Correan Barker is a dynamic advancement leader with a career spanning a decade in higher education. Throughout his distinguished career, Correan has consistently demonstrated a passion for harnessing philanthropy to drive equitable access to education, the visual and performing arts, and social services.

As the Director of Strategic Engagement at The Evergreen State College, Correan sets the vision and strategies to fortify relationships with constituents. He spearheads high-profile, college-wide initiatives that integrate events and communications for Advancement, the Foundation and the Office of the President and Executive Vice President. Under his leadership, Correan oversees an Engagement Team responsible for delivering impactful alumni programs, annual giving, stewardship, philanthropic communications, and special events. Most recently, Correan successfully led the public launch of Evergreen’s inaugural comprehensive campaign, Forever Green, which concludes June 30, 2024. Currently, he is leading the final campaign community phase and preparations for closing engagement and celebrations through 2025.

A firm believer in centering humanity, authenticity, and creativity at the heart of an organization, Correan leverages systems thinking and data-driven processes that evaluate and enhance collaboration and organizational effectiveness. As a leader, speaker, and advocate, Correan aspires to leave an indelible mark on the advancement profession, inspiring positive change and shaping a future where access to education and cultural enrichment are truly universal.

Correan holds a Master of Public Administration from The Evergreen State College, a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Houston, and lives by the motto, “Success is inevitable!”

Brian J. Elizardi is an award-winning marketing director, brand storyteller and curator of craft experiences with over 15 years of experience in higher education orchestrating the start-up, growth, and optimization of diverse teams and enterprises responsible for generating complex marketing campaigns, creative engagement programs, and innovative brand identities and platforms.

As a seasoned marketing and events leader, he is reputable for elevating key brand pillars into top engagement-generating platforms, including the Crimson & Gold Trail that was recognized by CASE as a 2020 Circle of Excellence Grand Gold winner for innovative alumni relations and marketing program.

Brian currently serves as the Director of Alumni Engagement at the University of Denver, where he spends his days taking big ideas and bringing them to life—all through activating high performing teams, telling immersive stories of impact, and curating memorable experiences for constituents.

Dusti Cermak serves as the Executive Director of Events at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement where she has been for 25+ years, executing memorable events of every shape and size. In her role, Cermak leads a team of six dedicated professionals who produce engaging events for alumni, donors, fans, and friends across the country and world.

Cermak has a demonstrated history of working in the fundraising industry with diverse experience in event planning, stewardship, board governance, and nonprofit organizations. A strong operations professional, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Northern Iowa and is an active member of her community.

Matt Lucerto is a visionary and strategic event and client manager that transforms ideas into action to deliver maximum benefit to organizations. He leads engagement efforts by utilizing creativity, leadership, and teamwork to design and execute solutions that create client value. He’s a effective communicator with the ability to develop, implement, and follow through on events that convey meaning for both alumni, parents, friends, and internal partners.

Matt is currently the Director of Affinity and Domestic Engagement at Northeastern University.  The team he leads works with 40+ different communities throughout the US. In addition, he works to engage alumni of all backgrounds in various ways.  Matt has been a visionary in leading university engagement efforts from virtual events to tours with senior faculty and administrators.

Over Matt’s career, he has chaired, organized, and presented at the CASE Newcomers to Alumni Relations Conference. He has also managed budgets upwards of $3M for whole departments down to single event budget management upwards of $500k. Lastly, he has been the point person in managing and coordinating with multiple departments and senior administrators for hundreds of domestic and international events.

Edwina Simms currently serves as the Regional Director of Alumni Engagement at the University of Denver. In her role she serves as the lead point of contact for the DU community in the Southeast region. Edwina creates meaningful engagement opportunities and helps to build relationships and enhance levels of engagement with the DU community from the National Capital area to sunny beaches of the Florida Keys.  In her previous role, she served as a member of the senior leadership in the Office of Alumni Relations at American University where she served as the Director of Multicultural and Affinity Engagement. In this role, Edwina oversaw the alumni affinity programs and interest groups, in addition to managing the annual Multicultural Alumni Reunion (MCAR).

