Keynote Speakers
 DR. MICHAEL J. OFFERMAN
The For-Profits: Bad Actors or Models for the Future
Dr. Offerman will discuss his move to a for-profit university after twenty years in state universities as well as his take on recent criticisms of for-profit institutions, the public policy environment, and the future of for-profit higher education. He will compare and contrast the not-for-profit and for-profit institutions and suggest lessons that might be learned from the work of the for-profits. He will address what he sees as existing assumptions and biases about both for-profit and not-for-profit higher education in what is intended to be a provocative presentation and discussion.
Michael J. Offerman served as President of Capella University from 2001 through 2007. During his presidency, Capella University grew from 2,000 students to 22,000 students and developed its award winning learning outcomes assessment model. He has returned to that role, as Interim President, beginning March 26, 2010.
From 2008 until March 2010, he was Vice Chairman of Capella Education Company. In that role he worked on external university initiatives, including government affairs, regulatory affairs, investor relations, and public relations. He has led a national consumer information and accountability effort for colleges and universities serving adult students at a distance known as Transparency by Design that publishes the website College Choices for Adults.
 DR. BILLY K. CANNADAY, JR.
Stepping up to Opportunities: Building the Case for Action!
Despite the poor economy, higher education faces many opportunities. To be successful one must decide on a course of action, pursue it, and perfect it. The times are right if we are not afraid to act. Careful planning is needed along with vision and leadership. Success is possible even in this economy if we act wisely and decisively. Calling on his experiences at UVA, Dean Cannady will build the case for action in challenging ACHE member to step up and to take advantage of the opportunities around them.
Billy K. Cannaday, Jr., joined the University of Virginia on October 1, 2008, as Dean of the
School of Continuing & Professional Studies. As Dean, Dr. Cannaday leads one of the
University’s 11 schools, with the mission of providing undergraduate and graduate degrees,
professional development certification, personal enrichment courses and travel programs, serving
the surrounding communities and more than 15,000 adult students annually at seven regional
academic centers around the commonwealth, in Richmond, Roanoke, Abingdon, Falls Church,
Hampton Roads, Charlottesville and at the FBI National Academy in Quantico.
Over the past thirty-four years, Dr. Cannaday’s career has demonstrated a commitment to
education and public service. He currently serves on the Virginia Board of Education. Prior to
joining the University, Dr. Cannaday was appointed to a four-year term as Virginia’s
Superintendent of Public Instruction by Governor Timothy Kaine. He has worked in elementary,
middle, and high school levels and also held administrative posts at school and division levels in
urban and suburban communities. He received his doctorate in Educational Administration from
Virginia Tech in 1990. His knowledge and understanding of local, state, and national policies and
practices provide relevant perspectives on the school-student-home-community relationships.
 DR. RITA MARTINEZ-PURSON, Ed.D.
Leadership for the New Normal
Continuing Education leaders are challenged by ever-changing scenarios in the marketplace, economy, education and society as a whole. More than ever, we need to focus the majority of our time on the most promising priorities. In this “new normal,” what defines excellence in leadership? What data and new modes of communication should we utilize? How can we best organize and inspire successful ventures? This thought-provoking session may take us into a different way of thinking about the future, which is arguably here now.
Dr. Rita Martinez-Purson, has been a Dean of Continuing Education for 25 years, the last seven at the University of New Mexico. During 2007-08 she also served as Interim Vice President for Diversity at UNM, shaping a unified organizational unit for diversity efforts, and developing UNM’s first university-wide Diversity Plan.
Prior to her position at UNM, she was the Human Resources Group Leader at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she led HR and organizational development efforts for the lab’s largest directorate. During 1997-98, she was Interim President of Santa Fe Community College. She served as Dean of Continuing Education there for 18 years.
She began her current position as Dean of Continuing Education and Community Services at UNM in 2003, just after the university split out its credit and non-credit units of continuing education. Her leadership has focused on significant reengineering and organizational development, centered on best practices in non-credit continuing education.
She has been honored as Alumnus of the Year for the UNM School of Public Administration, Business Woman of the Year for the City of Santa Fe, and is a W.K.Kellogg Fellow. Her doctorate is in Educational Administration and Supervision.
|
