Joshua Baker, Ph.D.

Dr. Joshua Baker became the president of Mountwest Community and Technical College in 2021.  He has led enrollment growth by focusing on community, industry and student needs.  Dr. Baker started as a faculty member and coach at Highline Community College, near Seattle, and enjoyed a variety of faculty leadership positions before accepting an Assistant Dean position at Vincennes University where he was the chief officer at Center Grove Early College.  He was then appointed Campus Dean and Instructional Dean at Bates Technical College in Tacoma, Washington.  At Bates he led Adult Basic Education, General Education, Allied Health, and Business and Office programs.  He later transferred within Bates to lead the STEM programs and oversee a new campus.  Most recently, Dr. Baker served as the Vice President of Instruction at Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Spring, Colorado.  Pikes Peak is a robust and diverse college serving approximately 20,000 students at four campuses.

Dr. Baker is a Presidential Fellow Alumni with The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.  His PhD is in Community College Leadership from Oregon State University and his dissertation is on Actions of Community College Presidents that Increase Organizational Trust.  His masters and bachelor’s degrees are from Brigham Young University.  Dr. Baker is a proud community college alum.

Dr. Baker’s board experience includes Huntington Chamber of Commerce, Huntington Area Development Council, Colorado Springs Red Cross, The National Council of Instructional Administrators, and Reach Services for Youth in Tacoma, WA.

Dr. Baker and his wife Toni have three children and enjoy an active lifestyle, including exploring our amazing national parks.

Wayne C. Barbour, Ed.D.

Dr. Wayne C. Barbour is currently an Academic Program Compliance and Academic Progress (APCAP) Coach assigned to the Germantown Campus of Montgomery College.  As an APCAP Coach, he provides workable solutions to students’ educational financing needs to support and encourage their academic goals.  Dr. Barbour support these goals by providing students with guidance and advising through the review of their course enrollment to ensure maximum availability of federal financial aid.  Students are coached to access modes of appeal when they are at risk of losing their financial aid.

In August of 2018, Dr. Barbour retired from Frederick Community College (FCC) after serving as Vice President for Learning Support, Chief Students Affairs Officer (CSAO).  As the Vice President for Learning Support CSAO, he provided vision and leadership for all administrative units and programs to support students in a student-centered learning environment.  Prior to joining the team at FCC, Dr. Barbour served as the Dean of Students at the Loudoun campus of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA).  As the Dean of Students, he provided leadership to the student services unit. In addition, Dr. Barbour served as the Associate Dean of Student Development at the Germantown campus of Montgomery College, where he assisted the Dean in executing the myriad of duties and responsibilities related to the unit. Dr. Barbour’s initial assignment at Montgomery College was college-wide Director of Student Employment Services. In that position, he was charged with providing college-wide leadership in the creation and delivery of employment services for Montgomery College students.

In addition to Dr. Barbour’s experience in higher education, he has 22 years of experience working in the field of vocational rehabilitation serving persons with disabilities. That experience includes: 13 years as a rehabilitation counselor and nine years managing the eastern region of The Arc’s National Employment and Training Program. While serving persons with disabilities, Dr. Barbour was President of the District of Columbia’s chapter of the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns (NAMRC) and board member and legislative chair of the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns.

Dr. Barbour earned a doctorate in Education from Morgan State University in the area of Community College Leadership. His dissertation is titled: Use of The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) by Career Services Directors at Two-Year Public Community Colleges.  Dr. Barbour graduated from The George Washington University with a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development. His undergraduate work was done at Virginia Union University where Dr. Barbour received a Bachelor’s of Art in Sociology. He is a published author, having contributed articles to The Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation.  Dr. Barbour is married with two sons, two daughters, and four grandchildren.

Kaylyn Bondy, Ph.D.

Dr. Kaylyn Bondy has served as the vice president for student affairs at Bismarck State College (BSC) since 2020. Her portfolio includes recruitment and admission, financial aid, academic records, student retention, testing, dual credit, accessibility, advising, mental health counseling, residence life, student life, conduct, campus police, career counseling, and Title III Grant initiatives. Kaylyn also serves as BSC’s Title IX Coordinator and provides key leadership for accreditation and strategic planning.

