Panelists from around the globe include academic faculty, university leaders, counselors and specialists in this work as well as specialists in EQ and social emotional learning.

Dr. Sue McNamara

Regional Network Director, Asia Pacific – Six Seconds (Singapore)

In addition to her work leading Six Seconds in APAC, Sue also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore. She is passionate about supporting individuals, teams and organisations to flourish. Sue has over 25 years of experience in the field of leadership and training and over 20 years in the field of education. She supports higher educational organisations to create climates where people thrive and contribute with passion, purpose and high performance and where students are encouraged and supported to flourish and mature as human beings who will positively contribute to their own lives, their families, their workplaces and to society as a whole. She advocates an evidence-based approach blending the neuroscience of change and learning, strong data with practical processes to improve learning and the application of EQ Skills. Her work in education focuses on school/polytechnic/university-wide implementation of emotional intelligence; from measuring and developing student EQ, to supporting leaders, teachers, counsellors and caregivers to create a positive climate for learning and well-being. Projects range from introductory programmes to raise awareness through to whole-School/faculty implementations to create optimal climates.

Dr. Katrina Rogers

President, Fielding Graduate University (USA)

Katrina S. Rogers, PhD, is President of Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA, a distinguished graduate school known for adult learners in the fields of clinical psychology, human talent & development, organizational leadership, and education. As faculty, she has taught in her field in global environmental politics and policy, social movements, research, and theory. Fielding is also the home of the Marie Fielder Center for Democracy, Leadership, and Education, which houses the Worldwide Network for Gender Empowerment (WNGE). In the course of her career, Rogers has served in many roles, including executive, board member, and teacher. She led the European campus for Thunderbird School of Global Management in Geneva, Switzerland for a decade, working with international organizations such as the Red Cross, World Trade Organization, United Nations Development Program, and the European Union. She also developed externships for students at several companies, including Renault, Nestle, and EuroDisney (now Disneyland Paris). She holds doctorates in political science and history. She received a Presidential post-doctoral fellowship from the Humboldt Foundation and was a Fulbright scholar to Germany where she taught environmental politics and history.

Dr. Anabel Jensen

President, Six Seconds (USA)

With over 40 years of pioneering work in emotional intelligence education, Dr. Anabel Jensen has founded three schools and is the President of Six Seconds, a network devoted to helping communities develop positive change. Dr. Jensen was the principal of the Nueva School when Daniel Goleman came and wrote about the model emotional intelligence program there; under her guidance the school also won two Federal Blue Ribbon Awards for Excellence in Education. Dr. Jensen has co-authored four books on teaching EQ, and she is Chair and Professor in Education at Notre Dame de Namur University. Her background includes the teaching and supervising of instruction from preschool to the university level. Anabel received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Paige Haber-Curran

Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for the Student Affairs in Higher Education program, Texas State University (USA)

Dr. Paige Haber-Curran is a faculty member, speaker, consultant, researcher, and author. She serves as Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for the Student Affairs in Higher Education graduate program at Texas State University. With a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies and an M.A. in College Student Personnel, Dr. Haber-Curran has a range of experiences in higher education and has taught for over 13-years at the college level. Her research and consulting focus on college student leadership development, emotionally intelligent leadership, women’s leadership, college student learning, and gender in higher education. Dr. Haber-Curran is a Fulbright Scholar and is currently teaching and conducting research on EI at Salzburg University of Applied Sciences in Salzburg, Austria.

Dr. Nyasha GuramatunhuCooper

Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies, Kennesaw State University (USA)

Dr. GuramatunhuCooper is Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies at Kennesaw State University. She earned her doctorate in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University, specializing in the nuances of leadership in Zimbabwe’s liberation movement. Dr. GuramatunhuCooper was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and the country’s social, cultural, and historical background features heavily in her Leadership Studies scholarship. As a Leadership Studies educator, Dr. GuramatunhuCooper prizes the exploration of non-Western contexts of leadership (with African spaces, experiences, and voices at the forefront), as well as the connection between leadership and cultural and social contexts. In addition to teaching and researching about leadership from a cultural and global lens, Dr. GuramatunhuCooper also facilitates workshops and curriculum on intercultural competence.

Dr. Petra Meyer

Professor and Senior Lecturer for Emotional Intelligence and Social Skills, Salzburg University of Applied Sciences (Austria)

What’s the glue in organizations, makes them really tick, the one thing? Purpose, leadership, EQ? Petra has a strong passion for people and organizations – lives in (social) change, marketing, corporate culture and peace. As Trainer & Consultant for major international organizations. As Senior Lecturer & Researcher in Emotional Intelligence and Social Skills, Department for Human Resource Management & Leadership in Business Management. She recently published her first book about EQ in Organizations, Emotionale Intelligenz in Organisationen, and is also Network Leader for Six Seconds, an NGO making EQ happen.

Dr. Niva Dolev

Lecturer, Researcher and Head of the Education Department, Kinneret Academic College (Israel)

Niva Dolev is a lecturer and researcher at the Kinneret Academic College, on the Sea of Galilee. Her main research field is emotional intelligence, and social emotional development processes in education: children of all ages, and teachers. She is currently leading a number of educational initiatives for the ministry of education in social emotional development, and positive psychology. Dr. Dolev is the head of Education and Family division, management member of the center of Applied Ethics and of the European network for social emotional competence

Dr. Erika Powell

Regional Training Manager, Perdue Farms 

As a Regional L&D Training Manager, Erika currently creates and provides leadership development & emotional intelligence training to managers and executives in the manufacturing industry.  Prior to working in corporate, Erika was a team member at one of the country’s first online undergraduate engineering baccalaureate programs.  There, she assisted with daily program operations and also researched the impact, significance, and role of non-academic communities in the online student experience.  Her research challenged prevailing assumptions and biases around online students’ need for community beyond what the academic classroom could provide.  It also expanded notions and approaches to creating a more robust student experience and communities for online learners.    

