Who's who at the
2021 conference
Stephanie Bryant, Executive Vice President and Chief Accreditation Officer
As executive vice president and chief accreditation officer for AACSB, Bryant is a part of AACSB’s executive leadership team and provides vision, leadership, and oversight of AACSB’s accreditation-related services, including the coordination of nearly 550 volunteers from business schools and business who play an essential role in helping schools achieve their mission through accreditation. As an established thought leader, Bryant acts as spokesperson and advocate for the advancement of quality business and accounting education and engages business stakeholders to help business schools prepare future leaders with the right skills and mindset to lead in a changing, diverse, and global world.
Before joining AACSB in 2017, Bryant served as dean of the College of Business at Missouri State University. Under her leadership, the AACSB-accredited school rose to become the 34th largest college of business in the United States. During her tenure, enrollment grew by 890 students to 5,500 students, making it one of the largest colleges of business at any public university in the central Midwest. Previously, she was director of the University of South Florida’s School of Accountancy, overseeing a program of nearly 1,000 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral accounting students. With over two decades of experience as a professor and in college administration, she is a highly respected researcher and scholar. Her area of academic specialty is information technology security and control, and she has coauthored two textbooks and more than 30 academic articles. She is actively involved in civic and community activities, including Beta Alpha Psi, an honor organization for financial information students and professionals, and the American Accounting Association.
Bryant received her PhD and BS in accounting from Louisiana State University and is a Louisiana CPA (inactive). A proven leader, innovator, and global thinker, Bryant was the 2016–17 chair of the AACSB Accounting Accreditation Committee (AAC), was a member of the 2016–18 AACSB Board of Directors, and has served on the AACSB Committee on Accreditation Policy (CAP) and the AACSB Accounting Accreditation Task Force.
As executive vice president and chief accreditation officer for AACSB, Bryant is a part of AACSB’s executive leadership team and provides vision, leadership, and oversight of AACSB’s accreditation-related services, including the coordination of nearly 550 volunteers from business schools and business who play an essential role in helping schools achieve their mission through accreditation. As an established thought leader, Bryant acts as spokesperson and advocate for the advancement of quality business and accounting education and engages business stakeholders to help business schools prepare future leaders with the right skills and mindset to lead in a changing, diverse, and global world.
Before joining AACSB in 2017, Bryant served as dean of the College of Business at Missouri State University. Under her leadership, the AACSB-accredited school rose to become the 34th largest college of business in the United States. During her tenure, enrollment grew by 890 students to 5,500 students, making it one of the largest colleges of business at any public university in the central Midwest. Previously, she was director of the University of South Florida’s School of Accountancy, overseeing a program of nearly 1,000 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral accounting students. With over two decades of experience as a professor and in college administration, she is a highly respected researcher and scholar. Her area of academic specialty is information technology security and control, and she has coauthored two textbooks and more than 30 academic articles. She is actively involved in civic and community activities, including Beta Alpha Psi, an honor organization for financial information students and professionals, and the American Accounting Association.
Bryant received her PhD and BS in accounting from Louisiana State University and is a Louisiana CPA (inactive). A proven leader, innovator, and global thinker, Bryant was the 2016–17 chair of the AACSB Accounting Accreditation Committee (AAC), was a member of the 2016–18 AACSB Board of Directors, and has served on the AACSB Committee on Accreditation Policy (CAP) and the AACSB Accounting Accreditation Task Force.
Erica Dhawan, Founder & CEO of Cotential
Erica Dhawan is the world’s leading authority on 21st century Collaboration and Connectional Intelligence. She challenges audiences and organizations to unlock the collective power of teams, business units, customers and other stakeholders. Her newest research – Digital Body Language – decodes the new signals and cues of effective collaboration in a digital-first human workplace.
Erica Dhawan is the Founder & CEO of Cotential, a global organization that helps companies, leaders, and managers leverage 21st century collaboration skills and behaviors to improve game changing performance.
She is the co-author of the bestselling book Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence, named #1 on What Corporate America is Reading. Dhawan was named by Thinkers50 as “The Oprah of Management Ideas” and featured as one of the emerging management thinkers most likely to shape the future of business. She hosts the award-winning podcast ‘Masters of Leadership.’
Erica speaks on global stages ranging from the World Economic Forum at Davos and TED to companies such as Coca-Cola, Fedex, Goldman Sachs, Walmart, SAP, and Cisco. Erica writes for Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fast Company. She has degrees from Harvard University, MIT Sloan, and The Wharton School.
Erica Dhawan is the world’s leading authority on 21st century Collaboration and Connectional Intelligence. She challenges audiences and organizations to unlock the collective power of teams, business units, customers and other stakeholders. Her newest research – Digital Body Language – decodes the new signals and cues of effective collaboration in a digital-first human workplace.
Erica Dhawan is the Founder & CEO of Cotential, a global organization that helps companies, leaders, and managers leverage 21st century collaboration skills and behaviors to improve game changing performance.
She is the co-author of the bestselling book Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence, named #1 on What Corporate America is Reading. Dhawan was named by Thinkers50 as “The Oprah of Management Ideas” and featured as one of the emerging management thinkers most likely to shape the future of business. She hosts the award-winning podcast ‘Masters of Leadership.’
