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PANELISTS

Aaron Ray
Director of Opportunity Programs, Hamilton College

Aaron Ray is an equity-driven higher education leader committed to building access, fostering community, and creating success pathways for underrepresented and first-generation college students. He currently serves as the director of opportunity programs at Hamilton College, where he develops and leads inclusive initiatives, mentors students with intention, and works to transform institutional systems to better support student success. He also serves as president of the Higher Education Opportunity Program Professional Organization (HEOPPO), leading statewide efforts to strengthen professional development, share best practices, and elevate the collective impact of opportunity programs across New York. Aaron is the co-host of Opportunity on the Mic, a podcast that amplifies student voices, builds community, and highlights the transformative power of education.

Renaldo Alba
President of the APACS and Co-Director of CSTEP/STEP Programs, Fordham University

As president of the Association for Program Administrators of CSTEP and STEP, Inc. (APACS), Dr. Alba represents the directors and staff of the 118 CSTEP and STEP projects across New York State. Together, these programs serve over 25,000 secondary, postsecondary, undergraduate, graduate and professional school students. Their shared mission is to increase the number of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students entering STEM, health and licensed professions. Since their inception-STEP in 1986 and CSTEP in 1987-the programs have impacted over 450,000 students. Dr. Alba is also the co-director of Fordham University's CSTEP and STEP programs, based at the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses. With over two decades of experience designing and leading educational intervention programs and services, his work is rooted in the belief that partnership, trust and confidence are foundational to transformative educational outcomes.

Cheryl Hamilton
Associate Vice Chancellor for University Life and Opportunity Programs and the Student Advocate, SUNY System Administration

Cheryl Hamilton is the associate vice chancellor for University Life and Opportunity programs and the student advocate for SUNY System Administration. Her portfolio includes EOP, Foster Youth, GEARUP, Student Affairs and a wide range of student-centered initiatives. Prior to joining System Administration, Cheryl was assistant provost and director of the Educational Opportunity Program/Advancement on Individual Merit (EOP/AIM) at Stony Brook University. There she also served as founding co-director of the University’s Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools Program and directed the College Academy of the Counseling and Treating People of Color Conference. Cheryl is a member of several professional organizations and serves on the board of directors of the Tri-State Consortium of Opportunity Programs.

Joe Testani
Deputy to the President, University of Rochester

Joe currently serves as the deputy to the president at the University of Rochester, where he leads and coordinates university-wide strategic projects that address institutional priorities and planning, including the recently launched university strategic plan - Boundless Possibility. Prior to this role, he served as associate vice provost for career education initiatives and the executive director for the Greene Center for Career Education at the University of Rochester. With over 20 years of career education, student engagement and change management experience in diverse institutional settings, Joe has been recognized for his leadership and strategic planning at the departmental, institutional and national level. He led the re-envisioning effort at the University of Rochester to create a career ecosystem spanning six schools and 12,000 students to prepare students for the future of work.

Kim Canning
Vice President, University Partnerships, Kaplan

With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Kim Canning is passionate about enhancing student success and access to education. In her current role as the vice president of university partnerships at Kaplan, Kim leads a dynamic team focused on collaborating with colleges and universities to enhance academic support resources at an institutional level. Kim’s leadership in spearheading Kaplan’s All Access License initiative has garnered several ed-tech industry awards.

Brittany Wampler
Director, All Access License, Kaplan

Brittany Wampler is an innovative leader in higher education, with a career devoted to expanding access and career readiness for students nationwide. Currently, as the director of All Access at Kaplan, she champions solutions that bridge academic preparation with real-world skills, supporting institutions across the U.S. in fostering comprehensive student success. Brittany’s 18 years in public higher education at institutions such as Kent State, Miami University, The University of Akron and Cleveland State University have been marked by a steadfast commitment to student-centered strategies.