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PANELISTS

Fatma Mili
Interim Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Montclair State University

Fatma Mili, Ph.D. is the interim dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State University, N.J. (starting July 1st). She obtained her Ph.D. in computer science from the University Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France, and spent her career in academia. Her disciplinary research was in the theoretical foundations of computing, AI and human decision making, and bio-inspired computing and complex systems. She started her career at Oakland University and moved to Purdue University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Grand Valley State University, where she took on leadership roles of increasing scope. She served as department chair, associate dean, center director, dean and provost. The impetus of her work has been the leadership role and responsibility of higher education: leadership rooted in science and facts, driven by humanity and compassion, and focused on positive, transformational, sustained results for individuals and communities, and for current and future generations.

Robert Gray Atkins
Founder and CEO, Gray Decision Intelligence

Bob founded Gray Decision Intelligence (Gray DI) and led the development of Gray DI’s program evaluation system (PES). He works with presidents, CAOs, provosts, CFOs and CMOs on institutional growth, program portfolio strategy, program evaluation, pricing and location selection. Since founding Gray Decision Intelligence, Bob has worked with institutions across all higher education sectors, including the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, the University of Cincinnati, Augustana University, Bay Path University, Bay Community College and Universal Technical Institute. He led the design of PES Markets, PES Economics and Outcomes and Gray DI’s program strategy workshops. Before founding Gray Decision Intelligence, Bob worked with corporate clients such as AT&T, American Express, HP and IBM to develop growth strategies, enter new markets and build their channel organizations. Bob is a published author whose articles have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Sales and Marketing Management and other publications worldwide. He is the author of the book, Start, Stop, or Grow? A Data-Informed Approach to Academic Program Evaluation and Management. You can listen to his podcast, Grow Grow Grow, where he interviews higher education leaders about growth strategies at their institutions, as well as our Monthly Demand Trends webinars and annual Master Class Series. Bob received an MBA, with honors, from Harvard Business School and a B.A., magna cum laude, from Harvard College.

Michael Voss
Dean of Instruction, Mesa Community College

Michael Voss, M.A.Ed., is the dean of instruction at Mesa Community College (MCC), overseeing the applied sciences & technology, business and CIS programs. An experienced and innovative leader, Michael is known for being both a systems thinker and an active doer. He has led projects at MCC that have been recognized for the League for Innovation in the Community College’s Innovation of the Year award three times: 2024 for Accelerating Student Completion through Proactive Graduation, 2018 for the Apple Everyone Can Code Project and 2017 for CTE Innovation and Excellence. Before joining MCC, Michael served as associate dean of health, wellness and public safety programs at Central New Mexico Community College (CNMCC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He brings extensive experience in accelerating pathways to completion through high-impact practices, including prior learning assessment (PLA) credit, proactive graduation initiatives, and technology-supported strategic scheduling and student retention. Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife and their two children, drinking tea, making breakfast and traveling.

Adam Pryor
Senior Advisor, AI Strategy and Engagement, Council of Independent Colleges

Adam Pryor is a senior advisor at the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), where he serves as the AI Ready Program senior advisor. The AI Ready Program offered over 25,000 hours of professional development to 5,000 people at 100+ CIC member schools during the 2024-2025 academic year. Focused on application of generative AI technologies, the program strives to foster learning, share resources and increase effective adoption related to AI in small liberal arts college settings. Prior to his role with the CIC, Adam worked at Bethany College, for over 10 years, beginning as an assistant professor of religious studies and working through roles in academic advising and success, student affairs and academic affairs before concluding his time as provost and professor of religious studies.