Meet the Nexford team

Here's a snapshot of our exceptionally talented team.

We are in Washington DC, and our teams work remotely from many countries across the world.

background

We're driven by five core values

Bold

We embrace uncertainty, welcome the unknown, question status quo, pave our own way to achieve our mission.

Passionate

We go to extra lengths in the interest of learner success.

Accountable

We say what we do, and do what we say and we own our mistakes - recognizing those mistakes pave our path to success.

Transparent

We communicate candidly and respectfully, we share and receive feedback and suggestions, and we don't withhold information from each other.

Outcomes Driven

We measure our individual success by our collective success and recognize our job isn't done until learners are better off than they were when they came to us.

Meet some of our faculty

Our faculty are responsible for providing subject matter expertize to support program development and assess student learning. They are also responsible for mentoring, coaching and advising learners for academic success, remain fully engaged with learners by providing them with individual and substantive feedback, and are responsible for staying current in the scholarship and practice of their field(s) of study. As importantly, our faculty serve on various NXU committees, and provide input to course design and revision(s) to the Program Director. Final decisions on these matters are made by the CAO.

Faculty

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Kyle Allison

    Associate Faculty

    • Doctor of Business Administration, California Intercontinental University
    • MBA, Amberton University
    • BA in Communication Studies, University of North Texas

    Dr. Kyle Allison is an experienced digital marketing executive and professor in the field. He possesses over a decade of working in corporate e-commerce and digital marketing with companies such as Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, VF Corporation and other top retail and brand companies.

    Focusing on developing marketing strategy at the heart of being customer-centric, is Dr. Allison's passion in his career. Focusing on driving optimized user experiences, strategic marketing campaigns, and driving analytical solutions to meet the needs of the market, is the key pillars of his experience and career interest.

    Providing that real-world application and experience into the classroom as a passionate instructor and content expert is what drives his scholarly spirit.

    He holds a Doctorate of Business Administration from California Intercontinental University, an MBA from Amberton University, and a BA in Communication Studies from the University of North Texas.

    Aside from being a scholarly practitioner, he spends his free time with family and keeping up with current events.

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Bari Courts

    Associate Faculty

    • Ph.D., Organizational Management, Capella University
    • M.S., Global Business Blockchain, University of the Cumberlands
    • M.A., Healthcare Administration, Ashford University
    • M.B.A., Management, University of Cincinnati
    • B.A., Mathematics, Kenyon College

    Dr. Bari Courts is an experienced instructor and lecturer with a demonstrated history of working in the global higher education industry. Skilled in E-Learning, Adult Education, Staff Development, Leadership Development, and Distance Learning. Strong management professional with a Ph.D. focused in Organizational Management from Capella University.

    Three Masters degrees in Management, Global Business Blockchain and Healthcare Administration. Able to teach Economics, Management, Finance, Accounting, and International Business. Have instructed in 15 different foreign countries including China, Vietnam, Cameroon, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Argentina, Mexico, Romania, and Spain.

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Damian Dunbar

    Associate Faculty

    • Doctor of Business Administration, Leadership, Walden University
    • M.B.A., Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, Colorado Technical University
    • B.B.A., Business Administration and Management, Baker College of Flint

    Dr. Dunbar is an experienced Policy Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Skilled in Management, Training, Financial Analysis, Quality Assurance, and Army. Strong finance professional with a Doctor of Business Administration focused in Leadership from Walden University.

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Howard Fero

    Associate Faculty

    • B.A., Psychology/Marketing, Hofstra University
    • M.S., Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Baruch College
    • Ph.D., Organizational Behavior, Claremont Graduate University

    Dr. Howard Fero is an author, speaker, professor, consultant, and executive coach who inspires and empowers others to achieve their leadership potential. He is a sought-after speaker and has been recognized as an ‘inspirational, motivational, and innovative facilitator’.

    Dr. Fero works with individuals and groups helping them to cultivate their leadership, identify and focus their motivation, and create high-performing teams. He is the Director of Graduate Leadership Programs and a Professor of Management and Leadership at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT. In 2014 Dr. Fero was recognized as a Business New Haven Rising Star. He is a strong believer in giving back and serves on the Advisory Boards of Directors of Junior Achievement of Southwest New England and Homes for the Brave.

    Dr. Fero is the author of Lead Me Out to the Ballgame: Stories and Strategies to Develop Major League Leadership, the result of over 100 interviews with Major League Baseball players and managers. In his inspirational, entertaining, eye opening, and practical keynotes, Dr. Fero engages his audiences with stories of how Major League Baseball managers lead their team, inspire trust, and create a winning culture. It’s based on these stories and the strategies which Dr. Fero and his co-author identified, that people in all walks of life can develop Major League Leadership.

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Emilsen Holguin

    Associate Faculty

    Known for transforming dreams into plans

    • Doctor of Business Administration, Leadership. Walden University
    • Master of Business Administration, Excelsior College
    • Bachelors of Sciences, Excelsior College
    • Institute for Management and Leadership in Education, Harvard University

    Dr. Holguin combines professional and academic experience. She brings over 15 years of experience in the banking and fashion industry. Her expertise includes helping startups to develop their strategies and business plans. In addition, Dr. Holguin has served as a business consultant in areas related to organizational culture and business strategy.

    Dr. Holguin is a passionate advocate for online learning. She has held various senior roles in higher education institutions, among them associate provost for student services and assistant provost for academic operations. She has served as a leader for higher education regional accreditation reviews and manage state registrations of over 30-degree programs.

    Her research interest is human behavior in the workplace. Dr. Holguin has 10 years of teaching experience. She has taught leadership, organizational behavior and management.

