JOANNE SOLIDAY has spent more than 35 years in private higher education. A first-generation college student at West Virginia Wesleyan College, she received a bachelor’s degree in education. She also holds a M.Ed. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC – Chapel Hill) in special education, and pursued graduate studies at Duke Divinity School. During an 18-year tenure at Elon College (now Elon University), Joanne threw her passion into developing the Elon Fellows programs and Elon Experiences, heightening alumni engagement, and developing the Elon Society. Joanne’s time at Elon represented a crucial period of growth and transformation of the college into a nationally-acclaimed university. Joanne then returned to her alma mater, West Virginia Wesleyan College, to serve as the vice president for external relations. Her experience with and belief in private colleges and universities steered Joanne to consulting, where she founded Credo, then Performa Higher Education, with President Tom Gavic. She has spent the last 15 years working with more than 200 private colleges and universities.

DR. RICK MANN brings a rich background as a leader in higher education, having served in both the U.S. and Asia as a faculty member, provost, and president including eight years as the president of Crown College (MN). Rick currently serves as professor of leadership and strategy as well as director of graduate and professional studies at the Skinner School of Business and Technology of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN. Rick also serves as a senior affiliate consultant with Credo. His research and professional interests are in talent management, strategy, strategic planning, and applications of a balanced scorecard for private colleges and universities. Rick received a B.S. degree from Western Michigan University, an M.Div. from Ambrose University College (Canada), an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Ohio State University.