Meet the keynote speakers, workshop facilitators, and PDEC Planning Committee!
Keynote Speakers
Carol Bowser
In 2002 Carol founded Conflict Management Strategies, a company emphasizing training, mediation, and consulting on conflict resolution in schools and workplaces. She works as a workplace conflict expert, professional trainer, mediator, coach, and attorney.
Dr. Rob Lane
Rob has been a medical oncologist for over 30 years. Now retired, he spends time with cancer patients, helping them understand what their doctors have said, what their doctors left out, and what it all means. Then he helps them make decisions that respect their bodies, their families, and the life they want to lead. He regularly meets patients to help them avoid the pitfalls of cancer decision making, endure the hardships of treatment, and live meaningfully thereafter without PTCD (Post Traumatic Cancer Distress). Rob lives on an island in Puget Sound, where he loves taking care of the land and the beach when not sailing, climbing, or playing with his kids.
Lora Poepping
Lora is the founder of Plum HR Coaching & Consulting, based out of Seattle, WA, and with clients worldwide. Plum focuses on providing exceptional career and job search coaching services to those who struggle with their career/job transition. Plum also offers resume writing and LinkedIn consulting to individuals and companies. Lora has grown Plum's business from being an individual coaching practice to a staff of nine coaches and consultants, emphasizing compassionate, realistic, thoughtful guidance. She has a master's degree in Education from Indiana University Bloomington and is the mother of two 20-something daughters. She lives with her husband in Seattle, WA.
Howard Teibel
Howard is the founder and president of Teibel Education Consulting. Over the past three decades, Howard and his team have worked with campus and business leaders to orient their teams around a network of commitments and develop new habits to coordinate action. As a public speaker and writer for numerous higher education associations, Howard contributes to the national discourse on emerging trends facing this industry. Additionally, his 10-year-old podcast “Navigating Change” brings together leaders to discuss innovations and new practices that can transform how teams in academia and business work together.
Workshop Facilitators
Uchenna Baker
Uchenna has over 15 years of administrative and teaching experience in Higher Education. She earned an M.Ed. in counseling psychology and a B.A. in English and sociology, both from Rutgers University. She completed her Ph.D. in educational policy through Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Her dissertation titled “An Ontological and Phenomenological Model of Leadership: Igniting Individual and Collective Transformation and Catalyzing Educational Reform” earned her the 2016 Illinois Qualitative Dissertation Award presented by the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Libby Baldwin
Libby is the associate director and medical coordinator, and physician assistant for Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services (CHWS). She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2002 and then went on to gain her Master’s degree from the University of Washington in 2005. Over the past five+ years, she has found the joy of working with college students, encouraging personal growth and self-care during these formative years. Libby has developed a special interest in a body-positive approach to life and finds ways healthy ways to cope with stress.
Marta Cady
Marta is the associate dean of students at Puget Sound. Her primary areas of responsibility include sexual violence prevention education and directing new student orientation. She also chairs the Sexual and Gender Violence Committee.
Justin Canny '90
Justin is the assistant director of student activities for Outdoor Programs. These days Justin enjoys outdoor activities that he can do with seven-year-old Iyla and his thirteen-year-old Kai. New family-friendly activities include mushroom gathering, biking, walks in the park, and cross country skiing. And, of course, watching kids climb. Having kids has helped him understand that all of us are climbers, even though we may forget this.
Jane Carlin
Jane is the director of Collins Memorial Library. She joined Puget Sound in 2008, coming from the University of Cincinnati, where she served as senior librarian for the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning Library. Her professional interests include the art of the book, fine presses and printing, information literacy, digital image development, and the art of William Morris.
Jason Casey
Jason is a financial consultant within the Institutional Business division at TIAA, a Fortune 100 financial services organization and leading provider of asset management and retirement services for the academic, research, medical, and cultural fields. Jason is part of the Field Consulting Group, composed of more than 300 highly trained; licensed financial consultants focused on improving individuals’ financial well-being and retirement readiness. Jason began his financial services career in 2009, and he has been with TIAA since 2017. He serves institutions within the Seattle–Tacoma area, provides financial advice to individuals on income and retirement planning, and improves their financial literacy through one-on-one sessions and specialized educational workshops serving every life stage. Jason holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Pacific Lutheran University. As a FINRA–registered representative, he holds Series 7 and 66 licenses while maintaining Life, Health and Variable Annuity licenses from the States of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana.