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Michael H. McGivern

    Associate Faculty

    Known for using common sense and helping others to succeed

    • Ph.D., Organizational Development, Walden University
    • M.S., Manufacturing Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    • B.S., Industrial Engineering, Central Connecticut State University

    Michael has professional experience in managing and consulting on Organizational Development/Redesign, Operations & Quality Management, and Human Resource issues. He held the position of Executive Consultant for a global consulting firm and positions in Fortune500 organizations as Manager of Organizational Effectiveness, Manager of Manufacturing, Superintendent and Manufacturing & Quality Engineer

    Michael’s visiting professor experience focuses on the delivery of courses on the following: Corporate Sustainability, Ethics, Economics, Organizational Development/Behavior, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Operations Management, Quality Management and Dissertation/Thesis research.

    Michael has also presented at numerous conferences including IAMB, ACBSP, FBI National Training Academy, Clemson University, University of North Texas, UCEA New England, Maynard Consulting, ASQ, AMA, SHRM, QACC, Timken Bearing and Industry Week’s America’s Best Plants. Michael has contributed articles to a variety of professional journals including IJSITA, IAMB, Development Dimensions International, Management Decisions, AMA, SHRM, and Futurics

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Bill Reed

    Associate Faculty

    • Bachelor of Science in Technology
    • Master of Science in Management
    • Ph.D. is in Management Performance and Leadership

    Dr. Bill Reed has over 21 years of experience in graduate-level teaching, including experience in the online model. Throughout his career, he was involved in the development of sales and management personnel, organizational behavior, and front-line and executive-level leadership. He also pursued academic experiences where his academic background compliments his business and management experience.

    His first academic degree was a Bachelor of Science in Technology. Later, he successfully completed a Master of Science in Management. His Ph.D. is in Management Performance and Leadership.

    Dr. Reed began his working career as a corporate pilot, with type ratings in Lear Jet, serving executive clients throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico. After seven years of flying experience, he accepted a position with the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller in both Chicago and New York. In 1981, he entered the business world, owning numerous businesses and organizations. During this time, he was active in the training and development of his salespeople and managers. After 17 years of self-employment, he entered the corporate environment where he was active in management for almost 9 years. His most recent corporate position was Executive Director of Sales for a division of a $2.5 billion sales organization.

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Michael Simms

    Associate Faculty

    • Ph.D., Political Science & Government, Howard University
    • D.Mgt., Business Administration & Management, University of Maryland Global Campus

    Dr. Michael Simms

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Keith Wade

    Associate Faculty

    • B.A., Business & Economics, St. Andrews University
    • M.A., Organizational Management, University of Phoenix
    • D.B.A., Management, Argosy University

    Keith is a senior executive with extensive skills in reviving community and corporate operations through strategic finance, HR, legal, risk management, external relations, quality, marketing, and customer service and satisfaction. Skilled in roles such as VP of Administration, Chief Administrative Officer, Executive Vice President Operations, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Executive Officer, etc.

  • Associate Faculty

    Mark McCoy

    Associate Faculty

    Known for building educational wealth that transcends for generations

    • Ph.D. of Business and Technology, Capella University
    • M.S. of Project Management, Keller Graduate School of Management
    • MBA of Business Administrations, Keller Graduate School of Management
    • B.S. of Project Management, IT Security Management, ITT Technical Institute of Business and Technology

    Mark McCoy is a Certified Higher Education Professional (CHEP) and a passionate educator. He executes and connects arguments on topics with genuine relationships. His philosophy is to enable students with teaching that relates to and reinforces learning objectives so students can deliver those taught skills in their current job or future endeavors.

    “I am a first-generational academic in my family like most of you. I want students to observe the opportunities in their education and embrace the results of success and prosperity.”

    Marks' full-time hybrid remote position is Vice President of Information Technology, Business Solution for a bio-engineering firm located in Minnesota. He is also a business owner and has teaching relationships with other schools. He is continuing his education by obtaining a Ph.D. in Business Administration and Information Technology. When he is not working or teaching, or learning, he enjoys family, hiking, walking, and traveling to foreign countries.

  • Associate Faculty

    Adebowale Onatolu

    Associate Faculty

    Known for studying forever to enhance his knowledge

    • Doctor of Business Administration, University of Phoenix
    • Master of Science, Marketing Communications, Roosevelt University
    • Bachelor of Arts, Business & Management, Northeastern Illinois University

    Adebowale (Debo) Onatolu holds a BA degree in Business and Management, MSMC degree in Marketing Communications and a Doctorate in Business Administration. Teaching for Debo was something that he always planned on doing because it would allow him to stay in the classroom and keep him studying forever.

    His professional experience includes corporate positions with a National Hospitality company that managed gift shops in fine hotels. He owned and managed an insurance agency for a national insurance company for 10 years before getting into the teaching profession. Dr. Debo still participates in various conferences and workshops to enhance his knowledge in his business contents areas and has over 15 years of education experience as an instructor and a year plus as Academic Department Chair. In his spare time, Dr. Debo likes to watch war movies, American football, soccer, and CNBC and relaxes with marketing and management reading materials.

  • Associate Faculty

    Aimellia Siemson

    Associate Faculty

    • B.A., Political Science, Economics, California State University, Fresno
    • M.A., International Relations, California State University, Fresno
    • J.D., Law, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law

    Aimellia is a seasoned professional with experience in direct legal representation, education, policy, marketing, and human resources.

  • Associate Faculty

    Aisling Byrne

    Associate Faculty

    Known for enabling people and organizations to grow and develop

    • CPTD, Certified Professional in Talent Development
    • SHRM-SCP, Senior Certified Human Resources Professional
    • M.S. Business, Leadership and Management, Western Governors University
    • B.S. Business, Human Resources Management, Western Governors University

    Ms. Byrne combines professional and academic experience as a strategic people and talent leader and educator . Ms. Byrne has served in senior HR leadership roles in national, global and start-up organizations in a variety of industries including e-commerce, retail, hospitality, real estate, property management, healthcare, and technology.

    Ms. Byrne has extensive professional HR experience leading the development and implementation of strategic people and organization initiatives in Talent Development, Performance Management, Employee Experience and Engagement, Rewards & Recognition, Learning and Development, Leadership Development and Organizational Transformation.

