College of Education

Richard L. Anderson is the Director of Information Security for the University of North Texas System and an Adjunct Professor in Information Science at the University of North Texas.  Dr. Anderson teaches a graduate seminar on cybersecurity and conducts research on a variety of topics surrounding human behavior and Information.

Dr. Robert C. Cloud is a Professor of Higher Education and former Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership (EDL) at Baylor University. He holds four academic degrees and is a former community college administrator, having served as President of Lee College in Texas for ten years and as Vice President and Dean in two other Texas colleges. Dr. Cloud’s current research interests include higher education leadership, educational law and policy, current issues, governance, the federal student loan program and student debt, and organizational behavior. His edited books on legal issues and governance in the community colleges are required reading in graduate higher education leadership programs across the nation, and his 1995 booklet titled Drugs in Society was a National Health Information Awards winner. 

Kathleen Conn is a former research scientist as well as an educator and attorney. She currently teaches as a Lecturer in the Public Health Department at Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania. She also serves as Of Counsel, in the Education Law Group of King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Conn has authored several books, book chapters, and numerous law commentaries on topics of bullying, student and teacher/faculty speech, Title IX, LGBTQ rights, and related topics. She is a member of the Education Law Association and served on the Executive Board of that group. She serves on the Authors’ Committee of West’s Education Law Reporter.

Office of the Provost

Jennifer Cowley is the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of North Texas and a Professor of Public Administration and Emergency Management & Disaster Science, where she has served since 2017. Prior to joining UNT she served in a range of leadership roles at The Ohio State University.  

Richard Fossey is a retired professor at UNT where he held the Mike Moses Endowed Chair in Education. He received his law degree from the University of Texas and his doctorate in education policy from Harvard University. He serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of West's Education Law Reporter and Teachers College Record. His publications include Crime on Campus (co-authored with Michael Smith).

W. Scott Lewis, J.D. is a partner with The NCHERM Group.  He is the co-founder and advisory board member of ATIXA (the Association for Title IX Administrators – www.atixa.org) and NaBITA (the National Behavioral Intervention Team Association - www.NaBITA.org). He has served as Special Advisor to Saint Mary’s, Associate Vice Provost at the University of South Carolina, and as a Student Conduct and Residence Life administrator at Texas A&M University. He also serves as faculty, teaching courses in Education, Law, Political Science, and Business. He works with the Department of Education’s Offices of Civil Rights and the Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women as a trainer and consultant, training their staff and investigators. He was a consultant to the Office of the Vice President and the White House Task Force on issues of Sexual Misconduct and Title IX in schools and on campus. He works with and trains athletes, coaches and administrators at all levels of intercollegiate and K-12 athletics as well as with the USOC®, the Center for Safe Sport® and the NCAA® in the areas of sexual misconduct and gender equity in sport.

Amy Magee provides legal services to TASB’s 50 community college members and develops and reviews their policies. She also publishes educational materials, including FAQs (colleges.tasb.org), and is a frequent presenter. Amy received her Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University and her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

Mark McLellan has served as Vice President for Research and Innovation since September 2019. The Division of Research and Innovation is charged with expanding the university’s growth, breadth and impact in research as it strengthens its prominence as a Carnegie-ranked Tier One research university. A 30-year veteran of university research leadership, Dr. McLellan came to UNT from Portland State University where he served as vice president of research and graduate studies since August 2018. At Portland State, he implemented several high-profile initiatives that resulted in a significant increase in external research grant funding. Previously, Dr. McLellan served seven years as vice president for research and dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Utah State University where he helped build a major research expansion and a record level of research funding, including a new infusion of state funding for support of graduate students and graduate education. Prior to his service at USU, he was a tenured professor and department chair at Cornell University; director of a multi-college research center at Texas A&M University; and dean for research at the University of Florida, where he helped to more than double research funding.

Ross is experienced in developing and strengthening abuse prevention systems in schools, universities, religious organizations, municipalities, and other youth-serving organizations. Prior to coming to Praesidium, Ross represented teachers in a variety of employment matters while working at Tritico Rainey PLLC in Houston.

Kim Novak has worked with the Dept. of Higher Education Higher Ed Center, the NCAA, colleges and universities as well as national organizations. In addition to her work with student-focused initiatives, Kim has also provided support to professionals and volunteers working with students to enhance student safety efforts. One client remarked: “Kim is more than just a presenter and speaker. She is an advocate, a change agent, a challenger and supporter. Her passion for students in higher education is evident with every interaction that she has whether with students or university professionals.”

Currently working at Tarrant County College, Demesia is the Director of Workforce Programs for Aviation, Transportation, and Logistics programs. Previously she served as the primary hearing officer and Deputy Title IX Officer for her campus in a district of five physical campuses and one virtual campus. Demesia has over 17 years of experience working as a student conduct hearing officer. Demesia received her undergraduate degree at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX, her master’s degree at Ohio University in Athens, OH, and her PhD in Higher Education at the University of North Texas. 

Scott Rizzo is Community College Policy Specialist for the Texas Association of School Boards’ Community Colleges Services (TASB). Scott earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Georgia, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University, and a B.A. in History from the University of Florida. Prior to TASB, Scott worked in various roles at higher education institutions, and most recent worked at the Legislative Budget Board.

A shareholder in the law firm of Brackett & Ellis in Fort Worth, Texas.  She has practiced school law since 1985, involving general representation of public school districts, independent and private schools, charter schools, junior colleges, universities, and educational foundations.  Served as Chair of the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas; Chair of the Board of Directors of the Texas Association of School Board’s (TASB) Council of School Attorneys, and is Past President of the national Education Law Association (ELA). She has been listed as a Texas Super Lawyer in the area of school law since 2006 and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America in school law since 2009. 

Derek Teeter is a partner in the Higher Education practice group of Husch Blackwell LLP.  Derek represents colleges and universities in complicated, prominent litigation involving federal and state regulatory statutes, governmental immunities, constitutional rights and class actions.

Chad Timmons is a Director and Shareholder with Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd & Hullett, P.C. His practice focuses on school law, including issues regarding employment/personnel, contracts, governance, Board representation, open meetings, and open records. Chad represents colleges and public school districts in administrative hearings, investigations, general administration matters, and litigation.