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N. Karl Haden, Ph.D.Dr. Haden is President and CEO of AAL. Since AAL’s founding in 2005, Dr. Haden and AAL have worked with more than 150 U.S. and international higher education institutions, associations, and businesses through AAL’s professional development programs and consulting services. Dr. Haden oversees ongoing leadership development initiatives for numerous organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, the American Dental Education Association, the Dental Trade Alliance, and the Interprofessional Education Collaborative. His areas of expertise include leadership, organizational change, team building, strategic planning, curriculum development, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Dr. Haden has authored or coauthored more than 80 articles and monographs. He is the author,
along with AAL Senior Fellow Rob Jenkins, of The 9 Virtues of Exceptional Leaders: Unlocking
Your Leadership Potential (Deeds, 2015) and 31 Days with the Virtues (Deeds, 2020).
Dr. Haden is a Fellow (Hon.) of the American College of Dentists and a Fellow of the Center for
the Study of the Great Ideas. In 2017, he was honored by the ADEAGies Foundation as
recipient of the Gies Award for Achievement-Public or Private Partner. In 2019, he received the
Professionalism and Ethics Award from the American College of Dentists. He holds degrees in
religious studies, humanities, and philosophy.
Felicia Tucker-Lively, Ph.D., M.P.H.Dr. Tucker-Lively is the Vice President of AAL. In this capacity, develops, oversees, and facilitates sessions for various professional development programs such as Institute for Teaching and Learning (ITL), Chairs and Academic Administrators Management Program (CAAMP), and Exceptional Executive Leadership (ExcEL) for Women, both for AAL and for specific client projects.
Her areas of interest are professional and organizational development, strategic talent management, human resource management, and career path learning and development. She has experience in administration, operational management, and program coordination at Morehouse School of Medicine, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, and Brooklyn Hospital Center. She has assisted faculty, residents, and administrators in cultivating their growth and development in a variety of settings. Her background involves working with executive leadership teams to solve challenges, develop alternatives, and create efficiencies for improving program quality.
Dr. Tucker-Lively maintains a variety of memberships and positions of leadership in professional and community organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., William Tucker 1624 Society, and Ray of Hope Christian Church. In December 2019, she was appointed one of 12 nationwide faculty and independent researchers to the ADEA Collaborative on Dental Education Climate Assessment, charged with exploring issues of diversity, equity, inclusion and wellness throughout the U.S. and Canada. She received a Bachelor of Science in human services from Cornell University College of Human Ecology in New York and her Master of Public Health in sociomedical science from Columbia University School of Public Health. She received her doctorate in educational leadership from Mercer University in Atlanta. Dr. Tucker-Lively also holds the designation of Success Insights DISC Certified and Prioritized Leader Master Certified.
George Weinstein is the AAL Vice President for Business Development, overseeing all sales and marketing efforts and outreach to past, current, and potential clients. He joined AAL in 2008 as a project manager for professional development programs such as the Institute for Teaching and Learning (ITL) and the Chairs and Academic Administrators Management Program (CAAMP). He went on to do marketing for these programs as well as AAL’s other professional development offerings and consulting services. George also coauthored nine published academic articles with AAL consultants, primarily focused on the positive outcomes for participants of AAL programs. After a sabbatical to focus on his love of writing and helping other writers achieve their goals, he has returned to AAL to once again champion its world-class programs and solutions for the healthcare industry and the academic health professions.
George is also the author of six published novels—ranging from historical fiction to mysteries and suspense-thrillers—and is the executive director and former president of the Atlanta Writers Club, which was founded in 1914 and is one of the oldest, largest, and most active nonprofit writing organizations in the US. The Atlanta Writers Conference, which George has directed since 2009, has been cited often as the best writing conference in Georgia and has received more votes in polling by The Writer magazine than any other writing conference in the nation. His work can be found at www.GeorgeWeinstein.com.
Michele Hill, B.B.A.As Director of Accounting and Human Resources, Michele Hill oversees all the accounting functions for AAL. Ms. Hill earned her Bachelor of Business Administration at Georgia State University. While attending GSU, she had the privilege of working with Dr. Michael Mescon at the Ramsey Chair of Private Enterprise. Upon attaining her degree, Ms. Hill was employed by Georgia-Pacific Corporation as Senior Accountant in Human Resources.
In that role, she managed and evaluated the company’s benefit portfolio while working directly with the controller. Ms. Hill is accomplished in QuickBooks and has used her skill to help launch new businesses as well as improve processes of established corporations. Ms. Hill enjoys exercising and spending time with her family. One of her lifelong goals is to run a half marathon.
Meng Becky Zhang, Ph.D.Dr. Zhang is the Senior Project Manager for AAL. She is Project Management Professional (PMP) certified and engages in the planning, executing, and monitoring of AAL’s client-specific programs and consulting projects. Her experience in higher education includes teaching, conducting research, publishing, and instructional design. She is also experienced in media production, advertising, public relations, and social media.
She has worked in advertising and media productions in mainland China, and marketing and public relations in California and Florida. Originally from China, Dr. Zhang holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and English from Shanghai International Studies University, and a master’s in radio and television from San Francisco State University. She received her doctorate in mass communication and a graduate certificate in women’s studies from the University of Florida.
Jennifer MatthewsAs Director of Marketing, Jennifer Matthews manages all physical and digital outreach across a variety of platforms and mediums at AAL. She is a Hubspot-certified professional with expertise including email and social media marketing, digital and content marketing, branding and strategy, website development, and digital advertising.
