2024 Forum Speakers and Sponsors

Maenette Benham

Chancellor, University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu

Maenette Kapeʻahiokalani Padeken Ah Nee–Benham, a kānaka maoli scholar and teacher, currently serves as chancellor, University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu, and previously served as the inaugural dean of the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge at University of Hawai’i Mānoa. While on faculty in the College of Education at Michigan State University she strengthened her commitment to the praxis of social justice through engaged scholarship and the theme of “school/university in community and community in school/university.” Her work on alternative cultural frames of educational leadership is nationally and internationally respected. She is author, co-author, editor of 5 books and numerous published articles, book chapters, monographs and technical reports.

Adam Bradford

Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Idaho State University

Adam Bradford is interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Idaho State University.  Prior to his current role, he served as dean of the Graduate School, overseeing the expansion of the institution’s portfolio of graduate programming, double digit enrollment growth, and significant increases in graduate student funding support. Prior to joining ISU, Bradford served as associate dean of graduate studies in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters at Florida Atlantic University, as well as the founding director of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, department head for the Department of Philosophy, director of the Ph.D. program in comparative studies and associate chair of the Department of English. Bradford researches and teaches 19th-century American literature and culture. He won the 2018 Gargano Award for work on Edgar Allan Poe.

Laura Decker

Assistant Professor, Nevada State University

Laura Decker, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of English at Nevada State University, where she teaches writing and literacy courses. She also serves the coordinator of first year composition at Nevada State and helped lead the implementation of a statewide corequisite English effort. Previously, she worked for a TRIO Student Support Services Program at the College of Southern Nevada. Decker is part of the inaugural WICHE Humanities Leadership Fellow cohort. She holds a B.A. in English, an M.F.A. in creative writing, and a Ph.D. in literacy education from University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Michelle DenBeste

Special Assistant to the Vice President for Advancement, Central Washington University

Michelle DenBeste, Ph.D., served as provost at Central Washington University and previously served as dean and department chair at California State University, Fresno.  Currently, she is working on a research project on women’s leadership as well as serving as a special assistant to the vice president for advancement.  She received her Ph.D in history from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale with a focus on Russian women’s history.  In her administrative work, DenBeste has focused on faculty development, high impact practices, student and faculty success and creating bureaucratic practices which consider equity, diversity, and inclusion as guiding practices.

Elizabeth (Liz) Dennison

Associate Dean, University of Alaska Anchorage

Elizabeth (Liz) Dennison, Ph.D., has served in University of Alaska Anchorage’s College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office as an associate dean since 2019. She heads the college’s efforts in student recruitment and retention through scholarship campaigns. Career readiness initiatives, especially promoting internships, is a top priority. Dennison spearheads the CAS Summer Camps.  As a professor of history, she teaches a wide range of courses, specializing in Russian culture and society. Dennison received her B.A. and M.A. in history at the University of Colorado Boulder and a Ph.D. in history at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has been at UAA since 1992.

Liliana Diaz Solodukhin

Senior Policy Analyst, Policy Analysis and Research

303.541.0263ldiaz@wiche.edu

Liliana Diaz Solodukhin, policy analyst with WICHE, works on a diverse range of activities including conducting and communicating policy research on a wide array of higher education-related topics, developing and sustaining relationships with external stakeholders, and conceptualizing and executing short- and long-term collaborative projects with states. Diaz received her B.S. in journalism and mass communication, B.A. in film studies, and a certificate in Technology, Arts, and Media from the University of Colorado at Boulder, earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Denver.

Kiana Frank

Assistant Professor, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Kiana Frank serves as an assistant professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and studies how microorganisms (the smallest forms of life that live on land and in water) shape the land for productivity and health by weaving contemporary western techniques with Native Hawaiian Science. Her work evaluates overall ecosystem health and informs current monitoring, restoration, cultivation, and management of Hawaiian resources to sustainably support the people of Hawaii. She has strong relationships working within communities using scientific hands-on experiences in native ecosystems, our natural laboratories, to inspire the younger Hawaiian generations to cultivate a connection to science through their culture.

Debora Halbert

Forum Executive Committee, University of Hawai‘i System

Debora Halbert is the associate vice president for academic programs and policy at the University of Hawai‘i System where she works on student success and transfer related issues.  Prior to her current position, she was the associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She received her B.A. and M.A. from Western Washington University and her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Prior to returning to Hawai‘i where she was a professor in the political science department teaching law, policy and also futures studies, she taught for 12 years at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio.

Kate Hausbeck-Korgan

Forum Executive Committee, University of Nevada Las Vegas

Kate Hausbeck Korgan, Ph.D., is the senior vice provost for academic affairs at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After more than 16 years of progressive leadership experiences, Korgan took on this new role leading the Office of Academic Affairs in 2022. Korgan is responsible for academic and student support units including: undergraduate and graduate education, the Academic Success Center, the Division of Educational Outreach, Online Education, Academic Effectiveness (programs, assessment, accreditation), Global Education Initiatives, Career Services, Workforce Development, the Registrar’s Office, Educational Compliance, Recruitment and Admissions, and Financial Aid. A graduate of the University at Buffalo, Korgan holds a faculty appointment in sociology.

Bonnie Irwin

Chancellor, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

Bonnie Irwin has served as chancellor at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo since 2019. Chancellor Irwin previously served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at California State University (CSU) Monterey Bay and served as dean of Arts & Humanities and Honors at Eastern Illinois University. She holds A.B., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in comparative literature from the University of California at Berkeley, where she specialized in medieval literature and folklore. Irwin serves on the boards of the Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce and the ʻIole Stewardship Center and is a fellow of the National Collegiate Honors Council.

