Programs and Speakers

Dominique Baker is an associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development’s School of Education and the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware. She is also a UD Cochran Scholar.

Her research focuses on the way that education policy affects and shapes the access and success of minoritized students in higher education. She primarily investigates student financial aid, admissions policies and policies that influence the creation of an inclusive and equitable campus climate.

Her work has been published in a variety of journals, including the American Educational Research Journal, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Educational Researcher, the Journal of Higher Education, and the Journal of College Student Development. Her work and expertise have been highlighted by The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed, among others. Dr. Baker has also testified before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs’s Subcommittee on Economic Policy on race, racism and student loans. She is also a member of the Board on Higher Education and Workforce within the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.

In recognition of the impact and promise of her scholarly career, she is the current American Educational Research Association Early Career Award winner, a National Academy of Education(NAEd)/Spencer Foundation postdoctoral fellow and past recipient of the Association for Education Finance and Policy’s Early Career Award and the Association for the Study of Higher Education’s Excellence in Public Policy Award.

Dr. Andy Brantley has served as CUPA-HR’s president and chief executive officer since July 2005.  Before joining CUPA-HR, he worked for 17 years in campus leadership roles including associate vice president and chief human resources officer at the University of Georgia, director of human resources at Davidson College, and director of human resources at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Andy received his Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Business Administration, and Doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Georgia.

Andy currently serves on the Washington Higher Education Secretariat steering committee and in September of 2025, he completed a four-year term as the Secretariat’s representative to the American Council on Education Board of Directors. He was also recently appointed to the EDUCAUSE board of directors.

Andy is a frequent keynote and workshop presenter at meetings across the country.

Research Fellow, University of Oxford Author, Capitalizing on College: How Higher Education Went from Mission Driven to Margin Obsessed

Joshua Travis Brown is an author, professor, and researcher examining the intersection of public policy, finance, and higher education. An Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University and SKOPE Fellow at the University of Oxford, his work explores how economic policies have reshaped tuition-driven colleges and universities. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, British Academy and ACUHO-I, and appeared in The Wall Street Journal, NPR, USA Today, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. A first-generation college graduate, Brown brings a unique perspective to his writing, uncovering the structural challenges facing institutions and the students they serve. He has over 25 years of experience in higher education at institutions that depend heavily on tuition revenue and is the author of Capitalizing on College: How Higher Education Went From Mission Driven to Margin Obsessed (Oxford University Press).

Add Capitalizing on College: How Higher Education Went from Mission Driven to Margin Obsessed to your registration for just $24.

Bio coming soon.

Vice President for Policy and Research
National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)

Liz LaPolt Clark is Vice President for Policy and Research at NACUBO and a member of the NACUBO executive leadership group. She has been widely quoted in the press and is a sought-after speaker on how Washington politics and federal policies impact higher education. Liz got her start on Capitol Hill opening Cornell University’s first Washington, DC-based federal relations office. Also in her career, she has led federal affairs for the State University of New York (SUNY) System and for Oregon State University. At NACUBO, she heads the team responsible for analysis of federal regulatory and legislative actions, research, and data analytics. LinkedIn: @lizlapoltclark

Dr. Michael Griffel is an associate vice president for Student Services and Enrollment Management, and director for University Housing. His work focuses on capital construction for the division as well as developing and enhancing environments for student academic success, growth, and development in University Housing. He previously served as the director of residence life at Bowling Green State University, director for university residences at the University of Idaho, director for residence life and assistant director for residence life at Robert Morris College, and residence hall director at the University of Pittsburgh. Michael has been actively involved with ACUHO-I (Association of College and University Housing Officers-International), serving on the executive board and committees and task forces.

Michael earned a doctorate in education from the University of Idaho, a master’s in adult education from Pennsylvania State University, and a bachelor’s in general studies with concentrations in organization design and sociology from the University of Michigan.

Michael is married and has three children. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, baking, camping, hiking, swimming, most sports, and reading literature and research about college student success.

Bio coming soon.

Ryan Haynes is an educator, community builder, and administrator with experience in housing, residential education, and student support. He currently serves as the Director of Oversight for Student Housing and the Child Care Center at Cabrillo College, a California Community College serving Santa Cruz County, where he oversees student housing, family services for student parents (including programming, resources, and the Child Care Center), and the Nourishment & Essential Supports Team, the college’s basic needs support office. Ryan holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies from CSU Monterey Bay and an M.A. in Higher Education & Student Affairs from the University of Connecticut. His work centers on building community, strengthening stability, and fostering holistic well-being for students.

