Thanks for joining us at the Pearson Leadership Forum
CreatExchange New Ideas
- at -
- at
W Austin, Austin, TX
At this invitation-only event, leaders in higher ed, business, and government came together to network, share insights, and explore how technology is creating opportunities for bold change.
At this invitation-only event, leaders in higher ed, business, and government came together to network, share insights, and explore how technology is creating opportunities for bold change..
Thank you for joining us in Austin for the Pearson Leadership Forum
We hope you will plan to join us at future events!
Relevant resources
Global Learner Survey 2020
7,000 people in 7 countries. In the second annual Global Learner Survey see what learners want from education and work in the COVID era.
Pivot: A vision for the new university
The news sure looks bad: rapidly shifting student demographics, the ever-increasing speed of technological innovation, and extreme legislative and public pressure seem to be squeezing colleges and universities into a lose-lose race toward irrelevancy. But higher education is far from doomed. At this inflection point, it is time to pivot towards a new university, one that radically refocuses structure and pedagogy on students and their learning; reimagines the foundational institutional structures of leadership, tenure, and the higher education business model; and produces national examples for access and inclusion.
CreatExchange Agenda*
For the ExecExchange agenda, please visit the ExecExchange tab.
*Agenda subject to change.
ExecExchange
Preparing learners for lifelong career success
An exclusive experience for executives
This track is for the highest leaders at a company, organization, or higher education institution including Presidents, Vice Presidents and other executives. At Austin’s Capital Factory, attendees will participate in conversations exploring today’s most pressing workforce challenges and opportunities.
ExecExchange Agenda*
Thursday, October 24, 2019 |
|
8:00 a.m. |
Attendee Breakfast and Registration |
8:30 a.m. |
Welcome |
8:45 a.m.−9:15 a.m. |
Keynote - John Fallon Great Room ABC |
9:15 a.m.−10:00 a.m. |
Keynote - Kat Cole Great Room ABC |
10:00 a.m.−10:30 a.m. |
Fireside Chat John Fallon, Chief Executive Officer, Pearson; Kat Cole, COO and President, North America, FOCUS Brands; Mark Lombardi, PhD, President, Maryville University |
10:30 a.m.−11:00 a.m. |
ExecExchange attendees move to Capital Factory (pre-registration was required) |
11:00 a.m.−11:30 a.m. |
ExecExchange: Welcome & introductions Preparing learners for lifelong career success |
11:30 a.m.−12:45 p.m. |
ExecExchange: Career start According to the Global Learner Survey, 64% of US learners say universities and colleges aren’t teaching the right skills for today’s job market.** What roles should higher ed and employers play in preparing learners to enter the workforce? |
12:45 p.m.−1:30 p.m. |
ExecExchange: Lunch |
1:30 p.m.−2:45 p.m. |
ExecExchange: Career growth and change Among US learners who have needed to upskill for their jobs in the last two years, 42% said they found information online and taught themselves.** How do we make sure employees have meaningful and relevant upskilling and professional development opportunities? |
2:45 p.m.−3:15 p.m. |
ExecExchange: Next steps & adjourn Transportation provided back to the W Austin |
4:00 p.m.−4:30 p.m. |
Wrap up & next steps – all attendees |
4:30 p.m.−5:00 p.m. |
Networking & closing reception |
*Agenda subject to change.
Speakers
Please check back often for speaker updates.
Featured Keynote - Kat Cole
Chief Operating Officer and President
FOCUS Brands, North America
Former president of Cinnabon Inc., and most previously Group President of Cinnabon’s parent company, FOCUS Brands, Kat Cole is now Chief Operating Officer and President, FOCUS Brands, North America, leading both the global, multi-channel licensing division as well as the 6 brands domestic franchise companies: Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, Moe’s, Schlotzsky’s, McAlister’s, and Carvel, overseeing 4200 of the almost 6000 operations globally and all alternative channels such as grocery, foodservice and ecommerce. Kat is an angel investor, humanitarian and philanthropist focused on elevating self-sufficiency through education, technology and access to opportunity around the world. She is a Young Global Leader (YGL) of the World Economic Forum, member of the United Nations Global Entrepreneurs Council, and a mentor, board member and advisor to emerging retail, education and tech startups. Kat was featured on CBS' "Undercover Boss", named one of Fortune magazine's 40 under 40 and one of CNBC's Next 25 List of Innovators, Leaders and Disruptors. Her story of moving up from a humble childhood to Hooters waitress at 18 to restaurant executive by 26 and global chain president by 31 is often shared as an example of the American and entrepreneurial dream. Kat is considered a leader in change management, community engagement, brand building and leadership.