Erica speaks on global stages ranging from the World Economic Forum at Davos and TED to companies such as Coca-Cola, Fedex, Goldman Sachs, Walmart, SAP, and Cisco. Erica writes for Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fast Company. She has degrees from Harvard University, MIT Sloan, and The Wharton School.
Eric Chambers, Market Development Director, Americas, GMAC
Eric serves as a Market Development Director, Americas, where he creates and implements programs that serve GMAC member and client schools. In addition, he manages the relationship between GMAC and a select group of schools and assists them with GMAC products and services. Before joining GMAC, Eric gained extensive business school admissions experience while working for nearly a decade in MBA admissions at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business. Eric also worked in undergraduate admissions for several years at his alma mater, Kenyon College, in Gambier, Ohio.
Eric serves as a Market Development Director, Americas, where he creates and implements programs that serve GMAC member and client schools. In addition, he manages the relationship between GMAC and a select group of schools and assists them with GMAC products and services. Before joining GMAC, Eric gained extensive business school admissions experience while working for nearly a decade in MBA admissions at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business. Eric also worked in undergraduate admissions for several years at his alma mater, Kenyon College, in Gambier, Ohio.
Gary Fitzgerald, Education Manager at The Wall Street Journal
- Contact:
- Gary Fitzgerald, [email protected]
- https://education.wsj.com
Mark Frascatore, Dean of Niagara University College of Business Administration
Dr. Frascatore joined Niagara University College of Business Administration as dean in June 2018, after 23 years as a faculty member, associate dean, and senior associate dean at Clarkson University. From January-June 2017 he completed a Fulbright Research Lectureship at LUISS Guido Carli in Rome, Italy, and from January 2003-April 2004, he served as an adjunct research professor at Massey University in New Zealand. Dr. Frascatore holds a B.S. in economics from SUNY Binghamton, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Virginia Tech. He has previously worked as an economist at Glassman-Oliver Economics Consultants Inc. in Washington, D.C.
As a faculty member, Dr. Frascatore has taught a variety of courses including Supply Chain and Industrial Economics, Managerial Economics, Personnel Economics, and Principles of Microeconomics. While at Clarkson he won a number of teaching awards, including the Outstanding New Teacher Award, the Student Association Outstanding Teacher Award, the MBA Program Best Professor Award, and the University Distinguished Teaching Award. His research has mainly been in the areas of supply chain economics, industry structure, game theory, and microeconomics, and he has published his work in a wide range of internationally recognized journals including the International Journal of Industrial Organization, the International Game Theory Review, the European Journal of Operational Research, and the International Journal of Business and Economics. He recently was Co-PI on a $1M NSF Grant to Develop Advanced Resilient Microgrid Technology to Improve Disaster Response Capability.
Outside of work, Dr. Frascatore enjoys spending his time woodworking, playing piano, bicycling, cooking, and traveling.
Dr. Frascatore joined Niagara University College of Business Administration as dean in June 2018, after 23 years as a faculty member, associate dean, and senior associate dean at Clarkson University. From January-June 2017 he completed a Fulbright Research Lectureship at LUISS Guido Carli in Rome, Italy, and from January 2003-April 2004, he served as an adjunct research professor at Massey University in New Zealand. Dr. Frascatore holds a B.S. in economics from SUNY Binghamton, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Virginia Tech. He has previously worked as an economist at Glassman-Oliver Economics Consultants Inc. in Washington, D.C.
As a faculty member, Dr. Frascatore has taught a variety of courses including Supply Chain and Industrial Economics, Managerial Economics, Personnel Economics, and Principles of Microeconomics. While at Clarkson he won a number of teaching awards, including the Outstanding New Teacher Award, the Student Association Outstanding Teacher Award, the MBA Program Best Professor Award, and the University Distinguished Teaching Award. His research has mainly been in the areas of supply chain economics, industry structure, game theory, and microeconomics, and he has published his work in a wide range of internationally recognized journals including the International Journal of Industrial Organization, the International Game Theory Review, the European Journal of Operational Research, and the International Journal of Business and Economics. He recently was Co-PI on a $1M NSF Grant to Develop Advanced Resilient Microgrid Technology to Improve Disaster Response Capability.
Outside of work, Dr. Frascatore enjoys spending his time woodworking, playing piano, bicycling, cooking, and traveling.
Randy Frye, Founding Dean of the Shields School of Business, and Professor of Business Administration at Saint Francis University
Dr. Randy L. Frye is the Founding Dean of the Shields School of Business, and Professor of Business Administration at Saint Francis University. Dr. Frye earned a B.A in Social Sciences from the Pitt-Johnstown. He also holds an MBA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations from Saint Francis College and an Ed.D.in Management and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. He also has attained the CMA designation from the Institute of Management Accountants and his business experience includes retail management, financial services, and consulting. Furthermore, as a graduate of the current Human Resource Management program he received the Academic Excellence Award for his exemplary academic performance and research.