    Ms. Byrne is a passionate advocate for online learning and has also held various roles in higher education institutions where she served as faculty and as a lead program designer in online learning. Her experiences across many industries allow her to make strong connections with students in multiple professional fields and degree programs.

    Ms. Byrne is also member of SHRM’s Advocacy Team where she advises and advocates on crucial issues shaping public, social and business policies and is also an advisor with the SHRM Foundation championing research based solutions and awarding scholarships to developing HR professionals. In addition, Ms. Byrne is also a writer and contributing editor on current HR and careers topics.

    Ms. Byrne is an advocate of non-profits and provides pro bono HR consulting for the Taproot Foundation as well as serving as an advisory board member for an education non-profit.

  • Associate Faculty

    Nicholas Bucciarelli

    Associate Faculty

    Known for Artificial Intelligence and Automation

    • BA History, Saint John Fisher College
    • MS in Software Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology
    • MBA in Business Administration, Rochester Institute of Technology
    • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
    • E-Cornell-Marketing AI Certification

    Nicholas Bucciarelli has over 47 years of professional experience that spans both the public and private sectors relative to the research and development of advanced technologies and supporting methods across multiple industries that involved managing diverse and large product teams.

    The acquisition of this experience was in the capacity as Chief Information Officer with Unisys with responsibility for the development of disruptive and advanced technologies relative to new product development, Senior Director of Product Development and Enterprise Architecture Initiatives for Oracle, Director of Middleware Technology Development and Clinical Analytics Initiatives for IBM, Director of Software Product Development, Engineering Standards, and Enterprise Architecture for Lockheed Martin, Director of Software Product Development and Engineering Standards for Xerox, Director of Software Engineering and Information Technology Infrastructure for Eastman Kodak, Manager of Software Engineering for Bausch and Lomb, Manager of Application Development and Data Center Operations for Gannett Corporate, Senior Clinical Solutions Architect for Rochester Regional Health, Vice President of Product Development for Bio-Medical Systems and Bio-Informatics Data Scientist for OSP Labs, Manager of Software Product/Analytics Engineering, Information Technology, and Quality Assurance Manager for Han-Tek Corporation, and Calvary Robotics as Chief Architect /Technology Manager for New Product Development with a concentration on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence specific to commercial and military products.

    Nicholas's current position is with Unisys Corporation as Senior Director of Cloud & Infrastructure Services (Unisys), serving as Chief Product Architect for Solution Strategy. In his role, he has responsibilities for Product Development for Machine Learning/Cognitive Agents, Robotic Process Automation Agents, Natural Language Processing components, Business Process Model driven AI capabilities as the Senior Lead Data Scientist as well as Senior Lead Cloud Architect for client based deployments and migrations across Azure, AWS, Google, Oracle, IBM, and SAP supporting AIOps client initiatives. In addition, he is supporting DevSecOps and interoperability with open source technologies, Identity Digital Management (IDM), Modernization and Migration-based solutions, etc.

    In addition, an enormous amount of professional experience in the computer industry, which includes several key corporations where Nicholas also worked in parallel to his full-time positions in the 1980’s through 1990’s with major computer corporations: Control Data, HP, General Data, GE/Honeywell, Prime, Burroughs/UNISYS, Apple, Compaq, Xerox, Danka, EDS, CSC, Amdahl, Digital etc., as a means to enrich his Information Technology skills through applied knowledge.

    In parallel to this experience and his current position with Unisys is his mentoring at the collegiate level for Cornell University as an Instructor for eCornell and a Senior Fellow for Systems and Software Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to this role with Cornell University, Nicholas taught for Penn State, Syracuse, Saint John Fisher College, State University of New York, at Brockport and Alfred State, Columbia School of Medicine, Elmira College, Regis University, Southern New Hampshire University, Champlain College, and served as Senior Advisor to the University Alliance for SAP Studies at the University of Wisconsin. Nicholas provided workshops to several branches of the military relative to cybersecurity requirements to prevent SQL Injection attacks, deploy artificial neural-networks, configure cryptographic modules, and develop enterprise-wide security architecture models that span a four-tier systems architecture model, etc.

    Nicholas is a results-driven technologist with proven success in building and leading global teams of technical professionals in designing, developing, implementing and innovating data and security enterprise technologies and infrastructures. Nicholas is adept at solving complex technical problems and leading innovation in Information Technology projects related to the Department of Defense (DoD), CENTCOM, National Security Agency (NSA), US Military Branches, etc., while working for Oracle, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Eastman Kodak as well as doing work in these areas for several Federal Civilian Agencies such as GSA, FDA, IRS, etc.

  • Associate Faculty

    Christopher Fant

    Associate Faculty

    • MBA, Gardner-Webb University
    • BSBM, Clemson University

    Christopher Fant

  • Associate Faculty

    Carolyn Hess

    Associate Faculty

    • BS Sociology, SUNY College at Buffalo
    • MS Biology, UT Arlington

    Carolyn Hess is a Life Sciences teacher through and through. Having taught a spectrum of Sciences for 24 years, she enjoys "spreading the word" about Science in both face-to-face and remote milieus. Her recent experience includes Biology, AP Environmental Science, and Anatomy & Physiology (secondary and post-secondary).

    When Carolyn is not teaching, she loves to be active and outdoors, whether it is hiking, participating in water activities such as paddle-boarding or swimming at the beach, or anything else! She finds touching and smelling (and catching!) biological things irresistible, and will usually save a worm on a bike trail, help the turtle cross the road, or find herself with a pocket full of shells or rocks at the end of a long walk.

  • Associate Faculty

    Lonnie Jacobs, Jr.

    Associate Faculty

    • B.S., Computer Information Systems & Business Management, Grambling State University
    • M.A., Elementary Education & Teaching, University of Phoenix
    • M.B.A., Project Management, Strayer University

    Lonnie Jacobs, Jr. has fifteen years’ experience in Supply Chain Management. Presently, he works for Verizon Communications (a fortune 15 company). In this role, Lonnie directs and influences global procurement operations in the areas of professional services, technology, and global real estate, with an annual spend of over $300 million.

