GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
Dr. Robin Baker has dedicated his career to the education of the whole person. As a professor, academic administrator and now as president of George Fox University, he has strived to make education not just the transfer of information, but also the transformation of the individual. Dr. Baker believes this is best accomplished within the context of Christian higher education, where students are encouraged to connect their faith to their studies and the rest of their lives in the pursuit of truth. He is in his 21st year at George Fox.
Since he became president in 2007, George Fox University has grown to become the third- largest private university in Oregon and is home to more than 4,000 students. In addition to undergraduate majors in the liberal arts, the University has become known for its engineering, classical honors, and health care programs. Although the University has grown it still promises each student that they will be known personally.
A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Dr. Baker completed a doctorate in civil war history with honors at Texas A&M University. In addition he has a special interest in 19th century American political history and American military history. In his spare time he enjoys reading the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and has collected numerous first editions of their works.
An all-state high school athlete and college basketball player, Dr. Baker continues to be an avid runner. Each fall he competes with the university’s national powerhouse women’s basketball team in their preseason mile-and-a-half run. Each year he finishes at or near the front of the pack. Dr. Baker and his wife, Ruth, have three children: Jacob, Rebekah and Tara. All have graduated from George Fox.
Ruth Baker is a native of Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated from Grand Canyon University with a degree in Elementary Education in 1980. She and Robin married in March of that same year. They moved to Texas following graduation where she worked in the college bookstore as Textbook Manager and then later taught 3rd grade for seven years while Robin gained his Ph.D. in History. In 1989 they moved to Chicago where she taught in the Aurora school system and they had their first child, Jacob. Two more children would follow — Rebekah and Tara. After moving to Oregon, she earned her Master’s degree in Education and worked for George Fox University supervising student teachers. Today, she stays engaged in her profession by substitute teaching and volunteers frequently at the college and in the community. She participates in BSF at her church. Her interests include reading, gardening and spending time with her kids and their spouses.
Ryan Dougherty is a strategist, team-builder and marketer. His work in admissions and marketing over 19 years has led to unprecedented growth at George Fox University. His development of people created a pipeline of accountable leaders who contributed to explosive enrollment growth beginning in 2013.
As Vice President for Enrollment & Marketing, Ryan is building cross-departmental alignment to maximize revenue, improve data analysis and processes and grow people and teams. Under Ryan’s leadership, since 2012 traditional undergraduate enrollment grew by 26%, overall enrollment by 19%, and average freshman net tuition revenue by 15%.
Prior to his current role, Ryan served as Executive Director of Admissions where he launched the first DIII Athletic Recruiting and Marketing Group. Leveraging athletics as a brand driver, the university experienced massive growth in prospective student-athletes and launched football with the third most season ticket holders at any college in Oregon. The athletics brand helped position the university as the top-of-mind private college in the state while increasing enrollment and rapidly growing alumni engagement. Ryan recently co-authored a paper on the topic titled, “Football, Recruitment, and Retention at U.S. Christian Colleges.”
In addition to launching the university’s athletic brand, Ryan participated on the development of the “Be Known” brand promise and is an ardent advocate of the strategic importance of building a brand through clarity of purpose across teams. Ryan currently oversees Admissions, Marketing, Financial Aid and the Registrar’s Office and is collaboratively working to re-invent higher education through a new initiative at George Fox called Catalyst College.
NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE
A scientist, business leader and entrepreneur, Dr. Troy D. Hammond is the 10th president of North Central College. Under his leadership, North Central built or renovated more than 200,000 square feet of space in 2017. The most dramatic campus additions are the interdisciplinary Dr. Myron Wentz Science Center and the School of Business and Entrepreneurship with its Bloomberg financial lab. To fund these and other improvements, Troy launched the $150 million Brilliant Future Campaign, which has received overwhelming support from alumni and friends with more than $80 million raised to date.
Troy has also energized the North Central student academic experience, including development of new majors in engineering, neuroscience, and health science and a graduate degree in occupational thereby. The College is also preparing the launch of a
reimagined general education curriculum.
A prominent figure in higher education, Troy is chair-elect of the New American Colleges and Universities board of directors and serves on the NCAA Division III Presidents Council.
Troy earned B.S. degrees from Milligan College and Georgia Tech. A National Science Foundation (NSF) fellowship paved his way to the doctoral program in experimental atomic physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was mentored by Dr. David Pritchard and Nobel Laureate Dr. Wolfgang Ketterle. After completing his Ph.D., Hammond worked at McKinsey & Company, Plextronics and BlueStar Energy Services. He also taught at Milligan College. He also holds numerous patents and has published on physics, nanotechnology, polymer electronics and solar technology. He was named one of 60 outstanding alumni of the NSF’s highly competitive Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
Marty Sauer is an enrollment management professional with more than 35 years of experience. He leads a dedicated staff of admission and financial aid professionals who are committed to the development, implementation, and evaluation of enrollment strategies, as well as the strategic use of financial assistance to achieve enrollment goals. Sauer also leads a highly successful NCAA Division III athletic program, believing that D-III places the highest priority on the overall educational and athletic experience for today’s college student-athletes.
