Keynote Speakers:
Nikolas Huot |
Prior to joining Complete College America as a Strategy Director, Nikolas worked as the Associate Director for First-Year and Transition Programs with the Office of Student Success at Georgia State University. In this role, he coordinated, assessed, and scaled all success and retention initiatives for incoming first-year students at the bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, including learning communities, meta-majors, structured schedules, summer bridge, peer mentors, and first-year seminar. In addition to his work in student success, Nikolas spent over five years as a college scheduler where he maintained the academic schedules and master curriculum of a number of departments. To this day, he remains closely involved with all aspects of student registration and course scheduling at the college level.
At CCA, to close institutional performance gaps, Nikolas works on developing and implementing strategies to align choice and purpose with every student’s goals, as well as to restructure systems to facilitate progression to completion. Nikolas has co-led Purpose First pilot project and development of strategies across five states, worked on a number of publications on purpose, and created processes and resources to develop academic and career maps. He works primarily with states in the Southeast region. |
Brian M. Montalvo |
As the Senior Director for Career Advising, Counseling & Education at the Florida Atlantic University Career Center, Brian Montalvo and his team help students build toward their futures by helping them gain or refine career readiness skills required to succeed into meaningful careers. Brian oversees a team of nationally credentialed career professionals who offer 1:1 service, career preparatory workshops/resources, career courses, soft skill education, as well as exploratory programs. Brian has been with the FAU Career Center since July 2006.
Brian also teaches in the areas of Career Development, Counseling, and Strategies for College Success at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and he has published national and international articles, essays, and a book chapter on multiple career development topics. He regularly presents on career indecision and innovative career programming at international, national, state, and regional professional conferences. In addition, Brian served on the Board of Directors for the National Career Development Association as a Trustee for Higher Education Career Counselors and Specialist (2015-2017). Through this work, Brian had the chance to travel across the country and meet with many career practitioners. Brian earned an Ed.S in Counseling and Human Systems, an M.S. in Counseling & Human Systems with a concentration in Career Counseling and a B.S. in Psychology; all from Florida State University. Brian is a National Certified Counselor (#214457). He has been honored with Karl F. Ijams Humanitarian of the Year Award, NCDA Outstanding Service through Board Leadership Award, and a Leader of Leaders recognition at Florida Atlantic University. |
Mary-Ann Winkelmes |
Dr. Winkelmes is the Founder, Director, and Principal Investigator of the Transparency in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education project (TILT Higher Ed), which promotes direct conversation between teachers and students about methods of teaching and learning and helps faculty to use education practices grounded in evidence about students’ learning shared across institutions and countries. The impact of this project on students’ learning and persistence in college has been the focus of Winkelmes’s publications in the National Teaching and Learning Forum, Project Information Literacy, the National Education Association’s Higher Education Advocate, AAC&U’s Liberal Education and Peer Review, and additional book chapters and peer reviewed articles as well as the book Transparent Design in Higher Education Teaching and Leadership. Her work to improve higher education learning and teaching, especially for historically underserved students, has been recognized nationally by the Chronicle of Higher Education and with the POD Network’s Robert J. Menges Award for Outstanding Research in Education Development.
She has held senior leadership roles in the campus teaching centers at Harvard University, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, the University of Nevada Las Vegas and Brandeis University. She has offered instruction as a member of history and art history departments at most of those institutions. She has consulted and provided professional development programming for faculty through the Lilly Endowment’s higher education grant-making and teacher-training programs, and for teaching centers in the U.S. and abroad. She has also served as a senior fellow of the Association of American Colleges & Universities, an executive board member of Nevada Humanities and as an elected member of the Board of Directors of the professional Development Network in Higher Education (POD), and chair of its Research Committee. Dr. Winkelmes has provided hundreds of keynote addresses and invited workshops for faculty and staff at colleges, universities, and business institutions in the U.S. and abroad. Winkelmes advocates her view that research, teaching, and learning are best practiced as a unified enterprise that benefits students and society in the book An Illinois Sampler: Teaching and Research on the Prairie. Winkelmes has also published book chapters and peer-reviewed articles on college teaching and learning and on the history of art and architecture in Renaissance Italy, Benedictine church design and decoration, acoustics, and religious architecture. She has received numerous teaching awards as well as grants for her arts historical research from the National Endowments for the Humanities, Kress, Delmas, and Mellon foundations. Winkelmes holds a PhD from Harvard University. |
 Kathleen Powell Chief Career Officer | Associate Vice President for Advancement William and Mary |
As the Chief Career Officer, Kathleen Powell has more than 30 years of progressive experience in higher education career services. She is an effective leader and creative programmer. She is recognized nationally and internationally for her leadership, strategic vision, and external review practices. Dedicated to strategic visioning and management, collaborative partnerships, and faculty engagement, Powell also has a commanding understanding of career development, student development, and organizational and leadership theories.
