GEO Summit

Melody Bacon, PhD, is a professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in the Marriage and Family Therapy department and a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Dr. Bacon is a clinical psychologist specializing in relational issues and has been in practice for over 20 years.

Thorsten Bagschik is a German economist. He has been Managing Director of SRH Hochschulen Berlin GmbH since September 2017. It is the sponsoring company of the SRH Hochschule Berlin, including its campus in Dresden, the SRH University of Popular Arts (hdpk) and the design akademie berlin, SRH University for Communication and Design. Thorsten Bagschik studied business administration at the University of Paderborn, at Chapman University, at St. Olaf College and at the University of Kansas. At the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, he assisted Egon Franck at the Chair of General Business Administration, where he graduated summa cum laude. In addition, he was employed as a research assistant at the research center for innovation economics at the TU Bergakademie and at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research in Karlsruhe. He worked in industry and at an American consulting firm as a strategy consultant.

Nancy J. Bothne is an associate professor in the clinical PsyD program of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Before entering the academic world, Nancy had worked in international human rights advocacy. Understanding how human rights abuses created community trauma motivated Nancy’s research and teaching. Nancy teaches classes that examine refugee trauma, community psychology and community healing from human rights abuse. Nancy’s research has examined how resiliency is experienced by refugees living in the U.S., and how communities contribute to both the experience of trauma and healing. She earned her PhD in community psychology from DePaul University.

We are honored to have Rudi Buys as our GEO Summit Keynote Speaker.

Rudi joined Cornerstone Institute in 2017 as Dean of Humanities, and since 2019 serves as the Executive Dean leading all faculties. He chairs the Senate and its executive and academic planning committees, leads the faculty management committee and is responsible for the oversight of all undergraduate and graduate degree, diploma and certificate programmes.

Rudi’s earlier professional roles include appointments as a youth pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church, spokesman for the Western Cape Education Ministry and as Commissioner tasked with Education and Arts and Culture of the Provincial Youth Commission.

Léonce Byimana is the executive director of the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) in Washington, D.C., and a clinical psychologist who holds an MPH. A health professional and dedicated human rights activist, he previously served in the role of program director for the Western New York Center for Survivors of Torture at the Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County. He also worked in Rwanda for organizations such as Clinton Health Access Initiative, Delagua Health/UK, Handicap International and Partners in Health. Mr. Byimana holds a postgraduate degree in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution from the School of International Training, Vermont; a Master of Science in Public Health from the International Health Sciences University, Kampala, Central Region; and a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology, National University of Rwanda. He is a Board member of the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) and the chair of the Policy Committee of the National Torture Treatment Programs (NCTTP).

Kristi Creed has her BA in Contemporary Christian Ministries, minor Psychology, from Fresno Pacific University (FPU), and her

Master's in Social Work with a Sub-concentration in Military Families, Children from the University of Southern California (USC).

Kristi is currently enrolled in Applied Clinical Psychology (Psy.D) with Chicago School of Professional Psychology LA campus.

She works as a Clinical Therapist with Fresno Pacific University-Seminary contracted by On-Site. She provided therapy to adults UG and Grad students (under her ACSW) in addition to elementary students who are identified by their schools as special education for needing counseling services. 

Mattika Davis completed her undergraduate studies at Howard University. A Bachelor's of Fine Art honed her knowledge of visual problem solving which she practices in the business realm through organization, presentation, communication, and marketing. Mattika furthered her education by earning an MBA from University of Phoenix. Equipped with a better understanding of business methods, tools, and corporate dynamics, she chose to grow her knowledge by also completing a Master’s of Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology while attending University of Phoenix. Currently, Mattika is enrolled in the Business Psychology, I/O Doctoral Program. From inherent artistic being (art), organized applications (business), and careful evaluation of why (psychology), Mattika aims to fuse her dynamic academic background into innovative business solutions based on a greater understanding of how people interact. 

Arin Donovan, M. Ed, BCBA, LBA (they/them) is an adjunct faculty member at Capella University and Shenandoah University, co-owner of BH3, Inc., and doctoral student of Applied Behavior Analysis at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. After more than a decade working in the field of autism services, Arin currently has a passion for teaching and supervising students of behavior analysis and developing inclusive and equitable learning environments. Arin's commitment to the values of authenticity and being an agent for social change has driven them to promote affirmation and inclusion through education, language development and committed actions.

With over fifteen years of experience in international education leadership, Jennifer Fullick serves as the role of Senior Director of Global Engagement for TCS Education System. Prior to TCS, Dr. Fullick led international student services at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has worked at Columbia Business School in international alumni relations, Northwestern University’s International Services, the School of the Art Institute in Judicial Services, and at the Institute of International Education. Dr. Fullick earned a PhD in Organizational Leadership from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology; a Master's degree in Higher Education Administration with a Student Affairs Concentration from Loyola University Chicago, and a Bachelor's in Sociology with a concentration on Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Fullick is a Fulbright Scholar recipient, travelling to Germany to explore higher education leadership.