Dr. Frye is the recipient of the 1998 Gerard and Helen Swatsworth Excellence in Teaching Award and is a co-recipient of 2002 Student Government Association Educator of the Year Award at Saint Francis University. In 2003, he was selected by the Saint Francis University National Alumni Association as its Distinguished Faculty Member. He oversees 10 undergraduate business programs, two graduate programs, the Knee Family Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation (CSOR) (an occupational licensing research center), the Francis in the Marketplace Executive Training Institute, and the Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center (SBDC). He is the founder of the MBA Program at Saint Francis University (1990) and was involved starting or revising many other academic programs at the University. He has 31 years of experience in executive business education.
Dr. Frye is on the Board of Directors of the Alternative Community Resource Program, Inc., the Johnstown Area Regional Industries (JARI), and Blair Chamber of Commerce. He is also a program reviewer with the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). Dr. Frye was also elected to the founding Board of Directors of the IACBE in 1998 and served in this capacity for five years. He received a distinguished award for his service to this accrediting body in 2003. In April 2011, Dr. Frye was elected to serve on the IACBE Board of Directors and recently received a second service award for his work on the IACBE Board of Directors at their annual conference in San Francisco. In April 2013 the IACBE bestowed Dr. Frye with the prestigious Dr. John Green Excellence in Business Education Award at its international annual conference in Orlando, Florida. This is the Assembly’s top award named for its founder and it goes to someone who best embodies a strong dedication and commitment to achieving and sustaining excellence in business education.
Dr. Randy L. Frye is the Founding Dean of the Shields School of Business, and Professor of Business Administration at Saint Francis University. Dr. Frye earned a B.A in Social Sciences from the Pitt-Johnstown. He also holds an MBA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations from Saint Francis College and an Ed.D.in Management and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. He also has attained the CMA designation from the Institute of Management Accountants and his business experience includes retail management, financial services, and consulting. Furthermore, as a graduate of the current Human Resource Management program he received the Academic Excellence Award for his exemplary academic performance and research.
Dr. Frye is the recipient of the 1998 Gerard and Helen Swatsworth Excellence in Teaching Award and is a co-recipient of 2002 Student Government Association Educator of the Year Award at Saint Francis University. In 2003, he was selected by the Saint Francis University National Alumni Association as its Distinguished Faculty Member. He oversees 10 undergraduate business programs, two graduate programs, the Knee Family Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation (CSOR) (an occupational licensing research center), the Francis in the Marketplace Executive Training Institute, and the Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center (SBDC). He is the founder of the MBA Program at Saint Francis University (1990) and was involved starting or revising many other academic programs at the University. He has 31 years of experience in executive business education.
Dr. Frye is on the Board of Directors of the Alternative Community Resource Program, Inc., the Johnstown Area Regional Industries (JARI), and Blair Chamber of Commerce. He is also a program reviewer with the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). Dr. Frye was also elected to the founding Board of Directors of the IACBE in 1998 and served in this capacity for five years. He received a distinguished award for his service to this accrediting body in 2003. In April 2011, Dr. Frye was elected to serve on the IACBE Board of Directors and recently received a second service award for his work on the IACBE Board of Directors at their annual conference in San Francisco. In April 2013 the IACBE bestowed Dr. Frye with the prestigious Dr. John Green Excellence in Business Education Award at its international annual conference in Orlando, Florida. This is the Assembly’s top award named for its founder and it goes to someone who best embodies a strong dedication and commitment to achieving and sustaining excellence in business education.
Jayati Ghosh, MAACBA President and Chair
Jayati Ghosh is a professor and former Dean of the Widener University School of Business Administration from July 2016 to June 2020. As Dean, she was responsible for AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and CAHME (Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education) accreditation, Widener University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and Center for Experience Management.
Currently, she serves as a member of AACSB - Peer Review Teams. Furthermore, she was elected to serve on the Steering Committee of the Small Schools Network Affinity group of AACSB. She is a member of Women Administrators in Management Education (WAME), an AACSB affinity group.
Prior to joining Widener University, she served as the Associate Dean and held several leadership roles including Director of the Honors Program, Director of Faculty Development and Executive Director of Internationalization at Dominican University of California. She also held teaching positions at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.
Jayati Ghosh is a professor and former Dean of the Widener University School of Business Administration from July 2016 to June 2020. As Dean, she was responsible for AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and CAHME (Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education) accreditation, Widener University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and Center for Experience Management.
Currently, she serves as a member of AACSB - Peer Review Teams. Furthermore, she was elected to serve on the Steering Committee of the Small Schools Network Affinity group of AACSB. She is a member of Women Administrators in Management Education (WAME), an AACSB affinity group.
Prior to joining Widener University, she served as the Associate Dean and held several leadership roles including Director of the Honors Program, Director of Faculty Development and Executive Director of Internationalization at Dominican University of California. She also held teaching positions at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.
Kathy Henderson, Strategic Advisor for ETS
Kathy has over 20 years of product and business development experience within publishing and the higher education market with a concentrated focus on business schools, successfully servicing and contributing to brands such as Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal, the American Psychological Association®, Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek. She currently serves as Strategic Advisor and Liaison for ETS to business schools in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and is working to deepen ETS’s relationships within this space.
At nonprofit ETS, the mission is to advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating high-quality assessments based on rigorous research. Institutions of higher education rely on ETS to help them demonstrate student learning outcomes and promote student success and institutional effectiveness.
