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Conference Sessions

Speakers

Chad Ahren︱Senior Consultant, Deloitte

As a senior consultant at Deloitte, Chad Ahren, Ph.D., leads scale-level projects that transform higher-education institutions. He oversees areas of change management, effective communications and training materials that change systems in higher education. Prior to joining Deloitte in 2021, Chad was the executive director of strategic enrollment initiatives at Hiram College and a strategy officer for the Lumina Foundation. In both roles, he worked with adult learners and fortified postsecondary education needs in underserved populations. Chad received his B.A. from Hiram College, his M.S.from Canisius University, and a Ph.D. in higher education and student affairs from Indiana University. 

Freddy Juarez︱Director of DSA Strategic Initiatives and Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Florida State University

Freddy Juarez has been a member of Florida State University’s faculty for more than a decade, previously serving as coordinator in the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and as both assistant and associate director of fraternity and sorority life. In addition to his director role, Freddy also currently serves as the lead consultant and quantitative specialist for FSU’s Center for Fraternity and Sorority Organizational Wellness. The center utilizes data to support chapters as they pursue excellence and to guide fraternity and sorority members as they become successful leaders. 

In 2025, Freddy was appointed to the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors Governance and Nominations Committee. He has also been named associate executive director of the Southeastern Greek Leadership Association (SGLA), a voluntary association of fraternity and sorority governing councils across the Southeastern United States. Freddy received his B.A. from Florida International University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in higher education from Florida State University. He is a member of Beta Theta Pi International Fraternity. 

Meghan Parker︱Chief Executive Officer, Zeta Tau Alpha

Meghan Parker has served as the chief executive officer of Zeta Tau Alpha for the last decade. She has served as Chair of the Amplifying Sorority Research Committee since the initiative launched in 2023. She began her career as a leadership consultant for Zeta Tau Alpha and served in several other staff roles before leaving for campus-based professional experiences at St. Edward’s University and Texas State University. She returned to Zeta Tau Alpha in 2016. Meghan earned her B.S. from Oklahoma State University and currently lives in Indiana with her husband, three children and two dogs.

Dr. Amanda Pascale︱Professor of Higher Education Administration, University of North Florida

Dr. Amanda Pascale is a professor of higher education administration in the College of Education and Human Services at the University of North Florida. Her research focuses on experiential learning, sense of belonging, leadership development, student mental health and more. In 2025, she completed The State of Sorority Women’s Mental Health report for the Amplifying Sorority Campaign. 

Over the past 15 years, she has received an outstanding faculty scholarship from the University of North Florida and recognition as a faculty innovation fellow at Stanford University, among other awards for her research and student engagement.  Amanda earned her B.A. from the University of Central Florida, her M.S. in college student personnel and her Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Tennessee. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority.

Kara Rex︱Director of Fraternity and Sorority Engagement, Wake Forest University

Kara Rex has spent almost a decade in fraternity and sorority life, from her time as a graduate student at Texas Christian University to recently joining Wake Forest University as the director of fraternity and sorority engagement. As associate director of greek life at the University of Georgia, Kara coached the Panhellenic Council, supported students with the assessment and awards process, and planned the greek leaders’ retreat. During her tenure, the university welcomed record-breaking numbers of potential new members into the recruitment process. In 2023, Kara received the Outstanding Fraternity/Sorority Advisor Award from Alpha Chi Omega Sorority for her work at the University of Georgia. Kara received her B.S. from Iowa State University and her M.Ed. in higher education from Texas Christian University. She is a member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women.

David Thomas︱Partner, Mehlman Consulting

David Thomas, known to many as DT, is a top Democratic strategist with more than three decades of experience in Washington’s public policy arena. Over the last twenty years of his career, he has helped companies, trade associations and nonprofits develop and execute successful strategies in Washington. During his tenure in government, David served as deputy director of legislative affairs for Vice President Al Gore, director of congressional relations at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and chief of staff for Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). With the FTC, David advised on legislative strategy and promoted policy initiatives on Capitol Hill, including online privacy issues and consumer protection.  David received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University and joined Mehlman Consulting as a partner in 2006. He is a member of Phi Kappa Sigma International Fraternity. 

Helen Tolar︱Senior Principal, Mehlman Consulting

Helen Tolar is an attorney and Republican strategist with nearly two decades of experience in key roles on both sides of the Capitol dome. She has served in high-level positions on the Hill and in the private sector, including as Principal in the federal government affairs office of an AmLaw 100 firm, representing corporate, trade association and higher education clients. Prior to joining Mehlman as a principal in 2018, Helen served as chief of staff to Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), the staff director of chief counsel for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the director of public policy for South Carolina’s largest trade association and a government affairs consultant to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. Helen received her B.S. from Converse University and her J.D. from the University of South Carolina. 

Cynthia Vitters︱Risk and Financial Advisory Managing Director, Deloitte   

Cynthia Vitters joined Deloitte & Touche LLP’s Government and Public Services practice in 2017 to assist federal clients with developing, implementing and sustaining risk management programs. She brought a wealth of experience to the role, having worked in various enterprise risk management (ERM) roles in the U.S. Department of Education for almost three decades, including as the chief risk officer for the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA).

In 2015, Cynthia was awarded the ERM Professional of the Year by the Association of Federal Enterprise Risk Managers. She previously served as the vice president at large of the association and currently serves as an advisory board member for St. John’s University’s Center for Excellence in ERM. Cynthia received her B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College, her MBA from Georgia State University and attended the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government.