Dr. Deborah Donahue-Keegan

Associate Director, Tisch College Initiative on Social-Emotional Learning and Civic Engagement, Tufts University (USA)

Deborah Donahue-Keegan is a Lecturer in the Education department. Her research and teaching focus on the ways in which prosocial education approaches can synchronously foster positive school climate, racial literacy, equity, and academic achievement in/across school systems. She is dedicated to advancing education practices that foster social-emotional development, deep learning, and cultural competence in all schools. Deborah co-leads the MA Consortium for Social-Emotional Learning in Teacher Education. She is also on the steering committee for the MA Social-Emotional Learning Alliance. Deborah began her career in the education field as a high school teacher, for seven years, beginning in Kingston, Jamaica. Before coming to Tufts, Deborah was a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Education Department at Wellesley College. She is currently writing a book that builds on her dissertation research–a qualitative study of public high school teachers’ efforts to foster socio-moral and civic learning through constructive controversy.

Dr. Bret Wells

Coach, Minister and Faculty Member, Missional Wisdom Academy (USA)

In his role as Managing Director, Bret Wells serves as a faculty member, trainer, consultant, program designer, and coaching strategist for the Missional Wisdom Foundation. In addition to coaching educators and designing educational initiatives, he has worked to develop a number of partnerships with colleges, universities, and seminaries across the United States with the goal of creating greater opportunities for shared learning, contextualization, and community development. Through his work with the Texas Distance Learning Association, Bret is working to forge pathways for deeper learning and collaboration between higher ed faculty / administration, and leaders in corporate and community contexts. Bret completed his DMin at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University where his dissertation focused on the efficacy of online learning combined with guided local practice as a means for training individuals for contextual leadership. Dr. Wells holds the PCC credential from the International Coach Federation, and is a Preferred Partner with Six Seconds.

Dr Yasmeen Al-Bulushi

Dean, Muscat College (Oman)

Dr. Yasmin Al Bulushi, is the first Omani female dean in the higher private education sector in the Sultanate of Oman. She is currently the dean of Muscat College, previously the Assistant Dean for Academic Support and Students’ Affairs in the College of Banking and Financial Studies, Oman, is an educationalist who is passionate about making change in people’s life through education. Dr Yasmin got her PhD from Leeds University, UK. Over the past 20 years, she has been teaching and researching different aspects of education, teaching and learning. Besides her responsibilities as a senior management at CBFS, Dr. Yasmin has been involved in different trainings including Women leadership, Communication skills, Work life balance, Stress management and emotional intelligence (EQ). She is a certified EQ trainer and assessor by Six Seconds.

Dr. Tim Green

Co-director of the online graduate program in educational technology at California State University, Fullerton (USA)

Tim Green, Ph.D., a former K12 teacher, is a professor of educational technology and teacher education at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). He is the author of numerous articles and books, as well as a presenter, on the integration of educational technology, instructional design, and online distance education. Some of his more recent books include Securing the Connected Classroom: Technology Planning to Keep Students Safe (Brown & Green, ISTE), The Essentials of Instructional Design: Connecting Fundamental Principles with Process and Practice (Brown & Green, Routledge), and The Educator’s Guide to Producing Media and Open Educational Resources (Green & Brown, Routledge). He co-produces an award-winning podcast called Trends and Issues in Instructional Design, Educational Technology, and Learning Sciences. Dr. Green earned his PhD in Instructional Systems Technology with a minor in Curriculum and Instruction from Indiana University.

Edward Gonzalez, MS

Middle school teacher, adjunct lecturer, and doctoral student, California State University, Bakersfield (USA)

I am a middle school teacher, adjunct lecturer, and doctoral studies student. I was awarded the 2016 Edwin Carr Fellow from CSU Fullerton and the 2018 LeRoy Finkle Fellow from the nonprofit organization Computer Using Educators. Currently, I am researching middle school student-led instruction for teachers and preservice teachers.

Dr. Rena Palloff

Professor and Author, Capella University & Fielding University (USA)

Rena Palloff, PhD has consulted extensively in health care, academic settings, and addiction treatment for well over 20 years. She is serving as core faculty at Capella University, teaching in the professional doctorate in Social Work as well as mentoring doctoral students, developing curriculum for the program. Additionally, she is faculty at Fielding Graduate University. Dr. Palloff received a master’s in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a master’s in Organizational Development, and a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University. A prolific author, Dr. Palloff has published numerous comprehensive guides to the development of an online environment that helps promote successful learning outcomes while building and fostering a sense of community among the learners. She is the 2012 winner of the Richard Wedemeyer Award for Outstanding Practitioner in Distance Education.

Casey Francis, MLS

Engagement Manager at EDPlus, Arizona State University (USA)

Casey Francis is passionate about how EdPlus at ASU is redefining higher education to match students’ ever-changing needs. In her role as Student Engagement Manager, Casey fosters the relationship between online students and Arizona State University. Hearing student stories and seeing them use ASU resources to accomplish their goals is why she comes to work every day. She earned her Bachelor’s in Communications from Florida Gulf Coast University and her Master’s of Liberal Studies from Arizona State University.