Keynote - John Fallon
Chief Executive Officer
Pearson
John Fallon became Pearson’s chief executive on January 1, 2013. Since 2008, he had been responsible for the company’s education businesses outside North America and a member of the Pearson management committee. He joined Pearson in 1997 as director of communications and was appointed president of Pearson Inc. in 2000. In 2003, he was appointed CEO of Pearson’s educational publishing businesses for Europe, Middle East & Africa. Prior to joining Pearson, John was director of corporate affairs at Powergen plc and was also a member of the company’s executive committee. Earlier in his career, John held senior public policy and communications roles in UK local government.
Mark Lombardi, PhD
President
Maryville University
Dr. Mark Lombardi is the tenth President of Maryville University and has served since 2007. During his tenure, Maryville University has more than tripled enrollment to over 10,000 students hailing from 50 states and 60 countries. Maryville is the fourth fastest growing university in the nation according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Maryville University has been named an Apple Distinguished School for 2018–2021—marking the second recognition—for leadership and excellence in providing students with a high-tech, mobile learning environment.
During Dr. Lombardi’s tenure, Maryville has achieved national University status including being ranked in the top 15% of universities for ROI as determined by Educate to Careers. Maryville has also been honored with the NCAA Division II Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence for the 4 out of the last 5 years—including one year in which Maryville was the only school in the U.S. with a 100 percent student-athlete graduation rate.
In addition to many boards, Dr. Lombardi currently serves as the Chair of the St. Louis Sports Commission and was recently named Chair on the NCAA Governors Board for Diversity and Equity. He has also served as a mentor for seven years in the NCAA Pathway program. Dr. Lombardi has given over 200 speeches and interviews to domestic and international audiences on leadership, innovation, the future of higher education and the international political scene. He is a noted author, publishing several articles and four books, one of which is in its 10th edition. He is also co-author of the recently released book entitled Pivot: A Vision for the New University.
Dr. Lombardi earned a PhD and master’s degree in political science and international relations from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Purdue University.
Curtiss Barnes
Managing Director, North America Partner Markets & Ecosystem
Pearson
As Managing Director for North America Partner Markets & Ecosystem, Curtiss is helping Pearson transform its business by establishing the company as a leading player in North America’s lifelong learning and workforce development ecosystem. This new opportunity builds on his last six years helping Pearson accelerate its digital transformation away from traditional content and business models.
Curtiss has a broad range of experience with enterprise and instructional systems that support the core missions of education. Prior to joining Pearson, Curtiss held executive roles at large and small enterprises serving the education industry worldwide, including Cengage Learning, Oracle, PeopleSoft, and Campus Pipeline. Before his career transition to the commercial sector, he held positions in alumni and corporate relations, development, admissions, and executive education at a number of higher education institutions.
Curtiss holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Clark University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Rod Bristow
President, Global OBL, Global OPM & UK
Pearson
Rod is President, Global OBL, Global OPM & UK for Pearson. In 2010 Rod became President for Pearson UK and in January 2014 was appointed to lead all other core markets. Rod has worked in education, publishing, and assessment for 30 years in universities, schools, colleges, professional training, and learning technologies in the UK and internationally.
Rod is a trustee for the Education and Employers Taskforce, a fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, governor for Sir Charles Kao University Technical College, and past president of the Publishers Association. He is also chair of the judging panel for the National Teaching Awards. Rod is a graduate of University College London.
Dr. Bridget Calhoun
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research
Rangos School of Health Sciences
Duquesne University
Dr. Calhoun is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research in the Rangos School of Health Sciences at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. She is a physician assistant by clinical training, and earned a doctoral degree in public health in infectious diseases and microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh in 2008. Before becoming the Associate Dean, she served as the Chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at Duquesne University for more than 18 years. She has experience teaching classes at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and in online, face-to-face, and hybrid courses.
