Our TeaM

Dr. Julie Johnson is founder and principal of StrategyForward Advisors, a postsecondary policy, strategy, and intermediary firm that is committed to transforming postsecondary education to help learners achieve their goals. Julie serves as a strategic partner to national foundations, policy organizations, associations, states, and institutions to drive meaningful change in higher education that will strengthen our communities. Julie is a higher education leader with 20 years of institutional, policy, and entrepreneurial expertise. She oversaw state higher education policy and advocacy for 42 states as Vice President of Strategy for Complete College America. She helped launch and lead a new community college as Deputy CEO of the University of the District of Columbia Community College. While at the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance in the U.S. Department of Education, she conducted policy research on college access, success, and affordability for Congress and the Secretary of Education. She helped develop and launch a new education-to-business venture to close industry skill gaps at Strayer Education and co-founded Faculty Guild, an ed-tech startup, to help college faculty improve their teaching. Julie is a long-time board member and former board chair for Maya Angelou Schools, serving opportunity and system-impacted youth and young adults. Julie has also served as a professorial lecturer at The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development, a community college adjunct instructor at UDC Community College, and a guest speaker at institutions such as Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Maryland. She received her Ed.D. in Educational Policy from The George Washington University, Ed.M. in Higher Education from Harvard University, and B.A. in English from Azusa Pacific University. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two children.

Kylah Torre, Ph.D. is the Senior Director, Policy & Research at StrategyForward Advisors. Prior to that, she served as Senior Director of Digital Learning at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the state agency charged with oversight of universities and community colleges. With over 15 years of experience in education, she has led initiatives such as the creation of OERTX, a digital library of open educational resources that attracted over 500,000 users worldwide and was recognized by OE Global and the 88th Texas Legislature. Dr. Torre also has experience in educational research and teaching at the K12 and postsecondary levels. She has received numerous accolades for her work, including Texas Digital Learning Association’s 2021 Outstanding Commitment to Excellence in Distance Learning Award and the 2024 Sally M. Johnstone Award for thought leadership from WCET. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education from the City University of New York Graduate Center and a B.A. in International Development from McGill University.

Dr. Adrian K. Haugabrook is a strategic advisor, systems thinker, and equity-driven innovator with over three decades of executive leadership in higher education, nonprofit, and social impact sectors. He has committed his career to expanding access, equity, and opportunity by leading innovative initiatives that align vision, strategy, and measurable impact. He brings a rare blend of organizational insight, strategic foresight, and a deep commitment to transforming organizations to be more inclusive, future-ready, and mission-aligned. He is a nationally recognized leader in strategy, growth, policy, and transformational change across global higher education and the nonprofit sector.

Throughout his career, Dr. Haugabrook has held senior roles at nationally recognized institutions and organizations, leading enterprise-level strategy, equity-centered change initiatives, and strategic partnerships. He is the Founder and Principal of Quinta Essentia Ventures, a consultancy dedicated to equipping social sector organizations with the tools and strategies needed to achieve meaningful impact, optimize performance, and build long-term capacity. Previously, Dr. Haugabrook served as Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Social Impact at Southern New Hampshire University, where he led initiatives that advanced equity and social mobility through innovations such as competency-based education, technology-enhanced learning, and cross-sector collaboration.

A frequent speaker and thought leader on topics related to educational equity, systems change, innovation, and institutional resilience, Dr. Haugabrook was featured at TED 2021, where his talk, “3 Ways to Lower the Barriers to Higher Education,” received over one million views within its first six weeks of its release. Dr. Haugabrook currently serves on the board of directors of Upswing International (education technology company) and Complete College America, including its Equitable Artificial Intelligence National Advisory Council. His past leadership includes board roles with the Postsecondary National Policy Institute, Ascend at the Aspen Institute, and was selected into the inaugural cohort as Designer in Residence with the Education Design Lab (2021–2022).

In addition to his professional commitments, he is a devoted husband, father of two, grandfather, and Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Haugabrook holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Boston, M.S. in Social Administration from Georgia Southwestern University, and B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of West Georgia.

Dr. Stephanie Erdmann served as the CEO of Great Falls College Montana State University, where she provided strategic leadership focused on student success, academic innovation, and community engagement. During her tenure, she led efforts to strengthen the college’s brand identity. One highlight includes introducing Mo the River Otter as the college mascot, an initiative designed to build school spirit and community pride. This effort was part of a broader brand strategy following Great Falls College’s recognition as a Top 10 finalist in the Lumina Foundation’s Million Dollar Community College Challenge in 2022. These initiatives contributed to significant increases in enrollment and improved student retention rates.

