Dr. Jean Snell is a Senior Faculty Specialist for the Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement at the University of Maryland.  Over the last twenty years, Dr. Snell has engaged with educators to help develop their capacity to lead effectively and to foster high quality teaching and learning conditions for all students. Dr. Snell has served as a certified Lead Inspector with Teacher Prep Inspection (TPI-US), a curriculum developer and teacher trainer for Educators Rising, a classroom evaluator for the DC Public Charter School Board, and a Leadership Coach with Ed Fuel and Leading Educators.  She has also demonstrated leadership through several program executive roles, including: launching the Leading Educators teacher leadership Fellowship program in Washington, DC as the Regional Executive Director; directing the Maryland Master’s Certification program at University of Maryland; and serving as one of the founding Program Directors for the Center for Educational Leadership at the University of Washington.  Jean earned her Doctorate in Education Policy and Leadership at the University of Washington as well as the Danforth Leadership school administrator certificate.  She began her career in education as a secondary English teacher. 

Dr. Segun Eubanks is the Director of the Center for Education Innovation and Improvement and Professor of Practice at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD).  Dr. Eubanks also serves as the Chair of the Board of Education for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), a 132,000-student school district bordering Washington, DC.  Prior to joining UMD, Dr. Eubanks worked in various leadership roles at the National Education Association, including as Director of Teacher Quality and Director of Professional Educator Support.  He previously served 11 years as the Director of Teacher Quality for the NEA.  In these roles, Dr. Eubanks led major policy initiatives and programs such at the Teacher Leadership Initiative, the Teacher Residency Taskforce, the National Commission on Effective Teachers and Teaching and the NEA’s Committee on Professional Standards and Practice.

Dr. Eubanks has spent his professional career working to promote opportunity, access and equity in America’s education systems.  Dr. Eubanks is a staunch advocate for public education and expert in teacher quality, teacher diversity and teacher professionalism.  He has served in various leadership roles with national non-profit education organizations including as Executive Director of the Community Teachers Institute and Vice President of Recruiting New Teachers, Inc.  Dr. Eubanks has given scores of speeches and presentations to a wide variety of audiences and has authored and/or contributed to many reports and publications on teacher quality and teacher diversity. 

Dr. Eubanks earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Educational Advocacy from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a Master of Science degree in Human Services Administration from Springfield College, and a Doctorate of Education in Teaching and Learning Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park.  Dr. Eubanks is the father of four and lives in Mitchellville, Maryland with his wife, Dr. Shyrelle Eubanks.

Jenni Eaton is a secondary English teacher and a doctoral candidate in Teacher Education and Professional Development in the College of Education at the University of Maryland. Her research interests center on preparing secondary English language arts teachers to facilitate justice-oriented writing instruction and assessment. She holds an MFA in Writing and an MA in Teaching, and has been working in education for over 15 years, serving as a teacher, as a restorative justice coach, and in several other student support roles.

Staci has nearly 30 years of experience in K-12 schools and, more recently, libraries. She has also worked in refugee resettlement. Her various roles include English language instruction for adolescent newcomers, academic interventions specialist, and school librarian. She is currently working on her doctoral dissertation on immigrant-origin adolescents, relationships, and their transition to postsecondary education.  

Brandi Slaughter brings a wealth of public policy experience to her roles at the University of Maryland having served nonprofits and government in advocacy and lobbying roles. At the outset of her career, Brandi offered direct service to children and families—mainly those considered high-risk youth at several Columbus settlement houses. As an advocate for policy change, she has supported the development of state and federal policy which has impacted people with disabilities, the health of Ohioans, and children and families. She worked in the Ohio Senate as a legislative staffer and has lobbied on behalf of the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission. While at Public Children Services of Ohio, she advocated for reforms to the foster care system. She has coordinated and mobilized advocates from across the country to pass a bi-cameral, bi-partisan federal bill, “Fostering Connections to Success Act” to support children in foster care. At Voices for Ohio’s Children, Slaughter led policy reform and system change to maximize the well-being of Ohio’s children, most notably work to expand Medicaid in Ohio and defense of the Affordable Care Act at the congressional level. Through teaching, Brandi has inspired graduate students to use there power and influence to advocate for reform. Her passion of bringing voice to marginalized communities is apparent in all of her work.

Slaughter is an ordained clergy with the Church of God in Christ and has served in various ministry positions. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Morgan State University, and a Juris Doctor from Capital University with a concentration in Child and Family Law.   

Dr. Riley is the Manager of Professional Development Schools (PDS) Partnerships and Programs and UMD Middle College Teacher Preparation Program in the College of Education. As the liaison between UMD and local school districts, she serves to ensure equitable and meaningful preservice experiences in Teacher Education. Her research interest includes writing as a tool of personal transformation and educational initiatives targeting special needs, underserved, pre-service teachers, correctional, faith-based, Middle College and nontraditional students’ populations.  

From a personal perspective, Dr. Riley enjoys writing poetry, creative journaling, spending time with family and close friends, coaching intermittent fasting, learning about/visiting different countries, and taking nature walks. 

Dr. Riley is a edTerp alum.  In 2019, she completed her doctoral studies in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership (TLPL)  in the College of Education. 

Dr. Douglas W. Anthony is the Director of the Doctorate of Education in School System Leadership and the Senior Fellow at the Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement at the University of Maryland. Anthony has over 30 years in public education working with school districts, universities and state departments of education across the country as a consultant and executive level coach. Prior to joining the university faculty, Anthony served as consulting program officer with the Wallace Foundation and a consultant with The Leadership Academy and Policy Studies Associates. Anthony served as an Associate Superintendent for one of the largest school districts in the country and brings a wealth of experience developing, securing and leading grants on school system leadership and teacher development. Anthony served in several roles throughout his career including: teacher; school development program facilitator; assistant principal; principal; director of school leadership; director of human capital management; interim chief of human resources; and executive director for talent management. He is recognized for successfully creating leadership development programs and opportunities, developing a principal pipeline, and developing strategic, meaningful partnerships. Anthony has presented nationally on several leadership topics, spoken on Capitol Hill and has been featured in several articles, podcasts and research reports on leadership.