Bryan Alexander
Bryan Alexander is an award-winning, internationally recognized futurist, researcher, author, speaker, and consultant focused on the future of higher education. He earned his PhD in English from the University of Michigan and has taught literature, writing, multimedia, and information technology studies.
Bryan previously served in leadership roles with the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education (NITLE) and founded Bryan Alexander Consulting, LLC in 2013, where he advises colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad.
A prolific speaker and writer, his work has appeared in outlets such as The Atlantic, Inside Higher Ed, and The New York Times. His book Academia Next (2020) won an Association of Professional Futurists award, and Universities on Fire (2023) received the 2025 Frederic W. Ness Book Award. His newest book, Peak Higher Ed, is forthcoming in 2026.
Bryan is currently a Senior Scholar at Georgetown University, where he teaches graduate seminars in the Learning, Design, and Technology program.
Angela Black
Ms. Black is an associate librarian and Head of Technical Services at Arkansas Tech University, specializing in the areas of acquisitions, cataloging, and integrated library system management. She also provides undergraduate and graduate library instruction for the departments of English, Behavioral Sciences, and the School of Business.
With over thirteen years of professional library experience, she has presented at state and regional conferences on system migration, library space utilization, acquisitions, and collaboration with K-12 librarians. At Arkansas Tech University, she has led two professional development faculty sessions on AI-powered search engines. In 2025, as chair of the College and University Librarians of Arkansas, she hosted an AI Unconferences for academic librarians around the state. She is currently a member of the AI Taskforce at Arkansas Tech University working to develop AI policies for the institution.
Amy Hawkins
Dr. Amy Hawkins is Assistant Provost of Teaching and Academic Leadership at the University of Central Arkansas. She has directed the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership for over 10 years, offering faculty and leadership development initiatives to strengthen teaching and learning at UCA. She is a highly popular presenter and facilitator at UCA and around the state of Arkansas on topics including difficult conversations, boundaries, and presentation skills. Amy is also an Associate Professor of Public Relations in UCA’s School of Communication where she has taught for over 25 years. Dr. Hawkins is Accredited in Public Relations (APR) through the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Sean Huss
Dr. Sean Huss is a Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Arkansas Tech University whose work focuses on statistics, sociological theory, drug use/policy, and technological and social change. He is trained in advanced quantitative methods including Bayesian analysis, hierarchical linear modeling, structural equation modeling, and time-series techniques, is completing IBM certification as an AI Engineering Professional and AI Developer, and serves as Chair of ATU’s AI and Ethics Policy Subcommittee, leading campus-wide work on responsible AI policy. His publications span topics such as hackers and criminalization, drug policy, environmental policy, law and religion, social movements, and technology and inequality, and he has earned multiple awards for community leadership and distinguished service, including recognition from NASW, a Presidential Award for Distinguished Service from the Office of the President of the United States, both the Faculty Award of Excellence and Presidential Award for Distinguished Service at Arkansas Tech, and recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.
Joel Johnson
Joel Johnson serves as Provost and Executive Vice President of Augustana University, where he provides strategic leadership for the university’s academic enterprise and advances a vision centered on innovation, excellence, and student success. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in political science from Harvard University and a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College. A scholar of political theory and American political thought, he is the author of Beyond Practical Virtue: A Defense of Liberal Democracy through Literature, in addition to numerous journal articles and book chapters. He was awarded a Fulbright Senior Scholar appointment in American Studies at Philipps-Universität Marburg in Germany. Prior to his appointment as provost, he served Augustana as the Sanford Peter Schotten Distinguished Professor, Stanley L. Olsen Chair of Moral Values, and Social Sciences Division Chair, and he helped lead the university’s academic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his leadership role, Johnson has guided a comprehensive reorganization of the academic structure, implemented a redesigned core curriculum grounded in the liberal arts, and expanded undergraduate and graduate offerings, strengthening Augustana’s academic distinction and regional impact.
Wade Maki
Wade Maki serves as Chancellor’s Fellow for Strategic Planning at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a role he has held since 2024. He led the “Forward Together” Strategic Plan refresh and contributes to other institutional priorities, including Artificial Intelligence and Career Readiness initiatives.
From 2022 to 2026, Maki served two terms as Chair of the UNC System Faculty Assembly, representing faculty across 17 institutions. In that role, he advanced significant policy reforms, including updates to faculty workload and post-tenure review, development of the Foundation of American Democracy requirement, and the creation of a Consensus Definition of Academic Freedom for the UNC System. Maki also advocated to support UNC system priorities such as the Faculty Retirement Incentive Program with NC Legislators.
Maki joined UNCG’s Department of Philosophy in 2004, rising from Lecturer to Principal Lecturer. His teaching has spanned topics from Ethical Issues in Business to The Philosophy of Love and Friendship. In 2017, he received UNCG’s Anna Maria Gove Award for Teaching Excellence. Maki has also held several leadership roles, including Director of the Bachelor of Liberal Studies Program (2017–2024), Co-Director of the Faculty Teaching and Learning Commons (2013–2014), and Director of the BB&T Program on Capitalism, Markets, and Morality (2010–2013).
Maki earned a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of Minnesota Duluth and an M.A. in Philosophy from Bowling Green State University.
Ken Warden
Dr. Ken Warden was appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee-Sanders as the Commissioner of the Arkansas Division of Higher Education on June 1, 2023.
Dr. Warden holds a Doctorate of Education in Workforce Development from the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, a Master’s in Education in Educational Leadership from Arkansas Tech University, a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Education also from the University of Arkansas -Fayetteville, as well as an Associates of Applied Science in Automotive Service from Westark Community College (now UA-Fort Smith).
Prior to being appointed Commissioner, Dr. Warden worked for the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith from 2014-2023, most recently serving as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Compliance and Legislative Affairs. He previously served as the Dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology for six years and as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development for one year.
He also spent 17 years working with Arkansas Tech University – Ozark where he held positions including: Department Chair of Automotive Service Technology, Business and Industry Coordinator, and Chief Officer for Business and Community Outreach.
His breadth of work in higher education spans the gamut, having worked in adult education, two-year colleges and university systems. He has experience in program design, project management, community partnerships, career pathways, grant implementation, and senior level academic leadership.
His research interests are focused on adult learners/non-traditional students, credit and non-credit workforce aligned programs, student retention, and sustainability initiatives on college campuses.
He has been married to his wife, Sandy, for 30 years. He has three adult sons and three well above average grandchildren.
When he is not working in the arena of higher education, you’ll find him working on his old farm equipment, feeding cattle, or maybe fishing.
Chris Wright
Chris Wright is the Assistant Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma. He was promoted to his current position in February 2026. Dr. Wright previously served as the Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship since January 2023. He is passionate about helping the University of Tulsa and the Tulsa region become leaders in entrepreneurship and venture development by providing founders with better access to education, resources and capital. He is a co-founder and investor in multiple Tulsa-based tech companies including Reliant and Medefy Health.
Chris enjoys working within the Tulsa community on various non-profit and service boards and currently serves as Chair-Elect of the Board for Street School. He has served as President of the Tulsa Area Human Resources Association (TAHRA) and Chair for the OKHR State Conference. He is also actively involved in the entrepreneurial community in Tulsa where he served as the Advisory Board Chair for The Forge incubator, was named a Techstars All-Star mentor and is a venture advisor for 46VC and Hurricane Ventures.
He is an Applied Assistant Professor in the Collins College of Business (CCB) at The University of Tulsa teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses in entrepreneurship, marketing, leadership, human resource management, and I/O psychology.