    Lonnie holds major responsibilities to review and execute contract compliancy, payment terms, and project affiliation. Lonnie has also worked for other fortune 500 companies such as Air Products & Chemicals, Lockheed Martin, and Honeywell Aerospace. Lonnie has gained valuable experience in these roles as well as others that would be an asset to any organization.

  • Associate Faculty

    Traci Sumner

    Associate Faculty

    Known for teaching all kinds of history

    • M.A. History, CSU Stanislaus
    • B.A. History, CSU Stanislaus

    Traci Sumner is a higher education veteran with nine years of college instructor experience and eight years of alternative high school instructor experience. She has a BA and an MA in history from CSU Stanislaus and is deeply passionate about history.

    Traci teaches because she wants to give back the excellent education she has been lucky enough to receive. While education has been a big part of her life, it isn't everything. She has two wonderful kids and a husband who keeps the technology running. Her hobbies include reading and cooking. She lives in the sunny Central Valley in California with her family and dog.

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Olufunke (Funke) Akiyode

    Associate Faculty

    Known for inspiring people

    • PhD, Public Health, UTHealth Houston
    • MBA, Human Resource Management, Strayer University
    • MHSA, Health Service Administration, Strayer University
    • Graduate Certificate, Management and Finance for International Health, Boston University
    • BSc, Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
    • National Diploma (AA), Accounting, Ogun State Polytechnic

    Funke is a multipotentialite with over two decades of experience in global health, nonprofit, research, and education. She has taken leadership roles at nonprofit organizations, and public and private educational organizations. She has presented papers nationally and internationally on global health, social issues, management, and finance areas.

    She is a business owner and believes that impacting and improving people’s health is one of her life's calling. She is an educator who also believes that education makes the world better. She also believes that people’s health status can be improved by improving their socio-economic status and has devoted her life to finding ways to improve the socio-economic and health status of populations.

  • Teaching Faculty

    Dr. Michael B. Rodriguez

    Teaching Faculty

    Known for training facilitation, public speaking, and research

    • Master in Business Administration, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas, Philippines
    • Doctor of Business Administration, Lyceum of the Philippines University

    Dr. Michael B. Rodriguez is a scholar in the field of business, a well-versed researcher, international resource speaker, and a dedicated professor. He has over nine (9) years of experience in the Higher Education industry. He was the Program Head of BS Business Administration, Assistant Professor, and Faculty Researcher in one of the Philippines’ top universities.

    His experiences in curriculum development, experiential learning, and business research made him a passionate and creative educator that focuses on competency-based education. Dr. Rodriguez earned his Doctor of Business Administration Degree in the Lyceum of the Philippines University - Batangas, Philippines with Academic Excellence Award in 2017; his Master in Business Administration in the same University in 2014. With his strong intellectual and practical foundation on business, research, and education, tagged with his determination and work ethics, Dr. Rodriguez continues to improve his craft by establishing links with national and international organizations.

  • Faculty and Technology Coordinator

    Creselda Jane Ebba

    Faculty and Technology Coordinator

    Known for human resource and language expertise

    • BSBA Marketing Management, University of the Cordilleras
    • Master in Business Administration, University of the Cordilleras

    Cres has more than 7 years of industry experience, with a specialization in human resource management.

    She is certified in conducting targeted selection interviews and language assessments. With a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing Management, she pursued her MBA in the University of the Cordilleras-Philippines. In the same institution, she began her career in the academe as an instructor.

    Her experience expands from customer service, compliance, administrative management, labor relations, to organizational development.

    Outside work, Cres is passionate about travelling and sustainable living. She advocates for mental health and women's rights.

  • Associate Faculty

    Maria Chiu

    Associate Faculty

    • B.S., Hospitality Management, San Sebastian College – Recoletos
    • M.B.A., Chiang Kai Shek College

    Based in the Philippines, Maria Chiu has worked in higher education roles specializing in different course subjects, including Business Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management. She endeavors to deliver quality education to learners and is passionate about helping learners understand the subject matter.

    Maria has also worked as Department Head in various retail companies making her experienced in the fields of providing quality service, customer relationship management, strategic management problem solving and analysis.

  • Associate Faculty

    Professor Hector Guiellmo Gonzales

    Associate Faculty

    • MBA, Universidad Católica de Córdoba

    Hector Gonzalez is a forward-thinking executive with demonstrated ability to enhance operational performance, impact revenue growth, and maximize operating profits through people alignment, technology-based processes, and culture development. He has experience managing multi-million dollar P&L throughout highly regulated and economically fluctuant environments.

    Hector Gonzalez has international experience in a wide range of industries. He is fully bilingual in English and Spanish.

  • Teaching Faculty

    Dr. Raphael Wanjiku

    Teaching Faculty

    • Ph.D., Information Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology
    • M.Sc., Software Engineering, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology
    • B.Sc., Computer Science, Africa Nazarene University

    Raphael is an Experienced Founder with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. Skilled in PHP, Mobile Applications, Java, and Linux. Strong business development professional with a Google Africa Challenge Scholarship focused in Android Developer from Udacity.

    Raphael Wanjiku Watch to learn more.

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Rajan Thapaliya

    Associate Faculty

    • Ph.D. Data Science, National University
    • M.S. Data Science, National University
    • B.S. Science, Southern New Hampshire University

    Dr. Rajan Thapaliya is an accomplished data scientist and professor with an impressive background in the field of data science. He holds a Master's and Ph.D. in Data Science from the National University of California and has obtained numerous certifications from industry leaders such as IBM, Google, and Amazon.

    With his real-world experience and practical knowledge, he brings a wealth of information to his graduate-level and doctoral (Ph.D.) level data science courses.