Previously, she served Williston State College (WSC) as Vice President for Student Affairs from 2015-2020 and as Registrar / Director for Institutional Research & Effectiveness from 2011-2015. Prior to joining WSC, she served as the Director/DSO at the International Academy of English in Las Vegas, NV, where she served a diverse international population of English language learners. Additionally, she has taught as an adjunct faculty member and has taught for various community and leadership-based organizations.

Dr. Bondy serves her professional community as an Executive Board Member of the WICHE Alliance Executive Committee. She is also a past City of Williston Planning and Zoning Commissioner.

Kaylyn earned a bachelor’s degree in French and minor sociology from the University of North Dakota, a master’s degree in international business from l’Institut d'Administration des Entreprises à Caen, an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, and a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of North Dakota. She was also selected as an Aspen Presidential Fellow in 2020-2021.

Nuriyah “Nora” Clark, Ed.D.

Dr. Nuriyah “Nora” Clark is an accomplished higher education leader renowned for transformative progress, strategic vision, and inclusive leadership. With a robust background in administration, they have consistently driven enrollment growth, nurtured diversity, and championed innovation. Educated at prestigious institutions including Northeastern University (Ed.D.), Binghamton University (MPA), and SUNY Cortland (B.S.), their academic foundation equips them with deep insights into the complexities of higher education.

In key roles—Vice President for Student Affairs at Frederick Community College, VP at SUNY Erie Community College, Director at Skidmore College, and Assistant Director at Morgan State University Dr. Clark excelled in leading interdisciplinary teams, strategic planning, and innovative program implementation. Dr. Clark actively invests in growth through leadership programs, such as the Aspen Rising President Fellowship and Racial Equity Impact Analysis Training, refining their ability to drive positive change.

With an unwavering commitment to student success and a proven record of transformative leadership, Dr. Clark continues to leave an indelible mark in the realm of higher education.

Dr. Clark is married, mother of three boys and enjoys fitness, trying new recipes and binge-watching great shows on streaming platforms when time permits.

Kamari A. Collins, Ed.D.

Dr. Kamari A. Collins is the Vice President for the division of Student Success and Enrollment Management at Chesapeake College.  He is a strategic leader responsible for providing an inclusive campus experience where all students can succeed and feel a sense of belonging.  Dr. Collins oversees the following departments within the division at the college:  Student Success and Retention, First Year Experience, Student Engagement and Development, Accessibility Services, Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Career Services, Financial Aid, Recruitment and Advising, TRIO -SSS/STEM and Upward Bound, Registration and Athletics.  He began his career at Chesapeake in October 2019, previously serving as the Vice President of Student Affairs at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) in Springfield, Massachusetts.  During Dr. Collins’ career in higher education, he served in successive positions of responsibility, including Director of Academic Advising and Dean of Academic Advising and Student Success at STCC.  Before Dr. Collin began working at STCC, he served as Director of Youth & Education Programs with the Urban League of Springfield, Inc.

Dr. Collins serves on the Board of Trustees of For All Seasons and The Country School.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in Science in Movement and Sports Studies and Teacher Preparation, a master’s degree in Human Services from Springfield College, and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University.

Rolita Flores Ezeonu, Ed.D.

Dr. Rolita Flores Ezeonu has over twenty-five years of experience in community and technical colleges.  Currently, Dr. Ezeonu is the Vice President of Instruction at Green River College (GRC).  Previously, she was the Interim Vice President of Instruction and Dean of Instruction for Transfer and Pre-College Education at Highline College from 2008 to 2018.  Dr. Ezeonu served as both an adjunct and tenured faculty member in Communication Studies from 1998 to 2008.

At Green River College, Dr. Ezeonu oversees and directs all instructional divisions and departments, including transfer, transitional studies, career and technical education and trades along with three branch campuses. She works with faculty unions and is an accreditor.

Dr. Ezeonu’s experience with equity runs deep. Dr. Ezeonu leads the Guided Pathways Advisory Team in providing focus and guidance to strengthen student retention, transitions, and completion at GRC. She leads Instructional leadership to advance the diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism work inside and outside of the classrooms.

