Steven J. Handel, Executive Director, Higher Education Assessment Use, The College Board

Stephen J. Handel has over 30 years of experience in the higher education sector. He has recently been named the first Executive Director of Higher Education Assessment Use for the College Board – a not-for-profit organization created to expand access to higher education, with a membership of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions. In this capacity, he consults with college and university enrollment leaders in the development of fair and effective psychometric measures and other information that benefits students seeking access to higher education.

Prior to his position, Steve served as the Associate Vice President—Undergraduate Admissions for the University of California (UC) System, and as UC’s first Director of Community College Transfer Enrollment Planning, where he initiated strategic enrollment policies focusing on the needs of community college transfer students. Steve also earned his Ph.D. and M.A. degrees from the UC., after completing both an A.A. and B.A.

For nearly a decade, Steve also served as the Executive Director of the National Office of Community College Initiatives at The College Board. There he advocated for and conducted research with community colleges nationally and internationally, with a focus on advancing educational access and equity for all students.

Handel is the author of many books, monographs, and articles, including: the Transition and Transformation (with Eileen Strempel—University of North Georgia Press, 2016, 2018) and the Community College Counselor Sourcebook (College Board, 2009), Fairness and Fate in Elite College Admissions, Reigniting the Promise of the Transfer Pathway, and Second Chance, Not Second Class: A Blueprint for Community College Transfer.

Dwayne Matthews

Dwayne Matthews is a life and education strategist. He converges and shares knowledge on education, disruptive technology, practical psychology, and the evolution of work.

He has been a Venture Partner and the Canadian executive director of an intelligence firm focused on finding disruptive and future looking technologies for the Fortune 500.

Dwayne was also one of the pioneers of open innovation in Canada, a process that enabled companies to have wider distribution of R&D by accessing global expertise. He was an international educator at one of the top 5 private schools in South America and the junior chairperson at a Toronto District School Board school. He was also a member of the core strategic planning team at The FDR International School, in Lima, Peru where he worked to review trends in education that were driven by technological advancement and assisted in the customization and implementation of new curriculum.

Dwayne’s career path over almost two decades has afforded him an incredibly unique perspective on leadership qualities, psychological strategies and thinking frameworks used by highly successful and powerful people. His passion is speaking about how they can be simplified and leveraged in a rapidly evolving world.

S. Brenda Small, Vice President, Centre for Policy in Research in Indigenous Learning

S. Brenda Small, has led many access, liberal arts and Indigenous education initiatives for 24 years. Brenda has developed several certificate and diploma programs and degree studies in Indigenous Leadership and Community Development. An experienced speaker and facilitator, Brenda has worked with Indigenous community partners and the College’s Indigenous education leaders at Negahneewin Council to advance the interests of Indigenous learners. Brenda is the matriarch of her family in Moose Factory, Ontario and northern Minnesota. She belongs to the northern Cree Nation in Quebec and grew up in northern Ontario.

Dr. Joyce Helmer, Research Associate, Centre for Policy and Reserch in Indigenous Learning

Dr. Joyce Helmer is Anishinaabe with ancestral roots in Kitigan Zibi, Quebec. She has lived most of her life in Northern Ontario and has worked in Indigenous postsecondary education for over 40 years. She holds the rank of Associate Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and is the Chair of the Indigenous Admissions Committee.

Dan Longboat, Moderator; Director, Indigenous Environmental Program, Trent University

Dr. Dan Longboat “Roronhiake:wen…He Clears the Sky”, Turtle Clan of the Mohawk Nation, a Citizen of the Haudenosaunee; The Six Nations Confederacy from Ohswe:ken, at the Grand River Territory.

Dr. Longboat earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Native Studies, with an interest in Psychology from Trent University. He has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies from York University, and recently completed his Ph.D. in Environmental Studies through the Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University.

Dr. Longboat’s strong commitment to Indigenous communities is evident in his involvement as a Director for the Rotinonhson:ni Language Development Centre, Director of The Indigenous Nation’s Sanctioned Research Program for Graduate Studies, Consultant to The Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation on First Nations Solid Waste Management and as Project Evaluator for the Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment for the US Environmental Protection Agency. He is on the Advisory Board for the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario and the Science Advisory for the International Joint Commission for the Great Lakes Watershed.

As a life long learner, Dr. Longboat strongly encourages study with Elders and Traditional People. He recognizes the critical importance of language learning and support for culturally based programs. He encourages youth to participate in the Longhouse and in their Nation and Confederacy governments, to support and assist the Hereditary Leaders and Traditional Peoples in the Communities. He believes direct involvement and active participation through working together and using a “Good Mind”, to be a major part of our responsibilities as Haudenosaunee.

Dr. Longboat is currently Director of the Indigenous Environmental Studies Department at Trent University and a faculty member with First Nations Technical Institute “Indigenous Community Health Approaches” program.

Dr. Don McCaskill, Professor, Indigenous Studies, Trent University

Dr. Don McCaskill has been a Professor of in the Department of Indigenous at Trent University for 46 years. He has held many positions within the university including; being Chair of the department for 13 years, the Founding Director of the Indigenous Studies PhD program (the first such program in Canada), Director of the Native Management and Economic Development program and Director of the Thailand Year Abroad program. He has taught courses in Indigenous education, urbanization, community development, politics, research methods, justice and corrections, and international development. He has conducted extensive research on these topics and published numerous articles, reports and books. Books that he has edited include, Indian Education in Canada Volumes 1 and 2 and Development or Domestication: Indigenous Peoples in Southeast Asia. He was the Research Director for the Toronto Aboriginal Research Project and Urban Aboriginal Task Force (studies of six cities in Ontario). He has been a member of the First Circle for the ONCAT Pathways project for four years.

David Marasco, University Registrar, Algoma University

As a member of the AU community for the past 26 years, David Marasco has been University Registrar for the past ten years with extensive experience in partnerships including secondary schools, community colleges, universities and international institutions. He has championed many partnership efforts working collegially and collaboratively with the best interests of the student at the forefront. David has worked with credit transfer/pathways and curriculum assessment for almost 20 years. While serving on many Senate committees, David has gained valuable experience both administratively, strategically while incorporating the institution's mission to support the Anishinaabe language and culture. Other portfolios he is responsible for include the Student Success team which is responsible for strategies to support student retention and success, as well, he is the Director of Institutional Research.

Jeannette Miron, Registrar and Director, Strategic and Enrolment Services, Canadore College

Jeannette Miron has worked in the Ontario College and University system for over seventeen years. She has progressed through various roles in her career and is currently the Registrar and Director, Strategic Enrolment services at Canadore College in North Bay. Pathways and transfer credit fall within her portfolio. She has been an active participant in transfer and mobility initiatives at her institution and provincial working groups for the past seven years.

Emily Willson, Project Manager- Centre for Policy and Research in Indigenous Learning

Emily holds a MA degree from Trent University where she gained experience in conducting community-based, mixed-methods research in the context of Indigenous food security. She also completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (honours) in Applied Human Nutrition and the University of Guelph. Previously, she was a Teaching Assistant and a Resource Centre coordinator for the Indigenous Environmental Studies/Sciences program (Trent), which provided her with opportunities to learn about and gain experience in Indigenous education within postsecondary.