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Cornelius Session

    Associate Faculty

    • D.B.A. Strategy and Innovation, Walden University
    • M.S. Management, Colorado Technical University
    • M.A. Media Studies, The New School
    • B.A. Journalism and Mass Media, Rutgers University

    Dr. Sessions is an analytical, highly adaptable professional with extensive experience developing, deploying, and evaluating systems aimed at improving quality and efficiency. Skilled in aligning end-user needs with long-term resolutions to complex media challenges.

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. JeFreda Brown

    Associate Faculty

    • M.B.A. Accounting and Finance, Mississippi College
    • M.B.A. Business Administration with Finance Concentration, Mississippi College
    • B.S. Math, Mississippi State University
    • D.B.A. Finance, Walden University

    For over twenty years, Dr. Brown has empowered individuals to make informed and positive financial decisions in federal, nonprofit, corporate, and academic sectors.

  • Associate Faculty

    Dr. Justin Goldston

    Associate Faculty

    • Ph.D. Management - Leadership and Organizational Change, Walden University
    • M.S.C.M. Supply Chain Management, Penn State University
    • M.Phil. Leadership and Organizational Change, Walden University
    • B.S. Supply Chain Management, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

    Dr. Justin Goldston is a Professor of Project and Supply Chain Management at Penn State University where his research is focused on blending the practices of supply chain management, emerging technologies, and sustainability to create positive global change.

  • Teaching Faculty

    Adel Entino

    Teaching Faculty

    • M.B.A. Business Administration and Management, Jobs for Business and Arts
    • B.S. Business and Technology Education, University of Caloocan City

    With over ten years of work experience as a teacher and an assistant professor, Adel Entino is passionate about educating and inspiring students in the fields of business and mathematics.

  • Teaching Faculty

    Queeneth Okoro

    Teaching Faculty

    • M.Com. Business Management and International Business, University of South Africa
    • B.Com. Entrepreneurship, University of South Africa

    Queeneth Okoro

A snapshot of our Success Advisors

Providing support from the start, Nexford’s success team play a vital role in ensuring learner success by offering continual advice and personal support on academic programs, career development and policies. They also help learners overcome obstacles whilst learning and help them meet their career objectives.

Success Advisors

  • Director of Learner Success

    Trisha Roque-Oreta

    Director of Learner Success

    Known for guiding learners towards success

    Trisha Roque-Oreta is based in the Philippines and works as Nexford’s learner success manager. Her background in higher education and business administration gives her the experience she needs to aid learners on their educational journey to successful careers.

    She finds joy in learning about people’s passions in life as well as traveling. For over seven years, she has performed different roles in the academic world. Trisha holds a bachelor's degree in tourism management, a master’s degree in business administration, and she is currently studying her master’s degree in counseling for mental health and wellness.

  • Learner Success Manager

    Jaymiebeth Jose

    Learner Success Manager

    Known for people skills

    Jaymiebeth Jose is responsible for providing highly engaged, student-centered support for learners. She is a licensed Psychometrician and has experience working as a school counselor. Jaymie’s personal philosophy comes from the Humanistic Perspective, and she works with her clients using a holistic lens of human understanding and experience.

    As a mental health advocate, her greatest passion is to help people overcome hurdles in order to reach their full potential. When she isn’t supporting and mentoring learners, you can find her playing with her cats, singing, playing musical instruments, watching movies and traveling.

  • Lead Success Advisor

    Camille Rivera

    Lead Success Advisor

    Known for being bold, determined, and a goal setter

    Camille Rivera is a Professional Licensed Teacher and she studied Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English at Polytechnic University of the Philippines. She believes that being a teacher does not isolate oneself in a four-cornered classroom, it is a matter of passion—and her passion is to provide learners’ need—whether it is a formal lesson or a life lesson.

    With this philosophy in education, she had two years teaching various subjects to the learners from Junior to Senior High. She also taught English as Secondary Language to kids from an Asian Country. During her spare time, she feeds her soul through reading books, binge-watching and of course making sure that she bonds with her family.

  • Lead Success Advisor

    Cedie Villaseñor

    Lead Success Advisor

    Known for energy and customer focus

    • BA Marketing Management at Global Reciprocal Colleges, Caloocan City
    • Masters in Business Administration, University of the City of Manila

    Cedie is a high-spirited and customer service-oriented individual, with experience working in a multi-cultural university set-up. He is able to meet the needs of a diverse group of learners coming from different walks of life. With his experiences, he developed into a character who genuinely cares for his clients by providing consistently high quality service.

    Outside of his professional activities, he likes spending time with his family, music and movies.

  • Senior Success Advisor

    Elsbeth Olasiman

    Senior Success Advisor

    Elsbeth is a Registered Psychometrician based in the Philippines, an educator, a Mental Health Advocate, and a counselor by practice. She has an educational background in Psychology and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Education concentrating in Guidance and Counselling.

    Beyond work, Elsbeth's interests include listening to music, reading self-help and fictional books, watching movies, and spending time with her three cats.

  • Success Advisor

    Katrina Cabantog

    Success Advisor

    Known for being an education advocate

    Katrina has been in the field of education since she started working. She has teaching units and started her MA in Guidance and Counseling that helps her in guiding learners throughout their educational journey. She has experience working in multi-cultural schools that makes it easy for her to connect with learners across the world.

    Katrina is passionate about shaping the minds of young learners and seeing them grow and become successful.

    In her free time or outside work, you can see her traveling with her camera and capturing memories to share with everyone.

  • Success Advisor

    Krisha Ann Amador

    Success Advisor

    Known for her positive outlook on life

    Krisha Ann Amador is a licensed Psychometrician who earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Manila. She has a positive outlook on her career and life. She is passionate about promoting mental health and positive psychology to the people around her.

    She experienced working in the different facets of Psychology such as being a behavioral therapist for children with special needs, guidance specialist/student affairs officer to local and international students, and human resource practitioner to a foreign company. These helped her improve her skills and expand her knowledge in the field.