A visionary leader and accomplished scholar, Dr. Vistasp M. Karbhari took office in June 2013 as the eighth president of The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). As president, he is committed to advancing UTA’s national and international profile while strengthening excellence in research and teaching and ensuring the success of UTA’s students in campus-based and online degree programs in Texas and around the world. In the 2017-18 academic year, UTA served almost 60,000 students through these programs. Under his leadership, UTA has achieved Carnegie R-1 status, was named a Hispanic-Serving Institution, and is ranked as the top educational institution in the State of Texas for Veterans and Adult Learners, in addition to having nationally ranked programs in each of UTA’s schools and colleges. Prior to joining UTA, President Karbhari served at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (2008-2013), the University of California San Diego (1995-2008), and the University of Delaware (1991-1995).

A prolific researcher, President Karbhari is an expert in the processing and mechanics of composites, durability of materials, infrastructure rehabilitation, and multi-threat mitigation, and has authored or co-authored more than 460 papers in journals and conference proceedings and edited or co-edited six books. He is a fellow of several pre-eminent research organizations, including the National Academy of Inventors, the American Society of Civil Engineers, ASM International, the International Institute for Fiber-Reinforced Polymers in Construction, the International Society for Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure, and the ASCE’s Structural Engineering Institute.

Dr. Logan serves as executive director of B&D’s higher education practice group. He brings over 20 years of experience in higher education housing, auxiliary services, and student affairs. In his current role, he works with the firm’s higher education clients to identify and implement solutions that allow them to thrive and deliver on their academic mission, both from a facilities and operations perspective.

Dr. Logan’s expertise means that he understands what it takes to build, maintain, and strengthen a high-performing organization within the college and university environment. He comes to B&D from the Ohio State University, where he most recently served as Associate Vice President for the Residential Experience. At Ohio State and in his previous positions, Dr. Logan focused on the sustainable design, implementation, and oversight of comprehensive auxiliary operations and student affairs financial models. He has also served on the ACUHO-I (Association of College & University of Housing Officers) Executive Board for over five years. He is a frequent speaker on higher education topics related to his expertise.

Ben blends craft-driven design with strategic project leadership. His diverse portfolio includes the Juilliard School and Alice Tully Hall in New York, mixed-use developments across the Bay Area, mass timber student housing, and an Arts and Humanities Building at CSU Monterey Bay.

Ben’s design approach is characterized by intellectual mobility. Moving between design charrettes and technical coordination, and incorporating digital tools paired with hand sketches, he brings a forethought to every problem to see the design concept realized in the built work. Ben spends his free time on product design, creating award-winning lighting and furniture. This work informs his larger-scale endeavors at WRNS, creating architecture that is rooted in the process of making, material research, and transformative fabrication techniques.

Regardless of context, the search for innovation is Ben’s true North, the unifying theme that connects all of his work. Ben has been instrumental in orchestrating sea level rise resilience strategies on several recent projects, synthesizing input from a myriad of community groups and public agencies.  The resulting designs include dramatic public open space integrated with shoreline protection strategies and human-scaled architecture.

Ben believes strongly in an inclusive process as a means of achieving contextual, environmental and regional authenticity, because a building’s users have much to teach. They help him to reimagine space and the ways people occupy it.

Ben received his Master of Architecture at UCLA, with a dual concentration in Critical Theory and Digital Technology.  He received his Bachelor of Architecture at Cal Poly, where he was awarded the AIA Henry Adams Medal.  A frequent lecturer, Ben has spoken at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design, and has led design workshops at Cal Poly’s College of Architecture & Environmental Design. He currently serves on the board of directors of Radium, a non-profit, community-based arts organization—using his expertise to help realize the Bay Area’s first waterfront performing arts center in his home town of Alameda.

Matthew (Matt) Miller is the Program Lead for Generative AI at Carnegie Mellon University, advancing a human-centered vision for CMU as an AI-powered university where generative AI is equitably accessible, confidently understood, and widely adopted. Guided by the principle of human amplification over automation, he helps campus leaders translate GenAI into rapid, measurable value through trusted processes, responsible practices, and sustainable capability-building.

Matt has spent 8.5 years at CMU building campus-wide innovation and change capacity. He was a founding member of the Business Innovation Office, an internal organizational effectiveness and change management consultancy, and he later founded several of CMU’s flagship AI enablement efforts, including the Generative AI Center of Excellence, the Generative AI Community of Practice, and Executive AI Training workshops. He is also the founder of the University Technology and Innovation Collaborative, a cross-divisional community that democratizes IT innovation across campus.

The Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration has responsibility for accounting, accounts payable, budget and financial planning, contract administration, endowment accounting, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), environmental health and safety, financial reporting, insurance and risk management, internal audit, oil and gas minerals asset management, research accounting, student financial services, tax services, treasury, University financial systems, University procurement, and University real estate and lands. TCU Facilities oversees the services for buildings, campus planning, capital planning, custodial, design and construction, grounds and utilities operations and maintenance, mailing and postal services, and associated business operations and financial management.

The Associate Vice Chancellor and Controller, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities and Campus Planning, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Budget and Financial Planning, and the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Risk Management and Internal Audit serve as the senior staff to the Vice Chancellor.

Dr. Nunez has more than thirty years of experience in post-secondary education leadership, finance, and administration, eighteen years as a cabinet-level executive for a top 50 national Big Ten research university. He joined TCU in January 2022 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he served as Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance.

Dr. Nunez has published and presented nationally and internationally and is an active member of several professional organizations including the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a master’s in business administration, and a master’s and doctorate in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development.

Carrie leads Brailsford & Dunlavey’s southwest region’s higher education advisory practice group out of its Austin, TX office. She has served as a development advisor on more than 50 higher education projects across the country and is one of B&D’s leaders in the delivery of P3 and program management services for educational institutions. Throughout her career she has focused on development advisory services for student housing, campus edge development, mixed use development, innovation districts, and athletics and recreation projects in the southern region and throughout the country.

Carrie is a published author and speaker on topics ranging from P3 development advisory to higher education implementation and was a 2019 ENR Texas & Louisiana 20 Under 40 Top Young Professional and a 2019 P3 Awards Finalist for “Future Leader of the Year”.

Lee Rainie joined the Imagining the Digital Future Center as director in 2023 after 24 years of directing Pew Research Center’s efforts to study the internet and technology. At the Pew Internet Project, his team produced more than 850 reports about the social, political and economic impact of four technology revolutions: the internet/broadband revolution, the mobile connectivity revolution, the social media revolution, and the artificial intelligence revolution.His Project was described by the American Sociological Association as the “most authoritative source of reliable data on the use and impact of the internet and mobile connectivity,” and the ASA awarded him its prize for “excellence in the reporting on social issues award.” His work has been covered by network and cable news and every major global news publication.

Lee is co-author of “Networked: The New Social Operating System” and five books about the future of the internet, based on Project surveys. Prior to his work at Pew, Rainie was managing editor of the newsweekly magazine U.S. News & World Report and he previously covered American politics for several publications.

Dr. Ashley Tull serves as Professor of Professional Practice and as Program Coordinator for the Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership Program. Prior to joining TCU, he served as Clinical Professor and Program Director for the Ed.D. in Higher Education at Southern Methodist University. He has held previous administration and teaching roles at Tarleton State University, the University of Texas at Arlington, University of Arkansas, and Florida State University. Tull earned a bachelor of science with honors in social and rehabilitation services and a master’s of education in college student personnel services from the University of Southern Mississippi. He received a graduate certificate in human resource development and a doctorate of education in higher education administration from Florida State University, where he was a Hardee Scholar.

Tull has edited three books, which have been used extensively in graduate preparation programs in higher education and student affairs administration; The Handbook for Student Affairs in the Community Colleges, with Linda Kuk and Paulette Dalpes; New Realities in the Management of Student Affairs: Emerging Specialist Roles and Structures for Changing Times, with Linda Kuk; and Becoming Socialized in Student Affairs: A Guide for New Professionals and Their Supervisors, with Joan Hirt and Sue Saunders. His research has been published in the Journal of Multicultural Affairs, College Student Affairs Journal, NASPA Journal, the Journal of College and Character, Research in the Schools, Journal of Organizational Learning and Leadership, Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors and the Journal of College Student Development.

As a practitioner, his research interests centered on management concepts and supervision in student affairs and higher education and the role of the senior student affairs officer. As a faculty member, his research interests are centered on fraternal values and the history of college fraternities. In 2017 he received the SMU Rotunda Outstanding Professor Award. He enjoys educational related travel and has taken students to Belgium, Canada, China, England, Finland, France, Japan, Scotland, and Sweden. Tull also serves as a volunteer on the national level for Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.

Bio coming soon

Bio coming soon.