Kathy has over 20 years of product and business development experience within publishing and the higher education market with a concentrated focus on business schools, successfully servicing and contributing to brands such as Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal, the American Psychological Association®, Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek. She currently serves as Strategic Advisor and Liaison for ETS to business schools in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and is working to deepen ETS’s relationships within this space.
At nonprofit ETS, the mission is to advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating high-quality assessments based on rigorous research. Institutions of higher education rely on ETS to help them demonstrate student learning outcomes and promote student success and institutional effectiveness.
Sharon Lydon, MAACBA Graduate Representative, and Sr. Associate Dean Rutgers University Business School
Sharon Lydon is a Senior Associate Dean at Rutgers University Business School and currently serving as the Executive Director of the MBA program. She successfully led the AACSB Maintenance of Accreditation for the entire Business School in 2010 and, as a member of the Dean’s Executive Committee, has been a key contributor to the strategic vision for the Business School. Sharon has a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from George Washington University with a research focus on Entrepreneurial Leadership. She has been awarded a Masters and Undergraduate degrees from Columbia University and Gettysburg College, respectively. Her corporate experience includes working in the Global Management Strategies and International Marketing departments at Estée Lauder Companies, New York, N.Y, and the consulting practice at Accenture.
Sharon Lydon is a Senior Associate Dean at Rutgers University Business School and currently serving as the Executive Director of the MBA program. She successfully led the AACSB Maintenance of Accreditation for the entire Business School in 2010 and, as a member of the Dean’s Executive Committee, has been a key contributor to the strategic vision for the Business School. Sharon has a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from George Washington University with a research focus on Entrepreneurial Leadership. She has been awarded a Masters and Undergraduate degrees from Columbia University and Gettysburg College, respectively. Her corporate experience includes working in the Global Management Strategies and International Marketing departments at Estée Lauder Companies, New York, N.Y, and the consulting practice at Accenture.
Jacqueline Novogratz, New York Times best-selling author and CEO and Found of Acumen
Jacqueline Novogratz is the New York Times best-selling author of The Blue Sweater. Her second book,
Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World, was published in May 2020.
In 2001, Jacqueline founded Acumen with the idea of investing philanthropic patient capital in
entrepreneurs seeking to solve the toughest issues of poverty. As a pioneer of impact investing, Acumen
and its investments have brought critical services like healthcare, education and clean energy to
hundreds of millions of low-income people.
After supporting hundreds of entrepreneurs, Jacqueline and her team recognized character as the
crucial ingredient for success; in 2020, they launched Acumen Academy to instruct others in global
social change. Under Jacqueline’s leadership, Acumen also has launched several for-profit impact funds
designed to invest at the intersection of poverty and climate change, and has spun off 60 Decibels,
founded on the principle that serving all stakeholders is as important as enriching shareholders.
Jacqueline has been named one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy, one of the 25 Smartest
People of the Decade by the Daily Beast, and one of the world’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds by
Forbes, which also honored her with the Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Entrepreneurship.
Jacqueline Novogratz is the New York Times best-selling author of The Blue Sweater. Her second book,
Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World, was published in May 2020.
In 2001, Jacqueline founded Acumen with the idea of investing philanthropic patient capital in
entrepreneurs seeking to solve the toughest issues of poverty. As a pioneer of impact investing, Acumen
and its investments have brought critical services like healthcare, education and clean energy to
hundreds of millions of low-income people.
After supporting hundreds of entrepreneurs, Jacqueline and her team recognized character as the
crucial ingredient for success; in 2020, they launched Acumen Academy to instruct others in global
social change. Under Jacqueline’s leadership, Acumen also has launched several for-profit impact funds
designed to invest at the intersection of poverty and climate change, and has spun off 60 Decibels,
founded on the principle that serving all stakeholders is as important as enriching shareholders.
Jacqueline has been named one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy, one of the 25 Smartest
People of the Decade by the Daily Beast, and one of the world’s 100 Greatest Living Business Minds by
Forbes, which also honored her with the Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Entrepreneurship.
Erin O'Brien, Assistant Dean, Chief Enrollment Officer at the University at Buffalo School of Management Business School
Erin K. O’Brien is currently Assistant Dean, Chief Enrollment Officer at the University at Buffalo School of Management.
Ms. O’Brien is the senior leader in the school responsible for defining and leading a comprehensive, coordinated strategy including marketing, enrollment-focused program and partner development, student outreach, recruiting, admissions and all operations and technology to support and advance the goals of the School relative to undergraduate, transfer, graduate, international, executive and hybrid/online students.
Prior to joining the School of Management, Ms. O’Brien was Director, Business Relationship Management at HealthNow New York Inc./Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York. She and her team of information technology industry experts and consultants drove IT projects and initiatives within HealthNow’s business units.
Before joining HealthNow, Ms. O’Brien was a Client Solutions Executive at IBM for thirteen years. Consistently leading sales and closing complex technical and financial solutions for Fortune 500 clients, she was responsible IBM global accounts within the financial services sector in the U.S., Canada, Latin and South America and numerous European countries. She was recognized as an IBM Business and Technology Leader, was consistently rated among the top 10 percent of performers and received several company awards recognizing her success in teamwork, leadership and sales.