    During her leisure time, she enjoys binge-watching movies or series, exploring different places, and spending time with her loved ones.

  • Success Advisor

    Lady Ruth Onato

    Success Advisor

    Known for being empathic, goal-oriented, and philomath.

    Lady Ruth Onato graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a goal in mind to train the younger generation to become quality professionals of the future and to help them achieve the best version of themselves. She is a Registered Psychometrician with years of experience in the educational field.

    She took additional units in education and became a Licensed Professional Teacher majoring in Social Science. She believes that grit and a growth mindset are vital factors in achieving one's definition of success.

    “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” is one of her favorite quotations from one of her favorite writers, C.S. Lewis.

    You may often find her dining out and traveling with friends, hanging out with her family, and spending time in the church outside work. She finds satisfaction in listening to and learning from people’s insights into different facets of life. She loves being with people while making sure she also has time for herself. During her alone-time, she enjoys binge-watching series while eating her favorite snacks, listening to acoustic music while polishing her nails, and biking in the neighborhood just before the sunset to witness the colors of the sky.

  • Success Advisor

    Kristine Nellas

    Success Advisor

    • BSc Psychology, Philippine Normal University
    • MA Counseling, De La Salle University

    Kristine is a graduate of BS Psychology and MA in Counseling. She’s a Licensed Professional Teacher, a Registered Psychometrician, and a Registered Counselor. She worked in the education industry after graduation where she was given an opportunity to become a school counselor and a teacher to elementary, high school, and college students.

    Kristine has worked with learners from diverse backgrounds to assist them in their holistic development. Part of the work that she did was to design support and development programs to deliver effective services to learners. She tries her best to help cultivate an environment that is supportive and inclusive. She embraces every opportunity given to her and makes sure she always does her best, not settle for mediocrity, and efficiently perform to achieve her personal goals.

  • Success Advisor

    Mary Jane Viernesto

    Success Advisor

    • BSc Psychology, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela
    • MA Education, University of the Philippines Diliman

    MJ is a Certified Human Resource Associate (CHRA) and a Mental Health Advocate serving diverse clients in the field of education and industry for years now. She is currently a counselor-in-training taking up Master of Arts in Education major in Guidance at the University of the Philippines.

    Mary Jane was able to facilitate focus-group discussions, and educational events/seminars and was given the chance to speak at different events. With experience in teaching college students, she’s advocating the need to guide and empower younger generations to discover, improve, and maximize the best of their capabilities.

  • Success Advisor

    Fulufhelo Tshabalala

    Success Advisor

    Known for being a career counselor

    • ND Business Management, Rosebank College
    • BEd Education, University of South Africa

    Fulufhelo is a Registered Educator based in South Africa, she holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of South Africa and a National Diploma in Business Management.She has years of expertise in higher education in both academic counseling and customer service.

    Fulufhelo has experience with faculty and advisor training, dealing with program development difficulties, and putting training programs into place. Because of her strong interpersonal and communication abilities, learners have confidence in the advice and knowledge she provides.

  • Tuition Coordinator

    Rocel Andico

    Tuition Coordinator

    Known for being genuinely caring

    • B.A., Banking and Finance, Polytechnic University of the Philippines

    Rocel Andico is an experienced customer service provider with experience in handling various accounts covering a breadth of areas including retention, sales, technical support, and financial - both in the BPO and freelancing industries.

    Rocel has a solid background in academic advising, supporting learners in the US with reaching their academic goals.

    When she's not helping learners she loves to binge-watch Netflix series and movies with her family.

Admissions team at a glance

Our Admissions team ensure that prospective learners' applications are processed correctly and in a timely fashion. They ensure all applicants have the right qualifications and direction to maximize their potential, and provide clear, simple guidance: right from the start.

Admissions

  • Manager, Admissions and Registrar

    Sandra Honorio

    Manager, Admissions and Registrar

    Known for doing, not trying

    As Manager, Admissions and Registrar, Sandra makes it her mission to inspire confidence in learners so they can graduate with practical skills they need. She values thoughtfulness and strives to make our learners feel valued, every step of the way.

    In her previous role, Sandra oversaw recruitment, admission and enrollment operations at Mapua University in the Philippines. She holds a BA (Psychology), and is a MS Clinical Psychology candidate and De La Salle University. Outside of work, she enjoys playing volleyball, reading novels and binge-watching Netflix series.

  • Admissions Officer

    Amarachi Chidiebere

    Admissions Officer

    Known for being amiable and focused

    Being surrounded by educators her whole life Amarachi developed passion for education and joined Nexford University because of its mission of making quality education more accessible. Amarachi works as an admission officer and is responsible for supporting admissions processes and outreach. She also counsel applicants on opportunities available in the University to align with their goals.

    She has most of her experience holding various administrative roles assisting with business operations, registration, organization, and maintenance of database records mostly in the healthcare industry and has been able to transfer those skills to her work here at Nexford.

    Outside of work she enjoys swimming, binge watching shows and writing poetry.

  • Admissions Officer

    Janine Sagala

    Admissions Officer

    Known for positivity and versatility

    • Master of Clinical Audiology, University of Sto. Tomas
    • B.A. Communication Arts, University of the Philippines

    Janine focuses on building a positive learner experience through an efficient admissions cycle and records management. Empathy is at the core of everything she does. She believes that everyone deserves a quality education, regardless of race, gender, and status quo. Dedicated to making a difference, she turns her values, passion, and skillset into professional results.

    Outside Nexford, Janine is a deaf advocate and a Clinical Audiologist who specializes in management of hearing loss and balance disorders. In her spare time, she loves exploring food and places, binge-watching Netflix series, and solving mystery puzzles.

  • Admissions Officer

    Jovi Ipapo

    Admissions Officer

    Known for being a learning advocate

    Lifelong learning is one of the key principles that Jovi lives by. She believes that improving one’s skills, competencies, and knowledge, within both personal and professional perspectives, does not need to have a finish line. This conviction and her experience working in multi-cultural companies have also deepened her empathy and understanding of diversity in education.

