Keynote and Featured Speakers
See Our 2025 Keynote and Featured Speakers
Check out who will be speaking at our 2025 Student Success Summit.
We will be adding more speakers as the Summit dates draw near.
Timothy Renick
Student Success Summit Keynote Speaker
In 2020, Timothy Renick, Ph.D., became founding executive director of Georgia State University’s new National Institute for Student Success. Prior to this transition, Renick served for 13 years as senior vice president for student success, leading a series of innovations that established Georgia State as an internationally recognized leader in student success and enrollment strategies. Under Renick’s leadership, Georgia State saw a 70% improvement in graduation rates and the elimination of achievement gaps based on students’ race, ethnicity, and income levels.
Abby Barnes
Abby Barnes attended the Academy for Advanced Studies throughout her high school career. During this time, she served as secretary of the board of directors for two consecutive school years, an opportunity that allowed her to represent the student body and contribute meaningfully to her school community.
Candice Buckley
Moderator, Opening Student Panel
Candice Buckley is a servant-leader who has dedicated over 17 years to increasing student enrollment and student success. Buckley is a graduate of the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, where she began her career in the Office of Admissions as an admissions recruiter. She continued to grow within the field of student affairs and later went to pursue a Graduate degree in higher education administration at Florida International University in Miami.
Irvin T. Clark
Panelist, Bridging the Gap: Aligning Education with Industry Needs
Workforce development stands at the forefront of Southern Crescent Technical College’s mission. Since assuming the presidency nearly three years ago, Irvin Clark, Ph.D., has dedicated himself to advancing this mission through strategic initiatives and impactful partnerships. By collaborating with community leaders and industry stakeholders, Clark has positioned the College to secure vital support through public-private partnerships and philanthropic contributions.
Nyna DeWitt
Access Fireside Chat
Nyna DeWitt, M.S., is a Ph.D. candidate in Engineering
Education at the University of Georgia, where she focuses on
creating more socially responsive learning environments in
engineering, with a particular emphasis on biomedical
engineering. Her research examines how to diversify engineering
spaces through sociotechnical skill development, curriculum
design, and the connections between student identity, educational
outcomes, and career pathways.
Courtney B. Francis
Panelist, Bridging the Gap: Aligning Education with Industry Needs
Courtney B. Francis, Ph.D., is the strategy officer for state policy for Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis, committed to making learning opportunities beyond high school available to all. Working from Lumina’s D.C. office, she supports states’ efforts to increase education attainment and eliminate racial disparities by implementing Lumina’s state policy agenda.
Malaak Gordon
Panelist, Opening Student Panel
Malaak Gordon is a senior at Union Grove High School and the Academy for Advanced Studies. Gordon is president of the AAS Student Board of Directors and president of Future Business Leaders of America, while also being an active member of the Future Farmers of America and an AAS Ambassador.
Erica Breann McCrae
Panelist, Bridging the Gap: Aligning Education with Industry Needs
Erica Breann McCrae, DM, was born and raised in Douglas, Georgia where she graduated from high school in 2006 as the top African American student in her class. McCrae completed her undergraduate studies at Valdosta State University in just three years, earning a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in sociology. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she began her career with AT&T as a store manager, later taking on roles as chief of staff and project manager, all while completing her MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Brian Porrua
Panelist, Opening Student Panel
Brian Porrua is a dedicated nursing student in Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in nursing as a QuestBridge Match Scholarship recipient. With hands-on experience in pediatric neurology and neurosurgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and current work in the Hematology and Oncology unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Porrua brings a strong clinical foundation and a deep commitment to patient-centered care.
Brittany White
Moderator, Attainment Fireside Chat
Brittany White is an educator, program strategist and community builder with over a decade of experience across K–12 and higher education. A former general and special education teacher, White has always centered on culturally responsive teaching practices and joyful experiences in the classroom. She now leads innovative initiatives to prepare highly qualified, inclusive and culturally responsive educators, while designing data-informed learning experiences and professional development that drive sustainable impact.