Ms. O’Brien is currently a. A.B.D. candidate for a PhD in Management with a focus in Information Systems, with an expected graduation in May 2022. She is the recipient of an executive certificate from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. She is a Class of 2000 MBA graduate from the University at Buffalo School of Management, a 1997 cum laude graduate of the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a 1986 graduate of the Buffalo Seminary.
Erin K. O’Brien is currently Assistant Dean, Chief Enrollment Officer at the University at Buffalo School of Management.
Ms. O’Brien is the senior leader in the school responsible for defining and leading a comprehensive, coordinated strategy including marketing, enrollment-focused program and partner development, student outreach, recruiting, admissions and all operations and technology to support and advance the goals of the School relative to undergraduate, transfer, graduate, international, executive and hybrid/online students.
Prior to joining the School of Management, Ms. O’Brien was Director, Business Relationship Management at HealthNow New York Inc./Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York. She and her team of information technology industry experts and consultants drove IT projects and initiatives within HealthNow’s business units.
Before joining HealthNow, Ms. O’Brien was a Client Solutions Executive at IBM for thirteen years. Consistently leading sales and closing complex technical and financial solutions for Fortune 500 clients, she was responsible IBM global accounts within the financial services sector in the U.S., Canada, Latin and South America and numerous European countries. She was recognized as an IBM Business and Technology Leader, was consistently rated among the top 10 percent of performers and received several company awards recognizing her success in teamwork, leadership and sales.
Ms. O’Brien is currently a. A.B.D. candidate for a PhD in Management with a focus in Information Systems, with an expected graduation in May 2022. She is the recipient of an executive certificate from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. She is a Class of 2000 MBA graduate from the University at Buffalo School of Management, a 1997 cum laude graduate of the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a 1986 graduate of the Buffalo Seminary.
Alphonso Ogbuehi, Dean of Stockton University School of Business
Alphonsoi is a professor of Marketing and International Business and is the new Dean School of Business at Stockton University. He was a former Dean at the College of Business at Clayton State University where he teached Marketing and International Business courses. Prior to joining Clayton State University, he was the Founding Dean and Professor of Business Strategy in the School of Business at Park University in Kansas City, Missouri from 2007 to 2010.
During his tenure as Dean at Clayton State University, he reorganized the School of Business Advisory Board, successfully led AACSB Re-Accreditation, strengthened corporate partnerships by introducing the College of Business Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series, and successfully launched a Summer Entrepreneurship and Business Academy (SEBA) for high school students. He also oversaw the development of new programs and initiatives including the Major Mentor Program that paired upper class students with incoming freshmen and transfer students. At Park University, he inaugurated the first Advisory Board for the School of Business, led the initial accreditation of the School of Business by ACBSP, and led the development of the initial concept for a new School of Business building facility. Previously, he was Chair of the Department of Marketing & Food Marketing and Director of the M.S. in International Marketing Program at the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia where he introduced the first study abroad program to China and Greater Asia.
A Fulbright Scholar, he holds bachelor’s and MBA degrees from the University of Kentucky and a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Memphis. His research and professional expertise lie in the areas marketing, economic development, and global business with a focus on emerging markets.
Alphonsoi is a professor of Marketing and International Business and is the new Dean School of Business at Stockton University. He was a former Dean at the College of Business at Clayton State University where he teached Marketing and International Business courses. Prior to joining Clayton State University, he was the Founding Dean and Professor of Business Strategy in the School of Business at Park University in Kansas City, Missouri from 2007 to 2010.
During his tenure as Dean at Clayton State University, he reorganized the School of Business Advisory Board, successfully led AACSB Re-Accreditation, strengthened corporate partnerships by introducing the College of Business Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series, and successfully launched a Summer Entrepreneurship and Business Academy (SEBA) for high school students. He also oversaw the development of new programs and initiatives including the Major Mentor Program that paired upper class students with incoming freshmen and transfer students. At Park University, he inaugurated the first Advisory Board for the School of Business, led the initial accreditation of the School of Business by ACBSP, and led the development of the initial concept for a new School of Business building facility. Previously, he was Chair of the Department of Marketing & Food Marketing and Director of the M.S. in International Marketing Program at the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia where he introduced the first study abroad program to China and Greater Asia.
A Fulbright Scholar, he holds bachelor’s and MBA degrees from the University of Kentucky and a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Memphis. His research and professional expertise lie in the areas marketing, economic development, and global business with a focus on emerging markets.
Robert Ruiz, Liaison Vice President of Strategic Enrollment
Robert Ruiz is Liaison’s vice president of strategic enrollment, joined the company in 2014 with 25 years of experience in the field of admission and enrollment management. He specializes in diversity-based admissions, emerging technologies, operational efficiencies and process management. Robert has held senior admission roles at Tulane University and Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and served as vice president of application services for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. Most recently, he worked for 10 years as the director of admission at the University of Michigan Medical School. Robert has an M.A. in Higher Education Administration and a B.A. in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Michigan.
Robert Ruiz is Liaison’s vice president of strategic enrollment, joined the company in 2014 with 25 years of experience in the field of admission and enrollment management. He specializes in diversity-based admissions, emerging technologies, operational efficiencies and process management. Robert has held senior admission roles at Tulane University and Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and served as vice president of application services for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. Most recently, he worked for 10 years as the director of admission at the University of Michigan Medical School. Robert has an M.A. in Higher Education Administration and a B.A. in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Michigan.