Janelle Kilgore

Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management, University of North Dakota

Janelle Kilgore has served as a financial aid advisor, Memorial Union business manager, director of financial aid, and in her current role as vice provost for strategic enrollment management at the University of North Dakota. As a first-generation student-athlete, she had to quickly adapt to life as a college student without family guidance. Kilgore values giving back to her professional communities where she has presented at state, regional and national conferences. Kilgore received a B.S. in sports management at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, and an M.S. in educational leadership at the University of North Dakota.

Laura Lyons

Interim Vice Provost for Academic Excellence, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Laura Lyons serves as the interim vice provost of academic excellence at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Lyons has also held the positions of professor of English, interim associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, and interim dean, College of Languages, Linguistics& Literature. Lyons has taught courses on colonialism and islands since she started as an English faculty in 1993. Her scholarly work is broadly in life writing, globalization and land and cultural theory.

Pamela McMullin-Messier

Professor, Central Washington University

Pamela McMullin-Messier, Ph.D., has served as professor of sociology at Central Washington University since 2009; she is also currently serving as department chair, co-chair of the Academic Department Chair Organization, and provost fellow with a focus on high impact practices and student success. McMullin-Messier received her B.A. in sociology from Central Connecticut State University, an M.A. in sociology from the University of Connecticut, and Ph.D. in sociology and graduate certificate in gender studies from the University of Southern California.

Billy Meinke

Open Educational Resources (OER) Technologist , University of Hawai’i at Mānoa

Billy Meinke, M.Ed., has served as the open educational resources (OER) technologist for the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa since 2016. He leads online course and program development for the UH Mānoa Outreach College, supporting faculty adoption, adaptation, and publishing of OER textbooks alongside traditional curricular materials. Previously, he worked on education, data, and science policy at Creative Commons from 2012-2015. Billy is currently a doctoral student of political science at UH Mānoa, after receiving a B.A. in sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2008, and an M.Ed. in educational technology from UH Mānoa in 2012.

Wayde Oshiro

Interim Learning Commons and Library Coordinator , Leeward Community College

Wayde Oshiro is the interim learning commons and library coordinator at Leeward Community College. Since 2014, Oshiro has advocated for adopting open educational resources and practices in the classroom to support student learning and success. He co-leads the University of Hawaii Community Colleges OER Initiative and is a member of the Leeward and University of Hawaii System OER Committees. Oshiro is a co-vice president of the Community College Consortium for OER Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.

Sunyeen Pai

Digital Initiatives Librarian , Kapiʻolani Community College

Sunyeen Pai, Ph.D., has served as digital initiatives librarian at Kapiʻolani Community College since 2008. She manages the college’s open access institutional repository of works by students, employees, and the community. She supports the community colleges and the University of Hawaiʻi System (UH) with open educational resources and Textbook Cost: $0 courses. Previously she worked at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa Library and the East West Center. In 2024 she serves as the president of the Hawaiʻi Library Association. Sunny received her B.A. in sociology (Brandeis University), an M.S. in systems management (University of Southern California), and an M.S. in library and information sciences and a Ph.D. in communications and information sciences (UH).

Marlena Pangelinan

Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness, University of Guam

Marlena Pangelinan is vice provost for institutional effectiveness at the University of Guam providing support to all programs and the institution in the areas of assessment, planning, data analysis, and reporting. Pangelinan served in a similar capacity at the Guam Community College prior to joining the University, including the role of assistant accreditation liaison officer and serving on several Accreditation Peer Review teams for colleges in the region. Pangelinan received an M.S. in computer information systems from the University of Phoenix in 2006 and a B.S. in business administration, MIS specialty, from California State University Long Beach in 1993.

Karyn Plumm

Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Student Success, University of North Dakota

Karyn Plumm, Ph.D., has served as vice provost for undergraduate studies and student success at the University of North Dakota since 2018. She oversees academic advising, tutoring & learning services, the Essential Studies (general education) Program, the Honors Program, undergraduate curriculum processes, the Experiential Learning Center, and Institutional Effectiveness & Accreditation. Previously, she served as associate dean in the College of Arts & Sciences and director of undergraduate programs in the Department of Psychology. Plumm received her B.A. in psychology, M.A. in general psychology, and Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of North Dakota.

Randi Lynn Tanglen

Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, University of North Dakota

Randi Lynn Tanglen, Ph.D. became vice provost for faculty affairs at the University of North Dakota in January 2023. She has degrees from Rocky Mountain College (B.A., English Education), the University of Montana (M.A., English), and the University of Arizona (Ph.D., English). Previously Tanglen was a full professor of English at Austin College in Sherman, Texas and has served as the executive director of Humanities Montana. In her current role she provides leadership for all aspects of the faculty experience in order to create a culture of faculty excellence and opportunity at the institution.

Rick Torres

President/CEO, National Student Clearinghouse

Rick Torres has served as president/CEO of the National Student Clearinghouse since 2008. Under his leadership, the Clearinghouse extended its mission through accessible, innovative technology-based services and data exchange solutions that enable institutions and organizations to focus on maximizing human potential and is a thought and action-oriented leader in helping to evolve the nation to an edu-workforce data-driven ecosystem. Torres serves on the boards of the Brightpoint Community College Foundation, Achieving the Dream and ACT and was a founding member of the Groningen Declaration Network Group, an international consortia dedicated to developing a trusted international data exchange ecosystem. He holds an M.B.A. in international finance from Georgetown University and undergraduate degrees from Manhattan College.