Alexis serves as the Director of Advancement Talent Management at Dartmouth College where she helps people maximize their potential to achieve organizational priorities. Her responsibilities include shaping the overarching strategy for talent management and designing employee engagement, professional development, and DEIB initiatives for more than 300 staff.

During her 25+ years of experience in higher education, Alexis has worked in Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Advancement. She has delivered educational experiences to faculty, staff, and students; led award-winning diversity and inclusion initiatives; and started two talent management departments. She joined Dartmouth College six years ago after a 20-year career at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO.

Alexis leads the Amplify Gender Equity & Leadership Initiative that was founded with seed money from the CASE D1 Venture Fund. The program empowers gender-diverse staff in the Advancement profession to create change at the personal, leadership, and organizational levels. In addition, she has garnered CASE Circle of Excellence Awards in Talent Management and DEIB for Amplify, the Dartmouth antiracist training program, and the diversity strategy at Colorado State University. 

Alexis also is the founder of AKO Collective, a leadership development company that works with women in male-dominated fields like STEM and Finance and is a former TEDx Speaker.

Alexis holds a bachelor's degree in organizational studies from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University, and a certificate in organization development from Colorado State University. She is certified in StrengthsFinder and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).

Natalie Hardy is a transformational leader with a deep passion for people and community. As a Senior Certified Human Resources professional, she has dedicated over 20 years of her career to cultivating environments where employees feel valued and empowered to thrive. Natalie’s energy and expertise have opened doors in diverse sectors, including higher education, state government, parks and recreation, Fortune 500 companies, and nonprofit organizations. A natural coach and connector, she has guided many professionals in identifying and pursuing their next professional steps.

Natalie currently serves as the Strategic Advisor for Talent and Engagement at the University of Oregon’s Administrative Services, leading executive recruitment while fostering inclusive and welcoming spaces where all employees and stakeholders feel a true sense of belonging.

Natalie’s commitment to excellence and drive to create meaningful change through compassion is at the core of her leadership. She is committed to embodying the spirit of Maya Angelou’s words: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Shar Smith currently serves as the Manager of Staff Development & Engagement in University Advancement at Washington University in St. Louis. In this role, she oversees employee engagement, culture, and talent development programs aiming to make WashU the best advancement team for a thriving career in higher education. Before assuming this position, Shar launched a consultancy where she coached leaders, developed leadership programs, and facilitated impactful learning experiences. She is a certified DiSC® practitioner who uses the DiSC assessment to create engaging team-building workshops and leadership development programs. Shar is passionate about helping leaders maximize their potential to achieve the success they desire in their careers and the fulfillment they deserve in their lives.

Shar holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Adult & Higher Education Administration. As a lifelong learner, she has earned several certifications, including a Women in Leadership certification from Cornell University, a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion certification from the University of South Florida and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a Project Management certification from Purdue University.

With over 15 years of leadership experience, Shar has led teams at various Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations. She specializes in recruiting, employee engagement, leadership coaching, team building, and inclusive leadership. Shar served as the inaugural Vice Provost of the Center of Excellence for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Central Region, and currently holds the position of Dean of the School of Local Leadership, where she oversees a leadership program for members across eight states.

Shar is a wife and mother of two children, Josiah (9) and Aminah (7). In her spare time, she enjoys watching movies and traveling.

Jorge serves as the Assistant Director of HR People and Programs with the University Development Office at the University of Texas at Austin. He is a dedicated servant leader with 15 years of practice, learning and growth. Jorge partners with colleagues to achieve organizational priorities and provides employee centric experiences via onboarding, engagement, professional development and of course, human resources. He is a home-grown UT administrator and alum who has founded inaugural centers on the UT campus, worked with faculty, students, and staff, as well as notable external guests like Jen Welter (the first female NFL coach), Leigh Steinberg (the real-life Jerry McGuire) and Austin’s own, Brené Brown. He is a committed lifelong learning in the pursuit of organizational and individual success.