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Expert Engagement

A national advisory board of recognized community college leaders guides the program; many serve as faculty and guest lecturers.

Andrew Bowne, Ed.D. President Tarrant County College, TX	Dr. Bowne is president of the Tarrant County College Southeast Campus in Texas. He previously served as president of Johnson County Community College (Kansas) as well as a regional chancellor and then as senior vice president/chief operating officer at Ivy Tech Community College (Indiana). Prior to Ivy Tech, Dr. Bowne served in several leadership roles at Grand Rapids Community College (Michigan). He earned an Ed.D. at Western Michigan University. Dr. Bowne is an alumnus of both the Aspen Institute’s Rising Presidents and New Presidents Fellowships.
Jonathan (Josh) Bullock, Ph.D. President Lake Land College, IL	Dr. Bullock is president of Lake Lake College. He previously served as Vice President for Strategic Advancement at Moraine Park Technical College. Dr. Bullock is a long-standing Rotarian and is actively engaged in communities throughout east central Illinois. Appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker as a Commissioner with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, Dr. Bullock is actively engaged in advocating for the success of students across Illinois. He currently serves as Chair of the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents and has nearly 30 years of experience in higher education as a teacher and administrator, in addition to a successful career in the private sector. He earned his Ph.D. from Marian University.
Donald Burns, Ph.D. President Emeritus Montcalm Community College, MI	Dr. Burns is president emeritus of Montcalm Community College. Prior to his 25 years as president he served as dean of student and community services and as executive vice president. He earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University.
Ding-Jo Currie, Ph.D. Chancellor (ret) Coast Community College District, CA	Dr. Currie was recently the Chancellor of Coast Community College District (CA), which includes three colleges: Coastline College, Golden West College and Orange Coast College. She was the former president of Coastline Community College. She was also the Chair of the American Association of Community Colleges in 2008.
Naomi DeWinter, Ed.D. Acting Vice Chancellor for Student Development Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, IA and President Muscatine Community College, IA	Before being named president of Muscatine Community College in 2015, Dr. DeWinter was the Vice President of Student Affairs at North Central College in Petoskey, MI. She served in that role since 2001 and was previously Director of Enrollment Management for North Central. Previously, she worked in admissions and led enrollment efforts at Oakland Community College in Michigan. DeWinter holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from Eastern Michigan University and earned her Ed.D. from Ferris State University.
Sylvia Jenkins, Ph.D. President (ret) Moraine Valley Community College, IL	Dr. Sylvia Jenkins serves as president of Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, IL. She previously served as vice president of academic affairs and held various other administrative and faculty appointments. She earned her Bachelor of Education degree from Grambling State University, her Master of Library and Information Science degree from the State University of New York at Albany, and her Ph.D. in Education and Human Resource Studies with a specialization in Community College Leadership from Colorado State University-Fort Collins.
Margaret B. (Peg) Lee, Ph.D. President (ret) Oakton Community College, IL	Margaret B. Lee began her tenure as president of Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, IL, on July 1, 1995. She holds the rank of professor of English at the College where she served as academic vice president from 1985 to 1995. Her prior administrative positions in Michigan include dean of instruction at Kalamazoo Valley Community College (1982-85) and dean of liberal arts at Alpena Community College (1980-82).
Gunder Myran, Ed.D. President Emeritus Washtenaw Community College, MI	Gunder Myran holds a Doctorate in Administration/Higher Education from Michigan State University and completed his post-doctoral study while attending the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University. From 1975 to 1998, Gunder Myran served as the president of Washtenaw Community College and has served in various roles as dean, professor, and high school instructor throughout his career as an educator. He currently serves as Senior Consultant to the Chancellor of the Wayne County Community College District and is President of Myran and Associates, a company that has provided consulting services to over 50 community colleges, universities, and associations including: Michigan State University, Ferris State University, St. Clair County Community College, and the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters. In addition, Gunder serves as a member of the National Advisory Board for Ferris State University’s Doctorate in Community College Leadership program and as an adjunct faculty member. Drawing from his education and experience as an educator and working professional, Gunder Myran has published numerous magazine articles, chapters, brochures, and texts including: The Future of the Urban Community College: Shaping the Pathways to a Multiracial Democracy (2013), Reinventing the Open Door: Transformational Strategies for Community Colleges (2009), Leadership Strategies for Community College Executives (2003), and Community College Leadership for the New Century: Learning to Improve Learning (1995). Gunder Myran was presented with the 2014 AACC Leadership Award at the opening session of the AACC convention in April.
