Featured Speakers

This year's speakers include nationally recognized leaders, scholars, and innovators who bring fresh perspectives and practical strategies to our work. From policy to pedagogy, from grassroots to global, these voices will challenge, inspire, and energize the field. Their sessions will anchor the conference experience and provide vision for what’s next.

Rachel A. Bowser

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College and Professor of English, Agnes Scott College

Rachel A. Bowser assumed the position of vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college and professor of English on July 1, 2022. As vice president, she oversees the academic program, the faculty and academic support services. Most recently, she was associate provost for strategic initiatives and professor of English at Georgia Gwinnett College. She received her BA from Grove City College, MA from West Virginia University and PhD from Emory University, all in English

Luoluo Hong

Vice President for Student Engagement and Well-Being, Georgia Tech

The eldest daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Luoluo (pronounced “lō-lō”) Hong joined the Georgia Institute of Technology as the inaugural Vice President for
Student Engagement & Well-Being on August 1st, 2021. To this role, Luoluo brings over 33 years of experience in higher education spanning seven campuses. She
came to the Institute from the California State University system where she served for seven years – first as the Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment
Management and Title IX/Title VI Coordinator at San Francisco State University (2014-2019) and then as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs &
Enrollment Management in the System Office (2019-2021).

Luoluo holds a BA in Psychology from Amherst College, a Master’s in Public Health from Yale University, and a PhD in Educational Leadership & Research from LSU in Baton Rouge. A nationally sought-after speaker and trainer in the areas of holistic student success, leadership, public health, and belonging, Luoluo has delivered over 3,500 presentations, keynoted over 95 conferences and meetings, and authored several book chapters.

Formerly a consulting editor for the Journal of American College Health (2000-2008) and recognized as a Fellow by the
American College Health Association in 2006, Luoluo completed a term as chair for the Pacific West Athletic Conference
from 2011-2013. Currently, Luoluo serves as the faculty coordinator for the American College Personnel Association’s
Aspiring SSAO Institute; a member of the Women’s Network Executive Council for the American Council on Education; a
member of the American College Health Foundation Board; and on the Council on Student Affairs Executive Committee
for the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities.

Luoluo is the proud parent of three rambunctious felines: a lilac point Siamese kitten who loves to snuggle, a highly
talkative blue point Siamese, and a flame point Siamese mix who believes he is a dog. Luoluo can occasionally be found
masquerading as a level 80 human warlock in World of Warcraft. #ForTheAlliance

Belinda Higgs Hyppolite

Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer, University of Oklahoma

Dr. Belinda Higgs Hyppolite is a leader, entrepreneur, builder, innovator, bestselling author, facilitator, educator, mental health consultant, and creator whose career has been defined by possibility and purpose. With 30 years of experience across multiple higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations, she has consistently stepped into complex spaces and transformed them into opportunities for growth. Her leadership has helped expand pathways for students, faculty, staff, and the larger community, strengthening access to institutional systems, nurturing professional development, and championing excellence and success at every level.

At the heart of Dr. Higgs Hyppolite’s work is a deeply held belief: education should open doors, never close them. She has devoted her career to removing barriers, creating support structures, and ensuring that individuals, regardless of their background, have the resources they need to thrive. Her work carries both inspiration and conviction, reminding us that when access is expanded and people are empowered, communities flourish and futures change.

Erika H. James

Dean of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Erika H. James became the dean of the Wharton School on July 1, 2020. Trained as an organizational psychologist, Dean James is a leading expert on crisis leadership, workplace diversity, and management strategy.

Prior to her appointment at Wharton, Dean James was the John H. Harland Dean at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School from 2014 to 2020.

An award-winning educator, accomplished consultant, and innovative researcher, she has paved the way for women in leadership both in education and corporate America. Dean James has been instrumental in developing groundbreaking executive education programs, including the Women in Leadership program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School.

Dean James serves on the boards of Morgan Stanley, The Economic Club of New York, and Pomona College. She is a sought-after thought leader whose expertise has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, and numerous other media outlets. Her latest book is The Prepared Leader: Emerge from Any Crisis More Resilient Than Before (Wharton School Press) which she co-authored with Lynn Perry Wooten, President of Simmons University.

Chicora Martin

Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Agnes Scott College

Chicora Martin assumed the position of vice president for student affairs and dean of students on Nov. 1, 2022. Previously, Dr. Martin served as vice president of student life and dean of students at Mills College in Oakland, California. A graduate of East Carolina University, Dr. Martin earned a PhD in educational leadership from Colorado State University and a MS in higher education from Florida State University.

Monica Nixon

Vice President for Community, Access and Professional Pathways, NASPA

Monica Nixon brings to NASPA three decades of experience in higher education administration and a commitment to creating student-ready institutions where all students can thrive. Monica serves the non-profit association NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education as Vice President for Community, Access, and Professional Pathways, where she leads a team focused on providing access to leadership and career opportunities, supportive communities and mentors, and professional development geared to meet evolving needs across the career lifespan. Previously she served in student affairs, institutional equity, and administrative leadership roles at Saint Joseph’s University, Seattle University, Colgate University, the University of Puget Sound, and the University of Virginia.

Monica earned her B.A. in English in 1995 and M.Ed. in Counselor Education in 1999 from the University of Virginia. In 2013 she earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington, where her dissertation focused on the positionality and agency of women of color chief diversity officers in higher education institutions. Monica co-authored a chapter in the 2012 NASPA-published book Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Higher Education.

Janelle Nicole Rahyns

Senior Director for Global Impact, NASPA

Dr. Janelle Nicole Rahyns is a global higher education leader with more than two decades of experience advancing student development, international engagement, and organizational impact across universities and professional associations worldwide. She currently serves as Senior Director of Global Impact at NASPA, where she leads the association’s global strategy, oversees international partnerships, and drives cross‑functional initiatives that strengthen professional learning, staff development, and global program delivery. A scholar‑practitioner with deep expertise in international and comparative education, Dr. Rahyns has shaped global learning ecosystems across more than 50 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, and the Americas. Her leadership portfolio includes executive oversight of global conferences, intercultural learning programs, virtual education platforms, and multi‑country academic initiatives.

Dr. Rahyns holds a Ph.D. in Social Sciences and Comparative Education from the University of California, Los Angeles; an M.Ed. in Student Personnel in Higher Education from the University of Florida; and a B.A. in Political Science with a specialization in African American Politics. She is an IASAS Global Expert and has served as a delegate and program lead for numerous international summits and conferences. Across her career, Dr. Rahyns has been recognized for her strategic vision, global perspective, and ability to build inclusive, high‑impact learning communities. She continues to champion international collaboration, leadership development, and transformative educational experiences for students and professionals around the world.