    As an Admissions Officer, she ensures that all learners have and feel a safe, inclusive learning environment regardless of race, gender, and status quo.

    Outside Nexford, she is a mother, an entrepreneur, a trainer, a digital creative, and a disciple. In her spare time, she finds joy in having a cup of handcrafted coffee while spending quality time with her family, friends, and loved ones.

Meet the team leading the way — Executive Leadership

The driving force behind Nexford’s vision, strategy and lightning pace execution. They provide the experience, expertize and insight needed to revolutionize education as we know it.

Executive Leadership

  • Chief Executive Officer

    Fadl Al Tarzi

    Chief Executive Officer

    Known for having a unique vision

    Fadl founded Nexford University in 2018, with a vision to enable greater social and economic mobility through high-quality, affordable education. His vision stemmed from having built four startups employing over 500 people across 10 emerging markets. Throughout his entrepreneurial journey he witnessed how lack of access to affordable, high-quality education impacts societies across the world.

    Fadl became an entrepreneur at 18, and has accumulated 17 years’ experience founding digital marketing and SaaS startups, leading award winning digital engagement and digital transformation projects. Cumulatively, his startups have raised over $15 million in growth capital and employ more than 500 people globally. Under News Group International, he launched and grew SOCIALEYEZ from two to more than 120 people globally. He has worked with Fortune 500s, global consumer brands such as Starbucks, and governments in the US, Europe and MENA regions. Fadl has lived in Cairo, Paris, Washington DC, Dubai and London. He holds a BBA from the American University in Cairo and management degrees from George Washington and Middlesex Universities.

  • Chief Technology Officer

    Paul Coleman

    Chief Technology Officer

    Known for tenacity

    Paul Coleman is the chief information officer at Nexford. His career began at Microsoft in Seattle, building the Microsoft Office products. After Microsoft, he held a senior leadership position in telecommunications in Bermuda – his home country – responsible for corporate and retail strategies.

    Paul then spent five years at a fintech startup, followed by a move to the UK and a startup aimed at disintermediating the recruitment industry in the country. Paul has an MBA and a computer science undergraduate degree with honors from Cornell University. He has two teenage children, and outside of work is often found on a tennis court.

  • Chief Academic Officer

    Dr. Cathy Plunkett

    Chief Academic Officer

    Known for dedication to education at all levels and life-long learning

    • EdD, Educational Leadership, Edgewood College
    • MED, Administration and Supervision, National Louis University
    • BS, Education with endorsement in Special Education, Indiana University

    Dr. Cathy Plunkett serves as Nexford’s Chief Academic Officer. She has more than three decades of experience in education, starting as a teacher and principal in K-12 and moving to post-secondary education over 15 years ago.

    Dr. Plunkett has had leadership positions in both the academic and business sides of an institution, serving as a Campus Director, Regional Director, Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Director of Regulatory Compliance. The knowledge and experience gained in all of these positions provide solid platform to provide support and guidance to all all departments of the university to ensure compliance with accreditation and state licensing standards. She is passionate about learning and providing students with a positive educational environment for them to meet their educational goals and ultimately succeed in their chosen career.

  • Chief Financial Officer

    Omar Mughal

    Chief Financial Officer

    Known for asking the right questions and getting things done.

    Omar Mughal is a seasoned financial executive with a strong background in investment banking, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership. Mughal's career spans over 18 years, with a solid foundation in investment banking.

    He spent over 10 years in senior finance positions at top-tier investment banks, where he gained experience across Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Product Control, and Financial Control. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found a VC-backed B2B SaaS startup, which received backing from Y-Combinator, institutional investors, and notable angels. This venture added to his already extensive experience in the startup ecosystem.

    In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Mughal has over 8 years of experience in VP Finance and CFO roles at VC-backed SaaS startups. His leadership and fundraising efforts have been instrumental in raising over $70M from leading investors, including NEA and Kismet.

    Mughal's financial expertise is comprehensive, with deep experience in building high-performance global finance teams, financial modeling and analysis, investor relations, and M&A. He notably led the finance for companies scaling to over $50M in revenue and was involved in the M&A of QuantumBlack to McKinsey.

  • Director of Growth

    Barney Woodbridge

    Director of Growth

    Known for analytical and growth mindset

    Barney brings his passion for data and analytics to the marketing team at Nexford. Having worked across various tech startups, including Floom and Eve Sleep, Barney was inspired to join Nexford in 2019 — having felt that his own academic experience at university studying English Literature was outdated.

    Outside of work he can usually be found playing or watching football.

  • Chief Product Officer

    Zahra Safavian

    Chief Product Officer

    Known for creating mission-driven software that delights users

    • B.A., Visual Arts, University of Maryland Baltimore County
    • M.A., Publications Design, University of Baltimore

    Zahra is a seasoned product executive with a strong background in user experience and strategy, and a passion for creating mission-driven experiences that delight users. As a software startup veteran, Zahra has experience in building product organizations & SaaS platforms from the ground-up.

  • Country Director, Nigeria

    Oghogho Inneh

    Country Director, Nigeria

    Known for strategic thinking, innovation, and getting things done

    • MSc, Energy, Trade and Finance, Bayes Business School (Former Cass Business School)
    • BA, Accounting, University of Wales

    Ogy is an astute business strategist. She brings over 14 years of experience of solving business problems that spans several industries including Higher Education, Financial Services, Capital Market and Oil and Gas. Her expertise includes visioning, corporate strategy, metric setting and program delivery.

    She has worked out of Lagos, Nairobi and London and has served as a Director in areas related to strategy, organization development, culture setting and operations. Ogy is a seasoned business leader who enjoys leading by example, understanding organizational challenges and closely aligning visions with execution and impact. She is not done until the best possible outcome is realized, with real and measurable impact. She is passionate about arming the next generation of African talent with the soft and hard skills needed to thrive in the 21st century and transform Africa.