Originally from Boston, Ms. Matthews holds a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. Upon attaining her degree, she began her career at Barclays Capital, and later transitioned to the marketing industry, going on to manage major campaigns for companies like Harvard University, Voya Financial, and Georgia Tech Scheller Business School. As a lifelong learner, Ms. Matthews is passionate about education and has won numerous awards for her work in philanthropy. She is a Founding Social Change Fellow at Power Launch, an innovative social entrepreneurship incubator, a former delegate of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce program City Awake, and a former coauthor in the FIPP Innovations in Magazine Media World Report.
In her spare time, Ms. Matthews enjoys cooking, singing, blogging, and helping women artists and creatives develop personal brands.
Dr. Albino is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of leadership training, planning and evaluation, and board development, with a special focus on higher education and academic health centers. Her executive coaching includes individual leadership, career, and candidate coaching, as well as team development and leadership. In addition to her role at AAL, Dr. Albino is Director of the Leadership for Innovative Team Science (LITeS) program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Sponsored by the CTSA at Colorado, this year-long program provides leadership training for senior scientists and academic administrators in the health sciences and professions, including deans, chairs, and division heads, as well as directors of major laboratories and clinical services.
As President Emerita of the University of Colorado and Professor of Community and Behavioral Health in the Colorado School of Public Health, Dr. Albino continues a scientific career of more than forty years, including leading the only NIDCR health disparities research center focused on American Indian populations. She recently was appointed Co-Director and Scientific Editor of the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health, to be published in 2021. Dr. Albino has been chief executive officer of two higher education systems, and her experience also includes several roles at the dean and vice-presidential levels, as well as faculty appointments in medicine, dentistry, public health, and psychology. She received her baccalaureate and doctoral degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and the Certificate in Professional Coaching from the Zicklin School of Business of Baruch College, City University of New York.
Dr. Albino’s leadership has extended to community and nonprofit groups and service on corporate, hospital, and civic boards. She also has served on governance groups of the American Psychological Association; the Federation of Behavioral, Psychological, and Cognitive Sciences; the American and Associations for Dental Research; the American Council on Education; and the National Collegiate Athletics Association. She recently completely service as Chair of the Board of Caring for Colorado, a health grant-making foundation. Dr. Albino’s research in behavioral aspects of health and disease has been supported by the National Institutes of Health and has resulted in hundreds of scientific publications and presentations. Dr. Albino has received an honorary doctorate and a distinguished alumna award, and the Distinguished Psychologist in Management Award of the Society of Psychologists in Management.
Hershey S. Bell, M.D., M.S., FAAFPDr. Bell is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of strategic planning, competency-based education, and authentic leadership and management. Given Dr. Bell’s extensive background as a clinician, he is the originator of AAL’s Power of Empathy in Clinical Practice workshop, which provides participants with an opportunity to engage in a personal and unique conversation about their own use of empathy in clinical practice.
In addition to his role at AAL, Dr. Bell is Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the School of Pharmacy, Professor of Family Medicine, and Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Erie, Pennsylvania. Dr. Bell, a Toronto native, graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto in 1982. He completed his family medicine residency education at the University of Toronto and Duke University, and achieved board certification in family medicine in Canada and the United States. Following residency, he served as a Duke University National Faculty Development Fellow. In 1992, he earned the distinction of Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He was awarded the Master of Science in Medical Education by LECOM in 2007. In 2009, he was named one of 12 charter members of the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. Additionally, he is the 2009 recipient of the John and Silvia Ferretti Distinguished Teaching Award at LECOM and the 2010 recipient of the Miller Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Osteopathic Medical Profession.
Dr. Bell has held the positions of Family Practice Residency Director at Hunterdon Medical Center in New Jersey; Division Chief and Vice-Chair of Family Medicine at Duke University; Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pennsylvania; and Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Evaluation at the College of Medicine at LECOM. He practiced “full-service” family medicine for two decades and maintains an active Pennsylvania medical license.
Lynn Beck Brallier, Ph.D.Dr. Beck Brallier is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of instructional design, educational research, and andragogic teaching and learning. With her extensive background in adult higher education, Dr. Beck Brallier has contributed significantly to various AAL consulting projects with universities and colleges throughout the United States.
In addition to her role at AAL, Dr. Beck Brallier is a professor emerita and former dean of the Gladys L. Benerd School of Education at the University of the Pacific. Prior to her work in higher education, she worked as a secondary school teacher and as a pediatric and adolescent nurse in the Vanderbilt University Health System.
Dr. Beck Brallier’s research focuses on evidence based teaching and leading in the health professions, on ethics in educational leadership, and on educational reform strategies. She is the author or co-author of eight books and numerous chapters and articles. Between 2002 and 2014, she also was the principal investigator for more than three million dollars of federal and state grants.
At the University of the Pacific, Dr. Beck Brallier led the School of Education in the establishment of a number of innovative graduate programs including a doctoral program in education for faculty at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and, through a partnership with AAL, a master’s degree program for faculty teaching in health care professions.
Lynn Beck Brallier is the recipient of a number of awards. Most recently, she received the Joseph J. Krejewski Award of Merit for Service to the Dental Profession from the Northern California Section of the American College of Dentists and the Susan B. Anthony Award from the San Joaquin County Commission on the Status of Women. She enjoys an active retirement, offering consulting services through AAL, continuing service on several boards, and pursuing research and writing on, among other things, education in the health professions.
Lisa D. Cain, PhD, joined The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston faculty in 2017 as Associate Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs, and as a Professor in the Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences. She came to the School of Dentistry from The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, where she served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Associate Member of the Institute for the Medical Humanities, Director of Medical School Enrichment Programs in the Office of Student Affairs, and as Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs at the School of Medicine.
