Robert Turner
Former Assistant Vice Chancellor
Oregon University System
Email: prsturner@comcast.net

Robert Turner retired in June 2011 after four years as Oregon University System assistant vice chancellor for academic standards and collaborations. He worked with Oregon’s public universities, statewide faculty senate, and K‐12 and community college leadership on student learning and student transitions among educational institutions. Turner received a B.S. in biology from Seattle University and a Ph.D. in embryology from the University of Oregon, and taught and conducted biology research for over 30 years. He is an emeritus professor of biology at Western Oregon University, where he was Honors Program director and interim dean of liberal arts and sciences.

California

Debra David
Project Director, "Give Students a Compass"
California State University System
Office of the Chancellor
Email: ddavid@calstate.edu

Debra David is project director of the “Give Students a Compass” initiative, based in the California State University Office of the Chancellor. Part of a national Association of American Colleges and Universities initiative, the project seeks to infuse high-impact practices like learning communities, undergraduate research, and service-learning in the statewide general education transfer curriculum. She previously served as associate dean of undergraduate studies, director of the Center for Community Learning and Leadership, and professor of health science at San Jose State University. She earned a B.A. in social science from Michigan State University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Hawaii

Richard Dubanoski
Dean, College of Social Sciences
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Email: dickd@hawaii.edu

Richard Dubanoski is dean of the College of Social Sciences and professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He received a B.A. from Wesleyan University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He has been a strong advocate for undergraduate education, serving as the campus liaison for LEAP. During his tenure as dean he has introduced a number of innovative teaching and learning programs to the Manoa campus. Most recently, he initiated a new project, Commitment to Liberal Education, which is based on the LEAP model. This project draws from past educational programs developed in the college – for example, service learning and learning communities – and introduces new programs such as street science, a critical thinking course for freshmen. When complete, Commitment to Liberal Education will incorporate the four Essential Learning Outcomes of LEAP and many of the high-impact teaching practices.

North Dakota

Lisa Johnson
Director of Articulation & Transfer
North Dakota University System
Minot State University
Email: lisa.a.johnson@ndus.edu

Lisa A. Johnson is director of articulation and transfer for the North Dakota University System and a steering committee member of the North Dakota LEAP initiative to adopt Essential Learning Outcomes. She coordinates statewide meetings of 60 academic discipline groups to establish or revise current statewide articulation agreements and common competencies. Johnson also facilitates state-to-state review and acceptance of general education core requirements. She earned an A.S. in medical secretary, a B.S. in marketing, and an M.S. in management from Minot State University.

Oregon

Karen Marrongelle
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic
Standards and Collaborations
Oregon University System
Email: Karen_Marrongelle@ous.edu

Karen Marrongelle is assistant vice chancellor for academic standards and collaborations in the Office of the Chancellor, Oregon University System. Marrongelle works in the areas of PK-20 academic standards, student learning assessment, teacher education, diversity/equity efforts, and support for the academic role of OUS faculty. Her work includes an emphasis on national, statewide and OUS initiatives directed at monitoring and enhancing the success of students as they move into and through OUS institutions. Prior to joining the Chancellor’s Office, Dr. Marrongelle served as assistant dean for research in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Port land State University and was an active faculty member in the Fairborz Maseeh Department of Mathematics and Statistics between 2001 and 2011. In her work at PSU, she directed the Mathematics Education Doctoral Program, conducted an active research program in undergraduate mathematics education, and led three major National Science Foundation-funded projects focused on the professional development of K-12 mathematics teachers. From 2007-2009, Marrongelle served on a rotation as a program officer at the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C., while a tenured faculty member at PSU.

Utah

Phyllis “Teddi” Safman
Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs
Utah State Board of Regents
Email: psafman@utahsbr.edu

Phyllis (Teddi) Safman is the assistant commissioner for academic affairs, Utah Board of Regents. Her responsibilities include general education assessment; statewide transfer and articulation; No Child Left Behind; teacher education; and working with Utah’s K-16 Alliance to improve high school to college articulation. In addition, she is the system representative for Lumina’s Tuning process and for the LEAP initiative. Safman received a Ph.D. in continuing education from the University of Illinois and held national, regional, and statewide leadership positions while serving as associate dean of continuing education at the University of Utah. She joined the commissioner’s staff in 1993, with a short break to work in accreditation and strategic planning in Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Safman teaches a graduate class in organization and governance of higher education at the University of Utah.