The Drexel EdD IMPACT Podcast
Season 3, Episode 12
Dr. Lidyvez Sawyer is a distinguished leader and racial equity strategist with over 15 years of experience in public health service. As an Afro Latina, she brings a unique perspective to the field of Black antiracism, rooted in her rich culture and ethnicity. Her commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (DEI) is grounded in the understanding that racial justice is essential for creating a just and equitable society for all. Dr. Sawyer holds a Master's in Public Health from the Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, graduating with honors. She then went on to earn an EdD Doctoral degree in Leadership and Management, with a concentration in Policy, from the Drexel University School of Education. As a racial equity strategist, Dr. Sawyer is dedicated to identifying and addressing systemic barriers and disparities that affect marginalized communities and implementing strategies for promoting racial equity and anti-racism. Her extensive experience in the Sanctuary trauma-informed care model with a trauma-informed approach and an anti-racism and racial trauma framework has uniquely positioned her as a leading expert in this field. Dr. Sawyer is a transformative leader, committed to promoting equity and justice through her work. She empowers individuals and communities to effect meaningful change, fosters collaboration and inclusivity, and promotes innovation and creativity in problem-solving. Her dedication to promoting transformative leadership is rooted in the belief that it is essential for advancing racial equity and social justice. Dr. Sawyer has held several key leadership positions, including Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Drexel University College of Medicine, and Director of Community Health Wellness and Strategic Partnerships for the Stephen and Sandra Sheller Eleventh Street Family Health Practice of Drexel University. She currently serves as the Equity Implementation Strategist for the National Healthy Start Association: Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Community Care Initiative. Dr. Sawyer's doctoral research centered on social justice and equity within academic institutions, and her work has earned her the Dr. Terrence Daniels Memorial Award, a recognition of her commitment to social justice and equity. Through her research and work, she has made significant contributions to the field of racial equity and DEI and has inspired many to join her in advancing these critical causes.
Season 3, Episode 11
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Dr. Tsz Kwok is currently the Director of Academic Administration and Director of Multicultural and Equity Affairs for the Graduate College at Drexel University. In addition, he serves as an adjunct faculty for the MS Retail and Merchandising Online Program under the direction of Dr. Joseph H. Hancock III. Dr. Kwok is the recipient of the 2022 Adjunct Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence award at Drexel.
Dr. Kwok holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and a master’s degree in Teaching, Learning and Curriculum from Drexel University. Dr. Kwok serves more than 6,000 graduate students, both on campus and online, and supports faculty and professional staff members who teach and advise graduate students in all of Drexel’s college and schools. He has also been especially involved in supporting our international graduate student community.
Dr. Kwok continues to advocate for leadership development, creative leadership, domestic and international student orientation and support programs, and qualitative research methods within the Drexel community.
Season 3, Episode 10
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Dr. Kerri Sullivan is a passionate and innovative leader with over twenty-five years of experience in K-12, higher education, and nonprofit settings. In these roles, she has identified and creatively and collaboratively solved problems; developed purposeful and relevant practices and tools grounded in research; cultivated strong partnerships; generated and managed programs through innovative and data-driven measures; and fiercely advocated for young people and arts education. She has demonstrated success in amplifying individuals and envisioning and actualizing what is possible in education.
Dr. Sullivan's leadership is characterized by her passion and visionary approach. As a champion of arts and innovative education, Dr. Sullivan is committed to enhancing communication and understanding and ensuring a high-quality, culturally relevant education that empowers all learners. She is interested in innovative teaching practices, educational equity, and the integration of the arts, creativity, and social-emotional learning into teaching and learning. Dr. Sullivan currently serves as the District Arts Supervisor, K-12 for the Hamilton Township School District (Mercer Co.) in New Jersey.
Dr. Sullivan has contributed to several projects including the Arts Education and Social Emotional Learning Framework; the 2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards for the Visual & Performing Arts; New Jersey's Arts Integration Think & Do Workbook; Empowering Artists: Designing Student-Centered Learning Driven by the 2020 NJSLS-VPA; and the New Jersey Career & Technical Education Assessment in the Arts. She has presented on a wide range of educational, arts, and leadership topics at state and national conferences and serves as a consultant and professional learning facilitator for several school districts and organizations.
