ACE Leadership

Jeri Nowakowski, Ed.D.

Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, American College of Education

An experienced executive for online institutions, Jeri Nowakowski is an educational consultant, specializing in helping corporations and higher education institutions develop and facilitate transitions to an online environment. Dr. Nowakowski began her career as an educator, first in high school then as an associate professor at Northern Illinois University. While executive director of the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, she secured over $50 million in contracts and pioneered the use of technology to deliver and evaluate training and curriculum. Dr. Nowakowski later served as executive vice president of curriculum development and evaluation at Voyager Expanded Learning.

Dr. Nowakowski earned her bachelor’s and master’s from Arizona State University. She holds an Ed.D. in educational evaluation and research from Western Michigan University, and was a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at Northwestern University.

Thomas B. Evans

American College of Education Co-Founder

Thomas B. Evans is the Founder and Managing Partner of Dallas-based Skyline Merchant Partners. His firm develops high-growth, high-impact businesses in the education industry.

Mr. Evans co-founded American College of Education and is Executive Chairman of ACE’s parent company.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Evans was a partner with Best Associates, where he had primary responsibility for evaluating and leading investments in education enterprises.

Mr. Evans was a founding board member of Academic Partnerships and served on the Executive Advisory Board of the College of Business at Ohio University. He earned a Master of Business Administration from The Ohio State University and an undergraduate degree in business from Ohio University.

Deborah Nugent

Deborah Nugent is a retired Chief Financial Officer and Certified Public Accountant with over 40 years of experience in domestic and international finance and investment. She began her career in public accounting with PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Grant Thornton LLP and subsequently served as CFO for both publicly-traded and private entities with global operations. Her comprehensive experience extends beyond finance and investment relations to value creation in rapid-growth companies with technology-driven solutions.

An active member of the Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance, sponsored by the University of Texas – Dallas, Ms. Nugent also serves or has served in board and trustee membership and leadership for various organizations within the academic and financial landscapes worldwide.

Nimisha Savani

Nimisha served as a marketing and business strategy executive for more than 20 years in the healthcare and healthcare technology fields. She is the founder of NVision Strategies, a marketing and communications consultancy based in Dallas.

Prior to founding NVision Strategies, Nimisha served as the Chief Marketing Officer for IntelliCentrics, a healthcare technology company; as Vertical Chief for Healthcare at Academic Partnerships, an OPM for online higher education; and as Vice President for Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She joined the medical center from ConvaTec, formerly a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, where she spent over a decade in a variety of executive leadership roles. Nimisha began her career in financial operations, before transitioning to brand management and marketing. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Villanova University. She also participates in Wharton Fellows and other executive education at the University of Pennsylvania.

Bill Barke

Bill Barke joined the ACE board in 2021, having spent his career almost exclusively in the higher education product and service business segments. He currently is active in advising and mentorship, where his focus is on the transformative effect of technology in providing increased access to adult learners.

His senior executive roles have included president of textbook publisher Allyn and Bacon, CEO of the Addison Wesley Higher Ed Group, Chairman of Pearson Canada and Chairman of Pearson’s North American Higher Education Group, where he helped drive the shift from print to digital and products to services. His current advisory and mentorship roles in higher education include StudyPortals, Rethink Education, Enabling Insights, Mentor Collective and Open Scholar. He also serves on the board of Higher Educational International (HEI), an international higher education services management company, and was a board member at Academic Partnerships for three years.

Dennis Cariello

Dennis Cariello is a shareholder at Hogan Marren Babbo & Rose, Ltd. and the co-chairman of the firm’s Education Practice. Mr. Cariello focuses his practice on working with colleges and universities, student lenders, education investors and education technology and service providers on various regulatory, transactional, governance, and other matters of strategic importance. Previously, Mr. Cariello served at the Deputy General Counsel for Postsecondary Education and Regulatory Service at the US Department of Education during the Bush and Obama Administrations. He also served as a non-federal negotiator on the U.S. Department of Education’s 2016 Negotiated Rulemaking Panel on “Borrower Defense to Repayment.”