Her experience in governance and faculty affairs also includes past roles as chair of the UTMB Faculty Senate and co-chair of the Health Affairs Committee of UT System’s Faculty Advisory Council. She was founder and chair of the UTMB Faculty Development Council.
Her experience in faculty development leadership initiatives extends to the regional, national and international levels. She was a member of The University of Texas Sponsorship Workshop Planning Committee and holds an elected position in the American Association of Medical Colleges Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA). She is a member of the GFA’s Steering Committee, Program Planning Committee and is a past member of the GFA’s Mentoring Team. Dr. Cain organized and founded the Texas Consortium for Faculty Success, which consists of 13 Texas health science institutions and 18 faculty affairs/faculty development administrators.
Her involvement as a medical and graduate educator spans 30 years. At UTMB, she was course director for Gross Anatomy and Radiology, as well as course director for the Graduate School of Biomedical Science’s Cell Biology course for several years.
As a past vice chair of the Curriculum Committee at the School of Medicine, Dr. Cain reviewed and evaluated basic science and clinical courses. She served as the subcommittee chair for the evaluation of governance and administration for the LCME medical school accreditation process in 2014-2015 and was a member of the LCME Preparation Committee.
As a neuroscientist, Dr. Cain’s research has focused on investigating cholinergic neuron survival and agents that protect spinal cord neurons against the effect of glutamate toxicity and other insults.
She is the recipient of multiple teaching awards and honors, including:
UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award (ROTA)
The Pre-Clinical Woman in Medicine Award, UTMB (outstanding teacher and role model)
The Dr. Martin Luther King Service Award
Induction into the Academy of Master Teachers, UTMB
Selection by the Academy of Master Teachers to receive the Class of 1947 School of Medicine Memorial Professorship for Excellence in Education
University of Texas Distinguished Teaching Professor
Graduate of the Scholars in Education Program
Internationally, she is known for her contributions to education and has served as an educational consultant on the national and international levels, leading initiatives in France (Paris), Canada and Africa. She is a Marshall Goldsmith’s Certified Executive Leadership Coach and has served as a mentor to students, faculty and administrators. Dr. Cain is also an artist who incorporates her love for art into the educational arena.
Susan Clarine, CPC, ACCSusan Clarine, CPC, ACC, Senior Consultant for AAL is fascinated by emotional intelligence and the neuroscience behind it to create better leaders, more engaged teams and healthier, happier workplaces. Her belief in the possibilities for emotional intelligence to change organizational cultures for the better, led her launch The Ei Coach, LLC in 2017. With her unique talent for helping managers and teams learn and apply the principles of emotional intelligence; clients see an increase engagement, build trusting relationships, make better decisions and lead change with positive energy. Her coaching approach draws upon a nearly 20-year career in performance consulting and organizational development in a variety of industries including financial services, technology, manufacturing, healthcare and higher education. Susan’s certified in the industry’s leading emotional intelligence assessments: EQ-i 2.0®, ESCI®, ELI® and TESI®.
As a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation, she follows the highest ethical standards and guidelines established by the ICF. She’s a Certified Executive Coach with Center for Creative Leadership, an Energy Leadership® Master Practitioner and Core Energy Coach, a Master Trainer in Forté® Communication Styles, and an Everything DiSC® Authorized Partner/Facilitator. As a recognized leader in the field of leadership development; she was honored as a 2018 Chief Learning Officer LearningELITE judge. She’s a graduate of DePaul University’s Organization Development Graduate Certificate program, is a graduate of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching and holds an MA in theatre from Missouri State University. As a continuous learner, she’s currently enrolled in Conversational Coaching (C-IQ®); a neuroscience-based coaching program which leverages the power of neuroscience to create impactful coaching conversations.
Randy D. Danielsen, Ph.D., PA, DFAAPADr. Danielsen is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of professional development for faculty, Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) accreditation, and academic writing for various publications and research articles. Recognized as a distinguished academic administrator, clinician, educator, author, and editor, Dr. Danielsen offers a broad range of expertise as a lead online instructor for AAL’s Compass Program for Academic Advancement.
In addition to his role at AAL, Dr. Danielsen is Director of the Doctor of Medical Science Program at Arizona School of Health Sciences. Dr. Danielsen graduated from the University of Utah Physician Assistant Program (UPAP) in 1974 and received his bachelor’s in health science (cum laude) from the University of Utah in 1978, his master’s in PA studies from the University of Nebraska with an emphasis on internal medicine in 1997, and his doctorate in interdisciplinary arts and sciences from the Union Institute & University in 2003, with an emphasis on medical education. He completed 16 years with A.T. Still University as Academic Coordinator (1995-1997) and Chair of Physician Assistant Studies (1997-2004), and was the Inaugural Dean of the Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS; 2004-2010), returning as Dean in 2012. He was honored in 2010 by A.T. Still University with Professor Emeritus status.
