Dr. Tracey Dowling serves as the Program Director of Experiential Learning with Florida State University’s Career Center. An experienced career services professional, she previously implemented services and programs at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School MBA Career Management Center for Working Professionals, The University of Georgia Career Center, and The University of Virginia – Semester at Sea program. Both a proud Seminole, she earned an EdD in Educational Leadership & Policy and a MS in Higher Education from The Florida State University, and a proud Blazer, earning a BBA in Marketing from Valdosta State University. In 2019, she co-authored the text Making Your Internship Count available through Kendall Hunt and has edited case studies for the National Association of Colleges & Employers through the Principles of Professional Practice committee since 2021.
Dowling has served on the Board of Directors for the Cooperative Education & Internship Association (CEIA) since 2016, first as the Vice President of the Cooperative Education Network, and currently as the Vice President of Professional Development. She chaired the 2024 Annual Conference in Tampa and coordinated presentations for the 2023 Annual Conference in San Diego. Additionally, she has engaged her colleagues in active participation and contributions to CEIA, delivered conference presentations and webinars, served on multiple conference and sub-committees, and promoted CEIA membership to work-integrated learning colleagues and employers of students engaged in experiential learning around the world. She believes that professional development is key to keeping abreast of trends, best practices and changing technologies.
Locally, she serves as President-Elect of the Capital Women’s Network, a Judge for the annual Chamber of Commerce’s Best & Brightest Awards in the Career/Technical Category and a Board Member for the Florida State Heritage Museum. She is also a proud member of the Capitol Bells handbell choir (bass clef ringer!) and hosts a weekly Heroscape game.
Dr. Richard Robles is currently a tenured Professor of Engineering and Applied Science Co-op Programs at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Richard’s research areas include experiential learning, electronic portfolios (eportfolios), assessment, leadership development, and college student development.
Richard received a BA in Liberal Studies from Northern Arizona University, a MS in Counseling and Student Personnel from Minnesota State University, Mankato, an MBA from the University of Cincinnati, and an EdD in Leadership Studies from Xavier University. Richard’s doctoral research explored engineering identity development through cooperative education.
In addition to serving on the CEIA Board of Directors, Richard is an At-Large Board Member and former president for the Ohio Cooperative Education Association and a member of the Professional Development Committee for the Society for Experiential Education. Locally, Richard is a YMCA and USA Swim certified stoke-and-turn official and an official for the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Kelly Harper is the Director of the Career Center and a tenured faculty member at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. She has been a member of the CEIA Board since 2011, serving in the roles of President, Conference Chair, and Vice President of Marketing and Membership. Before this, she has played an active role, including the President of both the Ohio Cooperative Education Association (OCEA) and the Midwest Cooperative Education and Internship Association (MCEIA).
Kelly has been in the field of Cooperative Education for over 20 years, working for both Cincinnati State College and Northern Kentucky University. Her work has focused on higher education and workforce development. Her specialty areas include career development, employer recruiting and hiring of talent for co-ops, internships, and full-time and part-time employment.
(Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia)
Carissa is a highly experienced professional in the field of higher education, with a career spanning since 2013. She has a lifelong commitment to promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, and with her most recent passion for promoting and advancing experiential learning.
Carissa earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources management from Baruch College, where she first discovered her interest in creating inclusive environments. She later pursued a master’s degree in public health with a focus on social and behavioral sciences from Temple University, deepening her understanding of the social determinants of health and their impact on marginalized communities. In August 2023, Carissa successfully defended her dissertation for the Doctorate in Higher Education titled: Beyond the Classroom: Unveiling Liberal Arts Students’ Perceptions of Internships. With this new knowledge, Carissa is currently integrating experiential learning methodologies to enhance equity and accessibility in her role as the Associate Director of Student Professional Development.
Throughout her career, Carissa has facilitated numerous access initiatives and workshops centered around diversity, equity, race, gender, leadership, and now, experiential learning. She believes that hands-on, immersive educational experiences can significantly reduce barriers to access and promote a more inclusive learning environment for all students. Carissa is passionate about incorporating experiential learning strategies into curriculum design, creating opportunities for students to engage with real-world challenges, and fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Her dedication to DEI efforts and her newfound passion for experiential learning drive her work as she strives to create meaningful, transformative educational experiences for students. Carissa continues to advocate for transparent policies, and fostering inclusive environments through her research, workshops, and ongoing initiatives in the field of higher education.
(Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin)
David B. Schwartz is the Director of the Springer Center for Internships at Bradley University’s Smith Career Center, where he has served since 2014. In this role, he leads a team responsible for administering 16 internship courses annually, impacting approximately 400 students. He also cultivates and maintains relationships with organizations across the country, building and sustaining valuable internship programs. David’s past leadership at Bradley extended to coordinating the university’s large job fairs, managing diverse teams and complex logistics.
Prior to his work at Bradley, David spent over a decade in the nonprofit sector in development and then as a communications director.
His research focus is on leadership development, organizational improvement, and time management/productivity. These topics are carried over as he annually teaches a course for first-year students focused on life design and effective engagement in the college setting.
A member of CEIA since 2014, he has contributed significantly, serving on the annual conference committee in various roles, including marketing and 2020 Conference Programs Chair. He also served as the 2021 Conference Chair, leading the development of a fully virtual, synchronous conference. Currently, he coordinates the ad hoc task force developing “ASCEND,” CEIA’s forthcoming leadership program for work-integrated learning practitioners.
David holds both a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership from Bradley University.
(Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming)
Joseph Banks has over 12 years of experience working with career counseling and coaching, especially in internships. Joseph first started in a law school in southern California where he helped future law students find externships and positions in the courts and in the community. After that, he moved up to Logan, UT for the first time as the Internship Coordinator for the Huntsman School of Business, managing their internship class and helping them gain experience with companies, both domestic and international. In addition, he worked with the University of California Riverside with international students looking to find internships and experience while they were studying in the United States.
Currently, he is the Assistant Director at Utah State University’s Career Design Center, focusing on helping all of their colleges and departments measure internship success as well as experiential learning opportunities such as field work, practicums, volunteerism, etc. He is also the chair of the university’s Experiential Learning Committee and leads the coordination of their Internship Coordinator Council meetings, where they conduct bi-annual training for all 80 of the internship coordinators across their institution.
International
Ross Johnston is a Certified Executive Coach and the Founder of Beinn Leadership Inc., where he specializes in C-suite and senior-level executive coaching. With over 25 years of progressive leadership experience across diverse sectors, he has a proven track record of driving organizational success through innovative strategies, exceptional communication, and strong relationship-building skills.
Throughout his career, Ross has led large-scale change initiatives, including his role as Executive Director of Co-operative Education at the University of Waterloo, where he managed the world’s largest co-op program, supporting over 26,000 students and 8,000 employers globally. His leadership has consistently focused on improving student employment outcomes, fostering employer relationships, and enhancing program quality.
In addition to his work in coaching and education, Ross has held senior leadership roles in talent management and human resources, with a focus on employee engagement, recruitment strategies, and organizational development. He has been an active contributor to shaping the future of work-integrated learning through board memberships with leading associations in Ontario (EWO Past-President), Canada, and the USA (CEIA Past-President).
Ross holds an Executive MBA from Bradford University, UK, with a dissertation in change management, and certifications in executive coaching from the Centre for Executive Coaching and the International Coaching Federation.
Tiffany Johnson is the Associate Director of Professional Alumni Engagement at the University of Central Florida. She works closely with UCF Advancement and campus colleagues to strategically increase alumni engagement and giving through professional development and career support.
Tiffany specializes in cultivating strategic partnerships with key constituents, growing talent through holistic career education and planning, and building a pipeline for industry leaders. She has 15+ years of working in higher education, focusing on Career Services, Minority Affairs, and Leadership Studies. Tiffany gained her previous experience at Arkansas State University and the University of Central Arkansas. She also received her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from UCA.
Tiffany holds leadership experience in state, regional, and national associations. She is the Associate for Accessible and Effective WIL for the Cooperative Education and Internship Association and Assistant Conference Committee Chair for the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers. She has served as Region 5 Director for CEIA, Breakout Sessions and Roundtables Conference Chair and Administration Knowledge Group Chair for SoACE, and the 2020 and 2021 President of the Arkansas Association for Colleges and Employers. Tiffany also completed the following programs: SoACE Lead Fellow, 2013 NACE Management Leadership Institute, and 2012 NACE Career Coaching Program.
Nadia Ibrahim-Taney is an Assistant Professor of Career Education, teaching and coaching students majoring in STEM fields. She helps people design happy and fulfilling careers through authentic career coaching. Her expertise includes career exploration guidance, resume writing, interview prep and LinkedIn profile optimization. She identifies as a neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, first generation American woman which influences her research and interest in how personal and professional identity intertwine in the workplace.
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