We’re continually updating presenter information as it becomes available, so visit this page often for the newest additions.
Shana Bagley is the inaugural Director of Communications for the Office of the Provost at Georgia State University, where she leads strategy supporting academic leadership and university-wide initiatives. Her work centers on integrated strategy and communications, aligning messaging, initiatives, and institutional priorities to strengthen faculty engagement and support student success. With a background spanning higher education and the nonprofit sector, she brings experience in building communication strategies that connect people to resources and drive meaningful outcomes. Shana also serves as Communications Officer for the Georgia Council of Graduate Schools and is committed to advancing collaboration and professional growth across the field. Connect with Shana on LinkedIn.
Shanda Brand is a higher education professional and administrator at Georgia College & State University (GCSU) in Milledgeville, Georgia. Currently serving as Interim Director of the Office of Graduate Admission, Brand has built a distinguished career within the university, progressing through roles including Graduate Admission Advisor, Associate Director of Graduate Programs in Education, and Director of Graduate Programs in Education. In each position, Brand has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting prospective students throughout the enrollment process and to advancing graduate program management. A dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, Brand earned a DEI Certificate from NAGAP, the Association for Graduate Enrollment Management, in 2022. In her current leadership role, Brand oversees program operations and leads strategic initiatives to strengthen graduate enrollment and student success at one of Georgia's premier public liberal arts universities. Connect with Shanda on LinkedIn.
Alex Duncan is a research faculty member and Senior Director of Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) program. His research interests lie at the intersection of online education, learning at scale, and student experience. Alex holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UT Austin and an M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction from Georgia Tech. Before starting his current position in 2018, he worked at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI); prior to that, he worked in industry, including positions with Home Depot, Boeing, Epic Systems (nope, not the videogame company), and ConocoPhillips. Connect with Alex on LinkedIn.
Dr. Karen Fambrough is the Director of Professional Development at the University of Georgia Graduate School, where she serves as a connector and collaborator across campus to support the growth and success of graduate students. She leads the development and implementation of professional development programming by partnering closely with stakeholders. Her portfolio includes coordinating campus-wide initiatives such as the GradUP resource portal, the Three Minute Thesis(3MT) competition, xPD Summer Internship Program, and the UGA Graduate Mentoring Certificate for faculty. She also conducts targeted programming for specific student cohorts such as the Presidential Fellows and GradLEAD, in addition to overseeing content and logistics of the GradFIRST seminar series. Her work draws from her prior experience managing two national faculty leadership development programs, LEAD21 and the IAspire Leadership Academy. For enjoyment, she spends time at the lake, tending to house plants, and goes on adventures with her husband and their two dogs. Connect with Karen on LinkedIn.
Tracy Gaudlip is the Marketing and Communications Specialist at Kennesaw State University’s Graduate College, where she develops strategic content and campaigns that strengthen student engagement and elevate the graduate student experience. With a background spanning higher education, healthcare marketing, and creative agencies, she brings extensive expertise in content strategy, brand storytelling, and user-centered communication. Tracy’s work focuses on making complex information accessible, meaningful, and actionable for a wide range of audiences. She is also spearheading the departmental efforts to ensure all digital content meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) accessibility standards, applying Experience Economy principles to support student success by improving how they engage with essential information along their graduate journey. Tracy holds a Master of Arts in Technical and Professional Writing from Middle Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
Debra Gresham, Ph.D., MSW, is the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program Director and Associate Professor of Social Work in the College of Education and Human Services at Valdosta State University (VSU). Dr. Gresham completed her Ph.D. in Social Work at Florida State University, MSW, and BA in Sociology at the University of Georgia. During her professional Social Work career, Dr. Gresham successfully coordinated two Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) reaffirmation cycles of the hybrid BSW Program (2008 & 2015 EPAS) at Thomas University. Currently, she is coordinating the VSU MSW Program for June 2026 reaffirmation via the 2022 EPAS and serves as a CSWE Site Visitor. She has over 20 years of experience in macro social work practice as the Principal Investigator of the federal Behavioral Health Workforce Education & Training Grant (BHWET), the State of Florida Department of Children & Families federal Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Block Grant (SAPTBG) Coordinator; and the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Coordinator with Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County (working with low to moderate income communities and agencies serving those in poverty).