When Highline College became an Achieving the Dream college, she engaged faculty in rethinking the internal and external communities’ mindset and prepared classrooms for culturally responsive teaching and learning. She was instrumental in acquiring and implementing the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) grant.

Her community work includes collaborating with nonprofit organizations and partners with local school districts, community-based organizations, business, religious organizations, and industry.

Dr. Ezeonu earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in the community college from Seattle University, a Master of Arts degree in Communication from Washington State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication/Public Relations from Washington State University. She also holds a certificate in “Closing the Achievement Gap” from Harvard University Graduate School of Education.  She co-authored, “Providing Equitable Education as a Daily Call to Action.”

Danny M. Hoey, Jr., Ph.D.

Dr. Danny M. Hoey is the Provost of the West Campus at Valencia College.  Throughout his career in higher education, Dr. Hoey has successfully led broad scale reform initiatives aligned with college-wide priorities as it relates to equity, retention, inclusive pedagogy, student success and completion. Prior to joining Valencia, Dr. Hoey served as Dean of Student Learning, Equity and Success for the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences at Gavilan College. While there, he worked closely with Human Resources to update board polices with language to support the college wide efforts for retention and student success. He also served as the Assistant Dean of English, Literacy, and Communications at Anne Arundel Community College where he successfully implemented faculty training/professional development on inclusive pedagogy. He formally served as an Associate Professor of English and Department Chair of English, Communications and Modern Languages at Indian River State College and the Administrative Director of Minority Affairs. While at Indian River State College, he implemented collegewide cultural competency training, revised the student equity plan, and worked closely with Human Resources to help create a more equitable hiring process. Dr. Hoey is also an author and he currently is working on his second novel.

Jacqueline S. Jackson, Ph.D.

Dr. Jacqueline S. Jackson joined Harford Community College in 2017. She came to Harford with a wide variety of experience in higher education administration in both student and academic affairs. Throughout her career she has worked to improve the onboarding experience for new students and develop more effective academic advising models that promote faculty engagement; she also has extensive experience in retention and completion strategies, strategic planning, and Title IX policy. She was the 2017 recipient of the Innovation of the Year award from the League for Innovation in the Community College for her work on a team of colleagues that addressed achievement gaps in highly-enrolled courses at Anne Arundel Community College. Dr. Jackson received her PhD in Urban Education with a concentration in Higher Education Administration from Old Dominion University (VA); she also holds an MS in College Student Personnel and Counseling, and a BS in Psychology, both from Western Illinois University. Recently, and unexpectedly, Dr. Jackson served as the Interim President of Harford Community College for eleven months during 2020 at the height of the global pandemic. Prior to joining Harford Community College, she held a visiting assistant professorship at George Washington University, teaching full-time in the graduate program for Higher Education Administration. She was also the founding Chief Academic Officer at the University of the District of Columbia Community College, and spent nearly eight years working for several national higher education associations in Washington, D.C. Dr. Jackson's professional interests include the academic achievement of first-generation and underrepresented students; retention and completion strategies; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and community relations. She is originally from Monmouth, Illinois and resides with her husband, Maurice, in Havre de Grace, MD.

Todd L. Kitchen, Ed.D.

