Meet the Speakers

2025 Women's Leadership Forum Pre-Conference Workshop

Stephani Langehennig

Dr. Stefani Langehennig is an assistant professor of the practice in the Business Information & Analytics department at the University of Denver’s (DU) Daniels College of Business. She also co-directs the Center for Analytics and Innovation with Data (CAID) and helps lead the MSBA Capstone Program at DU. She teaches courses on Python programming, data mining and visualization, frequentist statistics, and project management. Stefani worked as a lead data scientist in consulting firms in London and the U.S., helping organizations build analytics teams, evaluate, and implement data analytics solutions. Stefani has published academic articles on topics such as the impact of data transparency on political behavior, legislative policy capacity, the diffusion of environmental policy, and the influence of political indicators on state-level lawmaker behavior.

2025 Women's Leadership Forum Keynote Speaker

Patricia Trujillo

Patricia Trujillo, Ph.D., has made education access, social justice and support for traditionally underserved communities the pillars of her lengthy career as an educator and administrator. A professor of literature by trade, Dr. Trujillo was called to serve the statewide higher education sector in 2020 when she joined the Higher Education Department as deputy secretary. In that role, she was part of the leadership team that secured the passage of the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship Act (NMOSA) in the 2022 Legislative Session, secured a $146 million dollars recurring appropriation in FY23, and secured nearly $1 billion for a Higher Education Trust in FY24. The trust fund guarantees that tuition-free college is available to New Mexican for the foreseeable future. The NMOSA is currently the nation’s most comprehensive tuition-free college program, knocking down barriers to participation for most New Mexicans seeking certificates, an associate, or a bachelor’s degree. The NMOSA provides funding for New Mexico residents, full or part-time students, including undocumented students. Additionally, she has overseen a dramatic expansion of wraparound services that help college students meet basic needs, including groundbreaking new programs that address food insecurity, housing and behavioral health. In addition to her career as a tenured professor and service on various community boards, Trujillo, a native of the Española Valley, was founding director of the Office of Equity and Diversity at Northern New Mexico College and has published work in numerous academic journals.

2025 Women's Leadership Forum Session Speakers

 Pam Alexanderson

Pam has practiced public accounting since 2008. She has considerable experience in tax compliance and consulting as well as unrelated business income and board governance, and focuses on large multi-national organizations, community charities, health care providers, and educational institutions. Pam devotes much of her time to helping for-profit and tax-exempt organizations with unique tax issues, strategic planning, and compliance services. She sits on the firm’s tax committee for not-for-profit organizations and is a leader of the firm’s not-for-profit tax practice in Albuquerque.

 Leslie Brunelli

Leslie Brunelli is the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer at Washington State University. In this role, Leslie manages the financial and physical assets of the WSU system, including all aspects of the university’s financial and capital planning, information technology services, human resources, compliance and risk management, and real estate portfolio. With more than 28 years in higher education financial leadership at five institutions, she previously served in CFO roles at the University of Denver and at the University of South Carolina. Leslie is a frequent presenter for NACUBO, SACUBO and WACUBO and has been a mentor to finance professionals at many institutions. She earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s in business administration from the University of South Carolina.

 Danielle Brunner

Danielle Brunner is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Budget and Finance. She provides high-level strategic financial, administrative, and operational resource support for academic affairs. This includes budget oversight for schools and colleges, and support functions that report directly to the provost. In this role she advances strategic projects in the areas of policy development, financial and budget administration, human resources, and campuswide programs that impact the division. Brunner has been part of the CU community since 2010. Before that, she was the senior budget director for the University of Colorado Denver within the Budget and Fiscal Planning Office. She was responsible for all budget actions at the Denver campus and advised leadership on strategic resource decision-making. Brunner earned an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver and a BS in business administration from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