Dr. Sullivan earned a BFA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Acting from the University of the Arts, an MA in Educational Theatre for Colleges and Communities from New York University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Creativity & Innovation from Drexel University.
Season 3, Episode 9
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Dr. Adam Jones is currently the Director of China Programs and Special Initiatives at CET Academic Programs, where he has worked since 2004. He moved to China in the mid-90s, working first as an English instructor and then as a resident director for a study abroad program in Dalian, China. Altogether Adam spent more than 12 years living, working, and studying in China. He has worked at and with Chinese universities and study abroad programs for more than 25 years. From 2004 to 2008, Adam was the Resident Director for CET in Beijing., then returned to the CET Washington, DC office to serve as China Programs Manager, and then later as Asia Senior Programs Manager. Adam was based in Beijing in 2015-16 where he served as CET’s lead consultant on the Schwarzman Scholars Program at Tsinghua University. Prior to CET, he worked as the Program Director for the Brethren Colleges Abroad Study Center at Dalian University of Foreign Languages. Adam received a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ouachita University in Arkansas, an MA in East Asian Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Management from Drexel University.
Season 3, Episode 8
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Dr. Annalee Kelly is a survey methodologist, data collection expert, and early childhood specialist. She has over 20 years of experience at Mathematica, a research and data analytics consultancy whose mission is to improve public well-being and build a more equitable and just world where evidence drives decisions for global impact. As a survey researcher, she directs large-scale studies of children, families, and program staff in diverse settings. Dr. Kelly specializes in equitable quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and leads diverse teams to carry out complex research studies. She plans and leads sample design, measure selection, instrument design, web-based survey development and testing, recruiting study sites, in-person and remote staff trainings, and data collection monitoring and quality assurance. Dr. Kelly oversees and conducts studies that involve standardized assessments of children’s language and cognitive skills and that gather observation-based ratings of preschool classroom quality and ratings of teacher- and parent-child interactions that support children’s early learning and development. She also leads teams that collect data via computer-assisted telephone interviews, cognitive interviews, and focus groups. She leads Mathematica's Data Collection Community of Practice to improve data collection practices through collaborative problem solving, knowledge dissemination, and innovative technologies.
Dr. Kelly is also an adjunct professor of education policy. She earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Management with a concentration in Education Policy from Drexel University. Her dissertation research, recently published in a special issue of Early Childhood Research Quarterly focused on advancing the science to prevent early childhood expulsion, examined factors that might predict teacher perceptions (i.e., ratings) of child hyperactive and aggressive behaviors which can help us understand the decision-making pathways related to preschool expulsion. Dr. Kelly is passionate about the use of research evidence to drive educational policy change and promote positive and equitable outcomes for
all.
Season 3, Episode 7
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As Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives at Georgetown University, Dr. Justin Smith brings over 20 years of experience in higher education, with a particular focus on authenticity and the well-being/belonging of college students. His work emphasizes the development of supportive systems and 'cultural nudging' to foster a deep sense of community and opportunity for individual self-expression and success. As a seasoned leader, Dr. Smith directs student support initiatives in the McDonough School of Business, employing outcomes-based strategies and robust assessment methods for maximum impact.
Dr. Smith has developed several key institutional priorities at Georgetown University, including the McDonough Initiative on Student Formation and Well-Being, Senior Honors Thesis Program, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), Mentored Opportunities for Research Experience (MORE), McDonough Success Fund, Retreats and Student Formation programming, 5th Year Programs, and more. Dr. Smith began his tenure at Georgetown in 2012 as the director of orientation, transition, and family engagement in the Center for Student Engagement. Subsequently, he served as assistant dean of academic affairs in the School of Nursing.
Before his time at Georgetown, Dr. Smith had roles in orientation at the University of Arkansas and residential life at the University at Albany, SUNY, where he also completed his B.A. and M.S.Ed. He earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Management from Drexel University, further equipping him with the skills to positively impact student experiences and improve outcomes in higher education and beyond.