Blane Ruschak, President of the KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc.
Blane Ruschak’s current role includes serving as the President of the KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc.(Foundation) where he oversees the strategy and operations for the Foundation which includes the Matching Gift Program, Disaster Relief Fund, KPMG Family for Literacy Fund, the Foundation and the Women’s PGA/Future Leaders program. He also serves as the President of The PhD Project where he oversees the strategy and operations of The PhD Project which is a program designed to create more diverse business leaders by supporting diverse professionals to get their PhD in business and become role models in the classroom, academic administration and academic leadership positions. In his previous role as Executive Director of Campus Recruiting and University Relations, he served on the Professional Partner advisory group for Beta Alpha Psi after completing his three year presidency term, served on the Board of Directors of the Education Foundation for Women in Accounting, and served on the AICPA Pre-certification Executive Education Committee (PcEEC), the Accounting Program Leadership Group (APLG) Board of Directors, and the Board of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy (FSA). He lives in Charleston, South Carolina and works out of the Montvale, New Jersey National Office.
Blane began his career in the Audit department of KPMG’s Honolulu office where he serviced clients in the healthcare, nonprofit, real estate, agribusiness, and hospitality industries. From 1988 to 1989, he participated in a two-year rotational program in KPMG’s national training center in Montvale, New Jersey where he was responsible for the development and instruction of KPMG’s numerous assurance courses. Upon his return to the Honolulu office, Blane assumed the responsibility of primary recruiter for the office in addition to servicing his assurance clients in the hospital and hospitality industries. In 1994, Blane transferred to KPMG’s Long Beach office to assist with the Southern California Healthcare Assurance and Consulting practice. In 1997, Blane transferred to the Los Angeles office where he assumed the director of College Recruiting position for the Pacific Southwest Area, where he was responsible for the hiring of all entry-level Assurance and Tax department personnel. In 2000, Blane assumed the role of national director of Campus Recruiting as part of KPMG’s National Recruiting team in Montvale, New Jersey. In 2008, Blane assumed the role of executive director for Campus Recruiting and University Relations. Blane recently assumed the President position for the KPMG Foundation and The PhD Project.
Blane Ruschak’s current role includes serving as the President of the KPMG U.S. Foundation, Inc.(Foundation) where he oversees the strategy and operations for the Foundation which includes the Matching Gift Program, Disaster Relief Fund, KPMG Family for Literacy Fund, the Foundation and the Women’s PGA/Future Leaders program. He also serves as the President of The PhD Project where he oversees the strategy and operations of The PhD Project which is a program designed to create more diverse business leaders by supporting diverse professionals to get their PhD in business and become role models in the classroom, academic administration and academic leadership positions. In his previous role as Executive Director of Campus Recruiting and University Relations, he served on the Professional Partner advisory group for Beta Alpha Psi after completing his three year presidency term, served on the Board of Directors of the Education Foundation for Women in Accounting, and served on the AICPA Pre-certification Executive Education Committee (PcEEC), the Accounting Program Leadership Group (APLG) Board of Directors, and the Board of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy (FSA). He lives in Charleston, South Carolina and works out of the Montvale, New Jersey National Office.
Blane began his career in the Audit department of KPMG’s Honolulu office where he serviced clients in the healthcare, nonprofit, real estate, agribusiness, and hospitality industries. From 1988 to 1989, he participated in a two-year rotational program in KPMG’s national training center in Montvale, New Jersey where he was responsible for the development and instruction of KPMG’s numerous assurance courses. Upon his return to the Honolulu office, Blane assumed the responsibility of primary recruiter for the office in addition to servicing his assurance clients in the hospital and hospitality industries. In 1994, Blane transferred to KPMG’s Long Beach office to assist with the Southern California Healthcare Assurance and Consulting practice. In 1997, Blane transferred to the Los Angeles office where he assumed the director of College Recruiting position for the Pacific Southwest Area, where he was responsible for the hiring of all entry-level Assurance and Tax department personnel. In 2000, Blane assumed the role of national director of Campus Recruiting as part of KPMG’s National Recruiting team in Montvale, New Jersey. In 2008, Blane assumed the role of executive director for Campus Recruiting and University Relations. Blane recently assumed the President position for the KPMG Foundation and The PhD Project.
Joyce Russell, The Helen and William O'Toole Dean of the Villanova School of Business
Joyce E. A. Russell, PhD, serves as The Helen and William O’Toole Dean of the Villanova School of Business (VSB) and Professor of Management. In this role, she serves as the chief executive, academic and fiscal officer for VSB and represents the school locally and nationally, to the University community and to all external constituencies, including the business community. The Villanova School of Business boasts numerous top rankings for its undergraduate program and its portfolio of specialty master and MBA programs that serve over 2700 undergraduate, graduate, and executive students. Under Dr. Russell’s leadership, VSB was recognized as the #1 school in the nation in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Online Graduate Business specialty programs ranking. During this time, VSB also partnered with KPMG to launch an innovative new Masters of Accounting with a focus on Data Analytics.