He has served on the board of directors of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and as a board member and Chair for the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). From 2010 to 2012, he served as Senior Vice President for the NCCPA Health Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization that designs solutions for improving the capacity of certified PAs to impact quality and accessibility of healthcare delivery. Dr. Danielsen has been a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission since 2009 and in 2014 completed the Advanced Certificate in Peer Review.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Danielson served as President of the Utah Academy of Physician Assistants (UAPA) and the Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants (ASAPA), and as Chair of the Arizona Regulatory Board for PAs. Retired after 28 years of service in the U.S. Air Force and Army National Guard, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Danielsen also is former President of the AAPA Veterans Caucus and was honored with the Caucus’ Civilian PA of the Year Award in 2003. Dr. Danielsen was named Outstanding PA of the Year by the AAPA in 1993 and by ASAPA in 2011. In 2012, he was honored by the University of Utah, School of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Division of Physician Assistant Studies with the Patron of the Profession award for “unwavering dedication and service to the Physician Assistant Profession.” In May 2015, he received the Eugene A. Stead Award of Achievement by the AAPA. This is the Academy’s most prestigious award, recognizing an individual for lifetime achievement that has had a broad and significant impact on the profession.
He currently serves as PA Editor-in-Chief for Clinician Reviews, a peer-reviewed professional journal for both PAs and nurse practitioners. Dr. Danielsen has published more than 17 peer-reviewed articles, 30 journal editorials, five book chapters, and his first co-authored book, entitled The Preceptor’s Handbook for Supervising Physician Assistants, published by Jones & Bartlett Learning. Dr. Danielsen is also a proud member of Rotary International.
Marcia M. Ditmyer, Ph.D., M.S., MBA, M.C.H.E.S.Dr. Ditmyer is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of professional development for administration and staff, workforce analysis, outcome assessment, and andragogic teaching and learning. Having served as Vice President of AAL, Dr. Ditmyer continues to provide instruction for various AAL programs, such as ExcEL for Women, Compass Program for Academic Advancement, IAHE, ICHE, and ITL.
In addition to her role at AAL, Dr. Ditmyer is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Assessment, and Instruction and Professor in Residence with Emeritus at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), School of Dental Medicine. In this capacity, she provides guidance and oversight of academic assessment functions and assists with statistics/measurement tasks for the school. Dr. Ditmyer holds a doctorate from the University of Toledo, a master’s of business administration from Central Michigan University, and a master’s degree from California College for Health Sciences.
Dr. Ditmyer has 40 years of experience in industry and health care, with 14 years in higher education. She brings extensive management experience, including strategic planning and budgeting; needs assessments; workforce studies; contract negotiations; developing, planning and evaluating educational programs; and accreditation guidance. Dr. Ditmyer is a graduate of the ADEA Leadership Institute. In 2015, she was named one of the VIP Circle Women of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women.
Dean at Clayton State University, College of Health & Professor of Nursing
Dr. Lisa Eichelberger is Dean and Professor of the College of Health at Clayton State University (CSU) in Morrow, Georgia. Dr. Eichelberger, at the age of 35, became the Dean of the School of Nursing at Mississippi College (MC), making her one of the youngest nursing deans in the country. She served as Dean at MC for eight years prior to coming to Clayton State in 1996 to help establish a Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing. As Dean of the School of Nursing at CSU, she led the efforts to establish a Master of Science Degree for nursing in 2006 which is now fully accredited. Through research grants from Kaiser Permanente, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Advanced Nursing Education Project, Dr. Eichelberger has improved and expanded nursing education opportunities for students. She co-authored a textbook on nursing theory, using an artistic approach to help beginning students understand the complex subject.
Clyde H. Evans, Ph.D.Dr. Evans is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of professional development for administration and staff, diversity and inclusion training, interprofessional education, and mentorship. His executive coaching experience includes career coaching in higher education, team development and leadership, and coaching for high-potential executives.
In addition to his role at AAL, Dr. Evans was Vice President of the Association of Academic Health Centers from 1998 to 2005. Previously, he spent 13 years at Harvard Medical School as a faculty member, Director of the Office for Academic Careers, and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. In 1996-1997, Dr. Evans served as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow, working for Senator Bill Frist on biomedical research, bioengineering, academic health centers, and cloning. In 1997, Dr. Evans was Scholar-in-Residence at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), working on leadership issues with the Council of Deans.
Dr. Evans has conducted numerous seminars, including the AAMC Women in Medicine early and mid-career professional development seminars, the minority faculty professional development seminar, and executive development seminars for chairs, associate deans, and new deans. He has consulted with public and private schools, state departments of education, and numerous academic health centers on the institutional aspects of faculty development. He has expertise in addressing the institutional issues connected with faculty recruitment, retention, and advancement, including those specific to female and minority faculty. His diverse experiences allow him to incorporate perspectives from the level of professional and personal issues for individual faculty to the broader organizational issues for institutions.
Patrick J. Ferrillo, Jr., D.D.S.Dr. Ferrillo is a Senior Consultant at AAL and works extensively in the areas of curriculum development, strategic planning, and fund raising.
He earned his undergraduate degree at Georgetown University and his dental degree at Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry, where he completed specialty training in endodontics. A Fellow of both the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists, Dr. Ferrillo has served in directorial roles in the dental industry, including Young Innovation and, most recently, Heartland Dental Care.
For nine years, Dr. Ferrillo was Dean at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry at the University of the Pacific. Prior to that, he was Vice Provost in the Division of Health Sciences and Dean of the University of Nevada – Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine from 2002 to 2006, and from 1985 to 2002, dean of Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. His long history of service to the field of dentistry includes roles as President, International Federation of Dental Educators and Associations (IFDEA); President, American Dental Education Association (ADEA); Chair, ADEA President’s Task Force on the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health; Chair, ADEA Council of Deans; and Chair, Board of Oral Health America. Dr. Ferrillo presently serves on numerous non-for-profit boards.
James F. Galbally, Jr., Ed.D.Dr. Galbally is a Senior Consultant for AAL and the lead instructor of the Economics of Higher Education executive workshop, at which he provides strategic and operational instruction.