Season 3, Episode 6
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Dr. Karen Haberberger graduated in 2022 with her Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Drexel University’s School of Education. Dr. Haberberger is in her 31st year as a public educator in the Commonwealth. Karen began her career in 1993 in Mississippi, teaching special education for one year. Upon returning to her home state of Pennsylvania, she taught special education in the Warren County School District, Hanover Public School District, and South Western Area School District (the latter three in South Central PA). All of these roles were special education related. In 2014 she wanted to return to her roots in North Western PA and became an assistant principal of an elementary school in St. Marys, PA for two years. She then became a Supervisor of Special Education in the rural town of Johnsonburg, PA. After five years as the Supervisor, she became the Superintendent of Schools in Johnsonburg, where she continues to operate in that capacity. Karen has been a life-long learner throughout her educational career.
In the spring of 2023, Karen earned her 200-hour yoga certification through Breathe for Change. This organization focuses on yoga for educators. Karen now teaches yoga classes within her community. She is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for McKean County and is a voice for children involved in the foster care system.
Season 3, Episode 5
Dr. Zak Cohen is an educator, consultant, and blogger, specializing in personalized learning, school leadership, and Mistake Literacy. He is the Middle School Director at Francis Parker School of Louisville, with more than a decade of teaching experience in independent and international schools in the United States, China, and South Africa. He was named an ASCD Emerging Leader in 2020 and an Ignite Louisville Emerging Leader in 2022.
Season 3, Episode 4
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Dr. Terri Chambers is the Senior Director of the American Chemical Society’s Education Division. In this role, Dr. Chambers strategically defines and directs educational and professional development programs for STEM students and educators, and for chemists. Under her leadership are nation-wide programs that support excellence in chemistry education as well as STEM outreach efforts with national and international scope. The Division’s programs, products, and services advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect. She is the co-PI on the $2.3M NSF INCLUDES Alliance grant for the Inclusive Graduate Education Network and has led numerous ACS efforts focused on increasing diversity within the chemical enterprise. A former high-school and college educator, Dr. Chambers has also contributed to several projects focused on teacher recruitment and professional development, including serving as co-PI on the NSF-funded project Get the Facts Out: Changing the Conversation around STEM Teacher Recruitment. Dr. Chambers received her BS degree in chemistry from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, her master’s degree in cellular and molecular medicine from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and her Ed.D. in educational leadership and management from Drexel University.
Season 3, Episode 3
Dr. Jennifer Johnson Kebea is president of Campus Philly, a nonprofit that fuels inclusive economic growth by empowering diverse college students and recent graduates to explore, live and work in Greater Philadelphia. As a champion of young and emerging talent everywhere, Jen is deeply interested in supporting Millennials and Generation Z as they make their indelible mark on this world. Prior to working at Campus Philly, Jen served as Executive Director of the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement. Jen and her team connected with over 30,000 college students who were each in the process of charting their own civic pathway and considering how they will contribute to the greater good. Presently, Jennifer serves as faculty for both Drexel’s Goodwin College of Professional Studies and the School of Education. Jen recently developed and teaches a graduate course focused on Civic Engagement in Higher Education for the MS of Higher Education Leadership program. Jen holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Management from Drexel University, a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master’s degree in the Administration of Human Services from Chestnut Hill College. In 2021, Jennifer was recognized as one of Philadelphia’s Top 40 under 40.
Season 3, Episode 2
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Bill Ryan is an Assistant Professor In-Residence at the UCONN School of Business, where he teaches Marketing Management, Digital Marketing and Sales Management & Leadership at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Bill is also the Academic Director for the UCONN Professional Sales Leadership Program, which offers an experiential learning environment for students interested in pursuing a career in sales. He earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA., with a specialization in Higher Education Administration. His academic interests include university-community partnerships, organizational learning, student development theory and emerging teaching methods. Prior to UCONN, Bill had a successful career in marketing and sales with multiple Fortune 100 companies, including Travelers where he led Strategic Initiatives for Field Sales and Operations. He also was Assistant Vice President for Marketing Strategy and Communications, where he was responsible for development of agent, consumer and customer marketing strategy and communications, interactive marketing, and market research. Bill previously worked for CIGNA Healthcare, where he led marketing strategy development for their national account business. Prior to CIGNA, he spent 15 years in the consumer-packaged goods industry at The Gillette Company, Pepsi-Cola, and Campbell Soup, primarily in brand management, customer marketing and financial management roles. Bill received his BS in Finance from Bentley College and his MBA in Marketing from Northeastern University. He currently resides in South Windsor, CT with his wife Lori, daughter Gabrielle and son, Will.