Elke Hardt currently serves as Assistant Director for Career Services at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles campus. She received her B.A. in Psychology from La Sierra University (California) and began her counseling career at a residential treatment center for teenagers in Lincoln Heights, CA. Originally from Montreal, Canada, Elke returned to her native land and opened a regional office of the Canadian Olympic Association’s Olympic Athlete Career Centre in Calgary. Providing transition counseling to national team athletes sparked an interest in career counseling, and when she returned to the U.S. Elke began her career in university career services, an environment she has enjoyed for 20+ years.

Jerell Hill is an Administrative Faculty in the School of Education at Pacific Oaks College, serving as a faculty advisor for Multiple Subject Credential candidates as well as the chair of the Development and Evaluations Committee. His responsibilities include program development, supporting adjunct faculty, and student teaching. Dr. Hill’s areas of research interest include Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs), student motivation, educational administration, special education, and urban schools. Dr. Hill’s professional memberships include the California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (Co-Chair the Diversity and Cultural Competence Committee), and The Council of Exceptional Children. Dr. Hill has been a Keynote Speaker and presenter at the International Congress of Educators in Lima, Peru. 

As the founding president of TCS Education System, Dr. Michael Horowitz has brought with him over 28 years of experience in the field of higher education.Under his leadership, TCS Ed System has grown to include over 9,000 current students and over 32,000 alumni. Further, our institutions have expanded their campuses nationally while increasing their reach globally. Dr. Horowitz continues to lead TCS and its community of nonprofit colleges and universities in the shared mission of preparing innovative, engaged, purposeful agents of change who serve our global community. During his tenure as president of The Chicago School from 2000-2010, Dr. Horowitz guided the institution into becoming a thriving graduate school on the leading edge of professional psychology. In that time, enrollment increased from 200 to 3500, the school expanded geographically to include sites in California, Washington, D.C., and online. In that same timeframe, the historic Chicago campus moved to a prominent downtown location that is now owned by the school. Prior to 2000, Dr. Horowitz’s experience in higher education included roles as a faculty member, program director, dean, and executive team member that led and managed a national, growing multi-campus university. Dr. Horowitz received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University in 1986 and B.A. in Psychology from Columbia University in 1981.

Jennifer Owens currently works as an analyst in the Office of Undergraduate Education at University of California, Davis. She lived in Washington, DC and New York City, but returned to California to continue working toward bridging the gap between educational research, policy, and practice.  Jennifer has spent her entire career as a researcher. Prior to graduate school, she spent four years as an Investigator on Capitol Hill. Since 2012, she has worked for K-20 organizations and institutions as an analyst, focused on data analytics, program development and evaluation. In her third year in the Educational Psychology and Technology doctorate program, Jennifer has found a passion for instructional design. Research interests include motivation, faculty development, and online teacher preparation in higher education institutions. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Howard University in Communication and Culture and Master of Arts in Educational Policy and Social Analysis from Teachers College, Columbia University.

For more than 10 years, Emily Brinkmoeller Karem has served as Vice President of Global Engagement for TCS Education System. Ms. Karem earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus on cross-cultural communication from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY; an international business development certificate from Thunderbird University in Phoenix, AZ; an MBA with concentrations in international business, marketing and entrepreneurship/innovation from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in Chicago, IL; and a certificate in Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, from Kellogg’s Center for Non-Profit Management. She brings to the role a passion for global education rooted in a belief that global education creates a ripple effect of positive community impact by exposing students, faculty and administration to international experiences, strategies and insights that create an appreciation for cultural diversity beyond the classroom.

Charles has over fifteen years of experience in career advising within Higher Education and six years of experience in Social Services assisting the ex-offender youth adult population with job placement, providing academic advising for high school students, and assisting first generation college students. In his current role as Director of Career Services, Charles provides leadership, mentorship, vision, administrative strategic support and career- related services to enhance the marketability of students and alumni nationally. Additionally, he provides customized career advising and has established new procedures and strategies to enhance career services using innovative technology including social media. Charles is very passionate about his career and takes pride in seeing others succeed. Those who know Charles know that Sports are my first love! Charles motto is, "Life is a sport, compete, and play to win." 

Kristen Lancaster, M.S., BCBA is an adjunct professor for Capella University and is currently completing her PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Kristen has extensive experience working with children and adolescents with ASD, supervising students enrolled in ABA programs, and mentoring newly certified analysts. Her current clinical and research interests include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), working effectively with caregivers, and promoting well-being. Additionally, Kristen is an advocate for equitable rights for all, a passion that stems from her personal experience of raising one child that identifies as transgender and another that is biracial.

Lizette Lancaster has been a consultant working on the HSF Funded Crime and Justice Hub project since 2010. Lizette manages and has overseen the creation of the South African Crime and Justice Information and Analysis Hub of the Institute for Security Studies’ Justice and Violence Prevention Programme. Her focus is the collection, analysis and dissemination of data and information to promote evidence-based crime- and violence-reduction policies and strategies.

