Webinar: Sustainability of the Current Economic Model in Higher Education

Beverly Daniel Tatum

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum is the author of the New York Times best-selling book, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” and Other Conversations About Race as well as Can We Talk About Race? and Other Conversations in an Era of School Resegregation.  An award-winning psychologist widely known for her expertise on race relations and as a thought leader in higher education, she is president emerita of Spelman College. Her thirteen years as the president of Spelman College (2002-2015) were marked by innovation and growth and her visionary leadership was recognized in 2013 with the Carnegie Academic Leadership Award. In spring 2017 she was the Mimi and Peter E. Haas Distinguished Visitor at Stanford University. Most recently, she served as interim president at Mount Holyoke College during academic year 2022-23. 

Dr. Tatum holds a B.A. degree in psychology from Wesleyan University, and M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan as well as an M.A. in Religious Studies from Hartford International University (formerly Hartford Seminary). She was the 2014 recipient of the American Psychological Association Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology.

Penelepe C. Hunt

Penelepe Hunt is a senior consultant and principal at Marts&Lundy, a global management consulting firm, specializing in the higher education and arts and culture sectors. Her expertise includes campaign planning, program assessments, strategic planning, leadership coaching, and board development for institutions both small and large. Penelepe is adept at guiding the complex interplay of relationships between organizational leaders, trustees, development staff, and donors.

Penelepe joined Marts & Lundy in 2013 after 28 years as an advancement professional. She came to the firm from her position as Vice Chancellor for Development at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). While at UIC, Penelepe led the fundraising programs of 17 schools and units, including an academic medical center and hospital. Penelepe’s tenure at UIC spanned nine years, during which time she led a $650 million comprehensive campaign. The campaign ultimately exceeded its goal by $26 million. 

Prior to her move to UIC, Penelepe served as Associate Vice President and Campaign Director for Northwestern University. She began her time at Northwestern as Director of Annual Giving, and after several years became the director of a $60 million scholarship endowment campaign. In her final position at Northwestern, she managed the development programs of seven units and designed and led a successful $1.5 billion campaign.

As a longtime volunteer for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Penelepe has presented at many conferences and was awarded the Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence. She created and chaired the national conference, Advanced Development for Deans, and has chaired the  CASE Summit for Advancement Leaders. Her book, Development for Academic Leaders, a Practical Guide to Fundraising Success, is an essential tool for presidents, provosts, deans, and other campus leaders. 

Penelepe earned a B.A. from Pomona College and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University.

Ted Mitchell

Ted Mitchell has served as president of the American Council on Education (ACE), the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities, since September 2017. Mitchell and his team work closely with Congress, the executive branch, and the private sector to develop policies and innovative practices that serve our country’s postsecondary learners.

Mitchell’s leadership of ACE and the entire higher education community is informed by a career committed to increasing access to high-quality education and improving outcomes for all students. Mitchell served in the Obama administration as U.S. under secretary of education from 2014 to 2017 and was responsible for all postsecondary education policies, such as initiatives focused on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, minority serving institutions, and federal student aid. Mitchell and his team at the Department of Education (ED) reinstated Pell Grants for incarcerated adults, created the College Scorecard, and restored millions of dollars to students who were defrauded by their institutions. Before joining ED, Mitchell served in a variety of higher education leadership roles, including as president of Occidental College (1999–2005); vice chancellor and dean at the University of California, Los Angeles; professor and department chair at Dartmouth College; and a member of the Stanford University Board of Trustees.

Mitchell has also been a leader in K–12 education. He served as chief executive officer of the NewSchools Venture Fund—a venture philanthropy that invests in K–12 innovation to support low-income students, schools, and communities—and as president of the California State Board of Education. Throughout his career, Mitchell has worked to create an educational system that serves the goals of excellence, equity, and social justice.

Mitchell is a current board member of Coursera, Khan Academy, Occidental College, TIAA, Education Quality Outcomes Standards Board, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and Credential Engine.

Mitchell received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as his PhD, from Stanford University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.