With more than 28 years of experience in higher education, Erdmann has served in leadership, faculty, and administrative roles at public, private, and tribal colleges. Her expertise spans academic administration, curriculum development, teaching and research, and student engagement. Her leadership approach is rooted in participatory governance, using collaboration and data-driven decision-making to establish a clear strategic vision and guide the activities needed to achieve it.

Erdmann has been an active contributor to statewide efforts that advance innovative policies, programs, and initiatives strengthening the value of validated skills training and short-term credentials. She has also built national partnerships to bring unique training opportunities to rural communities, including the Goldman Sachs Foundation’s 10KSB Small Businesses in Rural America initiative. Locally, she serves on numerous boards dedicated to expanding career pathways, supporting entrepreneurship, and promoting educational opportunities for all.

Erdmann’s leadership and expertise have been recognized in various media outlets, including the Lumina Foundation’s Community College Roundtable and The Hidden Gem Podcast. Earlier in her career, she owned and operated a consulting firm and authored annual reports to Congress on the impact of Health and Human Services in Indian Country for the Administration for Native Americans.

She earned her Ph.D. in Business Administration–Management from Northcentral University, her M.S. in Administrative Science from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, and her B.A. in Communications from the University of Montana.

Renee Faulkner has 20 years' experience in direct student services, program management, and partnership development across the education spectrum. She has served in roles at highly selective liberal arts colleges, national non-profit organizations, and state and federal government agencies. Her professional experiences have focused on smoothing the transitions between high school, postsecondary education, and the workforce, particularly for underrepresented learners and workers. Renee most recently served as a director in the division of student life at Carleton College (Northfield, MN) where she designed strategic programs centered on the BIPOC student experience. She also worked cross-functionally to inform institutional-level DEI policy. Prior to Carleton, Renee was an associate director at Jobs for the Future, a national non-profit focused on improving education and workforce systems. In that role she coached leaders of school systems, county offices of education, and community colleges on developing initiatives, networks, and partnerships that promote economic advancement. Renee holds a bachelor's degree in public policy from Pomona College and a master's degree in higher education from Harvard University.

Hannah is a passionate advocate for educational equity and has extensive expertise in state and regional postsecondary policy, coaching on the use of tech-enabled advising solutions, and developing effective student support infrastructure at the institutional, regional and state level. Hannah leverages her counseling and coaching background to support inclusive facilitation and provide collaborative, authentic strategic planning support to institutions and organizations.

Prior to her consulting work, Hannah served as the Vice President of Partnerships at Moneythink, an ed-tech nonprofit focused on making college more accessible for low-income and first generation students. Hannah also led the partnership and technical assistance strategy for the nonprofit managing the state of California’s official college and career platform, CCGI.

Hannah’s own journey navigating the overly complicated community college system is what propelled her into this field and that humble but life-changing experience is what keeps her grounded in the work day-to-day. She holds a Bachelors of Arts from UC Berkeley and a Masters Degree in Prevention Science and Practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two spirited kids.

Dawn Y. Matthews, Ph.D. is a skilled higher education administrator with experience across functional areas including student transition, academic advising, success coaching, first & second year experience, residential life, curriculum design, and retention. She has also developed expertise in scaling student success initiatives and strategic priorities at both predominantly white institutions and historically Black institutions.

She currently serves as an Associate Dean in University College at North Carolina Central University where she supports the institutions strategic priorities around student success and holistic development by standardizing processes, evaluating academic technology efficiencies, and producing unit wide assessments. Prior to joining NCCU, Dr. Matthews served as the Associate Director of the Advising First department at Florida State University. In this role, she managed a team of 75 staff members in advising and college life coaching.

Dr. Matthews’ research has primarily focused on supporting underserved and marginalized student populations in higher education, with an emphasis on employing anti-deficit approaches toward student success, examining the experiences of Black college women, and promoting the continued relevance of HBCUs. She has published articles, reports, book chapters, and presented at numerous conferences. Dr. Matthews received both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Virginia State University and earned a Doctor of Philosophy from Florida State University.

Takeshi Yanagiura is a Data, Research & Policy Collaborator StrategyForward Advisors. He is an expert higher education policy analyst with many years of experience in a wide variety of programming, data manipulation, and statistical analyses, including quasi-experimental techniques. Takeshi’s strengths are in helping institutional, state, and national clients develop sustainable, research-based strategies to serve more students, increase their rates of success, and manage costs. He is well attuned to policy issues and can express complex ideas effectively in a practical context at national, state, and institutional levels.

