Organizers & Presenters

Alex Fronduto, DHS

Founder & CEO, Higher Education Networking Collective (HENC)

Associate Teaching Professor, Graduate School of Education — Northeastern University

Dr. Fronduto is the Founder and CEO of the Higher Education Networking Collective (HENC), and an Associate Teaching Professor within the Graduate School of Education in the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Premedical and Health Studies (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences), a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration (Northeastern University), and a Doctorate in Health Sciences (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences).

His work experience includes ten years in enrollment management at a private four-year university, and he currently teaches courses such as Foundations of Higher Education, The New Supervisor, and Strategic Enrollment Management. Dr. Fronduto is a member of and has presented at conferences for NEACAC, NACAC, and AACRAO, and is the current podcast host for AACRAO’s Admit It Podcast.

Taryn Tessari, M.Ed.

Director of Faculty Affairs, Khoury College of Computer Sciences — Northeastern University

Taryn Tessari (she/her) manages a small team of faculty affairs professionals at Northeastern University, where she has worked for the past eight years. She earned her BA in History from Framingham State University and her M.Ed. in Higher Education from Northeastern University. Her work focuses on supporting faculty through hiring, tenure and promotion, and merit processes, and she has expertise in creating and supporting faculty mentoring programs. Taryn is a member of the Faculty Affairs Northeast Network and is currently pursuing a coaching certificate from the International Coaching Federation with a specialization in faculty affairs.

Jon Ahern, M.S.

Associate Director of Graduate Programs, Woods College of Advancing Studies — Boston College

With over 12 years of experience in higher education, Jon oversees academic program implementation, develops faculty and student programming, and supports graduate student advising at Boston College. Before joining BC, Jon worked as an Associate Director of MS Programs at Suffolk University and as Assistant Director of Admissions at Emmanuel College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, Communication, Media, and Cultural Studies, as well as a Master of Science in Management, both from Emmanuel College.

Andrei Antonescu, M.S.

Assistant Director of Talent Management, Office of University Advancement — Boston College

Andrei Antonescu (he/him) supports the entire employee life cycle at Boston College, from full-cycle recruitment and onboarding to developing professional development programming for all staff, with a focus on fostering a supportive and inclusive culture. Andrei has degrees in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from Duquesne University and an M.S. in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Northeastern University, and is currently enrolled in the Human Resources Management certificate program at Boston College. He is passionate about creating inclusive workplaces where everyone feels supported, empowered, and connected to meaningful work.

Abdimalik Buul, Ed.D.

Principal Consultant & Managing Partner — Strategic Impact Partner

Session: Leading from Every Seat: Practical Leadership for Complex, Uncertain Environments

Dr. Buul is a seasoned executive, practitioner, and scholar with over a decade of experience driving institutional transformation in higher education. As co-founder of Strategic Impact Partner, he brings executive-level expertise in equity, innovation, and organizational strategy, informed by senior leadership experience spanning the full continuum of higher education—from community colleges to doctoral programs. An internationally recognized keynote speaker, curriculum expert, and founding theorist, Dr. Buul inspires audiences with a message rooted in empathy, courage, and transformational leadership while helping institutions build cultures of excellence, belonging, and lasting impact.

Alexander Patturelli, Ed.D.

Director of Admission and Enrollment Management — International School of Boston

Session: The Social-Emotional Leader: Building Trust and Collaboration

Alex has been Director of Admission and Enrollment Management at the International School of Boston for a little over a year, following nearly a decade in the Undergraduate Admission Office at Regis College. He holds a bachelor’s in Business Management from Stonehill College, a master’s in Strategic Communication from Regis College, and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University. His passions include college access initiatives for students and building relationships as a catalyst for students feeling a sense of belonging on campus.

Anthony Pellecchia, M.Ed., MBA

Senior Associate Director of Enrollment Systems — Regis College

Session: The Social-Emotional Leader: Building Trust and Collaboration

Anthony Pellecchia is an enrollment operations and admissions leader with more than a decade of experience in higher education. He currently leads CRM strategy, enrollment technology, process improvement, and data-driven initiatives at Regis College. Anthony holds both an M.Ed. in Higher Education and an MBA, combining expertise in student success with strategic organizational leadership. Outside of higher education, he is an award-winning stand-up comedian and podcast host.

Ebony Jeffries, MPA

Chief Operations Officer & Managing Partner — Strategic Impact Partner

Session: Leading from Every Seat: Practical Leadership for Complex, Uncertain Environments

Ebony Jeffries is a strategic thinker and skilled stakeholder convener with deep expertise in public administration, public policy, and institutional effectiveness. She has a track record of translating high-level systemwide vision into measurable, action-oriented strategies, operationalizing technical assistance, professional development, and stakeholder engagement at scale. An accomplished educator, she excels at building meaningful engagement across diverse stakeholders and is committed to ensuring every voice is heard.

Ella Epshteyn, Ed.D.