Dorothy Chin
Dorothy is a relationship manager within the Institutional Retirement division at TIAA, a Fortune 100 financial services organization and leading provider of asset management and retirement services for the academic, research, medical, and cultural fields. She began her financial services career in 1993 and has been with TIAA since 2015. She serves TIAA's institutional clients in the state of Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington from the local Portland, Oregon TIAA office. She holds a Master of Science degree in finance from Saint Xavier University. She holds FINRA Series 6 and 63 registrations while maintaining Life, Health, and Variable Annuity licenses from the state of Oregon. Additionally, Dorothy has obtained the CRPS and CEBS designations.
Jeremy Cucco
Besides being the university's CIO and all-around computer geek, Jeremy is also a competitive cyclist, a USA Cycling certified cycling coach, and father to the Third Place winner of USA's National Road Race Championships.
Sue Dahlin
Sue is the employer relations manager for CES and uses LinkedIn daily to connect with employers, communicate with alumni, and educate students. She has been a LinkedIn user since 2006.
Jamie Daniel
Jamie is deputy chief information officer for Network, Systems & Enterprise Technologies within Technology Services. Over her 15-year career, she's had numerous opportunities to experience change within the workplace and learn ways to navigate change more easily. Through both positive and negative experiences with organizational change, she has learned that any workplace change's success is rooted in helping individuals understand, accept, and embrace change. When she is not wrangling resources in support of her team, Jamie can be found either taking walks with her husband and four dogs or curled up somewhere reading a book.
Tiffany Davis
Tiffany is the Deputy Title IX Officer and associate director for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She is a civil rights attorney who has worked in private practice and government and investigated civil rights violations. She brings a wealth of experience in training on civil rights laws and procedures. Her primary areas of responsibility include coordinating our Title IX efforts and investigating alleged civil rights violations.
Kerstyn Dolack
Kerstyn is the manager of Building Services at Puget Sound.
Laura Edgar
As an assistant archivist, Laura is responsible for processing archival collections and overseeing material digitization from the Archives & Special Collections. Also, she collaborates with the archivist and special collections librarian to promote and provide curriculum integration support, research assistance, and information literacy instruction for students and courses utilizing primary sources. Laura also acts as the archivist for the Abby Williams Hill collection and is responsible for all activities and inquiries related to this collection.
Helen Fickes
Helen is the CICE Office Manager, Chair of the Professional Development Committee for Student Affairs, and the founder of Brightside Business & Career Coaching. She enjoys daily adventures with her husband and daughter.
Adriana Flores '13
Adriana is the archivist and special collections librarian at the University of Puget Sound. In her role, she manages the Archives & Special Collections (A&SC) programs, promotes and provides curriculum integration support, research assistance, information literacy instruction using primary sources, and coordinates outreach efforts such as exhibits, presentations, and tours.
Khalila Fordham
Khalila is a former doctoral intern at CHWS and has returned to assume the role of multicultural support specialist after serving as a staff psychologist and the coordinator of consultation and outreach at Clemson University in Clemson, SC. She earned both her master’s and doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology in Atlanta, GA. You may find Khalila reading, dancing, singing karaoke, attending sci-fi conventions, or engaging in intense discussions outside of the clinical setting.
Tanya Goodall
Tanya is the director of Scheduling and Event Services. Prior to Puget Sound, Tanya lived overseas, where she worked for a tech company managing their entire international portfolio of events. Tanya is originally from the Tacoma area and moved back in 2017. She currently lives in Gig Harbor with her husband, daughter, and dog.
Tasha Helton
Tasha Helton is the systems analyst for Business Services and has been with Puget Sound for about 13 years. She has led several training courses on campus, including Change Journey, How To Be Your Best Self, and Servant Leadership. When it comes to adjusting to change, Tasha's best advice is never to believe that what you are today, which you need to be tomorrow.
Christine Hutchison
Christine is a doctoral intern in Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services. She manages stress by playing with her chatty parakeet, cooking and eating the best possible foods, and doing her very best not to over-commit (and forgiving herself when she does).
