Speakers
Emcee
ANGELA LIOTTA
Vice President of Communications
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
Angela Liotta is the Vice President of Communications and Public Information Officer at the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), where she leads strategic communication and outreach initiatives for state-administered financial aid programs, supporting over 300,000 college students annually. She also oversees call center operations that assist more than 100,000 students each year.
During her tenure at HESC, Angela has led the development of several high-impact financial aid initiatives, including the NYS Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate Vaccine Incentive Scholarship and the Nurses for Our Future Scholarship. She launched HESC’s first texting program for students and families, reaching over 60,000 students in its first year, guided the creation of the state’s first FAFSA Ready program for students and high school counselors, and expanded HESC’s statewide partnerships to more than 100 organizations, amplifying the agency’s message and reach.
DORIS B. GONZÁLEZ
Acting President
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
Doris joined HESC as Executive Vice President in August 2023 and currently serves as Acting President for the agency. In her role, she provides administrative oversight of HESC’s operations and is responsible for the development, administration, and execution of all New York State financial aid programs.
Prior to joining HESC, Doris served as Director of Delivery Management at Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., a multinational information technology infrastructure services provider, and held 23 years of leadership roles at IBM Corporation. Her extensive experience also includes leadership positions with the New York City Board of Education, the NYC School Construction Authority, and the New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority. For Doris, her current role at HESC brings her career full circle, returning to the public sector where she began.
MARIA FERNANDEZ
Deputy Secretary of Education
New York State Executive Chamber
Maria Fernandez is the Deputy Secretary of Education for New York State Governor Kathy Hochul. In this role, Maria provides vision, strategy, and direction to advance Governor Hochul's Education Agenda across K-12 and higher education. She collaborates with state education leaders and legislative leaders.
Maria's experience spans more than 20 years at IBM, where she served as a legal and compliance executive and a trusted business advisor. Her subsequent role as Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer at Direct Energy in Houston further demonstrates her leadership capabilities and versatility in different industries.
Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Lehman College, City University of New York, and a Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School. She is admitted to practice law in the states of New York and California, as well as before the United States Supreme Court.
Additionally, Maria has made significant contributions to the community. Her involvement as a School Board trustee, former Board Member at Latino Justice, immediate past chair of the President's Council of Cornell Women, and co-founder of the Latino Lawyers of Cornell demonstrates her dedication to education and gender equality.
LOLA W. BRABHAM
President
Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
Lola W. Brabham was appointed the ninth President of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) in 2021. As president, she leads the Albany-based nonprofit organization that represents the chief executives of New York's 100+ independent colleges and universities on issues of public policy.
Ms. Brabham joins CICU after nearly three decades in public service. Most recently, she served as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Civil Service and President of the Civil Service Commission. In that role, she led the central personnel agency for the Executive Branch of New York State Government, serving approximately 150,000 employees.
Ms. Brabham is a member of the NYS Private Student Loan Refinancing Task Force, the NYS Department of Education Advisory Council on Higher Education, the NYS Department of Health Board for Professional Medical Conduct and New York State Insurance Fund.
DONNA STELLING-GURNETT
President
Association of Private Colleges
Donna Stelling-Gurnett is a passionate and committed leader with over 30 years experience in non-profit and association management.
Since 2013, Donna has served as the President of the Association of Private Colleges (APC). APC represents 12 degree-granting, primarily family-founded colleges in New York State that are dedicated to educational excellence, access and affordability. APC successfully advocates at both the State and Federal level for fair and equitable policies and regulations that support the private sector and the students they serve.
Prior to her work with APC, Donna spent 15 years in the Boston area working with patient advocacy and medical surgical groups such as the National MS Society, the Scleroderma Foundation, the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education and the Congenital Heart Surgeons Society.
After decades of experience leading associations, her strengths include strategic planning, communications, membership engagement, educational programming, and policy advocacy work.
JOHN B. KING, JR.
Chancellor
State University of New York
John B. King Jr. is the 15th Chancellor of the State University of New York, the largest comprehensive system of public higher education in the United States. As Chancellor, King and the SUNY Board of Trustees have established four pillars to guide SUNY's progress: student success; research and scholarship; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and economic development and upward mobility. Prior to his appointment as Chancellor, King served as president of The Education Trust and as the 10th United States Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama, and as New York’s first Black and Hispanic state education commissioner.
