Kentucky Postsecondary Education Trusteeship Conference 2026

Dr. Cia Verschelden, who recently retired as vice president of academic and student affairs at Malcolm X College - City Colleges of Chicago, is now special projects advisor for the integration of academic and student affairs at the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Verschelden taught for more than 25 years at two- and four-year institutions in social work, sociology, women's studies, nonviolence studies and first-year seminar. Her administrative posts have included department chair, institutional assessment lead and vice president of academic and student affairs. Verschelden has a bachelor's in psychology from Kansas State University, a master's in social work from the University of Connecticut, and a doctorate in education from Harvard University. Her book, 'Bandwidth Recovery: Helping Students Reclaim Cognitive Resources Lost to Poverty, Racism, and Social Marginalization,' was published in 2017, and her new book, 'Bandwidth Recovery for Schools: Helping Pre-K-12 Students Regain Cognitive Resources Lost to Poverty, Trauma, Racism and Social Marginalization,' in 2020.

Dr. Jane Smith has over 20 years of experience in cosmetic formulation and ingredient research.

Alice Johnson drives retail innovation with a focus on customer experience and digital transformation.

Dr. Leslie Sizemore boasts three decades of healthcare and administrative expertise and currently holds the position of Associate Vice President for Workforce and Economic Initiatives at Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education. In addition to being a licensed occupational therapist, she spearheads several critical initiatives within the CPE and plays a pivotal role in shaping and monitoring policies that impact workforce development and education. Dr. Sizemore also owns and operates TheraCare, Inc., a private practice occupational and physical therapy staffing company serving Southeastern Kentucky. She lends her expertise to various advisory bodies, including the SEKY Advisory Council for Volunteers of America, the Professional Advisory Council for the Laurel County Center for Innovation, and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Institutional Review Board. Dr. Sizemore continues to live in Southeastern Kentucky and travels the state to coordinate education and industry partnerships collectively dedicated to building a robust Kentucky workforce.

Dr. Aaron Thompson is a passionate advocate for higher education. As a first-generation college student from rural Clay County, Kentucky, he experienced first-hand the transformative power of a college credential. As President of CPE, he works to ensure all Kentuckians have an equal opportunity to improve their lives through postsecondary education. Before taking the helm of CPE, Thompson served as interim president of Kentucky State University; CPE executive vice president and provost; and faculty member and administrator at Eastern Kentucky University. He has extensive leadership experience within the private and non-profit sectors and is a highly sought-after national speaker. Dr. Thompson has authored or co-authored numerous books and peer-reviewed publications on diversity, cultural competence, first-year experience programs, retention, and student success, among other topics. In 2019, he was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

Eric Friedlander has served as secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services since 2020. As Cabinet secretary, Friedlander leads a $17.5 billion Cabinet that serves every Kentucky citizen in some capacity through its 93 agencies, departments, branches and functions, including the departments for Public Health; Medicaid Services; Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities; Community Based Services; and Aging and Independent Living and Office of the Inspector General; Serve Kentucky; and World Languages Association-certified translations and American Sign Language. Committed to major social services and population health policies and programs that aim to transform the health and well-being of Kentuckians, he is a champion of all citizens and the more than 8,000 Cabinet employees.