Powell has authored chapters in several different publications and served as an academic advisor and adjunct faculty member teaching career planning, leadership development, and communication. Powell served as the faculty lead for strategic planning sessions at the Management Leadership Institute through the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), as well as a facilitator for the Executive Leadership Summit for NACE. In addition, Kathleen is a prolific presenter with more than 45 competitively selected presentations, both nationally and internationally. Kathleen currently serves on the Advocacy Advisory Committee for NACE; identifying core issues for the profession; educating members regarding legislative and/or regulatory matters that may impact the profession, and when needed, advocating before governmental officials and the public for outcomes that best support the interests of NACE members and the profession. This includes issues of equity and inclusion in the workplace and workforce development. Kathleen is a past president of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), past president of the Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers (Midwest ACE), and past- president of the Illinois Small College Placement Association. Most recently, she was presented with the Kauffman Award, this prestigious award honors those who have made a tangible contribution to NACE that significantly improved the association. Kathleen is also a member of the Academy of Fellows, the highest honor, recognizing individuals who have contributed to the profession through the advancement of knowledge, leadership, or excellence in professional practice. In addition, she is the recipient of the Founders Distinguished Service Award and J.W. Paquette Award for Superior Leadership Award (Midwest ACE), Charles Sumner Harrison Award, and Teacher Appreciation Award, Sigma Kappa, (Marietta College). In addition, Powell holds a Management Leadership Certificate for Career Services Professionals. Powell holds a Master of Science in Student Personnel Services from Miami University of Ohio and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Akron. She began her tenure in university career services at Ashland College, now Ashland University. Her career services work includes positions at Knox College (IL), Marietta College (OH), Grinnell College (IA), and The University of Akron (OH). Immediately prior to her appointment at William & Mary, Powell served as the director for career exploration and development at Denison University in Granville, OH. During her time at William & Mary, Kathleen has served as the assistant vice president for student affairs and executive director of career development, promoted to the associate vice president for career development, and most recently to the elevated role of Chief Career Officer and Associate Vice President of Advancement. |
UW Campus Panel Members:
 Brian Hinshaw Director, Pathway Advising UW-Milwaukee |
Prior to serving as the Director for UW-Milwaukee’s Pathway Advising unit for undecided students, Brian Hinshaw held the following roles on campus: College for Kids participant, new transfer student on probation, awardee of a Bachelor of Arts in English, graduate-level special student, instructor in English composition and creative writing, senior academic advisor in the Lubar College of Business, Advising & Outreach Specialist in the Registrar’s Office, and Associate Registrar. In between some of those commas, he completed an MFA in Writing at Emerson College. |
 Laurie Marks Executive Director, Student Experience and Talent UW-Milwaukee |
Laurie Marks has worked for 20+ years at UW-Milwaukee in community engagement, experiential learning, and career readiness. She has a BA in Political Science, a M.Ed in Educational Leadership, and a PhD in Urban Education. |
 Melissa Wilson Director of Career Services UW-River Falls |
Melissa Wilson has worked for the University of Wisconsin-System on different campuses and in various roles for more than 25 years. Currently, Melissa serves as the Director of Career Services at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF). Prior to serving in this role, she was the Alumni Relations Coordinator at UWRF. Each spring, Melissa hosts the UWRF etiquette dinner and is certified in collegiate etiquette as well as social, business, and children’s etiquette. Melissa is also a certified practitioner in the MBTI Step I and Step II as well as a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF). Melissa has a B.S. in Agricultural Studies from UWRF and a M.S. degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Melissa has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at UWRF and Lakeland College and served on various committees and boards in the community and region. At UWRF, the Career Services team looks for ways to use data to inform the services provided and centers much of their work around the NACE career competencies, always looking for ways to assist in preparing UWRF students and graduates for the future. |
 Jaime Page-Stadler Director of Career & Professional Development UW-Oshkosh |
Jaime Page-Stadler is the director of Career & Professional Development at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where she leads a dynamic team that is focused on experiences and outcomes of students. Page-Stadler engages hundreds of employers annually to professionally development students to ensure their career readiness. Productive relationships in the community and across campus has launched her success in creating opportunities for students to be equipped, confident, and connected. Currently, Page-Stadler teaches a Professional Skills course for computer science and engineering technology students and is a member of the Career Leadership Collective. |