WILLIAM MURPHY
Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education
New York State Education Department
William Murphy, Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education at the NYS Education Department, oversees the Office of College and University Evaluation (OCUE), and offices that coordinate teacher certification; personnel review and accountability for teachers and school leaders; and postsecondary opportunity, access and early college HS programs. Before his appointment as Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Murphy served in various leadership roles at NYSED, including Director of Professional Education where he led teams responsible for evaluating higher education programs for professional licensure at public and private colleges and universities in New York State and internationally. He holds a Ph.D. from the University at Albany, a Master of Science in Education (M.S. Ed.) from Baruch College, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Le Moyne College.
Keynote Speaker
HARLAN COHEN
Author, Journalist, Speaker
Harlan Cohen is a New York Times bestselling author and creator of The Naked Roommate series. His books have over 1 million copies in print, he has more than 1.7 million followers across social media, and he has spoken at over 500 colleges. Harlan not only teaches audiences how to take risks and step outside of their comfort zones—he leads by example.
Known for delivering heartfelt and impactful presentations that blend humor with actionable advice, Harlan’s unique ability to normalize fear, embrace discomfort, and reframe rejection has made him a favorite among audiences of all ages. His real-life applications of risk-taking and growth mindset create broad appeal across diverse groups—from middle school students to corporate leaders.
Whether he’s speaking about college life, resilience, relationships, parenting, career planning, or mental health, Harlan gives audiences permission to be imperfect while providing them with practical tools to get from where they are to where they want to go.
Embracing the Future: Navigating a Changing Federal Landscape
CATHERINE BROWN
Senior Director, Policy and Advocacy
National College Attainment Network
As the National College Attainment Network's (NCAN’s) Senior Director, Policy and Advocacy, Catherine Brown oversees the creation and execution of NCAN's nonpartisan policy agenda, priorities, and research at the federal and state levels.
Brown most recently served as Senior Director at The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), helping to advance affordability, equity, and college completion. Her work focused on increasing college persistence and completion, and she launched a new project to improve college affordability in Michigan.
Prior to joining TICAS, Brown served as the Vice President of Education Policy at the Center for American Progress and Vice President for Policy at Teach for America. Earlier in her career, Brown was a senior education policy adviser for the US House Committee on Education and Labor, domestic policy adviser for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and legislative assistant to then-Senator Clinton.
Brown received a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a master’s in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband, two sons, and exuberant dog, Jenny.
Moderator
JEFFREY JOSEPH
Training Manager
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
Jeffrey Joseph has dedicated his career to empowering students, financial aid professionals, and high school counselors to succeed. As the lead trainer at the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, Jeff has been instrumental in developing and implementing innovative training programs that drive meaningful impact. Jeff spearheaded the creation of FAFSA Ready, New York State’s first-of-its-kind training program, which successfully trained over 8,000 counselors, financial aid professionals, and community-based partners in its first year alone. This groundbreaking initiative has equipped participants with the tools and knowledge to guide students through the financial aid process with confidence and accuracy. In addition to his work on FAFSA Ready, Jeff launched a revamped training program for HESC’s call center staff, reducing time to train by 20% while maintaining high-quality outcomes. He also was a key player in developing a comprehensive training program to onboard staff to a new customer relationship management tool, ensuring seamless adoption and improved operational efficiency. As HESC’s federal liaison, Jeff stays at the forefront of the federal landscape related to higher education and FAFSA. He ensures that staff are well-informed of annual FAFSA updates and regulatory changes, enabling them to provide accurate and timely support to students and families.
Before joining HESC, Jeff served as a trainer for the Office of Children and Family Services in the Juvenile Justice Unit, where he honed his skills in education and advocacy. His lifelong mission to support young people and empower those who guide them reflects his unwavering commitment to making education and opportunities accessible for all.
KATHY HASTINGS
Director for Outreach and Communications
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority
Kathy Hastings is the Director for Outreach and Communications with the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), the agency that administers state scholarships for students to attend college in NC. In this role she helps mobilize partners around college access and FAFSA completion and leads an outreach team that provides training and technical assistance to education stakeholders who are supporting the work. She also leads statewide campaign development, including College for North Carolina’s (CFNC) Countdown to College and FAFSA February. Prior to this role, Kathy led college access and FAFSA completion efforts with the Florida College Access Network. There, she was instrumental in the growth of 17 local cross-sector coalitions that supported 82% of the state’s population in advancing post-secondary access and completion for under-supported students.
