home Builder of the Year. Under his leadership, the company earned Utah Best of State honors in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Speaker Wilson earned a business degree from Weber State University and is a graduate of the College of Financial Planning. In 2015, he was nominated as the Weber State Alumnus of the Year.
Speaker Wilson, his wife Jeni and their three children live in Kaysville.
Utah Legislature
Speaker of the House
Utah's Dual Mission Model Moderated Policy Leader Panel
Brad R. Wilson
Brad Wilson has represented the Utah’s 15th district for nearly a decade and currently serves as Speaker of the House, a position he has held since 2018. During his service in the legislature, he has championed policies to make Utah one of the strongest, most diverse, and most business friendly in the nation.
Off Capitol Hill, Speaker Wilson is the president and CEO of Destination Homes, a residential homebuilder honored as the Northern Wasatch Home Builder of the Year. Under his leadership, the company earned Utah Best of State honors in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Speaker Wilson earned a business degree from Weber State University and is a graduate of the College of Financial Planning. In 2015, he was nominated as the Weber State Alumnus of the Year.
Speaker Wilson, his wife Jeni and their three children live in Kaysville.
Harris Simmons Simmons
Utah Board of Higher Education & Zions Bancorporation
Chairman & CEO
Utah's Dual Mission Model Moderated Policy Leader Panel
Harris H. Simmons is the chairman and chief executive officer of Zions Bancorporation, a $70 billion (assets) bank holding company that operates approximately 435 full-service banking offices throughout 11 western states.
A native of Salt Lake City, Simmons first worked for Zions in 1970 and has served in a variety of positions with Zions First National Bank and Zions Bancorporation in his more than 40 years with the organization. His positions have included serving as chief financial officer for Zions Bancorporation for five years, and president from 1986 to 2014. Mr. Simmons became CEO of Zions Bancorporation in 1990. In April 2002, Simmons added the role of chairman to his duties. Simmons received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Utah in 1977, and a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) degree from Harvard Business School in 1980. Active in community and industry affairs, Simmons has served as chairman or president of Utah Symphony, Pioneer Theatre Company, Utah Foundation, and Economic Development Corporation of Utah. He is chairman of the Board of Regents of the Utah System of Higher Education. He is president of Shelter the Homeless, Inc., and serves on the board of Utah Youth Village. He also serves on the board of directors for National Life Group (Vermont) and O.C. Tanner Company. He is past chairman of the American Bankers Association and is a member of the Bank Policy Institute. Mr. Simmons was named Banker of the Year by American Banker magazine in 2018. Harris Simmons and his wife, Amanda Pahnke Simmons, are the parents of four children.
Utah Board of Higher Education & Zions Bancorporation
Chairman & CEO
Utah's Dual Mission Model Moderated Policy Leader Panel
Harris H. Simmons is the chairman and chief executive officer of Zions Bancorporation, a $70 billion (assets) bank holding company that operates approximately 435 full-service banking offices throughout 11 western states.
A native of Salt Lake City, Simmons first worked for Zions in 1970 and has served in a variety of positions with Zions First National Bank and Zions Bancorporation in his more than 40 years with the organization. His positions have included serving as chief financial officer for Zions Bancorporation for five years, and president from 1986 to 2014. Mr. Simmons became CEO of Zions Bancorporation in 1990. In April 2002, Simmons added the role of chairman to his duties. Simmons received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Utah in 1977, and a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) degree from Harvard Business School in 1980. Active in community and industry affairs, Simmons has served as chairman or president of Utah Symphony, Pioneer Theatre Company, Utah Foundation, and Economic Development Corporation of Utah. He is chairman of the Board of Regents of the Utah System of Higher Education. He is president of Shelter the Homeless, Inc., and serves on the board of Utah Youth Village. He also serves on the board of directors for National Life Group (Vermont) and O.C. Tanner Company. He is past chairman of the American Bankers Association and is a member of the Bank Policy Institute. Mr. Simmons was named Banker of the Year by American Banker magazine in 2018. Harris Simmons and his wife, Amanda Pahnke Simmons, are the parents of four children.
