Contemporary Perspectives in Higher Education Panel

Join us for a dynamic panel on Contemporary Perspectives in Higher Education, where industry experts address the state of higher education and student affairs through their specific lens, including perspectives on technology and artificial intelligence, neurodiversity, critical college student development, and our intergenerational workforce. In this insightful 90-minute session, our panelists will begin to explore the endless possibilities for the future of our field, as well as support the work related to orientation, transition, and retention on our campuses. From emerging to strategic professionals, participants can look forward to an engaging dialogue that addresses student affairs issues and evolving considerations for the field, which can be applied to one’s home institution and professional praxis.

Dr. Anzar Khaliq [he/him] is the founding Chief Learning Officer at San Francisco Bay University, where he leads a university-wide transformation of teaching and learning through a deeply AI-integrated approach. He leverages AI to support inclusive, student-centered education with an emphasis on neurodiversity and culturally sustaining pedagogy. With a PhD in Experimental Physics from Sorbonne and a background in radio and improv, he blends scientific rigor with creative, inclusive teaching.

Perspective: Technology & AI

Dr. Anzar Khaliq
Chief Learning Officer
San Francisco Bay University

Dr. Anzar Khaliq [he/him]  is the founding Chief Learning Officer at San Francisco Bay University, where he leads a university-wide transformation of teaching and learning through a deeply AI-integrated approach. He leverages AI to support inclusive, student-centered education with an emphasis on neurodiversity and culturally sustaining pedagogy. With a PhD in Experimental Physics from Sorbonne and a background in radio and improv, he blends scientific rigor with creative, inclusive teaching.

Dr. Chris Truong [she/they] is the Coordinator of Neurodiversity-Affirming Services and a Staff Psychologist at the Towson University Counseling Center. They are also the owner of Prismatic Minds LLC, a private practice that specializes in providing neurodiversity-affirming care, training, and consultation. Dr. Truong embraces the neurodiversity-affirming paradigm to develop and design neuro-inclusive and affirming outreach programs, educational workshops, and trainings to support neurodivergent people. In addition to this work, Dr. Truong utilizes this lens to provide therapy services to queer, neurodivergent, and BIPOC individuals.

Perspective: Neurodivergence

Dr. Chris TroungS
staff Psychologist & Coordinator of Neurodiversity-Affirming Service
Towson University

Dr. Chris Truong [she/they] is the Coordinator of Neurodiversity-Affirming Services and a Staff Psychologist at the Towson University Counseling Center. They are also the owner of Prismatic Minds LLC, a private practice that specializes in providing neurodiversity-affirming care, training, and consultation. Dr. Truong embraces the neurodiversity-affirming paradigm to develop and design neuro-inclusive and affirming outreach programs, educational workshops, and trainings to support neurodivergent people. In addition to this work, Dr. Truong utilizes this lens to provide therapy services to queer, neurodivergent, and BIPOC individuals.

Dr. Corey Seemiller [she/her], professor at Wright State University, is a leading expert on Gen Z. She has authored multiple books, including Generation Z Goes to College and Generation Z: A Century in the Making. Her work has been cited more than 5000 times. Dr. Seemiller also led the Global Gen Z Study with 30,000+ participants from 81 countries and recently released Gen Z Around the World and Generations in the World of Work. Her research has been featured in multiple news outlets, including NPR, The New York Times, Time, and USA Today, and her TEDx Talk has more than 285,000 views.

Perspective: Intergenerational  Workforce

Dr. Corey Seemiller
Professor of Leadership
Wright State University

Dr. Corey Seemiller [she/her],  professor at Wright State University, is a leading expert on Gen Z. She has authored multiple books, including Generation Z Goes to College and Generation Z: A Century in the Making. Her work has been cited more than 5000 times. Dr. Seemiller also led the Global Gen Z Study with 30,000+ participants from 81 countries and recently released Gen Z Around the World and Generations in the World of Work. Her research has been featured in multiple news outlets, including NPR, The New York Times, Time, and USA Today, and her TEDx Talk has more than 285,000 views.