In addition to his role at AAL, Dr. Galbally is President of The Galbally Group, which was established in January 2011 to provide both strategic and operational counsel to college and university leaders. Dr. Galbally was Founding Principal of The Presidential Practice, a consulting group that provided transitional, strategic, and operational counsel for college and university presidents. The Presidential Practice partnered with the Council of Independent Colleges to develop and implement the Institutional Diagnostic Service, a program that provided newly appointed presidents with an assessment of their institution’s health, as well as new opportunities for program enhancements. While at The Presidential Practice, Dr. Galbally supported university and college leadership as they focused on improving strategic direction and financial health.
Dr. Galbally spent more than 30 years at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was responsible for the strategic planning and operational management for Penn’s School of Dental Medicine. He also was on the faculty of the American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute and the Association of American Medical Colleges Leadership Education and Development Certificate Program. Dr. Galbally received his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, master’s of education from Temple University, and bachelor’s degree from La Salle University. He is a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and was Senior Scholar at the Santa Fe Group, an action-oriented think tank that fosters policy and initiates actions to improve the health and well-being of the public.
Sharon Hull, M.D., M.P.H., ACCDr. Sharon Hull is an Executive Coach who specializes in working with high-performing professionals in leadership roles. An invited member of the Forbes Coaches Council, she brings over 30 years’ experience in academic health centers and primary care medicine to the coaching relationship with her clients. She has been working as an executive coach and as an organizational consultant since 2011. In February, 2016, Dr. Hull began the role of Director of Executive Coaching for Duke University School of Medicine, with the primary goal of creating an in-house Executive Coaching Program for faculty within the medical school at Duke. She also oversees curriculum and provides executive coaching services for the Duke Health Clinical Leadership Program.
Rob Jenkins, M.A.Prof. Jenkins is Senior Fellow for AAL and works extensively in the areas of leadership development and professional development for faculty.
In addition to his role at AAL, Prof. Jenkins has spent 31 years in higher education as a faculty member and administrator. A regular contributor to The Chronicle of Higher Education and other publications, Rob has written extensively on teaching and learning, critical thinking, classroom management, leadership, college completion, governance, the higher education job market, and related topics. Rob is the author of four books, including titles such as Building a Career in America’s Community Colleges (Rowman & Littlefield, 2000), The 9 Virtues of Exceptional Leaders: Unlocking Your Leadership Potential (Deeds, 2015), and Welcome to My Classroom (Kendall Hunt, 2016). His fifth book, Think Better, Write Better, is slated for publication in summer 2019.
Prof. Jenkins is an experienced workshop presenter and keynote speaker, with certifications from the Chair Academy and The Center for Teacher Effectiveness. He currently serves as Associate Professor of English at Perimeter College of Georgia State University. Rob and his wife Bonnie have four grown children and two grandchildren.
Kenneth L. Kalkwarf, D.D.S., M.S.Dr. Kalkwarf is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of leadership development, institutional assessment, and Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accreditation, as well as conducting feasibility studies. He has consulted at more than 40 dental schools worldwide, on issues ranging from curriculum, research, and clinical affairs to faculty and leadership development.
In addition to his role at AAL, Dr. Kalkwarf is Dean Emeritus at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) Dental School. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), completed a general practice residency at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and returned to UNMC for his master’s degree and a certificate in periodontics. He holds a certificate in personal financial planning from Florida State University. Dr. Kalkwarf served UTHSCSA from 1987 to 2013, with 24 years as Dean of the Dental School and the last two years as President ad interim. Prior to his appointment at UTHSCSA, he held faculty positions at UNMC and the University of Oklahoma. He is the principal author of more than 175 articles published in professional journals and has presented more than 270 lectures throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. He was the founding Chair of the American Association of Dental Schools (ADEA) Commission on Change and Innovation in Dental Education.
Dr. Kalkwarf received the American Dental Association’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Award, in 2009. He has also received Presidential Citations from the American Dental Education Association in 2001 and 2009, and has been recognized by Who’s Who in America since 1995. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Periodontology and has served in numerous national leadership capacities, including as President or Chair of the American Dental Education Association; the Commission on Dental Accreditation; the Joint Commission of National Board Dental Examinations; the Supreme Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society, and the American College of Dentists.
Jennifer B. McCants , D.D.S., MSDDr. McCants is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of conflict management and career development. Dr. McCants is an instructor in AAL’s Humanistic Healthcare division and covers practice management within the ADEA/AAL IAHE curriculum.
In addition to her role at AAL, Dr. McCants is a board-certified general dentist committed to clinical excellence and providing patient-centered care that is evidenced based and cutting edge. Dr. McCants earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. She pursued postdoctoral studies and graduated with honors from Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis, where she earned a master’s in operative and restorative dentistry. She maintains leadership roles in several professional organizations. In addition to her leadership and professional development expertise, Dr. McCants is a part-time faculty member at Georgia State University School of Public Health. Dr. McCants is a practicing dentist in the Atlanta area.