Jeff Johnson
Jeffrey B. Johnson, CEBS, owner of JBJ Insurance Group in Auburn, Wash., has been a health insurance broker for 35 years. Prior to starting JBJ Insurance Group in 2010, he was an employee benefits consultant with Brown & Brown Tacoma for 15 years. He has helped Puget Sound employees and family members with Obamacare and retirees with Medicare insurance solutions for several years. Jeffrey holds a B.A. from the University of Washington in Science Education, and he has achieved the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation.
Michael Judd
Michael has over 20 years of working professionally in computer sciences and 10 years in IT security. He has an M.B.A. with a concentration in Technology Service Management.
Tina McLeod
Tina is the program specialist for the Race & Pedagogy Institute (RPI) since October 2017. Before becoming an RPI staff person, she was a member of RPI’s Community Partners Forum for over ten years. Her continuing education work includes nonprofit management, completion of National Fair Housing Academy’s five-week investigator training, the Leadership Challenge®, and facilitator training, specifically in the area of race equity.
Dale Mickel
Dale is the senior desktop support analyst at the University of Puget Sound. Since starting here in 2010, he can be found all over campus setting up and fixing computers and printers.
Angela Moretti
Angela has over ten years' experience as an emergency medical technician.
Jake Nelko
Jake is an assistant director for career advising in Career and Employment Services. He has been a LinkedIn user since 2009 and has coached students and other professionals to use the tool since 2011.
Vivie Nguyen
Vivie Nguyen serves as the director for intercultural engagement at the University of Puget Sound. She received her M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she studied implicit bias through her focus in multicultural counseling.
Gaylen Nuckols
Gaylen is the manager of Environmental Health and Safety at Puget Sound.
Larissa Ogawa
Larissa started her Puget Sound journey as a student in 2010 and provided support for the Educational Technology Team. After graduating in 2014, she enhanced her culinary skills at the Puget Sound diner before rejoining Technology Services in 2016 as a technology support analyst.
Kaity Peake
Kaity has worked in Educational Technology since 2016. A former English and Technology teacher, Kaitybegan transitioning to digital education when she was placed into a classroom with broken computers that required creativity and problem-solving to turn into viable tools for classroom use. That experience led her into the world of educational technology, and the challenges and rewards faculty face in using technology well. She has since earned her Master in Digital Educational Leadership at Seattle Pacific University, exploring innovative and best practices in using digital tools and resources to enhance instruction. When not running around campus with a laptop and a crazed look in her eye, Kaity enjoys DIY projects, roller derby, and walking her dogs.
Donelle Pearson P'18
Donelle is a Dining and Conference Services HR Generalist and has been at the university for seven years. She has worked in the field of human resources for 18 years. Outside of work, she enjoys taking long walks and hikes with her husband, Rob, and their golden retriever, Red.
Jada Pelger '96
Jada is the information resources coordinator for Collins Memorial Library and the Makerspace manager. She is a lifelong crafter who enjoys learning new skills and techniques.
Rebecca Pettitt
Rebecca Pettitt is a career advisor in Career and Employment Services. She works with students to assess strengths, interests, values, and skillsets to explore possibilities and take action. Rebecca helps students find meaning within their experiences and apply their knowledge to new opportunities.
Lori Ricigliano
Lori is the associate director of user services at Collins Memorial Library. She co-facilitates the monthly Lunch and Learn series, a staff forum for discussions about race, with Tina McLeod, and is the managing editor of the Race & Pedagogy Journal. Her instruction and outreach efforts center on critical social justice issues through thoughtful and reflective collaboration with faculty, students, and staff.
Hilary Robbeloth
Hilary is the systems and discovery librarian at Collins Memorial Library and has a background in foreign language cataloging and metadata. She has a B.A. in anthropology and international studies from the University of Idaho and an M.L.I.S. from the University of Washington. She grew up in northern Idaho and learned crochet and knitting as part of the 4H program, but really got into it through the social media site Ravelry.
Erin Ruff
Erin is the Human Resources Generalist and has been at the university for five years and in the field for eight years. Erin received her master's degree in Human Resources and Employment Relations from Penn State. Outside of work, Erin enjoys spending time with her husband, two-year-old daughter, and Westie dog.
