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Dr. Terrell Strayhorn
Dr. Terrell Strayhorn
Tuesday, September 16
In-person Conference
Dr. Terrell Strayhorn is a renowned scholar, professor, and thought leader, who is widely recognized for his groundbreaking research on student success, sense of belonging, and equity in education.
As President and CEO of Do Good Work Consulting Group, Dr. Strayhorn leads a dynamic team that partners with colleges, universities, and organizations to plan strategically, scale innovations, and foster belonging and success for staff and students. A prolific author and podcaster, he has published 14 books and over 200 scholarly works, while also contributing to Entrepreneur, Thrive Global, and Psychology Today, bridging the gap between research and practice.
Beyond his writing, Dr. Strayhorn is an engaging speaker who has delivered over 3,000 keynotes and lectures worldwide. His passion for student success and his ability to translate research into actionable strategies make him a powerful advocate for academic advising and student support.
Dr. Strayhorn will share his insights on fostering belonging, equity, and student achievement—critical elements in shaping the future of academic advising.
Dr. Sam Richards
Dr. Sam Richards
Thursday, September 18
Virtual Conference
Dr. Sam Richards is an award-winning teaching professor and sociologist at Penn State University. As the instructor of Penn State’s SOC 119, the largest race and culture course in the U.S., Dr. Richards reaches nearly 800 students each semester and an online audience through live-streamed discussions with his YouTube 400,000 subscribers. His groundbreaking approach to teaching and discussing complex sociological and cultural issues was the subject of the Emmy Award-winning broadcast, You Can’t Say That, and is the reason why his videos have been viewed by 500 million people in over 200 countries around the world.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Richards co-founded with his wife, Dr. Laurie Mulvey, World in Conversation, a center dedicated to training facilitators to help people have meaningful conversations with people of varying viewpoints about highly controversial issues. His work in bridging divides extends beyond academia, with his TEDx talk, A Radical Experiment in Empathy, is recognized for his thought-provoking approach to this process that is foundational to sociological analysis.
With a Ph.D. from Rutgers University and a research focus on Latin America and Africa, Dr. Richards has for the past forty years brought a global perspective to all his work. His insights have been featured in media in the U.S. and around the world.