Keynote & Featured Speakers
Michael Karl - Mentalist
Michael Karl is a renowned communications expert and professional speaker, celebrated for his mastery of influence and persuasion—a skillset honed through over 20 years as a professional mentalist. His unparalleled understanding of human behavior and communication dynamics has empowered leaders and organizations such as MARS, PayPal, Indeed, and Toyota to elevate their leadership strategies and foster unparalleled loyalty.
Michael’s expertise extends beyond the corporate world. He has coached former Miss America contestants on mastering interview techniques and even outsmarted a polygraph test administered by the Secret Service. His extraordinary talents earned him recognition on the hit show ‘Penn & Teller: Fool Us’.
With a captivating blend of entertainment and actionable insights, Michael Karl transforms audiences, equipping them with the tools to harness the power of communication and achieve their fullest potential in both personal and professional arenas.
 Jeremy Singer - College Board, President
Jeremy leads College Board in delivering its mission and serving its members in a financially sustainable way. Jeremy oversees Advanced Placement, SAT, all related instructional and assessment programs, BigFuture, Finance, Technology, Operations, International, Risk Management, Legal, and Global Strategy and Talent.
In June – December 2024, Jeremy took a temporary leave of absence to serve as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Executive Advisor in the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) to lead the successful launch of the 2025-2026 FAFSA and put the work on a stable and positive long-term trajectory.
Jeremy has extensive leadership experience in both not-for-profit and for-profit education organizations, having served as president of Kaplan Test Prep’s Graduate, Pre-College, and K–12 divisions; president of Digital Products for McGraw-Hill Higher Education; CFO and COO of the Grow Network; and executive director of Partners in School Innovation. Jeremy has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Danielle Holley - Mount Holyoke College, President
Danielle R. Holley is the 20th president of Mount Holyoke College and the first permanent Black president in its 186-year history. A distinguished legal scholar and educator, she previously served as Dean of Howard University School of Law (2014–2023). Holley holds a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
During her tenure at Howard, she led transformative initiatives, including a six-year BA/JD program, experiential learning partnerships with major organizations, and record-breaking fundraising efforts, securing a $10 million grant for public interest law.
Her scholarship focuses on civil rights, diversity in education, and the legal profession. A recognized expert on race-conscious admissions and equity, she frequently provides analysis for major media outlets. She serves as co-chair of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and holds leadership roles with the Aspen Institute and the American Council on Education. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Holley is among the few Black women to lead a Seven Sisters college, continuing her legacy of advocacy, leadership, and educational excellence.
Nick Michiels - Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville PC, Principal
As a Principal in Powers’ Education Group, Nick guides clients through the postsecondary triad so that the institutions can focus on fulfilling their missions.
Nick represents postsecondary schools in audit and program review proceedings before the United States Department of Education and its administrative tribunal, the Office of Hearings and Appeals. He also has experience responding to adverse actions taken by accrediting and state licensing agencies. Nick seeks to preserve important institutional relationships with regulatory agencies while advancing the school’s viewpoint.
Nick helps postsecondary institutions remain current in a rapidly evolving environment by monitoring legislative, regulatory, judicial, interpretive, and other developments on a variety of education issues. With this background, he assists schools with institutional policymaking, transactional matters, responding to subpoenas, and conducting internal investigations.
Karen McCarthy - NASFAA, VP of Public Policy & Federal Relations
Karen, as NASFAA Vice President of Public Policy & Federal Relations, currently works in NASFAA's division of policy and federal relations, providing a financial aid administrator's "on the ground" perspective to federal student aid policy discussions and debates. She began her career in student aid working in the financial aid offices at several large, four-year institutions, including Boston University, Miami University of Ohio, and The Ohio State University. She began work in NASFAA's training department in 1999 before joining NASFAA's policy team in 2010.
|