Dr. Erika L. Liljedahl trained in the field of disability and neuropsychology. Dr. Liljedahl worked in various settings including outpatient and inpatient hospitals and clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, in substance and day treatment facilities as well as in private practice. She has been teaching at the graduate level since 2000. Besides her current teaching and administrative duties, she maintains a private practice performing clinical and forensic neuropsychological evaluations. Dr. Liljedahl has presented at local, national, and international conventions and maintains an active interest in her own professional development. Dr. Liljedahl has provided a variety of pro bono work since 1990. She is inspired by her travels to continuously integrate diversity variables into the classroom.

Gustavo M. Padilla is a Doctor of Social Science with an academic background in Social Psychology and Psychoanalysis. He is currently interested in the interdisciplinary fields of Social Gerontology, mainly oriented to qualitative and critical approaches. Dr. Padilla is a full-time Faculty member at CETYS University, Tijuana campus (Mexico), where he teaches seminars on Psychopathology and Society, and Social Gerontology. Dr. Padilla is also an active member of the Mexican Association of Suicidology (Asociación Mexicana de Suicidología).

Donald Moss, Ph.D., BCB, is Dean, College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences, at Saybrook University, Oakland, CA. There he has built training programs in biofeedback, clinical hypnosis, integrative mental health, wellness coaching, and integrative/functional nutrition. Dr. Moss is the Education Chair of the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH). He is also the ethics chair and international certification chair for the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance. He has served as president of Division 30 (hypnosis) of the American Psychological Association, SCEH, and the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB).

Sean works collaboratively with the Instructional Design team to ensure utilization of state-of-the-art resources in the classroom. He assesses organizational eLearning needs and works to develop and implement policies and procedures for utilizing educational technology by identifying and coordinating the design, execution, implementation, and evaluation of all online and virtual educational activities (including webinars, instructor-led courses, virtual conferences and online courses) within the TCS Education System affiliates.

Kari Prince joined TCS Education System’s Global Engagement Team in 2013, and in her role as South Africa International Liaison Officer, has collaborated on many projects in South Africa focusing on trauma and education. Kari was born in Durban, on the east coast of South Africa, but now lives in the city of Johannesburg. Her travels abroad have fueled her love for her African roots. Following her degree in Economics at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Kari’s creative skills led her to pursue further studies in Public Relations, and Business Marketing. After many years in the corporate field and her own business, it was the outreach work that was the most rewarding – more specifically project managing the delivery of schoolbooks, and teacher training, to primary schools in the rural areas of South Africa. She continues to host many Field Experience and Study Abroad groups, and leads our many international partnerships in South Africa, developing opportunities for our global community across the TCS Education System.

Oliver Quambusch was born in Germany and during his career he has lived in France, Hong Kong, Russia and England. He came to Johannesburg, South Africa in 1996 to live up to his life philosophy of ‘Learn – Earn – Return (what you have learned and earned)’. After volunteering full-time for 2 years with a South African NGO he set up Hotel Hope Ministries in 2008. The organisation consists of 3 family style children’s homes, a Montessori Pre-school as well as reaching out to Teenagers in Crisis Pregnancy Situations among Johannesburg’s poorest communities. The charity is not state supported but derives nearly 30% of its annual income through its own Social Trading activities encompassing 3 charity stores and a carpentry workshop.

Oliver loves God, loves people, loves life. He is the proud dad to his sons Innocent (14) and Thapelo (19).

Manuel Rodriguez is the Director of the Career of Education and Learning Management of the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences (UPC). He has been a director and teacher in important educational centers in Peru, President of the Talent and Entrepreneurship, Talent Peru and AIDUC organizations, all linked to the training of leaders, promotion of culture and education in Peru. In addition, he has worked as an educational consultant for the Ministry of Production and the Ministry of Defense among other public and private institutions in our country. He is currently investigating in the lines of leadership, general ethics and educational management.

Dr. Zarse is a forensic psychologist and full professor in the on-ground Forensic Department at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She worked as a forensic psychologist at several high-profile prisons, including Chief Psychologist at two federal prisons and the Director of Inmate Administration at the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, the maximum-security military prison. Dr. Zarse worked as a consultant to the FBI’s Countering Violent Extremism section, with Secret Clearance. She speaks at regional, national, and international forums, and has provided multiple keynote addresses. Dr Zarse maintains a consulting practice and serves as industry expert on violence prevention. She developed a course on Israel, focusing on terrorism, trauma, and resilience, with a 10-day study-abroad trip, which she has led for 9 years. 

Cindie Zhou received her MBA degree from Southern Illinois University (SIU) in 1996 and worked in an international marketing firm in the Chicago area 11 years. Cindie's passion in International Education started from the time when she was a Graduate Assistant in the Office of International Students & Scholars at SIU. As an international student herself, she understood their challenges and wanted to help them to achieve their goals. Cindie transitioned her professional development to International Education in 2005 by working in a Cultural Exchange institution’s English Training Center in Chicago as an Administrative Supervisor and a Designated School Official (DSO), providing immigration advising to international students from all over the world. She joined TCSPP in Oct. 2012, continuing to provide immigration advising and support to international students and managing study abroad programs to offer powerful and life-changing international learning experiences to TCSPP students.