During her tenure, VSB opened its Laboratory for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research (LAIR), a behavioral research lab that provides a physical space for VSB faculty and students in the fields of marketing, management, and economics to conduct research alongside students. In 2019, under Dr. Russell’s leadership, VSB opened The Gmelich Lab for Financial Markets – a state-of-the-art facility where students and faculty can study and research in an environment parallel to a Wall Street trading floor with greater exposure to real estate, analytics, management information systems and other fields. Dr. Russell is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion and has launched numerous programs to enhance the diversity of faculty, staff, and students in VSB as well as programs designed for middle and high school girls and diverse students to aspire to education and careers in business.
Joyce E. A. Russell, PhD, serves as The Helen and William O’Toole Dean of the Villanova School of Business (VSB) and Professor of Management. In this role, she serves as the chief executive, academic and fiscal officer for VSB and represents the school locally and nationally, to the University community and to all external constituencies, including the business community. The Villanova School of Business boasts numerous top rankings for its undergraduate program and its portfolio of specialty master and MBA programs that serve over 2700 undergraduate, graduate, and executive students. Under Dr. Russell’s leadership, VSB was recognized as the #1 school in the nation in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Online Graduate Business specialty programs ranking. During this time, VSB also partnered with KPMG to launch an innovative new Masters of Accounting with a focus on Data Analytics.
During her tenure, VSB opened its Laboratory for the Advancement of Interdisciplinary Research (LAIR), a behavioral research lab that provides a physical space for VSB faculty and students in the fields of marketing, management, and economics to conduct research alongside students. In 2019, under Dr. Russell’s leadership, VSB opened The Gmelich Lab for Financial Markets – a state-of-the-art facility where students and faculty can study and research in an environment parallel to a Wall Street trading floor with greater exposure to real estate, analytics, management information systems and other fields. Dr. Russell is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion and has launched numerous programs to enhance the diversity of faculty, staff, and students in VSB as well as programs designed for middle and high school girls and diverse students to aspire to education and careers in business.
Steve Shriberg, Director of Consulting Services at Eduvantis
Steve Shriberg is Director of Consulting Services at Eduvantis. Steve has been with Eduvantis for over 8 years, helping business schools to develop enrollment growth strategies, capture new markets, gain market share, and design more effective product, marketing and recruitment models to enhance competitive standing. Among Steve’s many clients have been leading institutions such as The Wharton School, The Kellogg School of Management, the Owen School of Business at Vanderbilt University, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Steve has BA and MA degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, and prior to Eduvantis gained 10+ years of marketing and international education experience working at agencies and universities, both domestically and internationally.
Steve Shriberg is Director of Consulting Services at Eduvantis. Steve has been with Eduvantis for over 8 years, helping business schools to develop enrollment growth strategies, capture new markets, gain market share, and design more effective product, marketing and recruitment models to enhance competitive standing. Among Steve’s many clients have been leading institutions such as The Wharton School, The Kellogg School of Management, the Owen School of Business at Vanderbilt University, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Steve has BA and MA degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, and prior to Eduvantis gained 10+ years of marketing and international education experience working at agencies and universities, both domestically and internationally.
Donald Townsend, President/CEO, Jason Group Sales & Marketing, division of Jason Holdings, LLC and Visiting Instructor, Marketing at St. Joseph University
Don’s Presidents and CEO’s have said that Don’s greatest asset is his ability to deliver his vision, strategy, and execution for market growth, profitability, and sustainability simply and thoroughly to achieve outstanding results. Don is a passionate and strategic senior sales/category management executive who has delivered multimillion-dollar growth, margin improvement and profitable and efficient trade dollars for global Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies. Don has exceled at strengthening sales processes, product promotion and placement, client relationships, attracting new business and expanding market opportunities over his 37 years of service. He has assembled and mentored top talent, instills a culture of success at all levels and creates roadmaps for success and sustainability.
Over the past 20 years, Don has instructed at the graduate and undergraduate level, students in St. Joseph University, University of Delaware and West Chester University school’s Strategic Marketing and Sales Leadership programs. As of May 2019, Don was hired fulltime as the Visiting Professor at SJU leading their Sales Certification program. In this program, Don connects students with today’s innovative companies to develop sales skills through classroom, sales competitions, and internships. Sales is still about developing relationships/partnerships with companies large and small and he develops modern day approaches to meeting the needs of his clients both at the university and in his consulting work in his company the Jason Group since 2012.
Don’s Presidents and CEO’s have said that Don’s greatest asset is his ability to deliver his vision, strategy, and execution for market growth, profitability, and sustainability simply and thoroughly to achieve outstanding results. Don is a passionate and strategic senior sales/category management executive who has delivered multimillion-dollar growth, margin improvement and profitable and efficient trade dollars for global Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies. Don has exceled at strengthening sales processes, product promotion and placement, client relationships, attracting new business and expanding market opportunities over his 37 years of service. He has assembled and mentored top talent, instills a culture of success at all levels and creates roadmaps for success and sustainability.