Season 3, Episode 1
Dr. Natasha Brown has a diverse background in the fields of education, higher education, human resource development, organizational development and leadership, health care administration, and behavioral health expanding over 20+ successful years. Dr. Brown was hired in 2023 as the Director of Staff Development in the Office of Human Resources for The City of Philadelphia to create upskilling training programs for current employees and to assist with recruitment efforts in infrastructure. Dr. Brown has an empathetic and whole-person approach to her work as an Adjunct Professor at Rowan University for the Doctor of Educational Leadership degree program since 2015 and Peirce College for the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Management degree program since 2018. Dr. Brown is a Dissertation Process Advisor and Mentor for the Drexel University Doctorate of Educational Leadership and Management Program. Dr. Brown serves on the Board of Capstone Presentations and mentors graduate students working on their thesis in the Master of Science in Organizational Development and Leadership degree program at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Season 1, Episode 1
Dr. James Patrick (Jimmy) Lynch has worked in the field of scholastic athletics for more than 15 years as a teacher, coach, and athletic administrator at schools in Boston and Philadelphia. In 2016, he was named the Executive Director of Athletics for The School District of Philadelphia and President of the Philadelphia Public League. Dr. Lynch also serves as a member of the PA State Athletic Directors Association Executive Council and as the Section 2 representative to the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Board of Directors. His dissertation titled Play By K - Building a Successful Model for Scholastic Athletics in Urban Schools aimed to address the systemic challenges of access to scholastic athletic programs in urban school districts across the country. Dr. Lynch has co-written and developed several articles, papers, reports and courses and has presented at conferences at the local, regional and national levels. Through his own personal and professional experience, he has come to realize that scholastic athletic programs of all levels can really be used as a catalyst for improving leadership development and student outcomes for youth in all areas.
Season 1, Episode 2
Dr. Pia L. Scott is a Counselor, Speaker, Consultant, Community Servant, and Educator. Early in her career she knew she wanted to work in a field where she could help people but wasn’t sure which direction to take. Over the course of ten years, she has worked in Human Services, State Government, and Education. While working in higher education for the last nine years, she was ready to grow, learn, and expand her career options. Stepping out on faith, she established the P L Scott Group, LLC. Her company focuses on a 3C’s approach: Counseling, Coaching, and Consulting. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, she works with individuals, groups, and families to address mental health issues. She is a certified life coach helping people find their purpose and as a consultant she develops continuing education programs training counselors and specialists in the helping profession. Dr. Scott didn’t know it at the time, but she was cultivating a teachable strategy to inspire anyone to become enthusiastic about change, to find their unique power of resilience and their purpose. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the visionary author of How I Got Over: The Educational Pursuit of Black Female Scholars.
Season 1, Episode 3
Dr. Christine Galib serves as the Senior Director of Programs at The Ion, a technology and innovation hub in Houston, TX. The Ion anchors the Ion District, Houston’s 16-acre innovation district, which invites residents, start-ups, and corporate, academic, and civic leaders to unite, explore, and create opportunity together. Dr. Galib is a systems-thinker, educator, and founder with a non-linear career and over a dozen years of experience and demonstrated success in leadership and business development, instructional and program design, change and organizational management, coaching and mentoring, creativity and innovation, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial mindset development, and education. She is passionate about helping others discover their creative strengths, develop their entrepreneurial and investor mindsets, and build purposeful and inclusive innovation ecosystems. A Teach For America alumna with experience in investment management, pre-medical studies, and educational consulting, Christine holds her bachelor’s from Princeton University, master’s from the University of Pennsylvania, and doctorate from Drexel University. Her speaking, writing, and research interests include entrepreneurial mindset development, creativity, innovation, leadership, systems thinking, mindfulness, wellness, and apologetics. She is a published author, loves getting lost in a good book, and can be found at christinegalib.com.
