Future-of-work strategist Heather E. McGowan spoke at the SCUP Conference on how leaders need to consider the current literature and trends in preparing their stakeholders and organizations for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where she calls out learning as the new pension. We need to learn with our students, and consider new processes and possibilities when it comes to assessment, workforce development and lifelong learning. It requires a new way to collect our data to tell stories and ultimately provide pathways for today's students. As three progressive leaders at higher ed institutions, I was hoping to moderate a panel that includes you and considers your stories, current literature and processes for helping your institution meet the needs of today's learners.

Presenter:

Shuktara Das, Director of Analysis and Implementation - Montgomery County Community College

Shuktara Das is the Director of Analysis and Implementation at Montgomery County Community College. Shuktara handles data collection and analysis functions. She has stepped into the institutional research role, recently, in September 2021. Prior to joining institutional research, she taught as adjunct faculty of Communication Studies, at Montgomery County Community College, Lasalle University and Rutgers University. At Montgomery County Community College through her primary role as well as participation in the Educational Effectiveness committee, she has been involved in various projects to improve learning outcomes, student engagement and persistence. She also is closely involved with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work.

Presenter:

Dr. Christopher Davis, Vice President of Academic Services and Quality - University of Maryland Global Campus

Dr. Chris Davis serves as Vice President of Academic Services and Quality at the University of Maryland Global Campus. In over two decades in higher education he has served in a variety of leadership and faculty roles at multiple universities in both the non-profit and for-profit sector. He started his career in higher education as an adjunct faculty member at Baker College in Michigan in 1997. He joined the faculty at Baker full-time a year later and moved into administration first as a Dean and then as system Director for Effective Teaching and Learning and later becoming Director of Assessment. In 2008, he joined National Louis University in Chicago at Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness. Joining Colorado Technical University in 2011, he served as Vice Provost with responsibility for online faculty and later supervised doctoral programs. He became Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness at Western International University in 2014, and later became Provost, and then President during the teach-out of the university until it closed March 1, 2019. Dr. Davis served as a Higher Learning Commission peer reviewer for 15 years and has been a Middle States Commission for Higher Education reviewer since 2020.

Presenter:

Dr. Sherri Braxton, Senior Director for Digital Innovation - Bowdoin College

Dr. Sherri Braxton is the inaugural Senior Director for Digital Innovation at Bowdoin College. By way of partnerships across the college, she leads efforts to identify, prioritize and pursue opportunities for digital innovation in both curricular and co-curricular learning spaces while building on lessons learned from the COVID-19 impacted academic terms. Her work also extends to developing partnerships and collaborative initiatives with peers at other institutions as well as establishing new consortial relationships to both prepare and position the college for academic transformation on the horizon in higher education. Dr. Braxton also currently serves as a consultant for the University System of Maryland under the direction of the Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation. In that role, she supports strategic programs in the areas of alternative credentialing, online learning and other areas as needed. She is also a member of the Governing Body for the Trusted Learner Network. Dr. Braxton previously served as the Senior Director of Instructional Technology at UMBC where she was responsible for leading the Division of Information Technology’s (DoIT) strategy for end-user support of instructional technologies including online, hybrid, and in-person technologies as well as the alternative credentialing initiatives.

Presenter:

Tracy Kaiser-Goebel, Director of Educational Effectiveness - Montgomery County Community College

Tracy Kaiser-Goebel is the Director of Educational Effectiveness at Montgomery County Community College. Tracy began her career in higher education in 1997, as an adjunct instructor. While working in this role, she developed an interest in academic assessment, leading her to expand her focus and accept a position as an Educational Coordinator in 2004, to learn and engage in academic assessment, work with Disability Services on accommodations and course differentiation, and curriculum mapping/development. A lifelong learner, these experiences helped Tracy develop a strong connection with the needs of today’s college faculty and students, and a broad view of best practices in planning and implementing continuous improvements.

Moderator:

Suzanne Carbonaro, Director of Academic Partnerships, HelioCampus

Suzanne Carbonaro is the Director of Academic Partnerships at HelioCampus and has 27 years of experience in higher education assessment, teaching, and leadership. Suzanne’s research interests are in Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR), high impact practices and student self-efficacy helping to reinforce that learning happens beyond the classroom. Previously, Suzanne served as Director of Assessment at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Rider University’s College of Education and Human Services. Through her leadership, these institutions were re-accredited and received recognition including American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy 2019 Award for Excellence in Assessment.