 Teri Bump

Teri Bump is the Vice President of University and Industry Relations. Teri presents nationally on university trends and issues and has delivered educational sessions at APPA, NASPA, ACUHO-I, NACUBO, NIRSA, ACPA, NACAS, and ACE Spectrum. Teri is a past ACUHO-I, ACPA and NACAS Foundation Board trustee and currently serves on the Leadershape Board of Directors. In 2007 she was awarded the ACUHO-I Corporate Friend Award for service to the association and received the Business Partner of the Year Award at the 2007 national NACAS conference and the 2010 ACPA Business Partner of the Year Award. She has been honored as a 2017 ACPA Diamond Honoree a 2018 Pillar of the Professions for NASPA and received a 2024 Parthenon award from ACUHO-I. In addition, she has recently joined the inaugural cohort of Senior Fellows for the Aspen Index. Prior to joining American Campus Communities in 1991, Teri served Boston University, Oberlin College, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, Texas Southern University, Alfred University and SUNY Oswego in student affairs. Teri received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from SUNY Oswego and her master’s in College Student Development from Alfred University.

 Teresa Costantinidis

Teresa Costantinidis serves as the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration at the University of New Mexico, where she oversees finance, human resources, information technology, campus safety, and strategic initiatives. With over 35 years of leadership in higher education, she collaborates with senior leaders to advance UNM's mission through innovative and operational excellence. Previously, Teresa was Vice Chancellor and CFO at the University of California San Francisco, leading campus budgeting, risk management, and enterprise-wide decision-making. At UC Berkeley, she held leadership roles in the campus budget office and in business operations for the Berkeley Business School. An active community contributor, Teresa serves on several boards, including the New Mexico Finance Authority, Risk Management Advisory Board, Harwood Museum of Art, New Mexico Public Broadcasting Service and Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance. She holds an MBA from UC Berkeley and a BS in Biological Sciences from UC Davis. Teresa is known for her ability to transform challenges into opportunities and inspire strategic partnerships.

 Kelsey Finn

Kelsey’s vision is to bring business and student development-minded individuals together, believing the out-of-classroom experience is where skills for life are fostered and the student experience thrives. With a focus on creating highly functional staff teams that provide exceptional services and facilities that foster student success and contribute to the financial health of the institution, she is viewed as an expert in moving the auxiliary services industry forward. With 25 years of service in higher education, Kelsey is currently a podcast host of Campus Confidential and the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives with Compass Group USA. Prior to this role she was the CEO of National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS), where she provided leadership, vision, and ongoing strategic planning for NACAS, NACAS Foundation and four NACAS regions. Kelsey has held leadership positions at the University of Michigan with Learfield, University of California Berkeley, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Illinois State University, and College of DuPage. Originally from Illinois, Kelsey holds her Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation and Master of Science in Education from Illinois State University in Normal IL. Her and her husband Brian Finn currently reside in Ann Arbor, MI.

 Joy Forehand

Joy Forehand is the Vice President of Workforce and Community Success at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) where she leads the division connecting our partners, employers, industry representatives, community organizations, and government agencies with the resources and services of the college and the college’s learners and graduates. Joy also has served as the Chief Workforce Development Officer and the Executive Director for Student Workforce Success at CNM. She was the Operations Manager for the Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico (WCCNM) and was the Deputy Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, the state’s labor agency. Joy holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Arizona, and a bachelor’s degree in government from New Mexico State University.

 Mary Gutierrez

Dr. Mary Gutierrez is the Chancellor of University of New Mexico-Taos (UNM-Taos), where she is committed to student success, equity, and inclusive leadership. Since joining the college in August 2021, Dr. Gutierrez has led initiatives focused on guided pathways, career and technical programs, building a supportive campus environment, and capital projects. Under her leadership, UNM-Taos has implemented the Caminos de la Cumbre pathways program and increased retention rates by 20% to over 70% college-wide, including 84% among Native American students. Before joining UNM-Taos, Dr. Gutierrez served as Vice President of Instruction at Diablo Valley College (CA) and held dean roles at Skyline College (CA) and Cascadia College (WA). She earned a doctorate in educational leadership, focused on equity and institutional change, from San Francisco State University.