Dave Woolstenhulm Woolstenhulm
Utah System of Higher Education
Commissioner
Utah's Dual Mission Model Moderated Policy Leader Panel
Dave R. Woolstenhulme, Ed.D became Commissioner of Higher Education on July 1, 2020, after serving as Interim Commissioner of Higher Education since July 2019 for the Utah System of Higher Education. Previously, he served as Vice President of Statewide Campuses for Utah State University, a position he held since 2018. Prior to that, he served as the Utah Commissioner of Technical Education where he was the CEO for the Utah System of Technical Colleges, providing state-level leadership and oversight for the eight technical colleges in Utah. He also served as Executive Vice Provost at USU, as well as the President of Uintah Basin Applied Technology College. Woolstenhulme received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Utah State University and his Doctorate of Education from the University of Wyoming.
Utah System of Higher Education
Commissioner
Utah's Dual Mission Model Moderated Policy Leader Panel
Dave R. Woolstenhulme, Ed.D became Commissioner of Higher Education on July 1, 2020, after serving as Interim Commissioner of Higher Education since July 2019 for the Utah System of Higher Education. Previously, he served as Vice President of Statewide Campuses for Utah State University, a position he held since 2018. Prior to that, he served as the Utah Commissioner of Technical Education where he was the CEO for the Utah System of Technical Colleges, providing state-level leadership and oversight for the eight technical colleges in Utah. He also served as Executive Vice Provost at USU, as well as the President of Uintah Basin Applied Technology College. Woolstenhulme received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Utah State University and his Doctorate of Education from the University of Wyoming.
Sarah Vandermark Vandermark
Dixie State University
Associate Provost of Academic Success
Building Articulation Agreements
Sarah Vandermark has spent 24 years in higher education and is currently the associate provost for academic success at Dixie State University. Sarah Vandermark is responsible for leading academic initiatives increasing student retention and success at DSU, providing leadership and collaboration across divisions, and building out degree pathways within and outside DSU. Sarah has a passion for understanding student success through data informed decision making and understanding student populations. Working with institutions to understand their current student populations through data and reviewing; cohorts in regards to credit completion, gpa as well as courses and building programs and initiatives to assist. At NJCU, as Assistant Provost for Student Success, Dr. Vandermark was able to increase graduation rate from 33% to 42% in 2 years, an increase of 9%. At NJIT, as Executive Director of Student Success, she helped raise graduation rates by 4% in one year.
Within these three institutions, Dr. Vandermark utilizes her expertise and has reorganized academic advisement models. Within the first 4 months of her tenure at DSU, she implemented a new advisement model through collaboration with the Provost, Dean’s and Advisors.
Dixie State University
Associate Provost of Academic Success
Building Articulation Agreements
Sarah Vandermark has spent 24 years in higher education and is currently the associate provost for academic success at Dixie State University. Sarah Vandermark is responsible for leading academic initiatives increasing student retention and success at DSU, providing leadership and collaboration across divisions, and building out degree pathways within and outside DSU. Sarah has a passion for understanding student success through data informed decision making and understanding student populations. Working with institutions to understand their current student populations through data and reviewing; cohorts in regards to credit completion, gpa as well as courses and building programs and initiatives to assist. At NJCU, as Assistant Provost for Student Success, Dr. Vandermark was able to increase graduation rate from 33% to 42% in 2 years, an increase of 9%. At NJIT, as Executive Director of Student Success, she helped raise graduation rates by 4% in one year.
Within these three institutions, Dr. Vandermark utilizes her expertise and has reorganized academic advisement models. Within the first 4 months of her tenure at DSU, she implemented a new advisement model through collaboration with the Provost, Dean’s and Advisors.
Jessica Gilmore Gilmore
Utah System of Higher Education
Assoc. Commissioner
Building Articulation Agreements
Dr. Gilmore began her higher education career in 1997 at Highline Community College where she served as faculty in the Business Information Technology Department. After leaving her teaching position at Highline, she helped create and lead Pearson Education’s Customer Experience division with the goal of developing tools to support Pearson’s educational technology products across all higher education disciplines. Working at institutions across the country lead Jessica to combine her love of business and academics and return to campus life first at Walla Walla Community College as a Dean of Business, Entrepreneurial Programs and Extended Education then moving to Utah to serve as an Associate Provost of Community Outreach and Economic Development.