Takeshi developed the institutional research office for the new community college of the University of the District of Columbia and contributed to the improved capacity of analysis and reporting in the college. Prior to that, he served as Research Director for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, where he was instrumental in the development of the research base for the state’s outcomes-based funding formula, master plan for higher education, and state scholarship reforms. He has also worked for the State Higher Education Executive Officers, where he compiled the State Higher Education Finance study. He also has spoken and consulted on higher education data and research issues both nationally and internationally. Takeshi has a Ph.D. in Education and Economics from Teacher’s College at Columbia University, a master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Soka University, Japan.

Andrés Quintanilla is passionate about ensuring our higher education systems create opportunities for all students and institutions to be successful.

Andrés currently serves as the Director of Student Success and Institutional Transformation at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) where he supports Regional public universities as they better support students. Prior to AASCU, he served in different capacities at various national organizations to include Achieving the Dream, The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP,) and Excelencia in Education. He has worked on various projects spanning diverse topics such as how to best support MSIs, adult reengagement strategies, holistic advising, and others by viewing higher education through unique perspectives.

Andrés is a DMV native and grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He is an avid D.C. sports fan and a proud son of immigrants from El Salvador and Honduras.

Dr. Jhenai Chandler is a Policy & Research Collaborator at StrategyForward Advisors. She is the lead education consultant at Chandler Solutions LLC, an organization that provides data-driven and equity-centred solutions to improve higher education and human resources systems. Dr. Chandler also serves as the Director for College Completion at The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS) where she oversees the direction and implementation of TICAS’ College Completion advocacy and policy strategy. A significant part of Dr. Chandler’s focus is on the expansion of state and federal support for evidence-based student support programs that have been demonstrated by researchers to help more students graduate. She also leads coalition efforts to advance state policies that will support college completion efforts. Dr. Chandler has 16 years of higher education experience as a campus practitioner, researcher, and consultant.

As a former college student parent and Pell grant recipient, Dr. Chandler is committed to advocating for more college accessibility, affordability and comprehensive support that foster success for all students no matter their personal or financial circumstances. A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, Dr. Chandler is a first-generation college graduate with a Ph.D. in Higher Education Policy from Florida State University. She also earned a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University, a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and an associate degree from Florida A&M University.

Brigid Torres leads operations for StrategyForward Advisors. With over a decade of experience in higher education administration, Brigid brings her expertise in operations, systems, and planning to SF. She began her career working for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. For nine years, Brigid worked at the University of San Francisco (USF), culminating in her role as Director of Administrative Services for the Office of the Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. After relocating (back) to the Washington, DC region, she worked as Assistant Director for Mission Engagement at Georgetown University. She earned a BA in History from Santa Clara University and a Master of Public Affairs from USF. Brigid’s capstone project, “The Path Forward: Fixing California’s Failed Sentencing,” focused on criminal justice reform in the state. She lives in Falls Church, Virginia with her husband and three daughters.

Katie Simonian is a policy researcher with a Master of Public Policy degree from UC San Diego, specializing in inequality and social policy. Her research has centered around education systems, immigration rights, and utilizing data-driven analysis to develop equitable, evidence-based solutions. She holds a certificate in Spatial Analysis and is passionate about using GIS software to translate complex quantitative data into accessible, visual narratives. Originally from California, Katie currently resides in Washington, DC, and also works as a concert photographer in the area.

Andy Sherman leads all design projects for StrategyForward Advisors. After 10 years working with design studios and advertising agencies in Denver, Creative Director Andy Sherman decided to build upon his experience and start Can of Creative. Andy has worked with national corporate leaders such as Microsoft, Qwest Communications, Vail Resorts, and Western Union, Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group, MARS, Dunkin’ Donuts, as well as with a variety of small businesses and startups. With a passion for distilling information and simplifying complex communication, he has carved a niche in the education space, helping his clients create professional reports and communication. Andy believes that graphic design is not simply a marketing tool, it’s an extension of a brand and the essence of communication. “It is imperative to gain insights into the language (both tone and visual) the audience speaks, and apply it across the brand and creative.”

Colleen Pawlicki, PhD is a career educator, writer, researcher, and editor. As the owner of Troy Street Professional Services, Dr. Pawlicki provides qualitative research, copy editing, and writing coaching services to researchers, authors, and businesses. Before opening Troy Street, Colleen taught high school English in Chicago Public Schools and served in the Office of Special Education at the Indiana Department of Education. Colleen holds a PhD from Indiana University in Education Policy.