Kathy earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BS in Marketing from Southern Illinois University.
JULIE SAINZ
Director, FAFSA and College Access Initiatives
Arizona Board of Regents
Julie Sainz is the Director of FAFSA and College Access Initiatives at the Arizona Board of Regents, where she leads statewide strategic initiatives, policy implementation, and partnerships to increase FAFSA completion and expand college access across Arizona. With over 16 years of experience in higher education, she has held leadership roles in financial aid administration, including as a Financial Aid Director, as well as in student affairs and academic positions across Arizona’s two- and four-year postsecondary institutions. Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Communications and a master’s degree in Postsecondary and Higher Education Policy from Arizona State University.
Moderator
SAMUEL ROWSER
Executive Director
On Point for College
Samuel Rowser, a lifelong resident of Syracuse, NY, became Executive Director of On Point for College in September 2016. His career spans nearly 40 years being a trusted mentor to first-generation college students, helping them to start college, earn degrees and gain employment; supporting them every step of the journey.
On Point for College, a non-profit program that has helped over 11,600 inner-city and rural youth from Syracuse, Utica, NYC and other counties in Central New York to enroll in and succeed in college. The students are usually the first in their family to go to college. These young adults have had the desire to go to college but felt that the opportunity was out of their reach.
Samuel began this journey at On Point for College as Program Associate – the first employee Founder Ginny Donohue was able to hire. He was formerly an Admissions Counselor with Onondaga Community College and a Career Development Specialist at Southwest Community Center before joining the On Point for College staff.
LARRY D. JOHNSON, JR
President
Bronx Community College, City University of New York
Dr. Larry D. Johnson Jr. became the seventh president of Bronx Community College (BCC) in July 2025, bringing a distinguished record of leadership in higher education. Prior to BCC, he served as president of Guttman Community College, where his innovative initiatives drove historic enrollment growth. Earlier, he made history as the first Black president of Phoenix College, where he expanded access through a pioneering “Neighborhood College” partnership and secured major federal funding for STEM learning opportunities.
Dr. Johnson began his career at Georgia Piedmont Technical College and went on to hold leadership roles at Broward College and St. Louis Community College. A proud HBCU graduate, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University and a Doctor of Arts from Clark Atlanta University, with additional graduate study at Florida State University and Harvard University. He serves on the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Board of Directors and other national boards, and is an Aspen Fellow and Phi Theta Kappa honoree.
MICHAEL N. CHRISTAKIS
Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment
University at Albany, State University of New York
Dr. Michael N. Christakis was named Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment in May 2015. In this position, he leads a team responsible for a broad range of services and programs related to undergraduate student recruitment, enrollment and support; campus programming and planning; assisting in creating a campus culture that promotes the academic achievement and personal development of all students (undergraduate, graduate and professional); supporting crisis response and institutional initiatives; advocating on behalf of students; and fostering collaborative relationships among students, faculty, and staff.
He currently serves as Board Chair for NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, and has previously served as chair of the Association for Public and Land Grant University’s (APLU) Council on Student Affairs.
Christakis holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from Alfred University, and a M.P.P. and Ph.D. from the University at Albany Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy.
AVA DIEDEN
Budget Examiner
New York State Division of the Budget
Ava Dieden is an Examiner with the New York State Division of the Budget. She graduated from Union College in 2023 with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Spanish. She has a deep interest in healthcare policy stemming from her background in nonprofit organizations. As a result, she is pursuing a Master's of Public Administration at the State University of New York at Albany with a focus on information and technology management. While in graduate school, Ava completed her training at the Division of the Budget. Currently, she budgets for government programs, including New York State Health Insurance Program. Ava plans to use her education and skills to develop more effective strategies and policies.
Moderator
GABRIELLE GILLIAM
Executive Director,
Bottom Line New York
Gabrielle Gilliam is a fund development and non-profit management professional. She has nearly 30 consecutive years of experience in fundraising and institutional advancement and has served in leadership positions at organizations such as United Negro College Fund, Bottomless Closet, Poly Prep Country Day School, the French-American Foundation, and Opening Act, and Oliver Scholars.
