EMPOWER Conference
EMPOWER Conference
The EMPOWER Conference is a dynamic professional development experience for faculty at Florida A&M University, centered around the theme Bridging the Gap: Aligning Institutional Accountability with Student Success. This year’s conference will focus on advancing strategies that connect institutional goals with meaningful student outcomes. Through engaging sessions and discussions, faculty will explore key topics including harnessing data for decision-making, integrating technology in education, fostering industry partnerships, empowering educators, and preparing future-ready graduates. Together, we aim to strengthen the bridge between teaching excellence and student achievement.
Meet Our Speakers
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Dr. Gregory Kirk Johnson is a seasoned higher education leader with over two decades of experience in instructional technology, digital media, and curriculum innovation. As Director and Professor of the Digital Media Technology program at Polk State College, he blends AI, visual design, and interactive media to enrich teaching and learning experiences while preparing students for today’s digital workforce. Dr. Johnson holds a Ph.D. in Education with a focus on Instructional Technology from the University of Central Florida, along with advanced degrees from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Saint Louis Christian College. His dynamic leadership has helped increase program enrollment and build strong industry partnerships that lead to internships and job placements. An advocate for the ethical use of AI in education, Dr. Johnson has published in peer-reviewed journals, led faculty development on emerging tech, and presented internationally as a visiting scholar. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Endowed Teaching Chair, Distinguished Faculty Award, and a Caribbean Heritage Congressional Honor. |
Meet Our Breakout Session Facilitators
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At Civitas Learning, Katie serves as a strategic partner and consultant to support institutions in improving outcomes and promoting student success through utilizing technology and examining data insights. Prior to joining Civitas Learning, Katie spent 15 years working in higher education at UNC Charlotte and Florida State University serving in Academic Advising leadership, Student Success, Instruction, Enrollment Management, and Success Coaching. Katie is currently completing her Doctorate in Education from North Carolina State University, where her research examines advising student veterans at the community college.
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Dr. Gwen Lee-Thomas is the founder and CEO of Quality Measures, LLC—a Virginia-based consulting firm specializing in program and project evaluation and training in evaluation capacity building. She has been an external consultant for nearly 30 years serving businesses, government organizations, community-based organizations, and colleges and universities across the nation. In addition, Gwen has worked in executive leadership capacities as state board chair of the Indiana Minority Health Coalition (IMHC), Executive Assistant to two college/university presidents (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) and Old Dominion University (ODU)), and commissioner on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE). As the Director of Assessment at RHIT, she has worked with faculty in developing and creating rubrics for student learning outcomes (SLOs) as well as consulting with other universities on the creation and alignment of SLOs for regional accreditation. She has worked collaboratively with her board members, senior administrators, and legislative caucuses in navigating state budget cuts, developing a revenue-generating subsidiary, designing, and implementing an affiliation/de-affiliation agreement with local coalitions, and developing their 5-Year strategic plan. As the Executive Assistant to the President of RHIT, Gwen worked closely with the president in the restructuring of the organization’s administrative team—including retirements, reassignments, and promotions, provided the logistical work for the 5-Year strategic plan with the College’s 52-member board of directors, and supported the College in reducing their budget by 6% across all functional areas. In addition to these experiences, Gwen has conducted over 130 grant-funded education and research-based evaluations, collectively throughout the United States. Gwen received her bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1984, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1996, and a PhD in Education Administration in 1999, both from Indiana State University.
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