Most recently, Jessica joined the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) as an Associate Commissioner for Workforce Development & Industry Engagement. Jessica is committed to working across both public and private institutions, industry and governmental agencies to focus on workforce and industry engagement as well as aligning academic programs to ensure increased student access, success and completion across the USHE system.
Utah System of Higher Education
Assoc. Commissioner
Building Articulation Agreements
Dr. Gilmore began her higher education career in 1997 at Highline Community College where she served as faculty in the Business Information Technology Department. After leaving her teaching position at Highline, she helped create and lead Pearson Education’s Customer Experience division with the goal of developing tools to support Pearson’s educational technology products across all higher education disciplines. Working at institutions across the country lead Jessica to combine her love of business and academics and return to campus life first at Walla Walla Community College as a Dean of Business, Entrepreneurial Programs and Extended Education then moving to Utah to serve as an Associate Provost of Community Outreach and Economic Development.
Most recently, Jessica joined the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) as an Associate Commissioner for Workforce Development & Industry Engagement. Jessica is committed to working across both public and private institutions, industry and governmental agencies to focus on workforce and industry engagement as well as aligning academic programs to ensure increased student access, success and completion across the USHE system.
Trish Baker Baker
Utah Valley University
Interim Associate Provost
Building Articulation Agreements
Trish Baker is the Sr. Director - Extended Education and Interim Associate Provost – Community Outreach and Economic Development at Utah Valley University. In her role she provides direction for Concurrent Enrollment, Career & Technical Education, Workforce Development and Articulated Programs, Executive and Professional Education, Community Education, UVU’s satellite campuses, and the Business Resource Center. With her team, she builds and oversees community relationships that help to create student pathways and economic development in the Mountainland Region. She is a native of Scotland but has lived and worked in Utah and New Hampshire since 2005.
Trish has worked as a corporate training manager in the Scottish Court Service, and as learning and development manager and policy analyst in the University of Utah’s Center for Public Policy and Administration. She also spent several years at Southern New Hampshire University, where she led a team of curriculum and assessment analysts.
Trish is an advocate for open and equitable access to education, creating articulated pathways, and student success, as exemplified in her work on articulation agreements with various technical colleges across the state.
She is a real music lover, and in her free time, she sings in a community choir and attends as many performing arts performances as possible – or at least she did before the pandemic. She also loves kayaking and riding ATVs with her two young and energetic boys.
Utah Valley University
Interim Associate Provost
Building Articulation Agreements
Trish Baker is the Sr. Director - Extended Education and Interim Associate Provost – Community Outreach and Economic Development at Utah Valley University. In her role she provides direction for Concurrent Enrollment, Career & Technical Education, Workforce Development and Articulated Programs, Executive and Professional Education, Community Education, UVU’s satellite campuses, and the Business Resource Center. With her team, she builds and oversees community relationships that help to create student pathways and economic development in the Mountainland Region. She is a native of Scotland but has lived and worked in Utah and New Hampshire since 2005.
Trish has worked as a corporate training manager in the Scottish Court Service, and as learning and development manager and policy analyst in the University of Utah’s Center for Public Policy and Administration. She also spent several years at Southern New Hampshire University, where she led a team of curriculum and assessment analysts.
Trish is an advocate for open and equitable access to education, creating articulated pathways, and student success, as exemplified in her work on articulation agreements with various technical colleges across the state.
She is a real music lover, and in her free time, she sings in a community choir and attends as many performing arts performances as possible – or at least she did before the pandemic. She also loves kayaking and riding ATVs with her two young and energetic boys.
Julie Snowball Snowball
Weber State University
Director Career and Technical Education
Building Articulation Agreements
Julie Snowball is the Assistant Vice President for Regional Partnerships at Weber State University. In this role, Julie oversees the WSU Davis Campus and other facilities in Davis County, WSU’s partnerships with NUAMES early college high school, relationships with school districts, technical colleges and industry partners as well as Career and Technical Education and Dual Enrollment activities across the university to meet the workforce development needs throughout the region. She received her undergraduate degree in Business, English and Communication from Weber State University, a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Utah and is currently preparing to complete her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy in Higher Education at the University of Utah. Julie is active in many local, state and national organizations, the Davis and Ogden/Weber Chambers of Commerce and many community service boards.