Dr. Todd Kitchen serves as the president of the Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio. A native of Moberly, Missouri, Dr. Kitchen graduated from Moberly Senior High School, and attended Moberly Junior College pursuing a degree in Music. After completing two years at the junior College, he deviated from the traditional education path and enlisted in the United States Army in 1989. During Dr. Kitchen’s time in the Army, he deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Dessert Shield/Dessert Storm. At the conclusion of the initial combat phase, Dr. Kitchen was selected to serve as a member of the 1st Infantry Division Color Guard, and represented his division in both Washington D.C. and New York City. He later returned to college while serving in the Army and earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management from Friends University (1998). Dr. Kitchen then earned a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Central Missouri in 2002. He earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis in 2012 from the University of Missouri-Columbia. After separating from the Army, Todd started his career in higher education at Wentworth Military Academy and College as an admissions recruiter and adjunct instructor. Dr. Kitchen later served as the director of admissions, social science faculty, dean of business and administration, and associate vice president for academics. After 10 years of success in Missouri, he and his family relocated to Northwest Arkansas where he was employed by Northwest Arkansas Community College. Dr. Kitchen has served as director of admissions, dean of learner administrative services and vice president for student services (student affairs) prior to his recent appointment as president of the Eastern Campus of Cuyahoga Community College. Dr. Kitchen is an Aspen Fellow, committed to closing equity gaps and improving outcomes from marginalized student populations. His research interests include leadership, leadership development, and non-cognitive factors impacting educational success.  Dr. Kitchen has served on non-profit boards and has been actively involved with church communities for nearly three decades. He has earned numerous leadership awards in both his military and civilian careers. Dr. Kitchen’s greatest passion is helping connect people to resources, information and opportunities that will help maximize their potential. His hobbies include reading, coffee, golfing with his wife, Andrea, NCAA basketball, and spending time with family and friends. Dr. Kitchen and his wife Andrea have three adult children, Brianna, T.J., and Adriana.

Julie Leidig, Ph.D.

Dr. Julie Leidig is a passionate advocate for the power of community colleges to transform lives.  In addition to 25 years in community college education, she has held leadership positions at language schools, universities, state government, and corporate settings.  Since 2010 she has served as the Provost (campus president) of Northern Virginia Community College’s Loudoun Campus in the Washington, DC Metro area.  During her tenure the campus has expanded enrollment from 11,500 to nearly 18,000 students annually, including a dramatic increase in dual enrolled students at 19 local high schools.  In her role as Provost, she also has served on the Executive Committee of the Loudoun County Economic Development Commission, the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Loudoun County Comprehensive Plan Stakeholder Committee, and the Loudoun School/Business Partnership. In 2019 she was named an Aspen Rising Presidential Fellow.

Prior to coming to NOVA, Dr. Leidig served for six years as Vice President for Instruction at Lone Star

College – Montgomery in suburban Houston, Texas.  She also worked for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as Director of Instructional Programs for Texas Community and Technical Colleges where she oversaw academic issues affecting more than 90 public two-year college campuses.  Her experience includes six years as an instructor of English as a Foreign Language in both Japan and the United States, staff development work at the University of Texas at Austin, and curriculum development for ESL and workforce literacy programs.  

Dr. Leidig holds a B.A. in Political Science from Syracuse University, as well as three graduate degrees from the University of Texas at Austin:  an M.Ed. in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, an M. A. in Foreign Language Education, and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration/Community College Leadership.  She believes in maintaining perspective and a sense of humor. She enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, friends, and pets as well as hiking, travel, reading, and the arts.

Kimberly M. Lowry, Ph.D.

Dr. Kimberly M. Lowry currently serves as the Director of Community College Leadership Initiatives for the College Excellence Program, at The Aspen Institute. Her portfolio includes the Rising Presidents Fellowship, New Presidents Fellowship and Alumni Engagement. Prior to this role she served as the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services at Lone Star College- Houston North. Dr. Lowry’s professional background includes administrative experiences across various functional areas including Advising, Dual Credit, Veteran Services, Registrar, Disability Services, TRIO programs and Enrollment Management. Preceding her role at Lone Star, she served as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Engagement and success at Houston Community College and as the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success, the Executive Dean of Student and Enrollment Services and the Director of Advising and Assessment at Eastfield College. During her time at Lone Star College, she was responsible for all aspects of Student Services and Instruction and helped to launch the College’s first strategic enrollment management plan, 8-week term program and faculty mentoring model. She has years of higher education experience, spanning across various institutional types which include Wilberforce University, The University of North Texas at Dallas and Eastfield College.