Marnie Oakley, D.M.D.Dr. Oakley is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of clinical teaching and preceptorship, leadership development, communication, conflict resolution, and change management in complex organizations to promote continuous growth. A proud graduate of the ADEA Leadership Institute who subsequently served the program in an advisory role, Dr. Oakley is known for her passion for leadership training and continuous self-reflection. In addition to her role at AAL, Dr. Oakley serves as the Senior Associate Dean of Clinical and Faculty Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. She served an active duty 4-year tour as Dental Officer in the United States Navy. In her experience as a clinical teacher for nearly three decades, she has been responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive care clinical curriculum that is focused on student learning, assessment, and patient care outcomes. Dr. Oakley regularly works hand-in-hand with university organization development human resource teams to strategically develop and realize reorganization plans that promote workflow efficiencies in the clinical environment. Her past experience serving as a department chair, and later as the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, allowed her to value the skill of recognizing human talent. She has worked to recruit valued team members and promote their strengths to foster efficiency and success in support of a strategic vision and plan. She continuously inspires a robust customer service approach to empower employees to serve their customers across all fronts in dental education. Dr. Oakley is a proud alumna of the Berkeley Institute of Executive Coaching and uses her certification and experience to help executives discover and reveal the best versions of themselves.
Paula N. O’Neill , M.Ed., Ed.D.Dr. O’Neill is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of curriculum design and assessment, Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accreditation, and interprofessional education, as well as writing for various academic publications. Her executive coaching experience includes career coaching in higher education, professional development and leadership, and coaching for high-potential executives. Dr. O’Neil is an instructor for AAL’s ITL program.
In addition to her role at AAL, Dr. O’Neill has served in faculty and leadership roles in health science education for more than 30 years. Since beginning her career, she has served as a medical educator and Director/Vice Chair of multiple departments within teaching hospitals and medical schools. She is Professor Emerita of Diagnostic Sciences and served as Associate Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs at the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston for 16 years, retiring in November of 2013.
Dr. O’Neill has consulted with more than 100 institutions nationally and internationally and presented more than 400 invited seminars and workshops. Her expertise includes curriculum development and evaluation; faculty recruitment, development, and retention; teaching and learning; interprofessional education; mentoring; developing leadership capacity; conflict resolution; institutional effectiveness; professional accreditation processes; trends in higher education; and diversity and inclusion. She has published nationally on faculty development and educational research in peer-reviewed journals, served two terms on the Editorial Review Boards of the Journal of Dental Education and Computers in Nursing, chaired two National Institutes of Health (NIH) study sections, and was a member of ADEA’s Commission on Change and Innovation (CCI). She is a 2002 Fellow of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women and has received numerous awards during her career.
In 2006, she was selected to receive The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston President’s Award for Mentoring Women. She is a founding member of The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston Dean’s Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars and was elected into membership of The University of Texas Academy of Health Science Education, a statewide Academy for outstanding educators in September 2008. She was awarded The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston President’s Scholar Award for Teaching in 2012 and was also selected as a University of Texas System Distinguished Teaching Professor in 2012. She was elected to honorary membership in Omicron Kappa Upsilon’s Mu Mu Chapter at UT Houston and to the University of Texas Houston Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association. She has been the principal investigator for numerous educational research grants, was co-director for foundation or corporate grants, and was the principal investigator for The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Summer Medical and Dental Education Program and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded Hispanic Center of Excellence.
Ross Peters, MEdRoss Peters is Vice President of School Strategy at EXPLO Elevate and a Senior Consultant for AAL. His work focuses on Independent Schools and their national and regional associations in the areas of strategic planning, change management, board practice, and curriculum development.
Beginning his career with eight years at Providence Day School as a middle and upper school English teacher, he served in significant leadership roles at Asheville School, Hawken School, The Westminster Schools, and St. George’s Independent School.
He serves or has served on the Boards of the National Association of Independent Schools, the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools, and Bridges USA. He and his wife Katie also served as members of the Family Partners Council at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital.
Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, Ross was a thirteen-year graduate of St. Christopher’s School. From there he went to Sewanee: The University of the South (B.A., English), followed with an M.Ed from the University of Georgia. While deeply appreciative of the remarkable gift of education he received at every level, his best learning has resulted from being an educator working with students whether as a classroom teacher or as a school leader.
From founding an integrated Humanities Department to establishing an Honor System at a small, hundred-year-old boarding school (Asheville School), and from reinventing the use of time to creating an urban campus in two schools ready for significant innovation as Upper School Director at both Hawken School and The Westminster Schools, Ross has had the chance to immerse himself in strategic and aligned school cultures. As Head of School at St. George’s Independent School, he mobilized that experience to help a younger school maintain the forward-thinking qualities that make it unique in Memphis.
At the core of his belief in the value of an independent school is this idea: in order to create the education our students need and deserve, schools must mirror the qualities we demand of those we teach; thus, our learning curve should remain steep and our dedication to holding up the values we name as most important should be unwavering. This commitment to match the expectations we have for students in the way we think, act, work together as an institution guides his work.
A widely published poet and photographer, he has completed work on a collection of poetry entitled, The Flood is Not the River, and he provided the foreword and over one hundred photographs for a book entitled, Sacred Views: St. Francis and the Sacro Monte di Orta (Punctum Press, May 2020).
You can find his thoughts on education, as well as anything else he might be thinking about, on his blog—Ross All Over the Map.
Brad J. Potter , D.D.S., M.S.Dr. Potter is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of career development, curriculum design and assessment, and accreditation for the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Given Dr. Potter’s extensive experience in higher education administration, he provides expert guidance in professional development and advancement for faculty.
In addition to his role at AAL, Dr. Potter received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Northwestern University in 1979. After returning home to Denver, he practiced general dentistry for 10 years. He then attended the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), where he received a certificate in dental diagnostic science and Master of Science. After UTHSCSA , he taught at the Medical College of Georgia for 14 years, where he served as Interim Dean for two years and Vice Dean for two years. Dr. Potter was the former Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, where he maintains his teaching responsibility in the Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences. He has a private practice in oral and maxillofacial radiology.