Mihaela Schneider
Mihaela is a doctoral intern in Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services.
Kenni Simons
Kenni Simons, SHRM-CP, came to the university after working for 27 years at Alaska's largest electric utility. After she spent 19 years collectively in Environmental Engineering and Safety and obtained an AAS in Occupational Safety & Health, a reorganization led her to become a safety and HR hybrid, which she developed into a lead HR position over the next 8 years. When Kenni and her family relocated to Washington in 2015, she found a new home as Benefits Manager at Puget Sound.
Landon Wade
Landon Wade is in his eighth year as director of academic advising at Puget Sound. In his role, Landon works with faculty to support students’ development and works directly with students to explore options during and after their time at Puget Sound.
Elizabeth Wormsbecker '05
Elizabeth is the student employment advisor at Career and Employment Services and advocates for student employment opportunities and experiences across campus where student staff members have the chance to develop their strengths and reflect on the meaning and value of those experiences. Elizabeth is passionate about providing individualized support to each student in their educational journey and post-graduation pursuits.
Rev. Dave Wright '96
Dave is University Chaplain, is past-president of the Association of College and University Religious Affairs (ACURA), and received NASPA's 2018 Outstanding Professional in Religious/Spiritual Affairs. As co-director of the Center for Intercultural and Civic Engagement, he works with the CICE team to support and engage with the campus community on social identities, inclusion, and equity on campus and in society. Dave also serves on the board of Tacoma Community House, nonprofit serving immigrants, and refugees. When not working and/or causing trouble, Dave loves to cook and entertain his cats, The Beasties.
PDEC Planning Committee
Contact: pdec@pugetsound.edu
Michaela Alden '13
Production Specialist | Office of Communications
David Childers
Digital Media Service Manager | Media Services
Dennis Chin
Client Support Services Manager | Technology Services
Sarah Comstock
Sarah has worked in higher education for more than 20 years. She spent 11 years working at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and has been at Puget Sound for 10 years. Sarah is actively involved in the Association of College Unions International, which allows her to connect with professionals at student unions both in the U.S. and abroad. When Sarah isn’t working, she spends a lot of time at her son’s activities or reading.
Tiffany Davis
Tiffany is the Deputy Title IX Officer and associate director for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She is a civil rights attorney who has worked in private practice and government and investigated civil rights violations. She brings a wealth of experience in training on civil rights laws and procedures. Her primary areas of responsibility include coordinating our Title IX efforts and investigating alleged civil rights violations.
Tanya Goodall
Director of Scheduling and Event Services | Facilities Services
Charis Hensley
Graphic Designer/Production Artist | Office of Communications
Lauren Nicandri
Lauren has been a member of the Puget Sound community since 2009, working in Educational Technology. She is passionate about creating faculty development opportunities that utilize an effective blend of sound pedagogical methods that employ technology. When she’s not in the office, Lauren is devoting her remaining free time to pursuing a Master of Arts in Educational Technology Leadership from George Washington University.
Donelle Pearson P'18
Donelle is a Dining and Conference Services HR Generalist and has been at the university for seven years. She has worked in the field of human resources for 18 years. Outside of work, she enjoys taking long walks and hikes with her husband, Rob, and their golden retriever, Red.
Erin Ruff
Erin is the Human Resources Generalist and has been at the university for five years and in the field for eight years. Erin received her master's degree in Human Resources and Employment Relations from Penn State. Outside of work, Erin enjoys spending time with her husband, two-year-old daughter, and Westie dog.
Sabrina Shepherd
Sabrina joined Puget Sound in 2010 as the Help Desk Coordinator for Facilities Services, and in 2015 she started her current role, managing event setups for the campus. She has a great team that takes pride in making events and events spaces the best they can be for customers. She loves the variety that this job brings each day and that she is constantly meeting new people. Not to mention all of the wonderful colleagues here at Puget Sound!
Phillip Wells P'20
Phillip is an assistant director for Catering and Cafés and has over 29 years of food and beverage experience as a banquet director, convention manager, and restaurant manager for Hilton, Hyatt, and Doubletree Hotel Corporation.
Keith Woody
Director of Talent Management | Human Resources.