As a woman who believes in serving causes far greater than herself, Edwina has a rich experience in public affairs, community outreach, multicultural initiatives, and government relations, having worked for several reputable non-profit organizations. She is an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion and has served in a number of leadership capacities to increase awareness and promote a more systematic approach to DEI across all areas of Advancement.

Edwina has supported organizational advancement through corporate and individual donor relations, prospect research, and relationship building with key community stakeholders, and leading a multicultural strategy to increase minority engagement, while developing an annual working plan with dollar and volunteer recruitment goals.

Edwina earned her B.A. in political science from University of Central Florida and her MPA with a concentration in non-profit organizational management from Strayer University in Orlando, Florida. She thoroughly enjoys working in higher education, developing sustainable programming, and enhancing constituent engagement at the University of Denver.

Emily Rose Cooper is passionate about bringing more mindfulness, ease, and empowerment into the world both on and off the yoga mat. As a highly skilled Yoga and Meditation Teacher, Emily has taught over 1,500 hours to people of all mobilities, ages, and personal circumstances. She passionately believes in the power of mindfulness as a driving force behind professional and personal successes; helping her students tap into their authentic power, balance effort and ease,  and approach life’s curveballs with an open, observational mindset.

Emily is also a driven and experienced Researcher with a demonstrated history of excellence in the education industry. Praised for the ability to give well-organized and informative trainings and program directives; simplifying complex instructions and programming to colleagues, educators, and students. Emily is an avid volunteer in the areas of academic achievement, social justice, and advocating for underserved and marginalized communities.

Kelly leads the Strategic Engagement team at Colorado State University.  The 11 person team works both centrally and with an array of campus partners to develop cross-functional communications, event and donor relations strategies to holistically engage donors and alumni across a variety of segments and channels. Kelly is passionate about the guest experience, data-driven decision making, efficiency, innovation and storytelling. She draws on her 20 years of varied and eclectic experience in hospitality, operations, membership and experience design to approach challenges with a customized lens. Kelly earned her B.A. from the University of Virginia and her MBA from Colorado State University.

Devon Montgomery Pasha, CMP, CED is a passionate events professional who specializes in nonprofit and advancement events. She applies over 15 years’ experience in event planning to help Drexel University create engaging and impactful experiences for their global alumni network. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Special Events for Alumni Relations specializing in signature events and engagement. A believer is purposeful and mission driven events, Devon leverages design thinking and empathy driven systems to design events that maximize impact and support for Drexel University.  

Prior to applying her skills in Higher Ed, Devon worked on notable special events around the Philadelphia region including work for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia Waterworks, and the Fairmount Park Conservancy.  

Devon has been a featured speaker and volunteer for CASE and has been recognized for her passion in elevating the importance of events in Advancement. Devon holds a B.A. from Bryn Mawr College in Music and B.S. from Drexel University in Culinary Arts and Event Planning. Devon earned her CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) certification from the Events Industry Council in 2020 and a CED (Certified Event Designer) designation from the Events Design Collective in 2021. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Creativity and Innovation from Drexel University’s School of Education and is an adjunct professor for Drexel’s Hospitality Management program.  

Angie Senter is a certified meeting professional with over 14 years of experience managing large scale events. Senter manages and produces over 200 events a year for the Carson College of Business as the Event Manager.  Under her tutelage the hospitality courses at WSU have grown to include a new Minor in Event Management degree. As a minority, women, and first generation student Senter is able to draw on personal experiences coupled with years of industry experience to create award winning diversity events even leading her student PCMA chapter to a 2019 National Chapter award as the faculty advisor.

Shanda Twiggs serves as an Advancement Event Manager at the University of Denver, with 11 years of professional experience in higher education with a strong focus on delivering outstanding student & donor experiences. Shanda uses her trademark skills of problem solving, creativity, and flexibility to help unit-based colleagues produce events and virtual meetings. She excels at logistics and operations, and her attention to detail means that events and meetings go smoothly from concept to completion.

Shanda holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Denver in Law & Society with a concentration in Communications. She often spends non-event days exploring the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains and actively pursuing a Master's degree in business administration.