Gabrielle currently serves as Executive Director for Bottom Line New York. She is also a Senior Lecturer at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Social Work and member of the Management Faculty at the Institute for Nonprofit Practice. Since 2014, she has also served as an independent consultant, providing strategic planning and fundraising support to NYC-based non-profit organizations. Her client list has included the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Fiver Children’s Foundation, Brooklyn Children’s Theatre, and The Peter Westbrook Foundation.
KENDRA CORNEJO
Lead Organizer
Make the Road New York
Kendra Cornejo Muñoz is the daughter of Salvadorian immigrants and calls Brentwood, Long Island her home. Kendra graduated from Brown University with a dual degree in History and Ethnic Studies. After college, Kendra worked as a union organizer across the country with the AFL-CIO. Now she builds power alongside young people fighting to end the school-to-prison and school-to-deportation pipelines with the Youth Power Project at Make the Road New York. Aside from her professional work, Kendra is an avid tennis player, reader and adventure seeker.
AVDEEP DHILLON
Co-Founder and Executive Director
First Gen Power
Avdeep, co-founder and Executive Director of First Gen Empower (FGE), is driven by a deep commitment to equitable education and career access. As a first-generation college graduate and immigrant, Avdeep understands firsthand the transformative power of opportunity. At FGE, she works on supporting undocumented students' college and career success, leveraging her background in social impact. In her previous roles, she has worked on investing in social enterprises at Kiva, building a social enterprise at PSI in Nairobi, consulting for non-profits and philanthropists at the Bridgespan group, and managing the rent relief initiative at Esusu. Avdeep holds a degree in Political Economy and a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Technology from UC Berkeley.
NATASHA TORRES
Special Populations Coordinator
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
Natasha is a first-generation Ecuadorian American committed to advancing human rights by harmonizing efforts across sectors and government systems. Natasha is the Special Populations Coordinator at New York State Higher Education Services Corporation where she oversees the DREAM Act program, the Alternate Pathway Program for Mixed-Status Family students, and the TAP for Incarcerated Students Program.
Moderator
SAMUEL WALLIS
Chief Executive Officer
Yonkers Partners in Education
Sam Wallis, a teacher by training and experience, has served as the Executive Director of YPIE since July 2019 and was named CEO in July 2025.
Sam began his work in education after graduating from Tufts University by joining Teach for America (TFA). He was placed in a struggling rural Mississippi Delta high school where he taught history and government. Recognizing the need for more equitable access to higher education, Sam focused on the barriers to college entry and persistence.
Sam earned his master's degree in Public School Building Leadership from Columbia University Teachers College and then joined the leadership team of Democracy Prep Public Schools, a public charter school network.
Sam joined the YPIE team in 2015 as Chief Program Officer, continuing his focus on college readiness and access in Yonkers, where he had attended elementary school. In this role, he helped build YPIE’s program model and outcomes-focused culture.
As Executive Director, Sam led YPIE’s expansion to Jersey City and Nashville, and continues to evolve YPIE’s programs to ensure students are on the path to success in college and careers.
Sam is a fan of the New York Yankees and Mississippi Blues and BBQ.
AKIL BELLO
Director of College Advising
State University of New York
Akil Bello is a college access and admission testing expert with over three decades of experience. He launched two companies, developed preparation programs for multiple high-stakes tests, and helped thousands of students achieve success.
As founding partner of Bell Curves, Akil built community partnerships before leading equity initiatives at a national test preparation company, then serving as Senior Director of Advocacy at FairTest, shaping higher education testing policies.
Currently, as Director of College Advising and FAFSA Completion Implementation for SUNY, Akil leads partnerships with New York City Public Schools to strengthen college support and improve FAFSA completion statewide.
Akil contributes to national media and was featured in Netflix's Operation Varsity Blues. He attended University of the Virgin Islands before graduating from Pratt Institute. As a father with sons in college and high school, he has completed the FAFSA five times since 2024.
ANNE DANIEL
Senior Director, YPIE Yonkers
Yonkers Partners in Education
Anne Daniel joined YPIE in 2015 and is Senior Director, YPIE Yonkers. Anne has successfully ushered hundreds of first-generation students through the college admissions process and worked to develop relationships with selective colleges.
