REGISTER

PANELISTS

Richard J. Pappas
President of Davenport University

Richard J. Pappas, Ed.D., is one of the longest serving university presidents in Michigan. He has led Davenport University, which is the largest private university in the state, since August 2009. During his tenure, the university implemented quality measures, elevating its academic programming, student support and financial strength. The graduation rate has increased 200% since he arrived. Student retention and philanthropic support are at all-time highs. This focus on outcomes earned Davenport the Michigan Performance Excellence Award, which recognizes performance based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence.

Maricel Lawrence
Innovation Catalyst at Purdue Global

As the innovation catalyst at Purdue Global, Maricel Lawrence drives strategies that shape the future of education and work, developing innovative solutions for evolving learner and industry needs. At Purdue University in Indiana, she helped to launch online programs, later leading UMOnline at the University of Montana to expand distance education. She is also founder of Purdue Global’s strategic foresight team. Dr. Lawrence has a degree in Spanish from Indiana University, a master’s in adult education and training from Colorado State University and a doctorate in leadership and innovation from Arizona State University.

Roger W. Davis
President of the Community College of Beaver County

Dr. Roger W. Davis is the ninth president of the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) and first African American president. Under his leadership, Dr. Davis has strengthened the college’s culture and elevated its status as one of the region’s most respected community colleges and championed the success of all students. Notably, he led a new strategic plan that transformed the college through assessment, retention and diversity; launched Cengage digital textbooks across 90% of courses and is now a member of their Customer Advisory Network. He led the college community through the successful reaffirmation of its Middle States accreditation, meeting all standards for the first time in 40 years and guided the CCBC Foundation to the completion of its first $25 million capital campaign. He was also instrumental in shaping the region’s $67 million Build Back Better Challenge Grant and ensuring CCBC received $1.7 million to uphold Pillar 3 Upskilling: Expanded Pathways to New Economy Careers. Previously, Dr. Davis served as CCBC’s executive vice president and provost, and before arriving in Beaver County, held roles of increasing responsibility at Rockland Community College, Bauder College, University of Maryland Global Campus and Morgan State University. He remains active in the classroom as collegiate adjunct associate professor of statistics at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Dr. Davis earned a doctoral degree in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University, a Master of Science degree in adult education with honors from Coppin State College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In 2021, he published the book, The 30 Most Powerful Words in the English Language.

Colleen Flaherty
Senior Editor of Special Content at Inside Higher Ed

Colleen Flaherty, senior editor of special content, previously served as Student Voice editor for Inside Higher Ed. Prior to joining the publication in 2012, Colleen was military editor at the Killeen Daily Herald, outside Fort Hood, Texas. Before that, she covered government and land use issues for the Greenwich Time and Hersam Acorn Newspapers in her home state of Connecticut. After graduating from McGill University in Montreal with a degree in English literature, Colleen taught English and English as a second language in public schools in the Bronx, New York. She earned her M.S.Ed. from City University of New York Lehman College as part of the New York City Teaching Fellows program.

Sara Custer
Editor-in-Chief at Inside Higher Ed

Sara Custer became Inside Higher Ed's editor-in-chief in March 2024. Before joining Inside Higher Ed, she was editor of Times Higher Education's (THE) Campus, a collection of daily resources designed for higher education faculty and staff members to learn, share and connect with colleagues at universities and colleges worldwide. Prior to that, she shaped THE’s online presence as its digital editor, helping to launch THE’s newsletter strategy and overseeing daily, weekly and monthly publications. From 2012 to 2017, she served as editor and senior reporter at The PIE News, covering the international education industry. Sara grew up in Cushing, Okla., and earned a B.A. in English literature from Loyola University Chicago and an M.A. in international journalism from City, University of London.

O. John Maduko
Interim Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system

O. John Maduko, M.D., was appointed interim chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education on June 26, 2025. As interim chancellor, Dr. Maduko will provide strategic leadership for the CSCU system, which includes: Central Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, Western Connecticut State University, Charter Oak State College and Connecticut State Community College (CT State). He served as the inaugural president of CT State, where he led the largest community college in New England. Previously, Dr. Maduko was the vice president for academic and student affairs at Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State). Dr. Maduko earned his M.D. in allopathic medicine from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine and a bachelor’s degree in biology from California State Polytechnic University Pomona.