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. MARK LOMBARDI is the tenth President of Maryville University and has served there since 2007. During his tenure, Maryville University has tripled enrollment to more than 9,300 students hailing from fifty states and sixty countries. In 2017, the Chronicle of Higher Education recognized Maryville as the third fastest growing private University in the nation and in 2013 and 2014 US News & World Report recognized Maryville as the #1 Overperforming University in the country. Maryville received the Apple Distinguished School designation for 2016-2018 for innovation, leadership, educational excellence and a clear vision of exemplary learning environments. In addition to fundraising initiatives that have netted over $125 million dollars for projects in the arts, academic learning space, international programs, learning technology and student services, Dr. Lombardi has appeared in more than 200 interviews for radio and television on politics, international issues, and innovation and the future of higher education. He is a noted author, publishing several articles and three books, one of which is now in its tenth edition.

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. MARK LOMBARDI is the tenth President of Maryville University and has served there since 2007. During his tenure, Maryville University has tripled enrollment to more than 9,300 students hailing from fifty states and sixty countries. In 2017, the Chronicle of Higher Education recognized Maryville as the third fastest growing private University in the nation and in 2013 and 2014 US News & World Report recognized Maryville as the #1 Overperforming University in the country. Maryville received the Apple Distinguished School designation for 2016-2018 for innovation, leadership, educational excellence and a clear vision of exemplary learning environments. In addition to fundraising initiatives that have netted over $125 million dollars for projects in the arts, academic learning space, international programs, learning technology and student services, Dr. Lombardi has appeared in more than 200 interviews for radio and television on politics, international issues, and innovation and the future of higher education. He is a noted author, publishing several articles and three books, one of which is now in its tenth edition.

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. MARK LOMBARDI is the tenth President of Maryville University and has served there since 2007. During his tenure, Maryville University has tripled enrollment to more than 9,300 students hailing from fifty states and sixty countries. In 2017, the Chronicle of Higher Education recognized Maryville as the third fastest growing private University in the nation and in 2013 and 2014 US News & World Report recognized Maryville as the #1 Overperforming University in the country. Maryville received the Apple Distinguished School designation for 2016-2018 for innovation, leadership, educational excellence and a clear vision of exemplary learning environments. In addition to fundraising initiatives that have netted over $125 million dollars for projects in the arts, academic learning space, international programs, learning technology and student services, Dr. Lombardi has appeared in more than 200 interviews for radio and television on politics, international issues, and innovation and the future of higher education. He is a noted author, publishing several articles and three books, one of which is now in its tenth edition.