Campus Forum 2026

To realize Hood College’s vision and mission, we come together—across the perceived boundaries of academic disciplines, administrative offices and organizational structure—to focus with renewed vigor on providing the very best to our students and each other. Together, we forge a bright future for Hood College and its students.

Campus Forum Agenda

8:15 a.m.Coffee and Tea Service 
8:45 a.m.
-Welcome
-Board of Trustees' Greeting
-Introduction of New Employees
-Years of Service Recognition
-Exemplary Performance Awards
President Debbie Ricker, Ph.D.
Thomas A. Kleinhanzl, Vice Chair
Senior Team
Senior Team
Paige Eager, Ph.D., and Tammi Simpson, J.D.
9:30 a.m.Break 
9:45 a.m.President's ReportPresident Ricker
10:45 a.m.Human First, AI Empowered: Education's Role in the New Economy
Shane Walker, NetCom Learning
NoonLunchWhitaker Campus Center
1-3 p.m.
Faculty/Staff Workshops
Whitaker Campus Center

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS | FACULTY​

  • Teresa Blier
  • Lori Borg
  • Laura V. Catulle
  • Ryad Dodd
  • Gracia M. Lopez Castro
  • Ramsey Valenti

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS | STAFF​

  • Georgia R. Braun
  • Brendan Dierman
  • Kelly Mehaffie
  • Sarah L. Thompson

COMMUNITY & INCLUSIVITY​

  • Samantha Capacillo
  • Eliane Coates
  • Gabriela R. Lopez-Bustamante
  • Katelyn Rowe
  • Winston E. Simmons Sr.
  • Jadah Watkins
  • Hilary N. Yancey

ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT​

  • Angela Baker
  • James Hazeltine
  • Leilani Kieti
  • Amanda Nurmi

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION​

  • Chantel V. Anderson

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT​

  • Diana Fulchiron
  • Andrew J. West

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE | ATHLETICS​

  • Joseph Alston III
  • Evan Freeman
  • Shannon K. McHenry
  • Matthew C. McKenney

We are honoring 30 recipients for a total of 466 combined years of service


40 Years

  • James L. Haines Jr.

30 Years

  • Jing-Yu E. Chang

25 Years

  • Karen D. Hoffman
  • Sang W. Kim
  • Scott E. Pincikowski

20 Years

  • Aijuan Dong
  • Janice L. Farber
  • Elizabeth M. Gomer
  • Ahmad H. Salem
  • Jolene M. Sanders
  • Jane L. Super

15 Years

  • Terry M. Burdette
  • Corey J. Campion
  • John P. Mehl
  • Heather S. Mitchell-Buck
  • Timothy L. Pollak
  • Tricia K. Strickland

10 Years

  • Kristine M. Calo
  • Jennifer L. Cooper
  • Ashley L. Gardner
  • Rebecca M. Grove
  • David R. Hixson
  • Deborah D. Ricker
  • Megan J. Shaine
  • Kelsey T. Stottlemyer
  • Kristina T. Talbott

5 Years

  • Emily E. Barber
  • Emily Belknap
  • Sonia M. Bowie
  • Mason A. Cavalier
  • Kavitha R. Fernando
  • Sherita A. Henry
  • Mallory L. Huard
  • Robert E. Kambic
  • Amy E. Kilpatrick
  • Molly K. Kovarik
  • Matthew J. Lee
  • Nisha Manikoth
  • John J. McCabe
  • Jessica L. McManus
  • Erik Messinger
  • Dominick S. Morgante
  • Gregory Powers
  • Tammi R. Simpson
  • Britney L. Wolfe
  • Shaowei Wu
  • Aaron Angello, associate professor of English, tenure
  • Sonia Bowie, administrative assistant for the Doctoral Program in Organizational Leadership
  • Thomas Chatfield, head athletic trainer
  • Lisa Copenhavor, dean of student success
  • Maxx Davis, full-time assistant men's lacrosse coach
  • Patrick Evans, associate athletic trainer
  • Ashley Gardner, director of aquatics and assistant swim coach
  • Sherita Henry, associate professor of public health, tenure
  • Cherry Liu, associate professor of biology, tenure
  • Nisha Manikoth, associate professor of organizational leadership, tenure
  • Kimberly Morse-Jones, associate professor of art history, tenure
  • Jacob Muldowney, associate professor of studio arts, tenure
  • Evelyn Nieves, associate professor of nursing, tenure
  • Krista Schaffert, senior director of advancement services
  • Kate Schanbacher, assistant controller
  • Brooke Witherow, associate professor of communications, tenure

Bill Pierce, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science, is retiring after serving Hood College for 26 years.

Shane Walker is a seasoned technology professional and instructor with more than 20 years of experience in information technology, technical training and emerging technologies. In recent years, he has focused extensively on artificial intelligence (AI), helping professionals, educators and business leaders understand, adopt and responsibly implement AI solutions across various industries.

As an instructor and independent trainer, Walker specializes in AI certification preparation and workforce enablement, delivering training aligned with AI CERTsTM programs such as AI+ Ethics, AI+ Educator, AI+ ExecutiveTM v3.0, Copilot and AI+ Prompt Engineer Level 1. His expertise spans responsible AI adoption, prompt engineering, AI governance, ethical AI frameworks, generative AI applications and AI-driven business transformation.