Season 1, Episode 4
Dr. Kenneth Jones is head of enrollment for Year Up (Philadelphia), a Barack Obama endorsed organization that exists to close the opportunity divide between non-traditional learners and career access. Dr. Jones is a first generation college student, college and career access expert, international speaker, and author of the Amazon International Best Selling Book, Comeback Season, the Untapped Art of Mastering Your Resilience, and has focused his research and work on non-traditional student access to career and college. He has served on numerous journal review boards, including Drexel University’s Emerging Voices in Education Journal and the Journal of African American males in education out of Howard University. Dr. Ken also a 17-year veteran in higher education, who has held leadership positions in student affairs, college admissions, and academic affairs. His research has been featured by Drexel University’s School of Education, South University, and the University of Kansas’ medical school.
Season 1, Episode 5
Traci B. Fox, EdD, RT(R), RDMS, RVT (she/her), is Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University. Traci earned her BS in Diagnostic Imaging from Thomas Jefferson University and her MS in Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences from Thomas Jefferson University. In 2014 Traci graduated from Drexel’s EdD program in Educational Leadership & Management (Higher Education track). Traci has been a diagnostic medical sonographer for 28 years and an educator since 2005. Traci teaches in several areas of sonography and is also involved with ultrasound research. Dr. Fox has co-authored or contributed to five textbooks and is author/co-author of 12 peer-reviewed publications. Traci has spoken at local, national, and international conferences, including lectures in China and Dubai.
Season 1, Episode 6
Dr. Swinton-Buck is the 2021 Maryland State Principal of the Year and Principal of Digital Harbor High School in Baltimore, Maryland. She is truly committed to educating the whole student and adamantly lives her mission of “connection before content.” She earned her master’s and doctorate from Drexel and spent her time in both programs engaging in rich discussions with classmates and professors across the country while continuing her development as an education practitioner. During her time in the Educational Leadership and Management program, Dr. Swinton-Buck was able to pursue her passion in elevating the voices of change agent teachers in her research titled, “Teaching Inner-city Youth When Pedagogy Is Not Enough: A Phenomenological Study About Change Agent Teachers. Dr. Swinton-Buck is committed to her students, and she has dedicated her dissertation to them with this statement: "I dedicate this dissertation to every student who has sat in my classroom or walked the hallways of a school I have led. You are my hope for the future and fuel for my commitment to dismantling, disrupting, and destroying all barriers that stand in the way of your greatness.” Prior to her current position, Dr. Swinton-Buck was a highly effective high school English teacher and an assistant principal.
Season 1, Episode 7
Dr. Harlan Harrell is a United States Air Force Veteran and Captain (0-3) serving the state of Maryland Defense Force as Special Liaison to Community Colleges. Dr. Harrell’s professional experience includes 30 years in the design of programs and services in military/veteran services and supports applying evidence-based practices. Dr. Harrell received the Special Performance Award for the design, development, and implementation of the military and veteran services program at Georgetown University’s Law Center and the 7 Seals award and 2 Patriot awards from the United States Office of the Secretary of Defense for the design, development, implementation of the military and veteran services program at Anne Arundel Community College. Dr. Harrell also holds a Master of Science in Management and Leadership and Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Sciences from National-Louis University as well as an Associate of Applied Science in Addiction Counseling, Certificates in Veteran’s Counseling from Anne Arundel Community College, Conflict Management & Process Management from Georgia State University, and Professional Management from Georgetown University. In addition, Dr. Harrell is a Certified Facilitator of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People awarded by the Stephen Covey Institute, and a certified Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) through the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Season 1, Episode 8
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Michael Shipman is currently continuing a career in the field of academia as an Assistant Professor in Accounting for Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, PA. Formerly an Instructor of Business Administration / Accounting for the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA, he began his career as a Tax Associate working in the Industry Services Group (ISG) of the Pittsburgh Office for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Michael has remained a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since obtaining his license and is currently a member of both the Pennsylvania and American Institutes of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA, AICPA). Most recently, he graduated from Drexel University with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership & Management (Ed. D.) with a concentration in Educational Policy. Michael has also graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business with a Master's of Accounting degree (MAcc), where he also worked as a Teaching Assistant (TA) in Financial Accounting. He received his undergraduate degree in Accounting with a minor in Legal Studies from Ithaca College. Michael is passionate about experiential learning and financial literacy, and he currently lives with his wife Kathleen and cat “Benny” in Johnstown, PA.