Anne has a long history of working with and advocating for students. For several years, Anne provided drug and alcohol prevention education to students, parents, and educators for Caron Treatment Centers throughout New York area schools. Anne was elected to the Community Education Council of District 2 in New York City (CECD2) and served as Treasurer from 2007-2009. In her former life, Anne made documentaries for National Geographic and Discovery.
Anne graduated with a B.A. in History from Emory University and earned her Master's in Counseling from Mercy College. She loves reading, traveling, and is a tennis fanatic.
PIPER LIGHT
Outreach Manager
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation
As the Outreach Manager at the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), Piper Light is dedicated to supporting higher education opportunities for New Yorkers. Since joining HESC in 2024, Piper has played a pivotal role in expanding partnerships with state agencies and community-based organizations, ensuring students, families, and communities have access to grants, scholarships, and essential services for success.
With a strong track record of fostering impactful collaborations, Piper has also contributed to outreach efforts for NY State of Health, further demonstrating her commitment to community engagement and resource accessibility.
Piper holds a B.A. in Communications from the University at Albany. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and cherishing time with her husband and two children.
Moderator
KYLE BELOKOPITSKY
Executive Director
New York State Parent Teacher Association
Kyle McCauley Belokopitsky, Esq., is a dedicated community volunteer, a mom, attorney, and child advocate, serving as Executive Director of the NYS Parent Teacher Association. She has committed her life to supporting children and families and is extremely proud of her work in family engagement, supporting students with disabilities, and diversity and inclusion.
She specializes in education policy after years of working in both the NYS Senate and Assembly and previously represented NYS United Teachers, the NYS Council of School Superintendents, and the NYS Catholic Conference. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Federal Courts and has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses at three institutions of higher education.
A firefighter and 9/11 responder, Kyle supports fellow responders while continuing her leadership roles and extensive volunteer work in her community.
ANAEL ALSTON
Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Access, Equity and Community Engagement
New York State Education Department
Born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Dr. Anael Alston—affectionately known as Dr. A—is a nationally recognized education leader and the current Assistant Commissioner at the New York State Education Department. He oversees nearly $200 million in programs aimed at ensuring access, equity, and opportunity for students from Pre-K to graduate school—including leadership of New York State's groundbreaking My Brother’s Keeper initiative.
A former Golden Gloves boxing champion turned educator, as a superintendent Dr. A has led his district to a 100% graduation rate and received state and national awards for educational excellence and turnaround leadership. His work has taken him from the principal’s office to the main stage of the Obama Foundation’s Democracy Forum, where he champions what’s possible when young people are seen, supported, and believed in.
EVALYN GLEASON
Senior Program Manager
TeachNY
Evalyn Gleason is a statewide education and workforce development leader committed to diversifying the teacher workforce, strengthening educator pathways, and building sustainable community partnerships. She currently serves as Senior Program Manager for TeachNY, where she leads strategic recruitment initiatives that expand access to teacher preparation programs across New York State, with a particular focus on supporting candidates from historically underrepresented communities. Evalyn’s work centers on creating equitable, data-informed pathways into the teaching profession through collaboration with higher education institutions, school districts, and community-based organizations. She brings a strong background in philanthropy, community engagement, and strategic consulting, and holds an MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology. Across her work, Evalyn is driven by a belief that strong communities and inclusive systems are essential to developing a resilient, representative educator workforce.
PATRICK DOYLE
Executive Director
Capital Area Boys & Girls Clubs
Patrick Doyle is the Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area and a former Club kid who leads with passion and purpose. With over 25 years in the Boys & Girls Club Movement, his work focuses on leveraging community-based organizations and local businesses to help youth, especially teens, reach their full potential and ensure that no young person is left behind. A strong believer in the power of mentors, Patrick also volunteers as a middle school basketball coach and a Boy Scout leader, guiding young people both on and off the court.
Moderator
LUCY R. MCINTYRE
Deputy Director and Compliance Officer
City University of New York
Lucy McIntyre is the Deputy Director and Compliance Officer for Student Financial Assistance at The City University of New York, which assists the University’s 26 financial aid offices with the awarding and disbursement of over $1.4 billion in financial aid annually. As a first-generation college student who benefited from TAP, Lucy earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. Francis College and a Master of Public Administration degree from John Jay College. She has worked in student financial aid for over 29 years and has served on many university, state, and national committees for student aid funding, She has spent countless days in Washington, D.C., and Albany lobbying for federal and state funding for CUNY, TAP gap funding restoration and student support for higher education.
