Keisha Bahr, Ph.D. (she/her), Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi

Keisha Bahr is an Assistant Professor of Marine Biology and a Chair for Coral Reef and Ocean Health at the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Her research investigates how corals and reefs respond to environmental changes, aiming to enhance ecosystem health and resilience. Over the past decade, she has experienced several coral bleaching events and watched entire reefs die. After traditional methods of science communication (i.e., publications) failed to create change, she quickly realized that the future of our coral reefs relies on the scientific community’s ability to communicate with the public. However, many graduate students and researchers lack effective communication training. Therefore, she has been on a conquest to improve communications in science to increase the effectiveness of the management of our coral reef ecosystems.

Phedra Redifer, Workforce Solutions

Phedra Redifer serves as the Executive Director of Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas, a position she has held since the fall of 2021. With over two decades of experience in local government, special purpose districts, and public-private sector collaborations, she has been instrumental in advancing workforce development initiatives across a 14-county region.

A distinguished academic, Ms. Redifer was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship upon graduating from Texas Tech University. This opportunity allowed her to study international politics at the University of Regensburg in Germany. During her time abroad, she traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East and completed an internship at BMW.

Throughout her career, Ms. Redifer has held significant roles with opportunities to influence policies and design programs tailored to community needs, fostering collaborative partnerships to achieve common goals, including Special Events Manager for the City of Dallas, Texas, and Deputy Director of Regional Parks and Attractions for the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma, Washington.

Shannon Walton, Ph.D., Texas A&M University

Dr. Shannon D. Walton is an accomplished academic leader, strong mentor, and an advocate for broadening participation in STEM and higher education. As Assistant Dean in the Graduate and Professional School at Texas A&M University (TAMU), Dr. Walton spearheads comprehensive student development and success initiatives aimed at enhancing the recruitment, retention, academic achievement, and professional growth of graduate and professional students.  

A passionate champion for broadening educational access, Dr. Walton has managed several prestigious federal grants designed to cultivate a diverse pipeline of scientists and engineers, including the NSF-funded Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP), the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), and the NIH-funded Texas A&M Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD). Through her leadership, these programs have supported the growth of a vibrant academic community. 

In addition to her role as Assistant Dean, Dr. Walton serves as the Director of Educational Achievement for the TAMU College of Engineering, directing programs like the TAMU LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate (BD), which aim to address longstanding disparities in STEM achievement while fostering inclusive academic environments. A first-generation college graduate and a proud product of the LSAMP program herself, Dr. Walton’s deep commitment to supporting diverse populations is rooted in her own experiences navigating higher education as a member of a historically underrepresented group in STEM. 

Dr. Walton is a dedicated mentor who frequently delivers impactful talks on overcoming perceived barriers to academic success. Her talks emphasize strategies for building confidence, fostering resilience, and cultivating a sense of belonging within academic and professional spaces. These efforts reflect her dedication to empowering all students and helping them realize their full potential. 

Dr. Walton holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, an M.S. in Safety Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Engineering, all from Texas A&M University. Her academic and professional journey reflects a dedication to broaden educational access and providing students with mentorship, academic resources, and career development opportunities to thrive academically and professionally.   With over 18 years of leadership and programmatic experience, Dr. Walton continues to play a pivotal role in shaping graduate student success at TAMU, and she remains committed to making a lasting impact on the academic and professional trajectories of graduate students, advancing the mission of broadening participation and academic excellence in higher education. 

David Steele, Plug and Play Tech

David Steele is the Director of Plug and Play Tech Center’s Sportstech vertical, where he drives innovation and accelerates the growth of startups in the sports technology industry. A proud Tarleton State University alumnus, David earned his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, laying the foundation for his impactful career. He furthered his education by earning a Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Texas-Pan American and an MBA in Sports Business from the Warsaw Sports Business Center at the University of Oregon, specializing in Advanced Strategy & Leadership. Throughout his career, David has held key leadership roles, including Vice President of Sales, Senior Director of Business Development, and Texas High School Football Coach. With a passion for mentorship and innovation, David continues to be a leader in the sports technology ecosystem while proudly representing his Tarleton roots.

