The Chair Academy

Worldwide Leadership Development For College and University Leaders

Conference Keynote Speakers

The Chair Academy's International Conference is proud to present the 2016 conference keynote speakers. This group of cutting-edge presenters represents the best in transformational leadership, and will inspire and teach leadership best-practices, during their presentations.

Cynthia Matson

Sanford Shugart

 

Cynthia Matson will be speaking at 3:30pm, on Tuesday, March 22, 2016

About Cynthia Matson

Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson was confirmed by the A&M System Board of Regents as President of A&M University-San Antonio on February 12, 2015.  With over two decades of experience in higher education Matson’s professional background, thought leadership and real-world experience will develop A&M-SA into a national model for student and academic success.

Teniente-Matson previously served as Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer of California State University Fresno, where her responsibilities included financial services, facilities and capital management, human resources, technology services, University Police and auxiliary services. From 1991 to 2004, Matson held a variety of administrative positions at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, culminating in her role as Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services.

She has served on a number of boards and committees, including: the Higher Education Resource Services Board, Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, the National Association of College and University Business Officers, and the Western Association of College and University Business Officers.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Management in 1989 from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a Master of Business Administration in 1998 from the University of Alaska Anchorage and she received a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Fresno State in 2013.

 

 

Sanford Shugart will be speaking at 8:00am, on Wednesday, March 23, 2016

About Sanford Shugart:

Dr. Sanford “Sandy” Shugart has served since 2000 as the fourth president of Valencia College in greater Orlando, Florida.  As winner of the first Aspen Prize for Excellence, Valencia is one of the most celebrated community colleges in America.  Serving some 70,000 students per year, Valencia is known for high rates of graduation, transfer, and job placement and has become something of a national laboratory for best practices in learning-centered education. 

Prior to Valencia, Sandy served as president of North Harris College and as Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of the North Carolina Community College System. 

He earned his Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill. 

In addition to his career in education, Dr. Shugart is a published poet and songwriter and author of Leadership in the Crucible of Work: Discovering the Interior Life of an Authentic Leader

MARK TAYLOR

CLIFTON TAULBERT

 

Mark Taylor will be speaking at 8:00am, on Thursday, March 24, 2016

About Mark Taylor:

Dr. Mark Taylor is an award winning speaker recognized internationally as an educator, expert and consultant who is on the forefront of transformations in educational practice and workplace management.  As an authority on the traits, developmental issues and learning outcomes of today’s young people, he is dedicated to helping colleges, universities, schools and professional programs better understand and serve our students for learning, development, persistence and successful integration into the “after college” world. His work with organizations and companies focuses on helping people understand and work more effectively with the generational groups, especially our young people from "Generation NeXt". 

Building on over 30 years of experience in higher education, management and the helping professions, including as a psychotherapist, professor, and in academic and student services administration, Dr. Taylor has worked with over 500 organizations, businesses and schools in 47 states, and made presentations at numerous state, regional, national, and international events. Publications include numerous book chapters, invited pieces, and articles in professional journals including his recent articles on "Teaching Generation NeXt".  Business clients have included Boeing Aerospace, 20th Century Fox Motion Pictures, Wal-Mart, FEMA and the U.S. Army. Dr. Taylor holds graduate degrees from the University of Arkansas and academic appointments at Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Graduate School.

 

Clifton Taulbert will be speaking at 3:30pm, on Thursday, March 24, 2016

About Clifton Taulbert

According to Clifton L. Taulbert, noted author and entrepreneur businessman, he could have failed had he not encountered community builders and entrepreneurial thinkers early on in his life. Taulbert was born on the Mississippi Delta during the era of legal segregation where he completed his secondary education. Though opportunities were few and barriers were plentiful, Taulbert managed to dream of being successful, not knowing the shape that success would take. According to Taulbert, the dirt road from the Mississippi Delta has taken amazing turns, from being a banker to lecturing at NATO in Brussels, speaking at the United States Capitol, to business growth consulting in Australia, to delivering an entrepreneurial speech at the United Nations, to lecturing before members of the United States Supreme Court as a guest of former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Taulbert is the author of fourteen books including the internationally acclaimed, Once Upon a Time when We Were Colored and the Pulitzer-Nominated, The Last Train North and most recently, The Invitation and Shift Your Thinking: Win Where You Stand.

Taulbert is the President and CEO of the FREEMOUNT CORPORATION-a human capital development company—serving large and small business clients nationally and internationally. Additionally, Taulbert serves as the President and CEO of ROOTS JAVA COFFEE-the only nationally certified African-American owned national coffee brand. To pass his life lessons along, Taulbert shares his entrepreneurial journey with others as a THRIVE 15.COM MENTOR.