CEO — ATTECS, LLC

Session: The Influence Gap: Leading Change Without Formal Authority

Dr. Ella Epshteyn is the Founder and CEO of ATTECS, LLC, a Boston-based firm partnering with higher education institutions to design, implement, and sustain strategic initiatives that advance professional learning and institutional priorities. She holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration and is a certified change implementation practitioner and trainer, helping institutions align people, processes, and technology to improve implementation outcomes and support sustainable organizational change.

Kim Johnson, M.Ed.

Director, Student Accessibility Support (SAS) — Brandeis University

Session: Supporting Neuroinclusivity in the Workplace for Colleagues and Supervisees

Kim Johnson (she/her) currently serves as the Director of Student Accessibility Support at Brandeis University. Prior to Brandeis, she was the director of Lesley University’s LD/ADD Academic Support Program for degree-seeking neurodivergent students. As a higher education professional with 18 years’ experience, Kim utilizes metacognition in supporting individuals to become independent, self-regulated learners, and is a passionate advocate who prioritizes collaborative relationships with university partners for the full inclusion of students with disabilities.

Mary Ellen Normen

Empowerment Growth Strategist & Learning Experience Designer — E & S Development Group, LLC

Session: From Silos to Shared Purpose: Building Cross-Functional Collaboration in Higher Ed

Mary Ellen Normen is a practitioner, facilitator, and mentor/coach who works at the intersection of leadership, operations, and emerging technology. As a Growth and Learning Experience Designer, she helps organizations uncover where roles, processes, and systems are out of alignment—and what that misalignment is costing in time, dollars, risk, and talent. Using creative, human-centered tools to clarify roles, integrate AI, and improve systems thinking, Mary Ellen blends rigorous analysis with practical, hands-on experiences that help leaders and teams surface assumptions, strengthen communication, and commit to specific actions.

Max Quinn, M.Ed.

Director, Student Affairs — Tufts University

Session: Win the Workday: Building Resilience, Discipline, and Momentum

Max Quinn is a leadership educator, resilience & nutrition coach, and higher education professional with more than fifteen years of experience across residence life, student affairs, enrollment management, and student success. After transforming his own life through discipline, fitness, and mindset, he began developing practical frameworks centered on habit formation, accountability, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership. Max combines real-world higher education experience with actionable strategies participants can immediately apply in their professional and personal lives.

Megan Akatu, MBA

Founder — Megan Akatu Coaching & Culture

Session: Executive Presence and Courageous Conversations: Trusted Before You Speak

With a career anchored in higher education and nonprofit leadership, Megan Akatu is a master of relationship building, strategic problem-solving, and empowering others. Her deep understanding of complex and resource-constrained environments helps her navigate organizational dynamics and drive meaningful change. As a leadership coach, Megan develops compassionate leaders by fostering authenticity, confidence, and trust. She holds a BBA from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Georgetown University and is a certified Lightyear Leadership Coach.

Mimi Tam, Ph.D.

Computer Science Professor — Boston College

Session: Countering Cognitive Offloading: Reclaiming Human Intellectual Agency in an AI-Saturated Workspace

With 35+ years of industry experience focusing on Telecom/Wireless, Cybersecurity, and AI/ML, Dr. Tam worked for IBM, Motorola, Verizon Labs, and Ericsson as an engineering leader and research scientist, as well as in several startups including one of her own. She joined academia as a CS, AI/ML & Cybersecurity professor about four years ago, and is also a textbook author, published researcher, and prolific speaker at Tech Forums, Standards Bodies, and Conferences.

Raashi Bhatia, M.A.

Executive & Leadership Coach — The Bo-Tree

Session: The Leadership Listening Gap

Raashi Bhatia is an ICF-credentialed Executive and Leadership Coach, facilitator, and doctoral student in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her work explores leadership in conditions of uncertainty and complexity, reflective practices that support decision-making and professional growth, and the ways individuals and organizations make sense of challenging situations. She supports leaders and teams in developing greater clarity, awareness, and capacity for navigating complex environments.

Siria Martinez, Ph.D.

President — Strategic Impact Partner

Session: Leading from Every Seat: Practical Leadership for Complex, Uncertain Environments

Siria S. Martinez, Ph.D., is a higher education leader, researcher, and independent consultant with over two decades of experience leading from the inside. As co-founder of Strategic Impact Partner, she partners with institutions to build capacity, develop leaders, and design strategies that drive student success and lasting organizational change. She has served as a Dean of Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness, securing over $7 million in grant funding and directing a large-scale statewide institutional effectiveness initiative supporting more than 100 community colleges. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Claremont Graduate University and is a proud Aspen Institute Presidential Fellow.

Tes Zakrzewski, Ed.D.

Consultant/Trainer — ATTECS, LLC

Session: The Influence Gap: Leading Change Without Formal Authority

Dr. Tes Cotter Zakrzewski is a passionate practitioner, educator, and scholar dedicated to fostering inclusive environments that inspire professionals to systemically collaborate to effect positive changes. With over 37 years of experience in global financial services and higher education, she has led functions focused on teaching, learning, and organizational excellence. Tes holds an Ed.D. in Adult Education and Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, an M.S. in Training and Development from Lesley University, and a B.S. in Business from UMass Lowell.