In her role as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research at Duquesne University she is responsible for developing new academic programs including micro-credentials and executive training programs for working professionals. In addition to her current administrative duties at Duquesne University, Dr. Calhoun maintains a research agenda in HIV medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and has many publications in this field. Dr. Calhoun is knowledgeable about specialized accreditation for clinical programs and has experience in designing professional development training for people entering academia from clinical practice.
Karin Cantrell
Director, Global Research & Insights
Pearson
Karin Cantrell is a Research Director on Pearson’s Global Research and Insights team. In this role, she oversees large-scale research initiatives, leads workshops, and meets regularly with key stakeholders in the business to help ensure that Pearson has a learner-centric approach in all that we do.
Prior to joining Pearson in March 2018, she spent 13 years on the “vendor” side of strategic marketing research in both a small boutique full-service firm as well as several years on the agency side. Most recently, she was Vice President of Research overseeing the full suite of qualitative and quantitative research tools to inform strategy and communications at KRC Research, the research arm of Weber Shandwick. Over the years her portfolio and clients were varied—from helping the Gates Foundation empower women and girls, to helping drive donor dollars to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She’s happy to have found a home within Pearson that aligns with her mission-driven personal and professional passions.
Karin has a Master’s degree from American University in International Affairs and Human Rights and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science/International Studies from Marist College.
She lives in the suburbs of Washington, DC, with her husband, energetic 3-year-old daughter, and even more energetic chocolate labrador.
Asha Choski
Head of Global Research and Insights
Pearson
Asha Choksi joined Pearson in 2016 and currently heads up Global Research and Insights for Pearson. Before joining Pearson, she spent the last two decades in insights-based strategy and communications for clients ranging from Microsoft to MasterCard, with a strong focus in how technology is transforming consumer-led brands.
Carolyn Culley
Associate Director of Academic Program Management
Arizona State University
Carolyn Culley creates vision and strategy to align with ASU's innovative, access-related mission to support the development of digital immersion programs. She manages a diverse team that provides relationship management, onboards new academic programs, delivers comprehensive enrollment training, and offers consultative support to enable success for students.
Her subject matter expertise is in digital immersive academic programs, market viability, program management, process improvement, training, and project management. As part of her role, she partners with colleges, academic units, office of the Provost, academic administration, instructional design and EdPlus leadership and stakeholders to create streamlined processes, procedures, and standards.
Arthur Grau
Senior Communications Officer
MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics
Arthur Grau is a Senior Communications Officer with MIT CTL. He is responsible for marketing, advertising, production, experience design, and team coordination with MIT CTL, SCM, and SCALE programs. He is the communications lead for the MITx MicroMasters in SCM community.
Prior to MIT CTL, Arthur worked as an innovation manager in technology with Applications for Good, as a program and fundraising manager in the health non-profit sector with American Cancer Society, and as a media educator with One Economy Corporation and Just Think.
Arthur has a background in experience design that drives his communications practice. He holds a master's in design innovation from Massart and a bachelor's in media and social change from the University of California.
Leah Jewell
Managing Director, Employability Solutions
Pearson
Leah has been with Pearson in various roles for 30 years including sales, marketing, product development, and portfolio management. She is currently responsible for strategy and product development for employability learning solutions for Pearson North America focused on high school, higher ed, and adult lifelong learners. She is specifically working on accelerated skills pathways to industry credentials, micro and stacked credentials, and preparing students for a career beyond a degree. Leah is focused on partnering with employers and industry associations related to skills training and is on the board of the IoT Talent Consortium. She gathers learner and instructor insights to define outcomes that enable the collection of data to support the efficacy of training solutions.
Kemi Jona
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Digital Innovation and Enterprise Learning
Founding Director, Lowell Institute School
Khoury College Courtesy Appointment
Northeastern University
Dr. Kemi Jona is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Digital Innovation and Enterprise Learning at Northeastern University. His portfolio includes the design and development of new highly-scalable digital experiential learning platforms and enterprise partnerships to support seamless, lifelong learning pathways for all learners. He was also the Founding Director of the Lowell Institute School at Northeastern serving working adult learners with industry-aligned bachelor’s completion programs.