Season 1, Episode 9
Dr. Michael Reed has worked in education for more than two decades and will soon be serving as the President of Pennsylvania College of Technology: an innovative and adaptive 4,000-student institution with a 96% placement rate in sustainable, applied technology fields. Dr. Reed currently provides leadership for 100-plus academic programs and 600-plus employees as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost and previously served as the Vice President for Academic Operations; Dean for the School of Sciences, Humanities & Visual Communications; and Assistant Dean for Liberal Arts & Sciences. Before joining Penn College, Dr. Reed had a distinguished tenure in secondary education serving as a principal, counselor, and teacher in urban, suburban, and rural areas throughout the Commonwealth.
A first-generation college student, Dr. Reed completed his doctoral studies through Drexel University with a focus on innovation, creativity, and sustainable systems.
Dr. Reed is motivated by complex challenges and the opportunity to make a profound difference for students, colleagues, industry, and the community. He believes in strength-based transformative models, the power of persistence and optimism, transparency, accountability, and empowering team members in the decision-making process. Dr. Reed presents an extensive background in transformative leadership, innovation, culture-shaping, strategic planning, instructional design, and professional development. He has proven to be highly effective at developing innovative cultures and building networks with stakeholders to advance institutional goals.
Season 1, Episode 10
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Dr. Carmen Poston-Farmer Travis is the Director of Student Affairs & Initiatives at Montgomery College. In addition to many other roles and responsibilities, she led the development and implementation of the Student Health and Wellness Center for Success focusing on students' physical and mental health well-being. Most recently, she has assumed the leadership for the development and implementation of the Presidential Scholars Program, established to increase the completion of degrees and professional certifications and representation of African American men in high-wage, high-demand careers. Carmen has over 27 years of experience in educational and vocational administration including K-12, vocational rehabilitation, and higher education. She has published and presented domestically and internationally reaching global audiences on topics relevant to food insecurity such as the publication of her dissertation entitled Addressing Food Insecurity at a Community College with a Food Campaign: An Instrumental Case Study, and other topics, including a recent presentation on The Status of Women: Care and Security Considering a Crisis and beyond.
Carmen holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Management with a concentration in Global and International Education from Drexel University, a M.P.P.A. in Public Policy and Administration from Jackson State University, and a B.S. in Business Administration from Alcorn State University.
Season 2, Episode 1
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Stephen Stunder, Ed.D is currently an Assistant Professor of Human Services at Chestnut Hill College, serving as the Director of both the Human Services Management and School Counseling Graduate Programs. Dr. Stunder is also a member of the Neurodiversity Initiative Leadership Team, which looks to create two Neurodiversity programs at Chestnut Hill College for students with both a Life Skills and Degree seeking focus. A Drexel University Alumni, Dr. Stunder is also a published author, having written several articles on leadership, educational policy, and learning difference research. Dr. Stunder is also the host of the podcast, "Pay Attention," which can be found on Spotify, Apple, and other podcast services.
Season 2, Episode 2
Dr. Mariah Rackley is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Cornwall-Lebanon School District in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. She is in her 22nd year in education--having completed 13 years as the building principal at Cedar Crest Middle School and 21 years total in the building as a learning support teacher, assistant principal, and building principal. Mariah earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Lebanon Valley College, her Masters of Education in Teaching and Curriculum and Principal Certification from Penn State University, her Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from California University of Pennsylvania, and her doctorate in Drexel University’s Educational Management and Leadership program with a concentration in Creativity and Innovation. Mariah was named one of the National Digital Principals of the Year for 2018 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and received the 2022 June Herr Educator of the Year Alumni Award from Lebanon Valley College. Mariah loves learning and is passionate about her work in the Cornwall-Lebanon School District. Mariah’s professional interests include Leadership, Agency, Student Voice, Curriculum, Personalized Learning, Innovation, Creativity, and Motivation Theory.