Over the past 20 years, Don has instructed at the graduate and undergraduate level, students in St. Joseph University, University of Delaware and West Chester University school’s Strategic Marketing and Sales Leadership programs. As of May 2019, Don was hired fulltime as the Visiting Professor at SJU leading their Sales Certification program. In this program, Don connects students with today’s innovative companies to develop sales skills through classroom, sales competitions, and internships. Sales is still about developing relationships/partnerships with companies large and small and he develops modern day approaches to meeting the needs of his clients both at the university and in his consulting work in his company the Jason Group since 2012.
Richard Vogel, MAACBA Member-At-Large and Dean, Farmingdale State College School of Business
Richard Vogel is the Dean of the School of Business at Farmingdale State College and Professor of Economics. His research interests and areas include economic development, urban economic growth, natural hazards analysis, and business and economics education. He was a Fulbright Fellow teaching as a Visiting Professor of Economics, in the department of Mathematical Economics at the National University of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar in 2007. In 2019, he received the Academy of Economics and Finance Fellows award.
Richard Vogel is the Dean of the School of Business at Farmingdale State College and Professor of Economics. His research interests and areas include economic development, urban economic growth, natural hazards analysis, and business and economics education. He was a Fulbright Fellow teaching as a Visiting Professor of Economics, in the department of Mathematical Economics at the National University of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar in 2007. In 2019, he received the Academy of Economics and Finance Fellows award.
Michael Wiemer, Senior Vice President and Chief Officer of the Americas
As senior vice president and chief officer of the Americas for AACSB International, Michael Wiemer holds regional responsibility for strategic development and advancing AACSB’s mission across the Americas. Wiemer is a member of AACSB’s senior and extended leadership teams and provides executive support to the Latin American & Caribbean Advisory Council, the AACSB Nominating Committee, and the AACSB-GRLI global alliance, among others. He has initiated and operationalized strategic initiatives in the European, Latin American, North American, and Asia Pacific Regions. He also serves as an industry representative and speaker at management education events worldwide. Since joining AACSB in 2004, Wiemer has held multiple leadership positions, including vice president of outreach and assistant vice president of global professional development. He is credited with accelerating AACSB’s globalization efforts through regional strategy and alliance development, leading the rapid worldwide expansion of AACSB’s educational programming portfolio, and launching/developing the AACSB Global Outreach operations. Prior to AACSB, Wiemer was the director of international programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, overseeing the International MBA degree and International Business Exchange programs. Wiemer holds an MBA in international business from Dominican University and a BA in international relations from the University of Minnesota. He studied executive leadership at Babson College, as well as advanced Mandarin Chinese at the National Taiwan Normal University while living and working in Asia.
As senior vice president and chief officer of the Americas for AACSB International, Michael Wiemer holds regional responsibility for strategic development and advancing AACSB’s mission across the Americas. Wiemer is a member of AACSB’s senior and extended leadership teams and provides executive support to the Latin American & Caribbean Advisory Council, the AACSB Nominating Committee, and the AACSB-GRLI global alliance, among others. He has initiated and operationalized strategic initiatives in the European, Latin American, North American, and Asia Pacific Regions. He also serves as an industry representative and speaker at management education events worldwide. Since joining AACSB in 2004, Wiemer has held multiple leadership positions, including vice president of outreach and assistant vice president of global professional development. He is credited with accelerating AACSB’s globalization efforts through regional strategy and alliance development, leading the rapid worldwide expansion of AACSB’s educational programming portfolio, and launching/developing the AACSB Global Outreach operations. Prior to AACSB, Wiemer was the director of international programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, overseeing the International MBA degree and International Business Exchange programs. Wiemer holds an MBA in international business from Dominican University and a BA in international relations from the University of Minnesota. He studied executive leadership at Babson College, as well as advanced Mandarin Chinese at the National Taiwan Normal University while living and working in Asia.
Vana Zervanos, Associate Dean, Erivan K. Haub School of Business Saint Joseph’s University
Vana Zervanos is the Associate Dean of Continuing and Graduate Studies and External Affairs at the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph's University. She earned a B.A. degree in psychology from Dickinson College; a Master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Connecticut; an MBA in international marketing from Saint Joseph’s University and earned an Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Zervanos serves on the board of Middle Atlantic Associate of Colleges of Business Administration and is a member of the RME Affinity Group for AACSB, the international accreditation body for business schools. Zervanos oversees the The Pedro Arrupe Center for Business Ethics and is the Co-Director and co-founder of The Dean’s Leadership Program, an intercollegiate leadership program which is values-based, reflective, and biased toward serving others. Zervanos is a consultant with other business schools who are in the process of becoming accredited by AACSB.
Vana Zervanos is the Associate Dean of Continuing and Graduate Studies and External Affairs at the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph's University. She earned a B.A. degree in psychology from Dickinson College; a Master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Connecticut; an MBA in international marketing from Saint Joseph’s University and earned an Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Zervanos serves on the board of Middle Atlantic Associate of Colleges of Business Administration and is a member of the RME Affinity Group for AACSB, the international accreditation body for business schools. Zervanos oversees the The Pedro Arrupe Center for Business Ethics and is the Co-Director and co-founder of The Dean’s Leadership Program, an intercollegiate leadership program which is values-based, reflective, and biased toward serving others. Zervanos is a consultant with other business schools who are in the process of becoming accredited by AACSB.
