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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).