Donald Newport, Ph.D. President Emeritus Alpena Community College, MI	Dr. Newport is president emeritus of Alpena Community College. He is a former board member of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and helped define the competencies for community college leaders.
William Serrata, Ph.D. President El Paso Community College, TX	Dr. Serrata was named President of the El Paso County Community College District effective August 1, 2012. He previously served as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at South Texas College. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University – College Station. Under Dr. Serrata’s leadership, El Paso Community College was named as one of 10 nation-wide finalists for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence in 2015. Dr. Serrata was selected as an Aspen Presidential Fellow in 2015 and currently serves as an Aspen Presidential Mentor.
Brandy Johnson President Michigan Community College Association, MI	Brandy became President of Michigan Community College Association in December 2021. Prior to this role, she served in the Governor's administration, first as Governor Whitmer's education policy advisor and then as a manager of the Office of Sixty by 30 within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. In 2010, she founded the Michigan College Access Network and served as its Executive Director until 2019. Brandy also served as policy fellow and college access coordinator under Governor Jennifer Granholm. She began her career as a Teach for America Corps Member and third grade teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was appointed by Governor Whitmer to represent Michigan on the Midwest Higher Education Compact and served on Governor Snyder’s 21st Century Education Commission. She has been recognized for her leadership and advocacy by the Michigan Association of School Administrators, National College Access Network, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, as well as by the Michigan College Access Network. She currently serves on the boards of the Michigan After School Partnership, Michigan Virtual, and the National Postsecondary Strategy Institute. Brandy earned her B.A. in Political Science from Arizona State University and her M.A.in Public Policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.
Sean Huddleston, Ed.D. President Martin University, IN	Dr. Sean L. Huddleston is the president of Martin University, Indiana’s only Predominantly Black Institution (PBI). Through Dr. Huddleston’s leadership, Martin University founded the National Center for Racial Equity and Inclusion targeted at businesses and nonprofits in Indiana to assist their leaders and the surrounding communities in strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion. Before being named president of Martin University, Dr. Huddleston served as vice president and chief equity and inclusion officer at the University of Indianapolis; the chief officer of diversity, inclusion, and community engagement at Framingham State University in Framingham, MA; and as an assistant vice president at Grand Valley State in Allendale, MI.
Jermaine Ford, Ed.D. President Florence-Darlington Technical College, LA	Dr. Jermaine Ford is president at Florence-Darlington Technical College in Florence, LA. As a first-generation community college graduate, he has advocated for underserved populations to ensure every resident can access in-demand opportunities that yield a family-sustaining wage. He has dedicated his career to transforming lives and offering pathways to greatness through education. Prior to his current position at Florence-Darlington, Dr Ford began his higher education career at DePaul University in Chicago and later transitioned to the private sector before returning to higher education with positions at Moraine Valley Community College (IL) and South Louisiana Community College (LA).
Sue Ellspermann, Ph.D. President (ret) Ivy Tech Community College, IN	Dr. Sue Ellspermann recently retired as president of Ivy Tech Community College, the nation’s largest statewide, singly accredited community college. From 2012-2016, she served with Governor Mike Pence as Indiana’s 50^th Lieutenant Governor. She was first elected in 2010 as District 74 State Representative. Previously, Sue served as the University of Southern Indiana’s Founding Director of the Center for Applied Research and Economic Development and operated Ellspermann and Associates, Inc. focused on creative problem solving and strategic planning consulting. Early in her career, Sue held IE positions at GM, Michelin and Frito-Lay. She earned a BS in Industrial Engineering from Purdue and MSIE and PhD from the University of Louisville. Sue currently serves on several corporate boards including OneAmerica Financial, German American Bank, Strada Education Foundation, and OFS. She also serves on the Applied Research Institute, Center for Leadership Development, and Midstates Corridor RDA boards and the Sisters of St. Benedict Executive Advisory Committee. Sue and her husband, Jim Mehling, have a blended family of 4 daughters, 3 sons-in-laws, and 10 grandchildren.