A snapshot of our management team

A group of passionate innovators who aspire to fulfil Nexford's mission of providing learners a high-quality, affordable, and dynamic online education. They support the team to build next-generation learning experiences you won't find anywhere else.

Management Team

  • Program Director

    Dr. Ann Larson

    Program Director

    Known for collaborating to improve the online teaching and learning experience

    • Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Higher Education Administration, University of South Dakota
    • Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), University of Mary
    • Master of Management (M.M.), Human Resource Management, University of Mary
    • Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Mass Communication, North Dakota State University

    Dr. Ann Larson has served in online higher education for over fifteen years. She has led the development of online academic operations in the for-profit, multi-campus, career-focused higher education sector.

    Her experience includes the development of academic programs, the delivery of student support services, the management of faculty and academic staff, as well as the oversight of academic operational functions. Ann holds a Doctor of Education degree with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Dakota, two Master's degrees from the University of Mary, and a Bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University.

  • Head of Performance Marketing

    Joe McGoldrick

    Head of Performance Marketing

    Known for strategy and attention to detail

    Joe has more than 10 years of marketing experience, working within the public sector, client side and agency side. After moving back to the UK from Sydney in 2019, Joe worked as a freelance digital marketing consultant, before joining Nexford in early 2021.

    During his time in the public sector, Joe worked in a variety of marketing and branding roles. This included projects with Creative England, UKTI, the Cabinet Office and Emirates. After moving to Sydney in 2016, Joe started a digital marketing role within FMCG, before moving onto work for the WPP group of agencies. Joe returned to the UK in 2019 to set up his own business, working as a digital marketing consultant for SMEs in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Joe is passionate about using data and customer insights to improve marketing performance.

  • Content Marketing Manager

    Mark Talmage-Rostron

    Content Marketing Manager

    Known for tenacity, creativity and shunning the status quo

    Mark is a College graduate with Honors in Copywriting and is the Content Marketing Manager at Nexford, creating engaging and thought leadership content that sells.

    Hailing from South Africa, and with a wealth of experience in traditional advertising, direct marketing, and online demand gen marketing, Mark is putting those skills to great use creating engaging and thought leadership content that sells in his role as Content Marketing Manager at Nexford.

  • Manager, Admissions and Registrar

    Sandra Honorio

    Manager, Admissions and Registrar

    Known for doing, not trying

    As Manager, Admissions and Registrar, Sandra makes it her mission to inspire confidence in learners so they can graduate with practical skills they need. She values thoughtfulness and strives to make our learners feel valued, every step of the way.

    In her previous role, Sandra oversaw recruitment, admission and enrollment operations at Mapua University in the Philippines. She holds a BA (Psychology), and is a MS Clinical Psychology candidate and De La Salle University. Outside of work, she enjoys playing volleyball, reading novels and binge-watching Netflix series.

  • Technology Enablement Manager

    Hesham Alaa

    Technology Enablement Manager

    Known for being organized and people development

    Hesham has 14 years of IT experience in global and multinational organizations, and has worked across technical, operations and project management functions. He joined Nexford to work in a place with a social mission.

    He’s passionate about education and people development and loves to find meaning in everything he does.

  • Nexford Application Specialist Manager

    Christine Balolong

    Nexford Application Specialist Manager

    Known for her drive to deliver results and motivate

    Christine inspires her team to understand that each learner is unique with different needs, desires and goals. Understanding these is crucial to effectively inform them of the impact higher education can have on their life. She values keeping her team of Nexford Application Specialists highly motivated.

    She has 8 years’ experience in team management for various acquisition and customer service centers — 5 years of which are within the education industry. She found her passion in this industry as she has the opportunity to positively impact someone’s life.

  • Product Manager

    Ursula Grover

    Product Manager

    Known for asking a lot of questions

    After working to enhance the digital tools at the University of Southampton alongside her studies, Ursula has continued to thrive in the educational sector since graduation, and is currently the project manager at Nexford.

    Ursula’s pursuit of a career in education began at Cengage, as an academic publisher. More recently, she has worked at Instructure, introducing institutions across the world to the Canvas platform. Outside of education and tech, she enjoys exploring London, and getting her hands on some last minute theatre tickets.

  • Senior Instructional Designer

    Victoria Raish

    Senior Instructional Designer

    • Ph.D., Learning, Design, and Technology, Penn State University
    • M.A., Science Teaching, University of Southern California
    • B.S., Biology, Mercyhurst University

    Victoria is an experienced online learning expert with a demonstrated history of working in both academia and corporate environments. Skilled in Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Curriculum Development, Public Speaking, and Student Development. Strong at project management with a systems approach empowering the voices of all stakeholders.

  • Head of People

    Charlotte Galbraith

    Head of People

    Known for executing HR strategies with precision and impact

    Charlotte Galbraith brings a wealth of experience in human resources strategy, organisational development, and talent acquisition design. Her approach in human resources, honed across private sector and startup environments, has been integral in shaping innovative strategies and fostering organisational growth.

    At the forefront of Charlotte's career are her contributions to the tech startup ecosystem. Here, she championed transformative HR practices, aligning talent management with rapid organisational growth and technological advancements. Her methods not only enhanced operational efficiency but also fostered a culture of inclusivity and empowerment.

    Charlotte's expertise in human resources is extensive, with a particular flair for aligning HR initiatives with overarching business goals. She has played a pivotal role in transforming HR functions, contributing to significant growth in revenue and team expansion in her previous positions. Her experience encompasses developing high-performance HR teams, refining talent acquisition processes, and leading strategic HR projects that have left a lasting impact on the organisations she has worked with.

Join our team

Our team provides support, expertise and opportunities for learners and partners around the world. We use the latest technology to collaborate. The result? A flexible community of specialists delivering meaningful results at warp speed.

Looking to join a dynamic organization breaking new ground in higher education?