Speakers

Quintin B. Bullock is President of Schenectady County Community College. With an extensive, diverse professional background in higher education, Dr. Bullock is the consummate professional, an experienced educator, an exemplary community leader, a mentor, and a positive role model for students and aspiring leaders. His professional career has advanced from an urban high school science teacher, a director for STEM enrichment programs, Executive Dean for an urban campus, Provost for a cutting-edge institution, and President of a responsive and innovative institution of higher learning.

Gerardo E. de los Santos is President and Chief Executive Officer of the League for Innovation in the Community College, an international organization dedicated to catalyzing the community college movement. de los Santos earned an A.A. degree from Mesa Community College in Arizona and transferred to the University of California at Berkeley where he earned a B.A. in Rhetoric. He earned his Master's in English from Arizona State University and received his Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was named Distinguished Graduate.

Kati Haycock is President of The Education Trust and one of the nation's leading advocates in the field of education. Before coming to The Education Trust, Haycock served as Executive Vice President of the Children's Defense Fund, the nation's largest child advocacy organization. The Trust was established in 1996, and works for the high academic achievement of all students at all levels, pre-kindergarten through college. The organization's goal is to close the gaps in opportunity and achievement that consign too many low-income students and students of color to lives on the margins of the American mainstream.

Anne M. Kress was appointed President of Monroe Community College in 2009. Her career spans more than 20 years as an administrator and educator in higher education. A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Kress earned a doctoral degree in higher education administration, master's and bachelor's degrees in English, and a bachelor's degree with honors in finance, all from the University of Florida. In 2011, Kress was named a member of the Regional Economic Development Council by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Estela R. López is Senior Program Advisor at Excelencia in Education, a non-profit organization committed to accelerating Latino student success. From 2002 to 2007, she served as the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Connecticut State University System. López earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish literature at Queens College, master's degree and a Ph.D. in Spanish literature from Columbia University. She is the former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northeastern Illinois University and Senior Associate at American Association for Higher Education.

Ann Marie Murray is President of Herkimer County Community College. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Mount Saint Mary College and several degrees from the University of Albany, including Master of Arts in Advanced Classroom Teaching, Master of Science in Instructional Technology, Certificate of Advanced Study in Education Theory and Practice, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction.

Eduardo Padrón is President of Miami Dade College, a national model of student achievement and the largest institution of higher education in America. Padrón earned his Ph.D. from the University of Florida. In 2009, Time magazine included him among the "10 Best College Presidents" in the U.S. In 2010, Florida Trend magazine named him "Floridian of the Year." During his career, he has been selected to serve on posts of national prominence by six American Presidents. Recently named Chairman of the White House Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans by President Obama.

Jack Quinn has been President of Erie Community College since 2008. He earned a bachelor's degree in English from Siena College, a master's degree in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a New York State school superintendent license from the State University of New York at Fredonia. He is co-chairman of the legislative committee for the New York Community College Association of Presidents. Quinn was invited by President Barack Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to participate in the White House Summit on Community Colleges in Washington, DC.

Nancy L. Zimpher is Chancellor of the State University of New York. SUNY is the nation's largest comprehensive system of higher education. Zimpher holds a bachelor's degree in English Education and Speech, a master's degree in English Literature, and a Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Higher Education Administration, all from The Ohio State University. Zimpher began her work at SUNY with a statewide tour of SUNY's 64 campuses, which became the first phase of a system-wide strategic planning process. This plan, The Power of SUNY, was launched in 2010, with the central goal of harnessing SUNY's potential to drive economic revitalization and create a better future for every community across New York.