James Hinson, Tarleton State University

almanid Video Productions, Inc. |Owner

WNCT-TV (Greenville, NC) | Creative Services Manager

WNCN-TV (Raleigh, NC) | Broadcast News Tech

WFXI/WYDO-TV (Morehead City, NC) | Video Editor

WFAY-TV (FOX)/WFPX-TV (PAX) (Fayetteville, NC) | Production Manager

Knapp and Associates Advertising (Kinston, NC) | Producer Other Academic:  Photographer for Wingate Student Paper

Bachelor of Science: Communications (Wingate [College] University)

Masters of Arts: Communications (Southern New Hampshire University)

I have been an instructor at Tarleton State University since FALL 2018.  The courses I teach for the Communication Studies Department include:  Introduction to Speech Communication (COMM-1311), Public Speaking (COMM-1315), Introduction to Photojournalism  (COMM-1316) and Advertising (COMM-3321).  I am also the Coordinator for the Tarleton State University Speaking Center, located on the second floor of OA Grant, inside the Writing Center.

My academic degrees are noted above.  My professional career covers over 25 years in the field of broadcasting (radio and television) and commercial video production; working for advertising agencies, and affiliates for CBS, NBC, FOX, CW, and PAX (currently known as ION).  While my primary professional experience has been video production, those television stations I have worked, also include extensive cooperation and collaboration with the News Departments of those stations, including assistance with video news editing, working closely during major events (major weather events, elections, and 9/11).  My colleagues include individuals currently working at organizations in Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and other states; these include news anchors, reporters, videographers.

My wife is an Associate Professor in the English Department.  I am a father (4), grandfather (4), and uncle (1 niece and 1 nephew)

I have been a part of Kiwanis International.  I have served as an adult leader for the Texas Trails Council/Old Comanche Trails District (OCT) of Scouts BSA (a member of the OCT district committee, and former Scoutmaster for a local Stephenville Troop).  I have been a member of the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB) and a member since 1987 of Alpha Psi Omega.

Ed Dittfurth, Ed.D., Tarleton State University 

Professor at Tarleton State University since 2014

Serves as an Associate Professor of Management in the College of Business:

teaching areas include:

Leadership, Ethics, Entrepreneurship, and Small Business Development. 

Education: Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Public Policy, 

Masters in Management and Leadership, Bachelor of Science in Hydrology

Julie Harlin, Ph.D., Texas A&M University

Julie Harlin is an Associate Dean in the Graduate and Professional School and an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.  She earned a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from Oklahoma State University, and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Education and Agricultural Science from Texas A&M University.  She began her career as a secondary agricultural science teacher before joining higher education.  Her research focuses on learner centered instructional design, mentoring, and program evaluation, where she has served and led several large NSF and NIH grant projects.  She has won numerous teaching and service awards including the USDA New Teacher Award, the Southern Region American Association of Agricultural Educators Teaching Award, the Chancellor’s Academy of Teacher Education award, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Distinguished Service Award for Teaching, the Richard Stadelman Faculty Senate Service Award, and served as Speaker of the Faculty Senate in 2018-2019. 

Dr. Harlin created and leads the Graduate Mentoring Academy for the Graduate and Professional School, a university-wide program impacting faculty, staff, and students, and works closely with the Center for Teaching Excellence colleagues on mentoring initiatives, the Teaching Assistant Institute, and the TATEP compliance system.  She also serves as the institutional co-lead for the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) initiatives which is part of a national network of over 40 peer institutions where she also serves as a member of the Leadership Team and the Membership Operations Group.  She also supports the success of graduate and professional students through her work as an ombuds in the Graduate and Professional School.

Dr. Harlin has a passion for student success at all levels, Pre-kinder through Grade 20.  Dr. Harlin is a certified mediator, serves as a member of the board of trustees for a local school district, and volunteers as a court appointed special advocate for children in the foster care system.  She enjoys living in north Bryan with her two dogs, one horse, many cats and is a proud Aggie mom.