Jason C. Garvey [he/him] is the Friedman-Hipps Green and Gold Professor of Education and Executive Director for the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. As an interdisciplinary researcher, he uses his expertise in student success, teaching and learning, education policy, and statistics to merge data-informed decision making with social change and impact in higher education. Jay is the Principal Investigator for QTPiE: Queer and Trans People in Education, a multi-institutional research team with a mission to educate, advocate, and build coalitions that advance equitable policies and practices for queer and trans people in education.

Perspective: College Student Development

Dr. Jason C. Garvey
Friedman-Hipps Green & Gold Professor of Education
University of Vermont

Jason C. Garvey [he/him] is the Friedman-Hipps Green and Gold Professor of Education and Executive Director for the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. As an interdisciplinary researcher, he uses his expertise in student success, teaching and learning, education policy, and statistics to merge data-informed decision making with social change and impact in higher education. Jay is the Principal Investigator for QTPiE: Queer and Trans People in Education, a multi-institutional research team with a mission to educate, advocate, and build coalitions that advance equitable policies and practices for queer and trans people in education.

Bram J. Stone [they/them] is the Assistant Director for Leadership Programs within Residential Living and the Student Experience at Syracuse University. They are a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Leadership Studies at the University of Southern Maine. As a scholar-practitioner, they seek to support and promote the successful transition, retention, and sense of belonging of college students through active leadership development and community engagement. As a member of the queer and trans* community they seek to support all students in their navigation of collegiate life and personal development.

Contemporary Perspectives Panel Moderator

Bram J. Stone
Assistant Director for Leadership Programs
Syracuse University

Bram J. Stone [they/them] is the Assistant Director for Leadership Programs within Residential Living and the Student Experience at Syracuse University. They are a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Leadership Studies at the University of Southern Maine. As a scholar-practitioner, they seek to support and promote the successful transition, retention, and sense of belonging of college students through active leadership development and community engagement. As a member of the queer and trans* community they seek to support all students in their navigation of collegiate life and personal development.

Professional Level Featured Speakers

Conference attendees are encouraged to engage with their selected professional-level featured speaker at #NODAC2025! We have four concurrent featured speakers to represent the four professional levels of our conference audience. Whether you are an emerging, advancing, established, or strategic professional, or looking to progress into the next phase of your professional journey, we hope that you will find deep meaning and connection with one of our selected featured speakers for this year’s conference experience. Recognizing the endless possibilities that our professional journeys may hold for each of us, our featured speakers bring a variety of insights, backgrounds, and lived experiences to share with you as you engage in your own reflection and professional development at this year’s conference. They hope to inspire and encourage attendees to embrace significant moments in their personal and professional lives.

Meridia Sanders [she/her] is the Director for Transition & Student Success at LSU. With over 10 years in higher education, she brings energy, authenticity, and a student-centered lens to every space she enters. She leads Bengal Bound Orientation, Welcome Week, and the Student Success One Stop—supporting new students and their families in and through their transition to LSU. A North Carolina native, bride-to-be, dog mom, fitness enthusiast, and doctoral candidate, Meridia leads with purpose.

Emerging Professional Level

Meridia Sanders
Director of Transition & Student Success
Louisiana State University

Meridia Sanders [she/her]  is the Director for Transition & Student Success at LSU. With over 10 years in higher education, she brings energy, authenticity, and a student-centered lens to every space she enters. She leads Bengal Bound Orientation, Welcome Week, and the Student Success One Stop—supporting new students and their families in and through their transition to LSU. A North Carolina native, bride-to-be, dog mom, fitness enthusiast, and doctoral candidate, Meridia leads with purpose.

