I am Professor of Writing Studies, Associate Vice Chancellor of Teaching and Learning, and Faculty Director of the Center for Innovative Teaching, Research, and Learning at University of California Santa Barbara. I work with my campus and others on equitable and inclusive systems and structures, and on equitable taching and learning. My research focuses on epistemologies and knowledge-making practices within disciplines, especially (but not limited to) as they related to the production of written knowledge. I have also taught more sections of first-year composition than I can count on all the fingers and toes of everyone in my family.

Dr. Brian Bentley has worked in Higher Education for over 20 plus-years. He has held positions such as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Campus Director of Academic Operation, Department Chair for Digital Filmmaking & Video Production/ Visual Effects & Motion Graphics, Co-Director of Broadcast Training, and Faculty. In addition to his educational background, Dr. Bentley has worked in television as a News Producer/Director while sharing time in production. Furthermore, he has worked in video post-production including operating as a Film Colorist and Video Editor.

His educational experience includes a bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting, certificate in Game Design, MFA in Creative Writing, M.A. in Mass Communication, Masters in Business Administration, and Doctorate in Instructional Leadership. He is in the process of working on a second Doctorate in Communications. Dr. Bentley has also worked as a media consultant and educational trainer.  

Dr. Bentley has also worked on several independent projects such as producing and directing a documentary film focusing on the impact of Southern Hip Hop music. In addition, he has worked on an independent feature film in the capacity of producer.. He has several other projects in the works.  

Dr. Ryan Barone (he/him/his) serves as the Assistant Vice President for Student Success. In this role, he works between both academic affairs and student affairs and collaborates with units across campus to foster student success, overseeing the Academic Advancement Center, Career Center, McNair Scholars Program, Scholar Success Programs, Key Communities, and University Learning Communities. He is also an assistant professor in the School of Education teaching in the Student Affairs in Higher Education M.S. program and advising doctoral students in the Higher Education Leadership program. 

Dr. Barone is a first-generation college graduate who earned his bachelor’s degree from State University of New York College at Fredonia, his master’s degree from Colorado State University, and his doctorate from the University of Denver. His research interests include social justice leadership, equity with an emphasis on two-year colleges, violence prevention, and critical qualitative research methods.

Patrick Turner has over 25 years of working in higher education, specializing in the areas of academic affairs, student support services, faculty development, curricula analytics student and persistence. Patrick serves as Associate Provost for Student Success and Innovation at Clark Atlanta University. He holds a bachelor's degree in Public Administration, a master’s degree in Human Resource Development, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership-Curriculum and Instruction.

Patrick previously held a similar post at New Mexico State University, where he collaborated with the Provost, Deans, Department Heads, Student Affairs, diversity programs, two-year colleges, and local high schools to address issues of social justice and educational access. With a research focus on the first-year experience, student retention, persistence, and academic success, his body of work investigates institutional factors that support or act as a barrier to the academic and social integration of students, particularly those from underrepresented, marginalized, and minoritized populations. Three years ago, Dr. Turner established the Men of Color Initiative at New Mexico State University which takes an asset-based approach to developing and engaging the intersecting identities of our male students.

The changing landscape of higher education requires leaders who have a comprehensive understanding of the nuanced and complex lives of a diverse population, possess the ability to navigate internal and external pressing issues, and take a student-centered approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Turner’s career has been spent working with students, faculty, staff, and institutions on integrating and operationalizing practices such as inclusive excellence, universal design learning, experiential learning, belonging & social identities, curricular complexity, and engaging a diverse population. In order to prepare students for the 21st century, institutions must reimagine and redefine the concept of student success.

Additionally, Dr. Turner is the Co-Principal Investigator (PI) on several grants through Undergraduate Education Research Universities (UERU) and APLU that analyze the impact of inclusive excellence and curricular analytics on generating equity in academic outcomes and closing the opportunity gap. Leadership services roles include membership on the Provost Council of African American Affairs, Western Land-grant Cluster for Association of Public Land Grant University (APLU), editorial board member for the Journal of Postsecondary Student Success (JPSS) at Florida State University, President of the National Organization of Student Success-Southwest chapter (NOSS) and professional coach for Complete College American (CCA) leadership academy for Predominantly Black and Historically Black Community Colleges (PBI/HBCU).

Currently Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, Dr. Sarr is involved in almost all things related to student academic experience, progress, and success at BC. She has been at Boston College since 2006, and has taught in the Woods College since 2010.

A former Fulbright Scholar, Dr Sarr spent a research year in Senegal studying women’s movements and the emergence of feminist literature. Her teaching interests include Contemporary Ethnic American Literature, West African literature and film, African retentions in the Americas, and representations of Africa in contemporary African-American literature.