Previously, Dr. Jona was a Research Professor at Northwestern University, where he led research and development projects advancing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education and developed new learning technologies, such as tools for online science and remote labs, computational thinking, and new game-based approaches to engage youth in STEM and STEAM (STEM+arts/design). He was the founding Director of the Northwestern University Office of STEM Education Partnerships that connects the university to the K-12 community to advance STEM education.
He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Northwestern University.
Ellen L. Leggett, EdD
Director, Master of Science in Applied Psychology Program
University of Southern California
Dr. Ellen Leggett, the Director of this Master’s program, is a seasoned trial consultant and expert in jury decision-making with more than twenty years of experience applying psychology in the legal field. Dr. Leggett is nationally known for her expertise in assisting civil trial lawyers and witnesses in high stakes corporate cases. She has published and spoken widely on jury psychology and has been interviewed on ABC, NBC, CBS and CNN. She founded her own consulting firm Leggett Jury Research, LLC.
Prior to trial consulting, Dr. Leggett was Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and Associate Dean of Students at Scripps College in Claremont. She also held administrative positions in residence life and admissions at Cornell University. Her academic area of interest and research is motivation and personality.
Dr. Leggett has an AB in Psychology from Mount Holyoke College and an EdM and EdD in Human Development from Harvard University.
Leah Lommel
Chief Operating Officer
EdPlus at Arizona State University
Leah Lommel is Chief Operating Officer of EdPlus at Arizona State University. Her areas of responsibility include strategy, conception, and operationalization of online programs, services and new ventures. Drawing on over 20 years experience with higher education processes and systems, Leah ensures ASU’s online programs are rigorous, scalable, and ultimately promote student retention and graduation. She earned her BAILS in Business Administration and her Masters of Administration in Leadership from Northern Arizona University.
Katherine Louthan
Dean, School of Adult & Online Education
Maryville University
As the dean of the School of Adult and Online Education at Maryville University, Katherine Louthan is committed to opening new pathways for adults and nontraditional students who want to complete their education and earn a degree.
With a career at Maryville that spans more than 15 years, Louthan earned her MA in Education from the university and spent her first 10 years in the Enrollment Division. She served in various roles, including recruiting undergraduates, planning recruitment and scholarship events, and leading enrollment operations. She was part of the team that launched the university’s online nursing program and moved into an School of Adult and Online leadership position in 2012.
Strong connections to Maryville, extensive enrollment management experience, and a commitment to meeting students’ needs — no matter their life stage or location — position Louthan to continue advancing one of the nation’s fastest-growing online learning programs.
Matt Mermagen
Pearson
Information to follow
Cheryl Oliver
Associate Dean, Professional Programs
Carson College of Business, Washington State University
Cheryl Oliver is a career educator, having taught in the K-12 system in Washington State before entering the higher education field. She pioneered the Online MBA and Executive MBA at Washington State University in collaboration with enabling partner Pearson. These programs are consistently ranked by US News & World Report as some of the top programs in the country. The programs graduated the 1,000th graduate in fall 2018.
The Carson College of Business at Washington State University seeks to be the model school of business for tomorrow's land-grant university. The online MBA programs and undergraduate online business programs enable the Carson College of Business to reach students and impact businesses in the state, region and world with outstanding business education from the wheat fields of the Palouse.
In addition to leading online business education programs, Cheryl is an active member in the community supporting not for profit activities in the areas of food security, healthy families, and education access and success.
Elena Osse
Vice President of Student and Faculty Services
Pearson Online Learning Services
Drawing on over 15 years of experience in student retention, Elena Osse is responsible for developing the strategic direction for Pearson’s Student Services team. She also assists institutions in meeting their online faculty staffing needs. She earned her BA in Sociology from the University of Toronto and her Master of Science in Management online from New England College. She heads a team of 200 retention specialists who use innovation, data, and high-touch support to maximize student retention.
Todd Petersen
Data and Analytics Manager, Data and Analytics Services
Pearson
Currently, Todd leads Pearson’s work to develop course-level predictive analytics that provide actionable insight for addressing key institutional issues, including improved student retention and academic performance. Todd has over 20 years of experience in education as a teacher, data analyst, consultant, and state level administrator. While at the Arizona Department of Education, Todd oversaw statewide teacher and administrator effectiveness and professional development initiatives. He also has experience as a classroom teacher and as a Director of Technology & Evaluation for a private educational consulting company focused on program evaluation, grant-writing, and data analysis. Todd holds a Master’s Degree in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in mathematics.
