Dr. Walter Greason, Professor and Chair of the Department of History at Macalester College, was born and raised in central NJ, attended Villanova University as a Presidential Scholar and graduated with a B.A. in History along with certifications to teach Peace and Justice Studies, Africana Studies, Philosophy, and English.  His PhD in American and African history focused on suburban development and the financial tools used in real estate. He first earned tenure at Ursinus College in 2010 before returning to Monmouth University where he taught economic history, served as the Dean of the Honors School, and led the Department of Educational Counseling and Leadership, creating its doctoral program in Higher Education Leadership in 2019. The highest achievement of his career is the restoration of the T. Thomas Fortune House, a National Historic Landmark in 2019 - an $11 million project based on a decade of local and regional activism. His work has also shaped major film projects like Marvel Studios' Black Panther and Spike Lee's BlackKklansman as well as Nikole Hannah-Jones' 1619 Project and Ibram Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist. He is currently involved with several projects to preserve and rebuild Black and Indigenous communities across North America, using both public and private investments to reverse four centuries of settler colonialism. Virtual and augmented reality tools support this work in the creation of interactive classroom games like Sojourners' Trail - showcasing historic Black communities like New Orleans, Eatonville (FL), and Red Bank (NJ).

Theresa Maughan is a high school Social Studies teacher at East Orange STEM Academy in East Orange, New Jersey. She represents New Jersey as the 2021-2022 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year and credits her longevity as an educator to her life-long commitment to professional development and the camaraderie and collaboration embedded in her professional learning communities. She teaches because she wants to help her students become the best version of themselves, become upstanders, not bystanders, and become life-long learners.Theresa recalls one memorable experience when she secured an opportunity for sophomore students to participate in the Hamilton Education Program (EduHam) and attend a performance of Hamilton on Broadway. She guided her students through the analysis of primary sources. After completing the curriculum and archival research, they created performance pieces such as a song, poem, rap or monologue about the Founding Era. One student, Lilian, even performed her monologue about Theodosia Burr on the stage of the Richard Rodgers Theater. The program culminated in a full-day theater experience for all the students participating in the EduHam program with student performances, a Q&A with Hamilton cast members, and a matinee of the musical. Students described the experience as a "once in a lifetime opportunity."

Join Theresa during our lunch Keynote!  

Erika Leak’s career in education has its roots in her late father’s story of educational inequity turning the failure of his teachers into her mission. Raised in a large city by a hearing-impaired mother, Mr. Newman was taught by his teachers that he needed only a “strong back” for a good future rather than an education. A quick study, he listened and left school in the tenth grade taking his mechanical genius and aptitude for mathematics and science with him. Eventually retiring as a master electrician, he made sure his children understood the value of education.  

Erika’s commitment to equity was demonstrated on both the state and local levels. Whether ensuring an equitable review of policy for students statewide in her former role as a state director or ensuring that all of her students receive high quality, culturally relevant instruction as a classroom teacher, she has always placed the diverse needs of students and staff in the center of her work. She also served as the English language arts coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Education.  

Currently, Erika is the senior vice president of TESO Consulting Group, a role that blends her passion for equity in education and her extensive experience in education systems. She works to support school systems and organizations in their journeys towards creating opportunities for all, building capacity of leaders, faculty, and staff, and creating equitable and culturally responsive policies, curriculum, instruction, and programming.  

Erika is a graduate of Rutgers University and Temple University, receiving her Master of Education and is currently working on her Doctor of Educational Leadership.