Michael Reza is an established leader that believes higher education can transform the lives of individuals, communities, and society. This belief drives his passion for the work that we do as Advancement professionals. Michael currently serves as the Associate Vice President, Portland Development & Alumni Engagement at the University of Oregon. He leads the Portland, OR regional advancement strategy and serves on the UO Advancement senior leadership team. Portland is home to the largest concentration of UO donors and alumni, as well as a regional UO Portland campus. He works closely with academic leadership, maintains a portfolio of donor prospects, and takes a prominent role in representing the university in the Portland community.

Michael has more than 19 years of experience in higher education advancement at large public and small private institutions. Prior to the UO, he served as Vice President for Advancement at George Fox University where he led a team that included development, alumni relations and grants. While there, GFU doubled their fundraising in three years and launched a campaign. Michael has experience in advancement from his time in progressive roles at the University of Arizona, UC Irvine and Oregon State University. He is an active volunteer with CASE and completed his term as Chair of CASE District VIII in June 2022.

Dr. Jessica Elmore, a dynamic scholar-practitioner, and expert in educational advancement and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), is dedicated to transforming and elevating the landscape of philanthropic engagement through innovative DEIB strategies. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Elmore's work bridges the gap between cultural community engagement and educational advancement, ensuring that all voices and experiences are heard and valued.

Dr. Elmore joined CASE as the Senior Director of Cross-Cultural Learnings within the CASE OIC: Opportunities and Inclusion Centerᵀᴹ. In this role, she has been instrumental in developing CASE’s first online DEIB course, "The Journey Starts with You: DEIB in Advancement," and delivering bespoke training through CASE@Campus. Jessica is responsible for developing the training and content vision for upskilling, enhancing job performance, boosting organizational culture and contributing to the overall growth of an organization's outreach and engagement with their diverse alumni, donors and stakeholders.   

Previously, the California native relocated to the Midwest and served as the point person and leader for community relationship building and engagement programming for diverse domestic and international alumni and students for the Kansas State University Alumni Association. In Dr. Elmore’s progressive role, she cultivated over $600,000 from diverse donors and organizations; established a successful diverse volunteer leaders board pipeline, executed over 300 cultural-affiliated alumni and student events, garnering national recognition and professional organization industry awards; served as co-editor for the Association’s first diversity-devoted alumni magazine issue, and was a steadfast campus connector who accumulated an immense amount of social capital resulting in successful collaborations with various campus entities including but not limited to, international programs, athletics, and campus administration.

Jessica's expertise lies in creating award-winning external programming and cultivating relationships with domestic multicultural and international alumni and students. She is an interactive trainer and communicator with a proven track record of helping individuals grasp complex concepts through engaging and approachable methods. Her ability to create environments where people feel confident to navigate new spaces and contribute meaningfully sets her apart in the field of educational advancement. Jessica excels in breaking down intricate ideas into easily digestible insights, empowering participants to not only understand but also apply their knowledge in impactful ways.

Dr. Elmore holds a doctorate in educational leadership, a master’s degree in business administration from Kansas State University, and a mass communication degree from Grambling State University. Her diverse educational background equips her with a unique perspective on the interconnection and nuances of educational advancement.

Driven by a vision of inclusive excellence and social mobility, Dr. Elmore believes in the transformative power of education to create equitable opportunities for all. Her approach is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the diverse needs of alumni and donor communities.

Zebadiah Hall joined Salisbury University in July 2024 as the inaugural VP of Inclusion, Access, and Belonging. Zebadiah identifies as a black man and uses the pronouns he and him. He comes from the University of Wyoming, where he has served as the inaugural vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition, he just completed a three-year term in 2023 as a board member for the Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD) as the inaugural Equity Officer.

Previous positions include director of student disability services at Cornell University, where he transformed the department from a medical model to a civil-rights for social justice model; director of Valparaiso University’s Access and Accommodations Resource Center; and director of disability support services at Calumet College of St. Joseph.

At SU, Zebadiah oversees the Disability Resource Center, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), the Office of Institutional Equity, and the Charles A. Wight Multicultural Center for Equity, Justice and Inclusion. He also chairs the University’s newly formed Inclusion, Access, and Belonging Working Group.

As a member of the President’s Cabinet, Zebadiah serves as an advisor on matters of inclusion, diversity, access, and belonging by providing guidance and support to help navigate complex challenges. Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Restorative Justice, and data-rich storytelling are salient to his work.

He has been recognized for outstanding leadership and dedication with honors, including the Association on Higher Education and Disability’s Duraese Hall Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award, and he has been named an ACT College and Career Readiness Champion.

Zebadiah earned his M.B.A. in applied management from Indiana Wesleyan University and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Calumet College of St. Joseph. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education administration at the University of Wyoming.