Iwan Streichenberger
President
Pearson Online Learning Services
Iwan joined Pearson Online Learning Services in 2018 as its senior leader, responsible for the overall performance of the POLS organization. Iwan has extensive global experience; and is a digital transformation leader with broad and deep general management experience, operational knowledge, and leadership skills within complex industries undergoing massive changes. He has over 20 years of experience in Technology, Media and Entertainment, Consumer Goods and Education Technology. He has worked with top tier consulting firms, large multinationals, and innovative start-ups, such as: inBloom, Promethean, Houghton Mifflin, The Boston Consulting Group and more.
Iwan has worked and lived throughout the world, including France, South Africa, Massachusetts, California, and Georgia. Iwan speaks French and English fluently, and is intermediate in German. He earned his Master in Management from ESCP Europe and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2014. Iwan enjoys spending time with his wife and two children as well mountain biking, skiing, sailing, and golf.
Tim Tatsui
Vice President, Data and Analytics Services, NA Services
Pearson
Tim has worked in public education as an educator, advisor, and administrator in various roles at the Compton Unified School District, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Pepperdine University, Loyola Marymount University, and the Los Angeles Unified School District. Since joining Pearson, Tim has worked with institutional and system-level partners and directed evaluation and research efforts and data and analytics services throughout North America.
He leads a team partnering with higher education systems and institutions to provide institutional partners with data and analytics services and actionable insights to measure, evaluate, predict and improve student, program and institutional outcomes, including student success, student retention, course improvement, program quality and administrative decision making. Tim earned a BA from Baylor University, a Doctorate in Education at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA.
Neil Teixeira
Director of Distance Learning
USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Neil Teixeira is a dedicated distance learning professional with over 15 years of experience developing innovative online master’s programs with USC, and an international K-12 e-learning platform with Google.
As a part of USC’s top-ranked Distance Education Network (DEN@Viterbi), he oversaw instructional support services for over 1,000 remote students in 30 online master’s programs. He currently directs online learning at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, including the highly regarded online Master of Communication Management (MCM) program.
He is completing a doctoral dissertation in educational psychology at the USC Rossier School of Education where he researches instructional practices that help reduce math- and statistics-related anxiety in online learners.
Boris Vilic
Dean, The College of Continuing Studies
Rider University
Boris Vilic is dean of Rider University’s College of Continuing Studies. Prior to joining Rider in 2006, he served as director of technology and faculty team leader for the computer systems technology curriculum of the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.
His work has earned him critical acclaim. Vilic’s projects won the Creative Uses of Technology Award from the Association for Continuing Higher Education in two consecutive years. He was also honored with the 2005 Nofflet Williams Up and Coming Leadership Award from the University Continuing Education Association, Distinguished Faculty Award from the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement at Duquesne, and Frank N. Eliott Award for Distinguished Service at Rider University. He published a number of journal articles and book chapters on distance learning and has presented his work at national and regional conferences. He is also Associate Member of the National Council for Education and Schooling of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences (HAZU).
Vilic holds an MBA in marketing from Duquesne University and a BS degree in administration and management from La Roche College in Pittsburgh. He is originally from Zagreb, Croatia where he graduated from XV. Gimnazija (MIOC).
Jennifer Yukna
Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Maryville University
Dr. Jennifer Yukna is the Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Maryville University. She spearheads the efforts of her faculty and staff in developing and coordinating new and existing academic programs. Prior to becoming interim dean, Dr. Yukna served as the Associate Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. She joined the College of Arts and Sciences in 2008; over the past ten years she has taught and empowered students through student-centered learning and project-based curricula. In addition, Dr. Yukna is a recognized scholar in the area of nanotechnology, specifically, in the area of computational and structural analysis of inorganic nanoparticles.
Pearson Leadership Forum
October 23-24, 2019 • W Austin
Please RSVP for the complimentary Fall 2019 Pearson Leadership Forum.