Sauer enters his 15th year at North Central College having served as Dean of Admission & Financial Aid from 2005 to 2014 when he was appointed the Vice-President for Enrollment Management and Athletics. He holds a B.A in Business Administration and Psychology from Augustana College and an M.A. in Educational Administration from Western Illinois University. In 2015, Sauer was nominated by President Hammond to participate in the Harvard Graduate School of Education-Institute for Educational Management, an intensive summer program that prepares senior leaders to address higher education’s most pressing challenges.
A life-long resident of Illinois, Sauer met his wife while she was a student at the University of Illinois. They have two grown children, both of whom are proud graduates of North Central College.
Sheila Sauer became part of the North Central Community in 2005 when her husband Marty joined the College’s enrollment management division.
Sheila graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Illinois. She began her career as a registered nurse with Pathways to Recovery, an adolescent residential chemical dependency treatment program in Moline, IL. From there she worked in a hospital birthing unit and was soon after invited by a physician colleague to head the nursing staff in his pediatric office, which she did for more than a decade.
When her two children were of school age, Sheila took advantage of the opportunity to serve her community as a school nurse at both the elementary and middle school levels. In 2010, she retired from her career in Nursing and now works part-time in her family business.
A supporter of all things North Central, Sheila attends many College functions and is an enthusiastic fan of Cardinal athletics. Both of her children, Andrew ‘11/M’14 and Lauren ’14, are proud North Central graduates.
SAMFORD UNIVERSITY
Dr. Andrew Westmoreland became the 18th president of Samford University on June 1, 2006. Founded in 1841, Samford is Alabama’s largest privately-supported institution of higher learning.
Andy holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science and a doctorate in higher education administration. A native of Arkansas, he is married to Dr. Jeanna Westmoreland. They have one daughter, Riley, who is a graduate of Samford and of Vanderbilt University.
His career in higher education spans almost 40 years, including two college presidencies. In addition to his duties as Samford president, Andy teaches courses in political science as his schedule allows. He serves as a member of many boards for charities and other entities, and he is an author and speaker. He is the past Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which oversees accreditation for more than 800 colleges and universities from Virginia to Texas.
Dr. Jeanna Westmoreland has been Samford University’s first lady since June 1, 2006, when her husband, Andy, became Samford’s 18th president.
Jeanna serves as executive director of the Legacy League, a volunteer organization that promotes advocacy for the university and raises scholarship funds. She also serves as a member and past president of the Women’s Committee of 100 for Birmingham and gives of her time to numerous charitable organizations in Alabama and beyond.
Prior to coming to Samford, Jeanna served in Arkansas as the dean of the Huckabee School of Education at Ouachita Baptist University. Her career in education included service as a faculty member at Ouachita and a decade as a public school teacher and administrator. From 2003 until 2006 she was a member of the Board of Education for the State of Arkansas, including a term as chair. She has received awards from state, national and international organizations in honor of her service to the field of education.
Her undergraduate degree is from Ouachita and her masters and doctoral degrees are from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Jason Black is the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admission at Samford University. He has served in the Samford Admission Office in various positions since 2004. In his first year, Jason counseled applicants from North Alabama and Louisiana. Over the next five years he served as the Assistant Director of Admissions and Director of Orientation and Campus Visits at Samford.
In 2010 Jason was named Samford’s Dean of Admission. Under his leadership over the past ten years, he has led Samford to a 35% increase in freshman enrollment and the four largest enrolled freshmen cohorts in Samford history. His efforts have been instrumental in increasing the University’s profile, diversity, and enrollment.
Each year Jason develops and utilizes distinct types of data and predictive modeling to help Samford get the best students that “fit.” Black believes the right process with the right people will result in attracting the right students. He has also served many roles in the professional community. He is a member of NACAC, SACAC, College Board, AMA, and ALACRAO. He has worked in an advisory role with the College Boards Enrollment Services and their Enrollment Leadership Academy.
Jason holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from Samford. He and his wife, Holly, are parents of one daughter, Evie, and two sons, John Baker and Walker.
Holly Black is a graduate of the University of Alabama, earning a degree in English. After almost ten years in the Public Relations field, Holly is now serving as a stay-at-home mom. She is also actively involved in volunteering at her children’s elementary school and several ministries at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, including Missions, Pre-School Ministry and the Women’s Ministry.
Holly is married to Jason and they are parents of one daughter, Evie, and two sons, John Baker and Walker.
ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE
Dr. Panayiotis (Pano) Kanelos is president of St. John’s College, Annapolis. He previously served as Dean of the Honors College at Valparaiso University, during which time he also oversaw the administration and finances of the Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts, a network of 100 colleges and universities that advances liberal arts education through conferences, workshops, publications, and fellowships.
Pano began his academic career at Loyola University Chicago, where he was a core faculty member of the honors program, an associate professor in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, and the founding director of the Interdisciplinary Shakespeare Studies Program. An ardent Shakespeare fan and scholar, he has authored and edited numerous books, articles, and essays on Shakespeare, including the “Shakespeare and the Stage” series. He holds a Ph.D. from the Committee on Social Thought at University of Chicago, a M.A. in Political Philosophy and Literature from the University Professors Program at Boston University, and a B.A. in English from Northwestern University.
Benjamin Baum is Vice President of Enrollment at St. John’s College, with campuses in Annapolis, Maryland, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. In that role, Mr. Baum is the chief enrollment officer overseeing admissions and financial aid for the third oldest college in the United States, known for its great books curriculum. Mr. Baum has worked in college admissions for over ten years and recruited students in the United Kingdom for over six years. Prior to St. John’s, he was Associate Director of Admissions at Tufts University and an attorney for Goodwin Procter LLP. He has written and presented on issues related to admissions, financial aid, and law for the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the Journal of College and University Law, the Journal of College Admission, the Hill, the Council of International Schools, and the International Association for College Admission Counseling, among others. Mr. Baum holds a bachelor’s degree in history and European studies from Amherst College, a master’s degree in modern history from the University of Oxford (Merton College), and a law degree from the University of Michigan. He lives in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE
Dr. John C. Knapp is the 13th president of Washington & Jefferson College, one of America’s oldest and most distinguished liberal arts institutions, founded in 1781. He also serves as a professor of religion in the College’s Department of Philosophy.
John is an internationally known author and speaker with leadership experience spanning the education, non-profit, and business sectors. Prior to joining W&J in 2017, he was president of Hope College in Holland, MI. Earlier, he served as the founding director of Samford University’s Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership, and as professor and director of Georgia State University’s Center for Ethics and Corporate Responsibility, originally established under his leadership as the independent Southern Institute for Business and Professional Ethics. He has served for more than a decade on the board of Clemson University’s Rutland Institute for Ethics.
His scholarship includes numerous articles and five books. He chairs The New York Times Presidents Council, a representative group of private college presidents who meet with the newspaper’s higher education reporters for background discussions of issues facing institutions and the industry.
Earlier in his career, he served for more than a decade as president of an Atlanta-based corporate communication firm. During this time, Atlanta Business Chronicle twice recognized him as the region’s leading crisis management consultant. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in theology and religious studies at the University of Wales, a Master of Arts degree in theological studies at Columbia Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science degree in urban life at Georgia State University.
Kelly Knapp, John’s wife, enjoys being an active volunteer leader and focusing on programs and mentoring opportunities for students. She leads spouses’ programs for the Oxford Conclave and the Council for Independent Colleges Presidents Institute. She also plays a key role in hospitality and community engagement on behalf of the President’s Office at Washington & Jefferson College.
Earlier in her career, she was editor of the internal newsletter of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A native of Tucson, Arizona, she is a journalism graduate of Georgia State University. The Knapps have five adult children -Amanda, Tracy, Charlie, Mary and Ron – and three grandchildren.
Nicole C. Focareto is currently serving as the Vice President for Enrollment at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in higher education leadership and enrollment management. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Nicole has served in a variety of leadership roles for educational institutions including Belmont Abbey College, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and Marietta College. In these roles, Nicole has been influential in instituting cultural change and building relationships across many constituencies. Nicole holds both a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education and leadership studies and a masters degree in education from Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio.
CONSORTIUM FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION
Dr. Carolyn Bishop has been president of the Consortium for Global Education, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, since 2002. She leads in supporting the international efforts of more than 42 accredited American colleges and universities and their 241 overseas partnerships involving more than 80 countries. Her areas of expertise include professional development, international program and curriculum development, teacher training, online courses, and enhancing faculty and student global opportunities.
Over the years, Dr. Bishop has served on the boards of international schools and organizations. Annually, she coordinates educational conferences and workshops in Asia and the Middle East. She speaks on CGE campuses annually to share a global perspective and to stimulate interest in international relationships.
Through CGE, she works with the presidents, provosts and faculties of affiliate institutions to promote the international visits, the internationalization of higher education, collaboration between U.S. universities and their overseas counterparts, and faculty- student exchanges. Through CGE’s work in diverse nations, she promotes professional training programs for officials and educational leaders, study abroad for students, and teaching opportunities overseas that are based on quality academic experiences, mutual benefit, and respect for values and cultures.