As a college student, Dr. Lowry attended and graduated from Antelope Valley Community College and then transferred to California State Long Beach where she earned both her M.S. in Counseling with an emphasis on Student Development in Higher Education and her B.A. in Psychology. Dr. Lowry then received her Ph.D. in Higher Education at the University of North Texas. As a community college scholar, her research focuses on community college choice, high achieving African American students and student athletes. Finally, Dr. Lowry stays involved in numerous professional associations She was a 2020-21 Aspen Rising Presidents Fellow and served as the Director of the Community College Division for NASPA as well as a board member for the National Council for Instructional Administrators.

Siria S. Martinez, Ph.D.

Dr. Siria S. Martinez has dedicated her career to eliminating educational inequality and has over two decades of experience in higher education.  Dr. Martinez currently works for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and is responsible for leading the Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI) in deploying professional development and technical assistance aimed at advancing equity and success strategies for the largest system of public higher education. She comes to the Chancellor’s Office from Woodland Community College, where she served as Dean of Student Success & Institutional Effectiveness and Interim Dean of Student Services.

A Los Angeles native raised in Compton who was the first in her family to attend college, Dr. Martinez began her higher education career at the University of Southern California where she served as assistant director in the Office of Admissions and Associate Director of Academic Affairs in the Computer Science Department. She was recruited in 2007 to work for the University of California, Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering as its Graduate Student Affairs Manager, then transitioned to Palomar Community College as its Title V/Hispanic Serving Institution Project Supervisor providing leadership in supporting the retention and academic success of Hispanic and low-income students.

In 2011, Dr. Martinez returned to her alma mater, the University of California, Davis, as Director of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars program guiding first-generation and low-income students to pursue doctorate degrees in their respective fields. While working with first-generation students, Dr. Martinez conducted research during her doctoral program that examined student experiences in community college developmental learning communities.

Dr. Martinez holds a bachelor’s degree in rhetoric and communication from UC Davis; a master of education, postsecondary administration and student affairs, from the University of Southern California; and a PhD. in higher education from Claremont Graduate University.

Derek Moore, Ed.D.

Dr. Derek Moore is a student-centered leader who was appointed as the 7th President of New Mexico Junior College in July 2022.  He has over 25 years of higher education and workforce development experience. Prior to New Mexico Junior College, Dr. Moore served in various administrative roles at colleges and universities in Arkansas, which included Vice President for Student Services, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success, and Director of Academic Advising and Career Services.  He has also served as faculty member, textbook author, national presenter, and professional development facilitator.

Dr. Moore serves as an advisory board member of the Higher Education Research and Development Institute (HERDI), a member of the Alliance for Innovation and Transformation (AFIT), and a former board member of Innovative Educators.  His commitment to the community includes being a member of the Hobbs Rotary Club, board member of the New Mexico Independent Community Colleges Association, and public member with the Economic Development Corporation of Lea County. 

Dr. Moore earned a Doctor of Education from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD; a Master of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, AR; and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, AR.  He is also a graduate of the League for Innovation in the Community College’s Executive Leadership Institute.  

Dr. Moore has been married to his wife, Pinkie, for 30 years.  They have two adult sons, a daughter-in-law, and one grandchild.

Omar Murillo, Ed.D.

Dr. Murillo is an experienced leader driven by a focus on improving the student experience and increasing pathways to success. He is currently the vice president of Student Services at Mission College. Previously, Dr. Murillo held the position of Director of the U.S. Department of Education Title III Grant at Mission College. He has also served as the Program Coordinator and Retention Specialist for the TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) Program at CSU Monterey Bay (CSUMB), and served as a Content Specialist for the Homeland Security Digital Library at the Naval Postgraduate school from 2003-2009. 

Outside of education, Dr. Murillo has served as the Board president for the Alisal Center for the Fine Arts in Salinas, California (2013-2016) and continues to serve on the Board in various capacities. He served as chapter president for the Central California Chapter of the Western Association for Educational Opportunity Personnel (WESTOP) in 2014-2015.

Dr. Murillo was also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).  He continues to focus on professional development and educational advocacy, as evident through his participation in the 2023 Rising President's Fellowship through the Aspen Institute, the Community College League of California (CCLC) Aspiring CEO Program, the 2018 National Community College Hispanic Council (NCCHC) Leadership Fellows Program, his leadership with the AANAPISI national community from 2016-2018, and his involvement with the Chief Student Services Officer (CSSO) association of California Community Colleges.