Dr. Potter has been an active member of the Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology since 1990. His participation in academy activities has included serving as Treasurer from 1995 to 2003 and as the academy’s CODA representative for four years. Dr. Potter served in leadership positions for the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, including one year as President. He is a Fellow of the 2005 ADEA Leadership Institute and served as a faculty advisor for the Institute between 2006 and 2011. Dr. Potter is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, the American College of Dentists, and the International College of Dentists.
Dee Ramsel, PhD, MBADr. Ramsel is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works in the areas of executive coaching, leadership development, team building, strategic planning, and organizational consultation. As a former senior executive in the federal government and leader of organizational health for Veterans Affairs, she brings extensive experience as a leader and facilitator to executives, teams, and organizations that wish to improve their performance.
Dr. Ramsel’s credentials include a doctorate in clinical psychology and an MBA, as well as experience as a clinician, mental health executive, postdoctoral fellowship director, organization development consultant, and medical college professor. She was a co-principal investigator in the area of executive coaching outcomes and has published multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals, particularly in the areas of employee engagement, psychological safety, and change management.
Dr. Ramsel stays active in professional societies and community organizations. She is Past President of both the Society of Psychologists in Management and the Society of Consulting Psychologists/American Psychological Association Division 13 and a former associate professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She has won multiple awards, including the highly competitive 2019 Meritorious Presidential Rank Award. Other recent awards include the Leadership Worth Following Excellence in Developing Consulting Psychologists Award and the American Psychological Association Presidential Citation.
Perry Rettig, PhDDr. Perry R. Rettig serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Piedmont College in Demorest and Athens, Georgia. He has been an educator for the past 34 years, serving initially as a public school teacher and principal. After twelve years in the K-12 setting, Dr. Rettig became a professor of Educational Leadership and Administration at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and then served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs prior to moving to Georgia in 2013. Rettig earned his master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and his doctorate at Marquette University. He has spoken extensively across the country and across the globe on leadership and education topics. He has written four books: Quantum Leaps in Educational Leadership (2002); Practicing Principals, Case Studies, In-Baskets, and Policy Analysis (2004); Reframing Decision-Making in Education (2016); and Assuming the Mantle of Leadership: Real-Life Case Studies in Higher Education (2018), all with Rowman & Littlefield. He is presently preparing his manuscript, Making Shared Governance Meaningful. Dr. Rettig’s research interests focus on leadership, shared governance, and enrollment management.
Michelle Robinson, DMD, MADr. Michelle Robinson is a native New Yorker, graduating from the Bedford-Stuyvesant Preparatory High School in New York before receiving a baccalaureate degree in Biology from Adelphi University, Long Island. Her decision to study dentistry was influenced by a hospital internship that exposed her to clinical patient care and the desire for a career that would allow her to treat patients. She remembers Dr. Kenneth Chance as a role model and advisor during her years in dental school.
Following completion of her D.M.D. at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Dr. Robinson spent eight years in private practice, then completed an M.A. in Medical Informatics at Columbia University. She came to the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry (UAB COD) in 2005 to implement and guide transition to the current clinic information system. Dr. Robinson’s special interests include high-tech approaches to patient health messages, technology to support improved access to care and online education pedagogies. She is currently an Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Health Information and Business Systems, which involves oversight of all information technology initiatives and related duties for the school, including specification and implementation of systems, patient information systems, course information systems, AV and classroom technologies, networking, imaging technologies, hardware and software support, clinic revenue analysis and reporting. She is also a member of the technical advisory committees for both medical and dental informatics. Dr. Robinson currently serves as the Diversity and Affirmative Action Officer at UAB COD, where she has responsibility for enforcement of policies related to equitable hiring and employment.
She continues to mentor students as a faculty advisor for both the SNDA and AAWD. Her insights with regards to mentoring current students: “It requires a mixture of compassion, anticipation of their needs, and tough love at times.”
Dr. Robinson is currently involved in a state-wide recruitment effort with the Historically Black College and Universities in Alabama for underrepresented minority student recruitment. She is also Principal Investigator for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) at UAB. Her work with AAWD is to lift the profile of women in dental education and support career development. In 2011, she launched a mentoring program for women in IT and serves on the UAB Campus Women in Technology Mentoring Program.
Thomas More Smith, PhDDr. Smith is a Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of labor economics, pricing, sports economics and finance, the economics of the entertainment industry, the economics of the health care industry, and film finance. He is a rotational instructor for AAL’s CAAMP program. Dr. Smith holds a Ph.D. in labor and demography/cultural economics and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is an Associate Professor in the Practice of Finance at the Goizueta Business School at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
He regularly appears as an expert on national television and radio programming (CNN, NPR, Huffington Post) and is frequently quoted in popular press regarding trends in unemployment, inflation, trade and other macroeconomic trends. Media exposure includes NBC, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and New York Times, to name a few. Dr. Smith has held faculty positions at the University of Illinois–Chicago, National-Louis University, Loyola University, and North Central College. He has presented dozens of papers at academic and professional conferences in the U.S. and abroad.
Rebecca S. Wilder, MSProfessor Wilder is a Senior Consultant for the AAL and works in the areas of leadership development, team building, organizational consultation and executive coaching. She is a career academician, having served on the faculties of Texas Woman’s University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC) for three decades. She is currently Professor and Assistant Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. Through her academic career, Rebecca has served in leadership positions on the UNC campus, and nationally and internationally through professional organizations. She has consulted with international companies in product and talent development. She has published extensively in the peer reviewed literature and she is the current Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dental Hygiene, one of three peer reviewed journals for dental hygienists in the world. She is also an international speaker and facilitator.
