Amy Murphy, PhD, serves as an associate professor of student development and higher education leadership at Angelo State University. She is also the program coordinator for the M.Ed. in student development and leadership in higher education and the graduate certificate in academic advising, both fully online programs. Amy has over 20 years of experience in higher education and student affairs. She is formerly the dean of students and managing director of the Center for Campus Life at Texas Tech University. Her experiences include being the chair of the school’s behavioral intervention team, overseeing prevention and response activities for gender-based violence and discrimination as the deputy Title IX coordinator for students, and having administrative involvement in student conduct, disability services, counseling, and enrollment management.
Brian Van Brunt, EdD, is the Director of Behavior and Threat Management for D-Prep Safety. Author of over a dozen books, Brian has spent time as a child and family therapist, university professor, assistant deputy director of training at Secure Community Network, partner at TNG, and president of the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA). He is an internationally recognized expert in behavioral intervention, threat assessment, mental illness, and instructional design. Brian has provided consulting services to schools, colleges, and universities across the country and abroad on a wide variety of topics related to student mental health, counseling, campus violence, and behavioral intervention.
Chris Taylor, PhD, is the President of the International Alliance for Care and Threat Teams (InterACTT) and a consultant with DPREP Safety. He formerly served as the Dean of Students and Chief Student Affairs Officer at Wright State University. Chris has over 30 years of experience in higher education, including residence life, Title IX investigation and adjudication, student conduct, threat assessment, and chairing behavioral intervention teams. His research interests include masculinity and gender and he is the author of a variety of publications.
Jacques Whitfield, JD, is a seasoned human resources executive with over 20 years of experience in human resources management. Whitfield recently completed a six-year tenure as the chief human resources officer for the Yuba Community College District. Whitfield was responsible for managing and overseeing the human resources operations for the district and is credited with revitalizing and streamlining the human resource operations for the Yuba Community College District. Whitfield is a subject matter expert in performance management, employee engagement, and state and federal EEO compliance. He is highly accomplished in successfully working with others to develop professional skills and improve employee effectiveness through training and development. Whitfield is a frequent speaker, trainer, and presenter.
Jeanne Clifton has over a decade of experience in education, ranging from classroom teaching to one-on-one support. She is currently the reading & study skills coordinator for the TRIO SSS program at Salem State University, a federal grant supporting first-generation/low-income students and students with disabilities. She holds master’s degrees in teaching and English and is a licensed high school teacher. Jeanne also hosts the popular podcast, Actually Autistic Educator, which aims to amplify autistic voices and perspectives to educators, mental and physical health professionals, and allies. As an autistic adult with a joint disorder that creates limitations around walking, stairs, and standing and frequently requires the use of mobility aids such as crutches, a cane, or a wheelchair, advocacy is a passion, especially as it relates to education and mental health access.
Lisa Pescara-Kovach, PhD, is a professor of educational psychology at The University of Toledo, where she also serves as the Director of the Center for Education in Mass Violence and Suicide and Chair of the Mass Violence Collaborative. Lisa’s international and national level peer-reviewed and invited presentations include, but are not limited to, the topics of suicides and homicides related to bullying victimization, behavioral threat assessment, and school, campus, and workplace shootings. Lisa co-authored White Supremacist Violence: Understanding the Resurgence and Stopping the Spread. Her most recent publications address media contagion in connection to suicides and targeted shootings, as well as the mental health and mass shooting myth.
Tammy L. Hodo, PhD, is the owner and lead consultant for All Things Diverse. Tammy earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Urban Studies, with a minor in Sociology, specializing in Race, Class, Gender, and Ethnicity. Tammy worked in academia for over 18 years in a variety of positions, including faculty and university administrator. She established All Things Diverse LLC in 2018 to educate the masses about the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion. All Things Diverse, LLC provides consulting services to businesses, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and government entities that value diversity and want to develop a high-performing, inclusive workforce. All Things Diverse, LLC is dedicated to helping organizations realize the full potential that can only be achieved through deliberate action. The company is committed to helping its clients create a workplace culture of belonging where everyone can thrive.