Weber State University
Director Career and Technical Education
Building Articulation Agreements
Julie Snowball is the Assistant Vice President for Regional Partnerships at Weber State University. In this role, Julie oversees the WSU Davis Campus and other facilities in Davis County, WSU’s partnerships with NUAMES early college high school, relationships with school districts, technical colleges and industry partners as well as Career and Technical Education and Dual Enrollment activities across the university to meet the workforce development needs throughout the region. She received her undergraduate degree in Business, English and Communication from Weber State University, a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Utah and is currently preparing to complete her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy in Higher Education at the University of Utah. Julie is active in many local, state and national organizations, the Davis and Ogden/Weber Chambers of Commerce and many community service boards.
Tristan Denley Denley
Tennessee Board of Regents
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Regional Cross-Sector Talent Partnerships
Q&A Panel with National Leaders in Backwards Mapping
Dr. Tristan Denley currently serves as Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at the University System of Georgia. Before moving to Georgia in May 2017 he served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the Tennessee Board of Regents from August 2013 until May 2017, and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Austin Peay State University from January 2009. Originally from Penzance, England, Dr. Denley earned his PhD in Mathematics from Trinity College Cambridge, and held positions in Sweden, Canada, and the University of Mississippi before coming to Tennessee. At Ole Miss he served as Chair of Mathematics, and Senior Fellow of the Residential College program.
Throughout his career, he has taken a hands-on approach in a variety of initiatives impacting student success. In 2007, he was chosen as a Redesign Scholar by the National Center for Academic Transformation for his work in rethinking the teaching of freshmen mathematics classes.
At Austin Peay he created Degree Compass, a course recommendation system that successfully pairs current students with the courses that best fit their talents and program of study for upcoming semesters. This system, which combines hundreds of thousands of past students’ grades with each particular student’s transcript, to make individualized recommendations for current students has received recognition from Educause, Complete College America, Lumina Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and President Obama and won a platinum IMS Global Learning Impact Award in 2014.
In 2016 he was selected as one of the Washington Monthly’s sixteen most innovative people in Higher Education, one of the Center for Digital Education’s Top 30 Technologists, Transformers and Trailblazers and was invited to the White House to address recipients of President Obama’s First in the World grants as a model of what could be achieved by a higher education system. He was the recipient of the 2016 Newel Perry Award from the National Federation of the Blind for his leadership of a systemic approach to the accessibility of educational content. He began 2017 by being named as one of five higher education leaders to watch in 2017 (and beyond) by Education Dive, and was named as a Complete College America Fellow.
His most recent work has been to develop and implement a comprehensive system-scale student success strategy, the Momentum Year that has transformed developmental education and advising at all the Georgia institutions. He has also developed and launched the nexus degree, the first new degree structure in the United States in more than 100 years.
His work continues in using a data-informed approach to implement a wide variety of system scale initiatives surrounding college completion, stretching from education redesign in a variety of disciplines, to the role of predictive analytics and data mining, cognitive psychology and behavioral economics in higher education.
Tennessee Board of Regents
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Regional Cross-Sector Talent Partnerships
Q&A Panel with National Leaders in Backwards Mapping
Dr. Tristan Denley currently serves as Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at the University System of Georgia. Before moving to Georgia in May 2017 he served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the Tennessee Board of Regents from August 2013 until May 2017, and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Austin Peay State University from January 2009. Originally from Penzance, England, Dr. Denley earned his PhD in Mathematics from Trinity College Cambridge, and held positions in Sweden, Canada, and the University of Mississippi before coming to Tennessee. At Ole Miss he served as Chair of Mathematics, and Senior Fellow of the Residential College program.
Throughout his career, he has taken a hands-on approach in a variety of initiatives impacting student success. In 2007, he was chosen as a Redesign Scholar by the National Center for Academic Transformation for his work in rethinking the teaching of freshmen mathematics classes.