Dr. Murillo holds a M.A. in Education with a concentration in Counseling and Student Services from San Jose State University and a B.A. in Liberal Studies with a minor in Spanish from CSUMB. He received his Ed.D. from San Francisco State University (SFSU) for his dissertation, "Family Away from Home: Support Systems for Multi-generational Hispanic Students at a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)".

Dr. Rhonda Spells-Fentry, Ed.D.

Dr. Rhonda M. Spells-Fentry earned her Ed.D. with an emphasis on community college leadership from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.  She earned both her M.B.A. with a focus on global business management and her B.S. degree in information systems management from the University of Maryland University College (now known as University of Maryland Global Campus) in Adelphi.

Dr. Spells-Fentry joined Prince George’s Community College in July 2003. Since September 2015, she has served as the College’s vice president for Data Science, Innovation, and Effectiveness and chief information officer. She provides leadership for the College’s technology initiatives and ensures that the various systems are efficiently integrated. Dr. Spells-Fentry also develops and implements technology strategy and architecture, along with policies and procedures to ensure that academic and administrative technologies are cost-effective and secure. In addition, she provides management oversight for the approximately 100 technical and support staff who are associated with the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and business applications, information systems, network, security, client support services, distance learning, and instructional technology.

Previous leadership roles held by Dr. Spells-Fentry at Prince George’s Community College include dean of Learning Technologies and Support Services, executive director of eLearning Services, director of the Distance Learning Center, and program director of Distance Learning.

Dr. Spells-Fentry is currently a lecturer at Morgan State University for students seeking their master’s and doctoral degrees. She previously taught an introductory information technology course at American University and two courses at Prince George’s Community College, Introduction to Computer Technology and Planning for Academic Success.

With expertise and passion for business process improvement, distance education, and educational technology, Dr. Spells-Fentry inspires others to embrace technology and strive for success.

Chae E. Sweet, Ed.D.

Dr. Chae E. Sweet serves as the Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs at Montgomery County Community College. She is an innovative, insightful leader who has championed the community college mission for over 20 years.

In her former role as Dean of Liberal Studies at Community College of Philadelphia, Dr. Sweet provided creative and collegial leadership to 15 direct reports and 175 full-time faculty. She was responsible for maintaining and developing high-quality academic programs, the core of general education, and managing accreditation for the Paralegal Studies and Education programs, as well as institutional academic program reviews. During her tenure, Dr. Sweet transformed faculty engagement with assessment of student learning into a faculty-led practice that sharpened the quality of learning throughout the division. As well, Dr. Sweet developed numerous collaborations with institutions and community partners to the further academic interests of the division and College. Her commitment to fostering success and developing high-impact learning experiences was demonstrated in both the quality of new and revised academic programs and in the development of varied experiential learning opportunities.

Prior to 2016, Dr. Sweet was an associate dean at Passaic County Community College. Among other achievements, she led faculty to implement an accelerated learning program, revamped the delivery of academic support, and developed a college success course for developmental English and ESL students. Prior to becoming a dean, Dr. Sweet was an assistant professor of English for 10 years at Hudson County Community College in Jersey City. During that time, she helped hundreds of students find their voices through writing, learn successful reading strategies, and expand their world through literature. As a faculty leader, Dr. Sweet led workshops, coordinated the reading program, and developed courses.

Dr. Sweet is tenacious in her quest to improve and develop programs, courses, and learning opportunities for college students. She believes lives are shaped by the thoughts we think, and through education, we become more flexible, creative thinkers. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Sweet is keenly aware of how impactful the right opportunity and requisite support can be to that tentative seeker of change who approaches the community college campus. There are few places that hold the transformational potential that is found on college campuses and leading and enhancing this potential is an inspiring and welcome challenge that energizes and grounds her work.

Dr. Sweet received a B.A. in English from Rutgers University, a M.F.A. in Creative Writing from New School University, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Grambling State University. A resident of Berks County, Dr. Sweet and her partner love cycling along trails in PA and abroad, kayaking and enjoying the cultural delights of the region.