Heather McGowan

Recognized as the 2017 #1 global voice for Education on LinkedIn, Heather McGowan is an internationally known speaker, writer and thought leader. McGowan prepares leaders to most-effectively react to rapid and disruptive changes in education, work, and society. As an innovation strategist, Heather has worked with diverse teams to address these challenges. Recognizing that business innovation begins with education, specifically learning faster than your competition, she has worked with university presidents and corporate human resources managers to prepare both graduates and workers for jobs that do not yet exist. She assists corporate executives in rethinking their business models, teams, and organizational structures to become resilient in changing markets.

Dr. Robert E. Johnson

Dr. Robert E. Johnson was appointed chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on March 7, 2017 and began his leadership of the 8,700-student research university on July 1, 2017. He had previously served as president of Becker College in Worcester. A frequent presenter and commentator on issues related to the future of work, Dr. Johnson strongly believes that college graduates must be professionally and intellectually agile to compete in a world where career mobility is the norm and individuals must continuously build their personal value. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Johnson holds a PhD in higher education administration from Touro University International, a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Morehouse College.