Bill Heinrich Author

Dr. Bill Heinrich is the Director of Mindset by Symplicity where he helps campuses translate big ideas into repeatable educational practices. He researches, consults, and hosts a podcast about higher education, experiential learning, assessment, leadership, and organizational change. Bill's research and scholarship focus on experiential learning, career, and High-Impact Practices as systems in higher education with a focus on student access and organizational integration. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Society for Experiential Education, as co-chair of the Dalewood Middleschool Parent Council, and as fundraising chair of the Glen Eden Special Olympics ski team. He resides in Hamilton, Ontario with his family.

Tyler L. Hough is a scholar-practitioner and Director of Employer Engagement at Rice University, where he champions efforts to build an integrated career ecosystem. He leads industry engagement programs that expand and deepen meaningful employment opportunities for MBA students and alumni. Tyler’s research and scholarship focus on experiential learning, equity and access in higher education, and cross-functional collaboration across institutional and community contexts. His leadership and research have been recognized by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and the Society for Experiential Education. Tyler’s commitment to strengthening higher education and its role in society extends beyond his institutional leadership to national and community service. Through board and advisory roles, including with the Society for Experiential Education and Art League Houston, he works to advance experiential learning, equity, and civic engagement as vehicles for institutional and social change. He resides in Houston, Texas, with his husband and three dogs.

Dr. Erica Lewis dedicates much of her professional time to educating doctoral nursing students at James Madison University, where she serves as a professor in the School of Nursing. She teaches courses focused on research and innovation, specializing in healthcare design. In addition to her teaching, she is a content creator and a guest speaker, discussing the application of innovative methods in nursing and healthcare practice. Dr. Lewis is the recipient of the prestigious Faculty Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia. She is recognized for her ability to collaborate across disciplines and for her research on how students learn innovation behaviors and methods.

Dr. Ellie Louson is an Educational Developer at Michigan State University’s Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation as well as the Associate Director for Teaching & Learning in CIRCLE, MSU’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Collaboration, Learning, and Engagement. As a member of the teaching faculty at Lyman Briggs College, MSU’s residential, undergraduate STEM college, she teaches courses in Science & Society focused on the environment, the life sciences, and human-nature interactions. Her research interests include wildlife films’ representation of animal behavior and interdisciplinary, experiential teaching and learning. She has a track record of leading and facilitating innovative course prototypes and supporting educators’ transformed teaching. She is an experienced facilitator for academic units and mentor for graduate cohort fellowships in the CTLI and CIRCLE. Through strategic collaboration and building communities of care, her work enhances student success, teaching effectiveness, and interdisciplinary capacity.

Dr. Patrice Ludwig serves as the Interim Assistant Vice President for Research and Innovation at James Madison University, where she leads initiatives that foster collaboration. She oversees programs that support interdisciplinary research and experiential learning. In addition to her administrative leadership, Dr. Ludwig is recognized for her strategic thinking, her commitment to inclusive innovation, and her ability to build bridges across departments and disciplines. Her background in population ecology and teaching introductory biology have strongly influenced her attention to connections and the conditions in which they are built and sustained.

Dr. Seán McCarthy is a professor in the Department of Writing Studies at Montclair State University, where he leads interdisciplinary initiatives bridging the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Science and Mathematics. His scholarship and teaching focus on the intersections of Writing Studies, community engagement, and innovation, with particular emphasis on transdisciplinary collaboration and experiential learning. Before joining Montclair State, Seán served as a founding faculty member and associate director of JMU X-Labs. He is co-director of Celebrating Simms and Mapping the Black Digital and Public Humanities, nationally recognized digital humanities projects that explore Black history and culture.

Dr. Nick Swayne is an accomplished higher education president, strategic innovator, and decorated military veteran with a legacy spanning community college leadership, statewide academic partnership, and global recognition for transformative education. Since 2022, he has led North Idaho College as its 11th President, executing a turnaround that reversed a twelve-year enrollment decline, rebuilt leadership teams, and restored accreditation standing. Dr. Swayne’s pioneering work with workforce training, dual credit pathways, and affordable bachelor’s degree collaborations established NIC as a regional leader in student success. Previously, he founded the JMU X-Labs innovation ecosystem at James Madison University, used by over 6,000 students annually, and has been cited as a model of transdisciplinary, experiential education featured in national media, including the New York Times and the Chronicle. He served as Executive Director of the 4‑Virginia consortium, doubling the number of university partners and spearheading initiatives in collaborative research, course sharing, and degree completion across Virginia’s public universities. He was elected to four terms on the Harrisonburg City School Board, serving in multiple capacities, including chair and vice chair. A two-time recipient of the Governor’s Technology Award for innovation, Dr. Swayne’s programs have been recognized for boosting student achievement and access for underrepresented groups. Beyond education, he is a U.S. Army veteran honored with the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, and Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Widely regarded for his visionary leadership, board governance, and dedication to mentoring, Dr. Swayne continues to champion collaboration, integrity, and community engagement in higher education.

Dr. Tatjana Titareva is a Staff Scientist at AI Policy Lab at Umeå University in Sweden, and leads the United Nations Higher Education Sustainability Initiatives (HESI) Action Group (AG) on the Futures of Higher Education and AI, specifically the Implementation Group (IG) on “AI Ethics, Safety, and Inclusivity in Higher Education,” and is the member of the Presidential Commission on AI at the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), as well as collaborates with interdisciplinary research hub exploring AI in Education based at the Department of Education, University of Oxford, UK.