Season 2, Episode 3
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Traci Dennis has a strong record of teaching and leadership experience in underfunded PK-12 schools. Through teaching and scholarship, she aims to support teachers in translating antiracist theories into practice in PK-12 schools, classrooms, and curriculum. As Principal Investigator on a Gates-funded grant with the Antiracist Research & Policy Center, founded by Dr. Ibram Kendi, she codeveloped an antiracist teaching curriculum that was piloted in Summer 2021 with public-school teachers, with the goal of building a more antiracist teacher and leader workforce. Dr. Dennis presents her work at local, national, and international conferences and has been published in Education Week, the Journal of Negro Education and the Journal of Education and Social Justice. Her recent publications include a co-authored chapter in Antiracist Counseling in Schools and Communities and an Education Week opinion article: How to Train an Anti-Racist Teacher: 9 Practical Takeaways (Opinion) (edweek.org).
Season 2, Episode 4
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Bryan Boppert is a higher education professional with twenty years of experience. He earned his bachelor’s in communication from the University of Hartford in 2002 where he is currently serving as treasurer of the alumni board and one of three white allies on the alumni of color task force. In 2012 he earned his master’s in operational management from Harvard University, and most recently in 2021, he earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Drexel University. Bryan’s dissertation was on students who enter college late.
Over Bryan’s professional career he has worked in admissions as a student tour guide through becoming a director of admissions. In 2014, he left admissions to help establish Salem State University’s one stop student center which oversees meals plans, student ID cards, registration, billing, and financial aid for all prospective, current and Alumni students. In 2015, Bryan was elected as president of the New England Association of Collegiate Registrar’s and Admissions Officers (NEACRAO) where he is currently serving as the Archivist and Parliamentarian.
Bryan has presented at regional and international conferences on one stop’s and is seeking to present his research on late-admits as well as continue to advance this research topic.
Season 2, Episode 5
Dr. Brandon C.S. Wallace is an associate professor at Montgomery College and a faculty associate at Johns Hopkins University. In addition to his work in international curricula writing, public speaking, intra- and extramural presenting, and authoring several publications, he serves on several committees for multiple, national assessments. Brandon has received many awards for his work in education, most notably the Diane Tobin Award for Excellence in Teaching from the John Hopkins University’s School of Education, the Award for Professionalism from Montgomery College, and the Bowie Black Male Educators and Leaders Alliance’s Outstanding Professor Award in 2020, from Bowie State University. Dr. Wallace's interests include English language and literature, qualitative methodology, multiculturalism, assessment theory, Universal Design for Learning, specialized education, behaviorism, and restorative justice. Wallace's most recent piece, entitled "The Sixth Sense of Six Stories: Using Endarkened Empathy to Connect with African American Males through Narrative Inquiry,” is set to be published later on this year in the upcoming book Culturally Responsive Leadership for Academic and Social Equity and Justice in Schools. Brandon lives in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and enjoys leisurely reading the works of Toni Morrison, John Milton, Jane Elliott, James Baldwin, and Damon Young. Brandon is expecting his first daughter this summer; he and his partner, Rachel, intend on naming the baby girl Zora.
Season 2, Episode 6
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Dr. Erika L. McDowell is a former NJ governor’s award recipient and honors graduate of Howard University and New York University. Erika currently is an Equity Steward at Wildflower Schools. She earned her EdD from Drexel University in Educational Leadership and Management, in May 2020. Dr. McDowell has received the Association for Positive Behavior Support’s 2020 E.G. “Ted” Carr Early Career Practitioner Award and has been elected to the APBS Board of Directors for the 2021-2024 term, serving in the inaugural Racial and Ethnic Diversity Seat. Most recently, Erika was honored as one of Drexel’s 40 under 40 in 2022. She has served as an Executive Director of Professional Development and Director of PBIS/Youth Court for The School District of Philadelphia. Other positions previously held include assistant principal and teacher. Her in-depth experience includes restorative practices, equity, positive behavioral support, conflict resolution, classroom management, coaching, leadership development, and behavioral data support. In June 2022, she began her appointment as a clinical associate professor of educational leadership and policy at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo. Dr. McDowell continues to be committed to nurturing the minds and gifts of leaders, teachers, and youth nationwide.
