2024 South Conference

Keynote and Panel Discussion: Blue Sky Tennessee Institute 

Presenters: Dr. Mathew Desjardins and Dr. Brian Bennett, East Tennessee State University 

The BlueSky Tennessee Institute is a groundbreaking partnership between BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University.  Students can earn a degree and secure a career at the same time with this partnership. In just over two years, students earn a Bachelor of Science in Computing from East Tennessee State University and earn a job offer from BlueCross.

Dr. Amy Johnson

Influencer Leadership ABCs - Authenticity, Belonging, Courage

As higher education professionals we are often asked to take responsibility for leading teams of individuals over whom we have very little authority. These challenges require us to lean on our influencer skills. During this session, participants will work through a complex case study and take on the challenge of leading without authority. During the session we will discuss the tools and skills needed to execute change within a complex system. We will discuss the importance of bringing your authentic self to this kind of leadership challenge; the importance of building a culture of belonging within the team, and being brave in the face of resistance, obstacles, and resource constraints.

Dr. Amy Denise Johnson grew up along the New River in Southwest Virginia. She has more than 20 years of experience in continuing higher education, adult degree programming, teaching and faculty development. As Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs in the Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University, her work is devoted to improving the quality of life and work for all faculty within the college. Her primary duties include faculty development, managing faculty evaluation sessions, and leadership development. Historically, her scholarship has focused on the science of student learning, success factors for adult and non-traditional students, and, more recently, on interprofessional education and training. She has a long history of service to the International Association for Continuing Higher Education, having served as in many roles including President of the Association. She is a first-generation college student who earned her B.A. from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and a M.A. and Ed.D. from East Tennessee State University. As a person, Amy also values spending time with her son and husband. She enjoys a good campfire that is surrounded by good conversation, a few guitars, and lots of singing voices. She is a big fan of Americana and Folk music, low brow novels, and true crime podcasts. 

Dr. Elkins and Kennnedy and Co.

Everybody’s at the Table, and Everybody’s Winning:  USC Palmetto College Partnerships for Success!

Successful partnerships, both internally and externally, are critical in today’s competitive higher education landscape.  With the enrollment cliff looming, constant competition for scarce resources, and the questioning of the value of higher education, institutions must find ways to grow enrollment, generate revenue, and prove the value of a degree to students and the communities we serve.  This session will share the story of a decade of success of the University of South Carolina System’s innovative approach of the creation of USC Palmetto College that is built on internal partnerships involving each of the eight institutions that comprise the USC System, coupled with numerous external partnerships across the Palmetto State.  Additionally, the audience will be engaged as participants examine their own partnerships, both successful and unsuccessful, to share with the audience and discuss the ingredients for successful partnerships that result in “everybody’s at the table, and everybody’s winning!”

Benjamin Kennedy, Managing Partner

Ben Kennedy is the Managing Partner and Founder of Kennedy & Company, a national higher-education focused consulting firm with headquarters in Washington DC. Prior to founding the firm, Ben served as a member of the Duke University Board of Trustees, a Strategic Advisor to the Chief Financial Officer at the University of South Carolina, a consultant with Bain & Company, and as the former director of Huron Education’s enrollment services division.

In all, Ben has worked with more than 100 colleges and universities on issues ranging from online strategy, student retention, strategic planning, enrollment management, and university budgeting and planning. He is a regular speaker at higher education conferences and symposiums like NACUBO, ACE, UPCEA, and (of course!) ACHE on issues regarding tuition discounting, student success, and online education strategy.

A two-time graduate of Duke University with degrees in Public Policy and Business, Ben lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with his wife and three children and enjoys soccer, running, cycling, and travel. 

Dr. Susan Elkins

Dr. Susan Elkins was named Chancellor of the University of South Carolina Palmetto College in February 2013. The Chancellor serves as the chief administrative officer of Palmetto College, which includes UofSC’s four associate degree-granting regional campuses – USC Lancaster, USC Salkehatchie, USC Sumter, and USC Union, along with online bachelor’s degree completion programs offered by the four senior institutions of the University of South Carolina System – USC Aiken, USC Beaufort, USC Columbia, and USC Upstate.  Dr. Elkins holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education from Tennessee Technological University (TTU) and completed her doctoral work in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration at Vanderbilt University. Since the establishment of Palmetto College in 2013, enrollment at the regional Palmetto College campuses has grown by 21% topping 5,000 for the first time in 2019 with continuing growth since that time.  The online bachelor’s degree completion programs launched in 2013 have served over 5,000 students with nearly half of those already earning a bachelor’s degree by 2021.