Michael Venturiello [he/him] is a historian, educator, and writer, and founder of Christopher Street Tours, an award-winning LGBTQ+ walking tour company. A former student affairs professional, turned corporate Googler, now full-time gay, Michael's mission is to increase access to LGBTQ+ history by sharing stories and uplifting voices of those who paved the way before him. Michael has been featured in various publications and recognized worldwide for his LGBTQ+ impact and leadership.

Advancing Professional Level

Michael Venturiello
Founder & Owner
Christopher Street Tours

Michael Venturiello [he/him] is a historian, educator, and writer, and founder of Christopher Street Tours, an award-winning LGBTQ+ walking tour company. A former student affairs professional, turned corporate Googler, now full-time gay, Michael’s mission is to increase access to LGBTQ+ history by sharing stories and uplifting voices of those who paved the way before him. Michael has been featured in various publications and recognized worldwide for his LGBTQ+ impact and leadership.

Dr. Kim Harvey [she/her] is a dedicated leader, educator, and advocate committed to shaping inclusive, student-centered communities in higher education. As Associate Provost and Dean of Students at Nazareth University, she brings nearly two decades of experience championing student success and fostering environments where students can thrive—academically, socially, and personally. With expertise spanning student affairs and enrollment management areas including— admissions, new student orientation and first-year experience, student engagement and leadership, academic success and accessibility, and residential life, Dr. Harvey has held progressive leadership roles across both public and private institutions. Dr. Harvey’s passion for the student experience extends beyond administrative leadership. She is also an adjunct faculty member, teaching in higher education and student affairs graduate programs, where she mentors and inspires the next generation of student affairs professionals.

Established Professional Level

Dr. Kim Harvey
Associate Provost for Student Experience and Dean of Students
Nazareth University

Dr. Kim Harvey [she/her] is a dedicated leader, educator, and advocate committed to shaping inclusive, student-centered communities in higher education. As Associate Provost and Dean of Students at Nazareth University, she brings nearly two decades of experience championing student success and fostering environments where students can thrive—academically, socially, and personally. With expertise spanning student affairs and enrollment management areas including— admissions, new student orientation and first-year experience, student engagement and leadership, academic success and accessibility, and residential life, Dr. Harvey has held progressive leadership roles across both public and private institutions. Dr. Harvey’s passion for the student experience extends beyond administrative leadership. She is also an adjunct faculty member, teaching in higher education and student affairs graduate programs, where she mentors and inspires the next generation of student affairs professionals.

Dr. Melinda J. Anderson [she/her] has worked in higher education for over 20 years, including various roles on campuses in academic and student affairs. Her passion and commitment to student success have propelled her to operate in many different capacities with a focus on student transitions, persistence, and retention. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director for Network Engagement at Achieving the Dream. Achieving the Dream's mission - Transforming Colleges, Transforming Communities works with over 300 community colleges by helping them with whole college transformation to increase student success outcomes.

Strategic Professional Level

Dr. Melinda J. Anderson
Executive Director for Network Engagement
Achieving The Dream

Dr. Melinda J. Anderson [she/her] has worked in higher education for over 20 years, including various roles on campuses in academic and student affairs. Her passion and commitment to student success have propelled her to operate in many different capacities with a focus on student transitions, persistence, and retention. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director for Network Engagement at Achieving the Dream. Achieving the Dream’s mission – Transforming Colleges, Transforming Communities works with over 300 community colleges by helping them with whole college transformation to increase student success outcomes. 

Cornerstone Conversations

Cornerstone Conversations is a short-form speaker series that captures the inextricable connection between the personal and professional aspects of our work, particularly in the context of orientation, transition, and retention within higher education. During this speakers’ series, four NODA Members will share their relevant experiences connecting to one of our four conference cornerstones—community, innovation, progression, and representation—and offer a meaningful takeaway on how their personal and professional work embodies one of the endless possibilities of these tenets of our work.

*More information on our Cornerstone Conversation Speakers will be announced in late August.