Speakers

Martha Fernandez is an innovative leader who leverages her broad range of expertise across varying domains to guide others. Her experience ranges from community and workforce employer engagement to advocacy, policy and continuous improvement.

Dr. Robert DeHaas is a passionate educator who dedicates his career to making a difference in the lives of students and teachers. As a leader inside and outside of classrooms, Dr. DeHaas’ passion lies in nurturing the next generation of teachers and educational leaders so they can continue to provide endless opportunities for students.

Dr. Greg Morris is an approachable leader focused on bringing innovation to programming, academics, enrollment management and workforce education. Serving in a variety of educational environments throughout his career, Dr. Morris is passionate about thinking outside of the box and delivering strong ideas through thought leadership.

Dr. Macario Hernandez is an authentic leader passionate about community engagement and student success. Having spent the first part of his career in K-12 education, Dr. Hernandez took the leap into higher education to make a larger impact across the community — and that risk paid off.

Ahava Silkey-Jones is a passionate arts leader and seasoned administrator who believes deeply in the power of connection, creativity and community. She prides herself on bringing joy and creating meaningful opportunities for students that have the potential to change the trajectory of their lives.

Justin Cunningham is a resilient leader with an entrepreneurial mindset. His technical skills and operational proficiency have been developed over 18 years of work in advanced education and global experience. While he excels at using innovation to push colleges out of their comfort zone, he also has a passion for new product development.

Tiska Thomas is a collaborative leader who dedicates her career to seeing the bigger picture and finding organizational solutions. With over 20 years of progressive experiences across different industries, Thomas brings a refreshing perspective to the landscape of strategic finance.

Lenora Reece is an authentic leader who enjoys celebrating growth, whether it's her own, that of her team members or the progress of Dallas College itself.

Juan Garcia is an ambitious leader who first learned about the field of education during his time as a Dallas College student. Now, he dedicates his efforts to uplifting the community and driving organizational excellence.

Dr. Rick Smith is a purpose-driven leader dedicated to creating meaningful impact within the community. With over three decades of experience across higher education, health care and nonprofit leadership, he brings a dynamic, cross-industry perspective to his work.