Keynote Speakers

Professor Te Kawehau Hoskins is an academic and the current Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland. With deep roots in Tai Tokerau Northland, she affiliates with Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Wai and Ngāpuhi iwi.  As Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori, Professor Hoskins plays a pivotal role in shaping the University’s engagement with Māori. Working with indigenous Māori thinking and practices  Te Kawehau is responsible for developing a positive Māori profile and outcomes within the institution, working with university leadership across all portfolios, and maintaining crucial relationships with Māori communities and student groups.  Professor Hoskins is a leading voice in the field of Māori and indigenous education. Her research is primarily focused on indigenous philosophy and the politics and ethics of Indigenous-settler relations in education and beyond. She is currently leading conversations about indigenising the academy.

Dr Lucy Mercer-Mapstone, Director of Collective Voices Consulting, is an internationally renowned engagement expert. Lucy specialises in designing engagements which centre equity, diversity, and inclusion. Their passion is for creating spaces where everyone can feel safe, included, and celebrated by supporting people and organisations to develop the skills for true inclusion. Lucy brings a cross-sector perspective having worked and engaged across higher education, community, not-for-profit, corporate, and government sectors. They have an outstanding reputation in research, teaching, facilitation, and advocacy which drives social, cultural, organisational, and legislative reform for a more inclusive society. As a proud queer, neurodivergent, and disabled non-binary person, Lucy integrates their own first-hand navigation of systems of privilege and oppression into engagements, making them authentic, inclusive, and accessible. Lucy’s expertise has been internationally recognised with over 100 national and international facilitation, panel, and keynote invitations across Australia, England, Scotland, Norway, the U.S., and Canada and through the awarding of three fellowships and multiple national grants, higher education awards, and scholarships.

Dr. Terrell Lamont Strayhorn is one of the most prolific and influential scholars in the fields of education, psychology, and the academic study of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Named of the country’s “Top Diversity Scholars” by Diverse Issues in Higher Education and a remarkable “Bridge-Builder” between academic- and student affairs by one of ACPA’s commissions, Strayhorn has authored 14 books, including the award-winning College Students’ Sense of Belonging (2nd ed, 2019), and over 200+peer-reviewed journal articles and academic publications. His research has been cited, endorsed, or financially supported by over $10 million from the most premiere agencies in the world including Lumina Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, National Science Foundation, to name a few. One of his core passions is translating research-to-practice in ways that improve the material conditions and lived experiences of our most vulnerable populations. He accomplishes this mission largely through the more than 2000+ public talks, distinguished lectures, and keynotes he has delivered across the globe.

A respected thought-leader and highly-sought speaker, Strayhorn’s ground-breaking research has been cited in many outlets including The Washington Post, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Huffington Post, Essence, and Diverse Issues, to name a few. He is President and CEO of Do Good Work Consulting Group™, a minority-owned business that partners with hundreds of colleges, universities, corporations, and agencies each year to enhance culture, build inclusive environments, and boost belonging in ways that raise morale, increase retention, improve people’s journey, and help organizations hit their bottom line. He’s co-host of “Do Good Work” podcast on Spotify ®and Contributing Writer for Entrepreneur, Thrive Global, All Business, and Psychology Today, where he leads the “Belonging Matters” blog.

Strayhorn is Professor of Education and Psychology; Director of Research in the Center for the Study of HBCUs, and Principal Investigator of The Belonging Lab at Virginia Union University, where he also serves as Associate Provost for Faculty Development. He is Diversity Scholar-in-Residence at Harrisburg Area Community College, Fellow of AGB’s Institute for Leadership & Governance, and board member for several non-profits including Rainbow Labs, MEN Inc. Houston, Oregon Outreach Inc., Career Analysis Organization of America, Vice President for Psychologists of Color Inc., and the MCT Educational Foundation. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.

From Foundations to Futures: Practical Strategies for the Next Era of Student Success

Dr. Jared Tippets serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Southern Utah University (SUU) and is a nationally recognized leader in American higher education. With a career spanning both the private sector and academia, Dr. Tippets brings deep expertise in student retention, completion, and success, as well as in leading large-scale organizational change efforts across both academic and student affairs divisions. Prior to his role at SUU, he held leadership positions at Purdue University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Utah Valley University.  Dr. Tippets earned a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Utah State University, a masters degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Leadership from the University of Kentucky. His research and professional interests focus on student success, leadership development, organizational change strategies, and the evolving needs of Generation Z.  His work has been highlighted in the Chronicle of Higher Education, New York Times, and USA Today.  He is a Co-Founder of TK Consulting, the co-author of three volumes of the ASCEND to Higher Retention Rates book series, and is a co-host of the internationally recognized ASCEND podcast.  As a seasoned consultant, trainer, and keynote speaker, Dr. Tippets is passionate about helping institutions innovate and thrive in an ever-changing educational landscape.