Taralynn Hartsell is currently a Professor and Program Coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction (EdD) at Valdosta State University (VSU) teaching graduate students in Curriculum and Instruction and Instructional Technology. Taralynn was also a Program Coordinator for the Master of Education in Instructional Technology program at VSU. Before coming to VSU in 2017, she was the Program Coordinator for the Instructional Technology and Design graduate programs for many years. As a Program Coordinator over the years at two different universities, Taralynn has gained an understanding of sustaining degree programs to support graduate students. She received her degrees from the University of Arizona in Media Studies and Language, Reading, and Culture.
Brittani Hill is the Marketing and Communications Manager in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Education at the Georgia Institute of Technology. In this role, she leads strategic communications initiatives that support graduate education and executes campaigns that strengthen graduate student and postdoctoral scholar programming and resources across the Institute. With a background spanning communications, public relations, and marketing across retail, agency, private sector, and local government spaces, Brittani brings a dynamic and adaptable approach to her work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications from Georgia Southern University. Prior to transitioning into higher education, she served as a high school teacher—an experience that continues to influence her passion for mentorship, storytelling, and meeting people where they are, while informing her deep commitment to education and community impact.
Juliet Langman is Dean of the Graduate College at Kennesaw State University. Prior to her time at KSU, she served in a variety of administrative roles related to graduate education, serving as program coordinator for both master’s and doctoral programs, associate dean for graduate studies, and interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development at UT San Antonio. Dean Langman is an Applied Linguist with research expertise that focuses on multilingual learners in educational and non-educational contexts from middle school to college. Currently, Dean Langman is overseeing the creation of the graduate student success infrastructure at KSU, which foregrounds mentoring and engagement. Organizationally, graduate student success focuses on 4 areas: academic success, excellent professional work, market preparation, and balances mental, physical, and relational health.
Rosalyn Martinez serves as the inaugural Program Coordinator for Graduate Studies and Research at Valdosta State University, where she leads initiatives to strengthen graduate student success, streamline research processes, and improve time-to-degree completion. With extensive experience directing federally funded programs, Martinez has designed and implemented student-centered interventions that support academic achievement, persistence, and retention, particularly for historically underserved and first-generation student populations. Drawing on her professional background as a speech-language pathologist, she brings a data-informed, systems-thinking approach to program development, emphasizing clarity, efficiency, and accessible structures that help students and faculty navigate complex academic processes. Her work focuses on building scalable, evidence-based solutions that improve institutional workflows while enhancing the graduate student experience. Through her leadership, Valdosta State University continues to advance innovative strategies that support graduate education, faculty engagement, and timely degree completion.
Dr. Njeri Pringle earned a Doctor of Education in Leadership from Valdosta State University. Her research centers around Mathematics Instruction, Mathematics Anxiety, The Instructional Triangle, and doctoral student support. As she has worked in both Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, she blends student engagement theories in best-practice instructional design. As an education consultant, she understands that most problems are housed in disconnection, while solutions are housed in connection; she seeks to empower individuals and organizations through connection by facilitating collaborative learning environments and fostering relationships that enhance educational outcomes. Connect with Njeri on LinkedIn.
Stephanie Selvick serves as an Assistant Director of Belonging & Student Support at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she designs and leads interdisciplinary graduate student co-curricular programs. A PhD-trained scholar with expertise in public humanities, museum education, and inclusive program design, they bring a deep commitment to accessibility, equity, and meaningful public engagement. Their work spans higher education, nonprofit leadership, and curatorial practice. Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn.
Lisa Sperling, PhD, is in her 23rd year of working for the University of Georgia (UGA) and currently serves as the Senior Director of Student Success and Well-Being (SSWB) for the Graduate School. The SSWB provides holistic support to graduate students at all stages and on all campuses, including online students. Dr. Sperling actively partners with other campus units including the Office of Global Student Engagement, University Health Center, the Department of Recreational Sports, and the Office of Student Transitions to provide programming and resources. Most recently, she assisted in the creation of the GradUp portal, a one-stop resources hub for graduate students. Prior to joining the Graduate School, Dr. Sperling served as the MPA Recruitment and Career Services Coordinator at the University of Georgia. She holds degrees from Emory University (BA, English) and the University of Georgia (Master of Public Administration; PhD, Student Affairs).
Dr. Jamie L. Workman (she/her/hers) is an Associate Professor of Higher Education Leadership at Valdosta State University. Broadly, her research focuses on college student support systems and college student engagement with a particular focus on historically marginalized populations. She serves as a facilitator for Valdosta State's "Dissertation Dive-In" group, which has served as a springboard for her longitudinal study on supporting doctoral students in the dissertation writing process. Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn.