JESSICA ARKIN
Postsecondary/School Counselor
New York City Department of Education
Jessica Arkin is a senior education leader with more than 30 years of experience across elementary, middle, and high school settings, advancing college access, postsecondary readiness, and educational equity within public education, nonprofit, and higher education systems. Her background includes direct service at the high school level in school counseling and post-secondary advising, as well as earlier experience as an elementary and middle school educator. She holds graduate degrees in school counseling and literacy education, and advanced training in nonprofit management. Throughout her career, she has led large-scale college and career readiness initiatives, trained school leadership teams and educators, and developed strategic partnerships with institutions of higher education, community-based organizations, and public–private stakeholders. She has overseen comprehensive postsecondary planning programs, guided students and families through admissions and financial aid processes and contributed to the successful attainment of significant scholarship and grant funding for historically underrepresented students. In addition, she has held senior leadership roles in nonprofit and educational organizations focused on STEM pathways, workforce development, and K–16 alignment and has helped design school-to-career and experiential learning initiatives. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to governance, strategic planning, and mission-driven leadership in support of student success and organizational impact.
KRISTEN HARRIS
Executive Director
New York City Department of Education
Kristen Harris is a committed advocate and systems-level leader working to improve College and Career access and success for NYC Public School students. She serves as the Executive Director for College and Career Planning in the NYCPS Office of Student Pathways, where she guides citywide efforts to enhance pathways advising, influence academic policy, and build strategic partnerships to ensure students graduate with personalized plans tailored for their future after high school.
With over twenty years of experience, Kristen has worked in community-based organizations, district schools, and charter networks, gaining a deep understanding of diverse student needs. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling and has held leadership roles with CACNY, NYSACAC, and the Johns Hopkins University Access Advisory Board.
LAUREN QUIGLEY
Post-Secondary Director
AECI Charter Schools
Lauren Quigley currently serves as the Director of Post-Secondary Readiness for the AECI Charter Schools Network, a small charter network in the South Bronx. Her work includes designing comprehensive post-secondary programs, collaborating with school counselors, building partnerships with higher education institutions, and creating initiatives to support students and families during the college and career planning process. With nearly 20 years of experience working in schools across Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, Lauren has dedicated her career to guiding students and families as they navigate complex post-secondary systems with confidence and clarity. She is an active member of the college access community through professional organizations including NACAC and CACNY, and currently serves NYSACAC as a Coming Together Committee Co-Chair. In this capacity, she helps create and sustain spaces where professionals from colleges, high schools, and community-based organizations engage in critical dialogue to advance equity, access, and student success in secondary and post-secondary education.
Proving College Still Matters in a Changing Landscape
STANLEY S. LITOW
Professor
Columbia University
Stanley S. Litow is a professor at Columbia University. Prior to his Columbia professorship, he served as professor of the practice and Innovator-in-Residence at Duke University. Stan is the author of The Challenge for Business and Society: From Risk to Reward (2018) and co-author of Breaking Barriers: How P-Tech Schools Create a Pathway from High School to College to Career (2021). He authored book chapters for Yale Law Review, MIT, and Oxford Press and as columnist for Barron’s.
He previously served as President of the IBM International Foundation and as Deputy Chancellor of Schools for the City of New York. Before his IBM service and the NYC public schools, he served as president and founder of Interface and in the NYC Mayor’s Office as Executive Director of the NYC Urban Corps.
In addition to serving on multiple presidential and gubernatorial commissions, he was appointed to the SUNY Board of Trustees in June 2015 and reappointed in June 2021 for a consecutive term ending June 30, 2028; he also serves on the board of Roosevelt House, The Albert Shanker Institute, and as chair of the Council of Graduate Schools’ Employer Roundtable.
Stan helped devise P-TECH, the innovative school to college to career program, as well as the IBM Corporate Service Corps, often referenced as the corporate version of the Peace Corps.
He has received multiple awards for his community service from organizations such as the Anne Frank Commission, the Martin Luther King Commission, and the Center for an Urban Future as well as the Corning Award from the New York State Business Council.