Season 2, Episode 7
Dr. Ron Silvis, a 2016 Ed.D. graduate has spent 20 years in the field of education. After attaining a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Maryland, Dr. Silvis attained his secondary social studies teaching certification. Dr. Silvis taught 12 years in public middle school in suburban Pittsburgh while attaining a Master’s degree and School leadership papers from Gannon University.
In 2015, while working on his Dissertation at Drexel, Dr. Silvis transitioned into Higher Education, becoming the Curriculum Manager for the CUNY School of Medicine located in Harlem, New York City. After three years Dr. Silvis was hired to help develop and lead the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine as their director of pre-clerkship curriculum which at the time had zero students and only four faculty members.
Currently Dr. Silvis is the Director of the Teaching and Learning Center at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey where he is in the process of launching the Center to the University community. Dr. Silvis oversees Faculty development around Teaching and Learning, Educational research, and Community outreach programs for Stevens.
Season 2, Episode 8
Christopher Beissel, Ed.D., is the principal at Hamburg Area High School in Hamburg, PA. Dr. Beissel is a member of the Lisa and John McNichol Early Childhood Education Lab at Drexel University, and is an advocate for integration of social-emotional competencies and holistic development in classrooms and within the school community. Dr. Beissel received his Doctor of Education from Drexel University in 2021. His dissertation, titled The High School Teacher Mindset: A Mixed Methods Study, drew from both SEL and mindset literature to create a new construct called the “SEL Mindset”, as well as presented a new instrument to measure teachers’ SEL Mindset that was specifically designed for the study. Dr. Beissel’s study included nearly 200 high school teachers from across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Dr. Beissel enjoys spending time with his wife, Katie, and his daughter, Harper.
Season 2, Episode 9
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Craig "The Good Doctor" Smith is an educator, real estate investor, finance broker, and serial entrepreneur. Dr. Smith is making an impact in the community by focusing on and developing the holistic needs of young men so they can improve mentally, spiritually, physically, and educationally. He is the founder and establishmentarian of Fostering Success: Boys to Men, a Pennsylvania non-profit organization that specializes in the development of young men ages 13-21. He pushes financial literacy through his finance company CSmith Funding, LLC. Dr. Smith has roughly two decades of experience in the education field (spanning K-12 and higher education). Dr. Smith uses his proven teaching approach to transform and impact lives with purpose through diverse platforms. His knowledge base and understanding of acquisition and financing, coupled with a growing real estate portfolio nearing a valued 1.5 million dollars, has positioned Dr. Smith to teach others the "REAL GAME” of real estate and the various approaches to experiencing financial freedom. Dr. Smith is proud to add “author” to his purpose-driven work. Dr. Smith has recently accepted an appointment as Executive Director of Multicultural Affair’s with Grand Valley State University.
Season 2, Episode 10
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Stacy R. McAfee, Ed.D. has served as a senior leader with institutions of higher learning across Northern California and internationally. She served as President and CEO of the public university in the Cayman Islands and led presidential initiatives and external, community and government relations for University of the Pacific. Under her leadership, the Beyond Our Gates collective impact model anchored by University of the Pacific received a grant from The James Irvine Foundation to further efforts to improve early literacy in San Joaquin County. Prior to serving as an executive leader at University of the Pacific, McAfee led campus operations for University of Phoenix in the San Francisco Bay Area and served as the regional director of academic affairs assuring program quality, legal, regulatory and compliance for campuses in 11 western states. She has served as a faculty member in campus, hybrid and online courses for more than two decades. Stacy volunteers her time supporting various non-profits focused on building resilient families and demonstrating inclusive educational success. She is an American Leadership Forum Fellow and a graduate of various American Council of Education and Council of Independent Colleges leadership programs. McAfee holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Management from Drexel University. Her dissertation research provided insights on single head of household low-income women pursuing degrees in higher education and the unique challenges they face. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from DePaul University, a Bachelor of Business Administration from Iowa State University, and an Associate of Arts from Highland Community College.