At Austin Peay he created Degree Compass, a course recommendation system that successfully pairs current students with the courses that best fit their talents and program of study for upcoming semesters. This system, which combines hundreds of thousands of past students’ grades with each particular student’s transcript, to make individualized recommendations for current students has received recognition from Educause, Complete College America, Lumina Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and President Obama and won a platinum IMS Global Learning Impact Award in 2014.
In 2016 he was selected as one of the Washington Monthly’s sixteen most innovative people in Higher Education, one of the Center for Digital Education’s Top 30 Technologists, Transformers and Trailblazers and was invited to the White House to address recipients of President Obama’s First in the World grants as a model of what could be achieved by a higher education system. He was the recipient of the 2016 Newel Perry Award from the National Federation of the Blind for his leadership of a systemic approach to the accessibility of educational content. He began 2017 by being named as one of five higher education leaders to watch in 2017 (and beyond) by Education Dive, and was named as a Complete College America Fellow.
His most recent work has been to develop and implement a comprehensive system-scale student success strategy, the Momentum Year that has transformed developmental education and advising at all the Georgia institutions. He has also developed and launched the nexus degree, the first new degree structure in the United States in more than 100 years.
His work continues in using a data-informed approach to implement a wide variety of system scale initiatives surrounding college completion, stretching from education redesign in a variety of disciplines, to the role of predictive analytics and data mining, cognitive psychology and behavioral economics in higher education.
Ed Massey Massey
Indian River State College
President
Regional Cross-Sector Talent Partnerships
Q&A Panel with National Leaders in Backwards Mapping
Under Dr. Ed Massey’s leadership, Indian River State College was named the
number one college in the nation in April 2019, winning the Aspen Prize for
Community College Excellence, the signature recognition of high achievement and
performance among America’s community colleges. Dr. Massey was appointed as
Indian River State College’s third president in 1988. He earned his Ph.D. in
Zoology, with an emphasis in Marine Biochemistry from the University of Southern
Mississippi and completed advanced studies in Evolutionary Biochemistry at Duke
University.
Dr. Massey is a fixture of leadership on the local, state, and national level. He served
for over 15 years as the Chairman of the Florida Articulation Coordinating
Committee and has served on several boards including the American Association of
Community Colleges, National Association for Community College
Entrepreneurship, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on
Colleges and others.
In recognition of his outstanding leadership, Dr. Massey has received the 2020 Phi
Theta Kappa Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2013 Association
of Community College Trustees Southern Regional Chief Executive Officer Award
and Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Award, the 2013 Peter Hegener Leadership
Award and the 2008 Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society Shirley B. Gordon
Award of Distinction.
In addition to leading IRSC, Dr. Massey is a devoted family man to his wife, Jo,
three children, six grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Indian River State College
President
Regional Cross-Sector Talent Partnerships
Q&A Panel with National Leaders in Backwards Mapping
Under Dr. Ed Massey’s leadership, Indian River State College was named the
number one college in the nation in April 2019, winning the Aspen Prize for
Community College Excellence, the signature recognition of high achievement and
performance among America’s community colleges. Dr. Massey was appointed as
Indian River State College’s third president in 1988. He earned his Ph.D. in
Zoology, with an emphasis in Marine Biochemistry from the University of Southern
Mississippi and completed advanced studies in Evolutionary Biochemistry at Duke
University.
Dr. Massey is a fixture of leadership on the local, state, and national level. He served
for over 15 years as the Chairman of the Florida Articulation Coordinating
Committee and has served on several boards including the American Association of
Community Colleges, National Association for Community College
Entrepreneurship, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on
Colleges and others.
In recognition of his outstanding leadership, Dr. Massey has received the 2020 Phi
Theta Kappa Michael Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2013 Association
of Community College Trustees Southern Regional Chief Executive Officer Award
and Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Award, the 2013 Peter Hegener Leadership
Award and the 2008 Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society Shirley B. Gordon
Award of Distinction.
In addition to leading IRSC, Dr. Massey is a devoted family man to his wife, Jo,
three children, six grandchildren and one great grandchild.