Héctor H. Rivera, Ph.D., Texas A&M University

Dr. Héctor H. Rivera is a tenured Associate Professor at Texas A&M University, College Station, in the School of Education and Human Development, Department of Educational Psychology. He obtained his master’s degree in education and his doctoral degree in Developmental Psychology from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2001. As part of his leadership development, he served as a post-doctoral fellow at the Center for Research on Education, Diversity and Excellence (CREDE) at the University of Houston (UH) where he worked with local public-school districts and non-profits on educational programing related to resilience, learning environments, and community engagement. During his tenure at UH, he was also appointed as a scientific advisor for the Texas Institute of Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics (TIMES) and Research Professor in the School of Psychology. Dr. Rivera is also the founder and former director of the Center for Child and Community Development at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Rivera has collaborated with diverse communities and school districts across multiple states (e.g., California, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Texas); and he has over 44 publications including peer-reviewed articles, books, and book chapters addressing the (cultural, linguistic, and pedagogical) needs of diverse communities such as newcomer youth, refugees, Latino immigrant families, English learners, Emergent Bilinguals, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiian with a socio-cultural research focused on resilience, learning environments, and socio-emotional learning. He has also co-authored state level educational curriculum for the State of California Steck-Vaughn California Gateways: Motivating students, accelerating achievement and Journeys, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt [K-5 grades Spanish and English Elementary Bilingual Curriculum Adopted by the State of Texas]. His educational work has also reach other nations such as Peru, Guatemala, Greenland, El Salvador, and Mexico through educational program development (e.g., capacity building for teachers, parents, and youth). Some of his international work includes: (a) youth leadership development in Guatemala, (b) early literacy development in Peru among Quechua speaking communities in the Andes, (c) school reform and academic resilience in Greenland in collaboration with the Inuit community, (d) cultural/linguistic enrichment program in Mexico for USA in-service teachers, and (e) professional development and capacity building for teachers and parents in Guatemala and El Salvador.   

Dr. Rivera has been awarded, external and internal grants for over $10 million dollars. In the spring of 2019, Dr. Rivera received the United States Congressional “Education Champion” Award from the Congressional Award Foundation during a ceremony at the Dallas Art Museum. The award was bestowed by a bipartisan Congressional Committee. He is the first Hispanic/Latino to receive this national award due to his national and international research and commitment to the education. In 2024, he received the Higher Education Award for his outstanding contribution to bilingual education research and program in areas of youth and community development by Bilingual/ESL Education Association of the Metroplex (BEAM). In addition, in 2024, he was named Faculty Leadership Fellow for the Graduate and Professional School at Texas A&M University.

David Notgrass, Ph.D., Tarleton State University

David Notgrass, Ph.D., is Professor of Management in the Dr. Sam Pack College of Business at Tarleton State University. His research focuses on leadership studies, particularly from the perspective of followers, and has extensive publications in the field. Before entering academia, David spent over 20 years in the corporate sector, holding leadership roles at TXU and Lucent Technologies. Interested in bridging theory and practice, he guides students in applying academic research to real-world challenges, fostering growth in leadership and management skills.

Rance Berg, Ph.D., University of North Texas Health Science Center

Dr. Rance Berg received his bachelor’s degree from DePaul University in Chicago in 1992. From 1992-1994, he worked as a research technician at the Harrington Cancer Center in Amarillo Texas. Dr. Berg attended graduate school at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver where he received a PhD in Immunology in 1999. Dr. Berg then moved back to Texas where he worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. In 2005, Dr. Berg was recruited to the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth, where he is currently a Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Genetics and the Assistant Dean of Graduate Education and Admissions in the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences.

His research interests focus on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for immunological containment of pathogenic bacteria. He has been funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board/Advanced Research Program, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, and the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Berg is passionate about all aspects of graduate education. He currently lectures in the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the College of Pharmacy. He has served as major or co-major professor for 8 PhD students, major professor for 9 MS students, and has also served on over 80 thesis and dissertation committees. Recent educational and administrative interests include student assessment, program accreditation, competency-based education, development of transferable skills, emotional intelligence, core curriculum topics and sequencing, expansion of the TA program, development of diverse career opportunities, recruitment and admissions.