 Josett D. Monette, Esq.

Josett Monette is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. Josett was born and raised for most of her life on her reservation. She had a goal of making it to New Mexico and made that happen in 2012 and now has the honor to serve as the Cabinet Secretary for the State of New Mexico Indian Affairs Department (IAD). Prior to joining IAD, Josett was the New Mexico Legal Aid Native American Program Director (NMLA NAP). The Native American Program serves indigent clients living on or near the Pueblos and provides legal services, mostly in tribal courts, in many areas of law including jurisdictional issues, violations of due process, custody, divorce, child support, defending against debt collections, probate matters, tribal criminal defense, ICWA, tribal housing matters, tribal employment matters, and representing respondent parents in Child in Need of Care matters. Josett served as an Adjunct Professor for the University of New Mexico School of Law (UNMSOL) National Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) Moot Court Team. She briefly served as a Commissioner for the Pueblo of Tesuque Gaming Commission. Previously, she worked as an Associate Attorney with Barnhouse, Keegan, Solimon, & West, LLP, as an Associate General Counsel for the Pueblo of Isleta, and as a Staff Attorney at NMLA NAP. Josett served on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico State Bar Indian Law Section for seven years and sat as an Attorney Bar Exam Coach. She has assisted with planning several CLE Conferences. She holds a J.D., with a certificate in Indian Law from UNMSOL, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education – Social Sciences, and B.A. in (American) Indian Studies all from the University of North Dakota. Prior to her legal career, Josett was a teacher and educator and worked in education mostly on her home reservation in the Turtle Mountain Community. She has three amazing adult children that she raised as a single mother, and she loves to do Zumba.

 Andrea Lee Miller

Andrea Lee Miller is an experienced business professional with over 17 years in higher education. She holds an MBA, serves as the Business Manager of University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Information Technology Services, and is the current Vice President of UAA Staff Council. A recipient of UAA’s 2022 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence, Andrea is driven by the conviction that everyone has the power to transform lives, one small moment at a time. Her enthusiasm for experience management and strategic planning bolsters her commitment to the transformational impact of education. Beyond her professional pursuits, Andrea is an avid artist and micro-adventurer. She spends her free time drawing, sewing, attempting to keep various plants alive, and exploring the Alaskan backcountry with her spouse, toddler, and Shiba Inu, Taimi.

 Susan Nasher

Susan Nasher is the Associate Director of Budget and Academic Resource Analysis, where she is responsible for budget and fiscal management, academic program modeling, planning and assessment, and departmental support. This includes assisting campus departments with creating budgets for new program proposals, overseeing the Office of the Provost commitments, strategic budget support for academic affairs units, and building the new budget tool for campus. Nasher has been with the CU community since 2016. Prior to this role, she was the budget manager for the University of Colorado Denver Budget Office, where she provided budget, finance and human resource strategic support and decision-making for the campus, including implementing a campuswide budgeting tool. Nasher earned an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver and a BS from California State University Channel Islands.

 Mary Lou D. Ortiz

Mary Lou D. Ortiz is the Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at the University of California, Irvine. She manages a large, $6.7 billion operating budget and a $2.3 billion capital expenditure budget, ensuring responsible allocation of public and private financial resources to meet objectives including the health enterprise (health sciences and medical center). Mary Lou has broad experience leading administrative and financial operations at public and private research universities, strengthening those operations to best support the needs of each institution’s core programs. She held leadership roles at the Pennsylvania State University, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Princeton University, and Columbia University prior to her current position at UC Irvine. In addition to her higher education experience, she was the senior director of budget and financial planning at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a global humanitarian aid, relief and development nongovernmental organization, where she oversaw the annual operating budget for the IRC’s 26 overseas offices and affiliates and 32 domestic operations. Mary Lou earned her MBA, M.P.A., and B.A. from Columbia University, and is a candidate for the doctorate in education in Penn State’s higher education program.