Professor Wilder graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a BS and MS degree in Dental Hygiene Education. Although her career has been in the “Ivory Tower” Rebecca is known for her practical insight into leadership development, communication strategies, and the need for overall “joy” in the workplace. She has a passion for helping others achieve their full potential and be their “best self.” She values team work, collegiality and growing talent for organizational advancement.
Upon completion of the American Dental Education Association Leadership Institute (ADEA LI) in 2008, she was tasked with the development and implementation of a school-wide faculty development program for all full-time faculty. Her work in the development of others lead to her being appointed the first Assistant Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. Rebecca works with all level of leaders in the organization and facilitates development initiatives. She is actively involved in interprofessional and leadership initiatives on campus and is serving as the chair of the Center for Faculty Excellence for the UNC campus.
Professor Wilder has received numerous awards. In 2014, she was awarded the inaugural “Faculty Mentoring Award” at the Adams School of Dentistry for her work in developing a formal mentoring program for full time faculty. She has also won national and international awards including the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the Oral Health Research Award from the International Association of Dental Research for outstanding accomplishments in oral health research and the Pfizer/American Dental Hygienists’ Association Award for Excellence in Dental Hygiene.
In 2019, Rebecca completed the Georgetown University’s Executive Leadership Coaching Program. She coaches academicians and healthcare providers both formally and informally within and outside of her organization. Her emphasis is on helping leaders achieve higher levels of engagement, improve work performance and manage change. Her partnerships with various clients in the healthcare and academic environments have resulted in improved leadership, communication skills, job satisfaction and improved performance.
John N. Williams, DMD, MBADr. John N. Williams, throughout his 36-year academic career, has recruited and mentored many successful leaders who advanced to roles of dental dean and beyond in academic leadership positions in dental schools and universities. During his career, he has been actively involved in higher education administration and leadership. Now as a Senior Consultant at AAL, he is sharing his expertise in matching outstanding, talented candidates with leadership opportunities in the academy. His areas of expertise include executive search, administrative organization, financing dental education, dental accreditation, faculty mentoring, leadership development, and philanthropy. He has served as interim president/president of Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, served as a dental dean of three research intensive university-based dental schools (1999-2019; Indiana University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and University of Louisville) as well as serving as Associate Dean for Educational Programs (Louisville) and as Assistant University Provost (Louisville) in charge of discipline-specific accreditation. He has been active at the national level serving as a member of the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA-Chicago) and Chair of the CODA Pre-doctoral Review Committee, which oversees accreditation policy for all DDS/DMD educational programs in the Unites States. He has served as vice president for Deans of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and two terms as a member of the ADEA Board of Directors. Dr. Williams also serves as a Consultant for the Commission on Dental Accreditation. For five years, he was a faculty adviser and mentor for the ADEA-AAL Leadership Institute. He has made over 250 presentations to groups in dental and higher education. Dr. Williams has authored or coauthored more than 25 articles on dental education. He is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and Fellow of the International College of Dentists. He is currently a member of two private higher education boards of trustees.
Pamela Zarkowski, JD, MPHProf. Zarkowski is a Senior Consultant for AAL and works extensively in the areas of leadership development, workplace climate, and legal aspects of higher education. Given Prof. Zarkowski’s diverse background and extensive experience in higher-education administration, her executive coaching experience includes career coaching in higher education and mentorship for high-potential executives. Prof. Zarkowski is a rotational instructor for both AAL’s CAAMP and CAAMP II programs.
In addition to her role at AAL, Prof. Zarkowski is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Detroit Mercy. Prior to becoming Provost in 2008, she was the Executive Associate Dean at the School of Dentistry, where she served as both a faculty member and administrator for more than 30 years. She continues to teach predoctoral, allied, and postdoctoral dental students in ethics, law, leadership, and community dentistry. Prof. Zarkowski received a bachelor’s degree and Master of Public Health in dental public health from the University of Michigan. She also received her Juris Doctor from Wayne State University, where she was an associate editor of the Law Review. She has been a member of the Michigan bar since 1989. Prof. Zarkowski’s career in dental education spans more than 40 years. She has also published and is a frequent speaker at regional and national meetings and continuing education courses.
Prof. Zarkowski is a former President of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA; 2001-2002) and the American Society for Dental Ethics (2003-2006, 2016-2018). She was also President of the Society of Executive Leadership in Medicine (SELAM) from 2007 to 2008. She is an honorary member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon and an honorary fellow of the American College of Legal Medicine. ADEA honored her with the Distinguished Service Award in 2011. Most recently, Prof. Zarkowski was honored by the ADEAGies Foundation as the 2017 recipient of the Gies Award for Achievement — Dental Educator.
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The Academy for Advancing Leadership (AAL) is a health and higher education consulting firm. We help leaders assess, plan, and grow, creating transformation for your organization, and your people.
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The Academy for Advancing Leadership (AAL) is a health and higher education consulting firm. We help you assess, plan, and grow, creating transformation for your organization, and your people.
Home
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The Academy for Advancing Leadership (AAL) is a health and higher education consulting firm. We help you assess, plan, and grow, creating transformation for your organization, and your people.
Home
Solutions
Programs
Blog
Podcast
Privacy Policy
Refund Policy
The Academy for Advancing Leadership (AAL) is a health and higher education consulting firm. We help you assess, plan, and grow, creating transformation for your organization, and your people.
Home
Solutions
Programs
Blog
Podcast
Privacy Policy
Refund Policy