 Olivia Padilla-Jackson

Olivia Padilla-Jackson serves as Central New Mexico Community College's Vice President of Finance and Operations. Padilla-Jackson is a public servant with 24 years of public policy and finance experience, previously serving as cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration, director of the State Board of Finance, economist for the Legislative Finance Committee, and trader/analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. She earned a bachelor's from the University of New Mexico and a master's from University of Michigan.

  Sara Reed

Dr. Sara Reed is a retired military officer with over 25 years of experience in leadership, management, organizational change, and leadership development. Through her service in higher education and the military, she has led diverse teams throughout the globe. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of People & Talent at Western Governors University, where she leads a team of trusted HR professionals and strategic partners to advance WGU’s mission and key results. Prior to that role, she served in different leadership capacities within higher education, including at a large urban community college and two large research institutions. Sara is a passionate advocate for higher education, especially in the areas of leadership and advancing equity, with the goal of helping people find their pathway to opportunity and see and reach their potential. Prior to her transition to higher education, she served as an active-duty military officer and is now retired from the United States Air Force. She earned her doctorate from Drexel University, MA.Ed. from California State University – Sacramento, M.S. from Troy State, and BA from University of Minnesota and has earned the SHRM-Senior Certified Professional credential. She is married, is mother to three children, & is most often found with a book in her hand or in her ear, and is dedicated to lifelong learning and sharing that learning with others.

Rose Reza

After working for 28 years in various executive positions throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Mexico, Rose Reza returned to her native home of New Mexico in 2014. She soon found inspiration as the Executive Director of the Taos Entrepreneurial Network, dedicating her time to assisting local entrepreneurs with merchandising, operations, and access to funding streams. In 2019, Rose was invited to join the University of New Mexico-Taos (UNM-Taos) HIVE initiative and, soon after, was hired to transform this idea into a reality. The HIVE officially opened its doors in June 2021 with a mission to develop a tech inclusive ecosystem while launching the first incubator/accelerator for small businesses and tech startups in northern New Mexico. The HIVE has served thousands of community members with digital up-skilling, reading and writing support, and programs that empower both youth and adults to bridge the digital divide.

Rose was named a Woman of Influence by New Mexico Business First, and she was the 3rd recipient and first Latina to be honored with the Sam M. Walton Entrepreneurial Award. Rose and her team are committed to working with northern New Mexico communities to foster creative learning opportunities that engage with what is possible while inspiring dynamic growth and positive change.

 Amy Shuman

Amy Shuman serves as the Executive Director of Staff Coaching and Professional Development for the Division of Student Affairs at UC Davis. She has a master's degree in leadership from University of the Pacific, is a Gallup advanced certified Strengths coach, and a professional certified coach with the International Coach Federation. Amy is particularly passionate about leadership and empowering people to create a positive workplace culture by maximizing their strengths.

Amy's Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Communication, Competition, Maximizer, Significance, Focus

 Lisa Todd

 Lisa has over 20 years of experience as an auditor and business advisor in public accounting, serving both public and private clients in a variety of industries, including development stage companies, not-for-profit, real estate development/home building and employee benefit plan audit services in the Central Region. Lisa assists her clients by advising them on how to appropriately address their unique accounting needs. In an effort to remain current on the auditing and accounting complexities that face her clients, she attends national conferences and webinars hosted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Labor, and a variety of industry trade groups such as NACUBO and NAIOP. Lisa provides clients with consulting engagements, including operational effectiveness, the timely completion of audits, and communication regarding accounting. Lisa has been awarded a 2008 40 Under Forty Award from New Mexico Business Weekly, was selected as a 2012 Working Mother of the Year in Working Mother magazine, and 2016 was a Woman of Influence by Albuquerque Business First. Amy's Top 5 CliftonStrengths: Communication, Competition, Maximizer, Significance, Focus