Mary Elizabeth Mancini, RN, Ph.D., NE-BC (Retired), ANEF, FSSH, FAAN

Dr. Beth Mancini is Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Before retiring in 2019, Dr. Mancini served as the Senior Associate Dean for Education Innovation and held the Baylor Health Care System Professorship for Healthcare Research. From 2004 to 2017, she served as Chair for the Undergraduate Nursing Programs.

Dr. Mancini received an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Community College of Rhode Island, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Rhode Island College, a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from The University of Rhode Island and a Ph.D. in Public and Urban Affairs from The University of Texas at Arlington. She completed a Johnson & Johnson Wharton Nurse Executive Fellowship at the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania and a National Association of Public Hospitals Management Fellowship program through the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University.

Dr. Mancini was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, a Fellow in the National League for Nursing’s Academy of Nurse Educators, a Fellow of the American Heart Association, and as a Fellow of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. In 2013, Dr. Mancini was recognized with a Regent’s Outstanding Teaching Award from the University of Texas System and was appointed a Visiting Scholar in Innovation and Simulation at The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. In 2014, she was reappointed as a Visiting Scholar in Simulation and Curriculum.

Barbara M. Jenkins, Ed.D.

Superintendent Emerita, Orange County Public Schools

Dr. Barbara Jenkins has been dedicated to serving the needs of students for over 30 years. In 2012 she was named superintendent for Orange County Public Schools, the eighth largest district in the nation, proudly serving 206,000 students. She retired from OCPS in December 2022.

Under Jenkins’ leadership, the district won the prestigious Broad Prize for Urban Education. The district also received the Governor’s Sterling Award and attained District Accreditation from AdvancED for its best practices in the education field. The Sustained Excellence Award was attained for exemplary performance using research-based best practices in business. The district passed a second half-penny sales tax referendum for capital projects totaling $2.4 billion and two property tax referenda for operations projected at $1.2 billion to support a $5.5 billion annual budget. Most importantly, the district reached an unprecedented graduation rate of 97% during her tenure.

A highly recognized education leader, Jenkins received a presidential appointment as a director of the National Board of Education Sciences in 2017 and received the Baldridge Foundation Award for Leadership Excellence in 2022. She has served as Chairperson of the Board for the Council of Great City Schools, representing the nation’s large urban districts. Jenkins is a Chief in Residence and leader of the Women in Leadership initiative of Chiefs for Change, a national bipartisan group of district and state education leaders dedicated to the success of our nation’s youth. Jenkins also serves on the board of trustees for ETS, the world’s largest private nonprofit educational testing and assessment organization.

Deeply engaged in the community, Dr. Jenkins has served on the boards of Advent Health, Orlando Economic Partnership, United Arts of Central Florida, Central Florida Regional Commission on Homelessness and the Orange County Youth Mental Health Commission. Jenkins is a graduate of the University of Central Florida. She and her husband, Harold are the proud parents of Harrison, Hillary and Paul.

Rod Paige, Ed.D

Lifetime Emeritus Trustee
Former U.S. Secretary of Education

Dr. Rod Paige earned his B.S. from Jackson State University and his MA and EdD from Indiana University. During his tenure as U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Paige was a stalwart supporter of improving the way that students learn on all levels and setting standards of achievement. Dr. Paige made history by becoming the first school superintendent to be named Secretary of Education. While serving as superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, the seventh largest school district in the U.S., he was honored as National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators. Dr. Paige served for a decade as dean of the College of Education at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas, where he worked to ensure that future educators receive the training and expertise necessary to succeed in the classroom. He also established the University’s Center for Excellence in Urban Education, a research facility that concentrates on issues related to instruction and management in urban school systems. Dr. Paige speaks frequently to educators across the country and emphasizes, “Civilizations rise and fall depending on the quality of education.”

Geordie Hyland, MBA

President & Chief Executive Officer

Geordie Hyland is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the American College of Education (ACE) and is passionate about strengthening human capital and communities. Geordie’s education management experience spans Higher Ed, K12, workforce development, allied health, clinical healthcare, continuing medical education and remedial training in online, virtual reality, simulated, hybrid and in-person modalities. Geordie is a former Googler and graduate of Harvard University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in English and American literature as well as a master’s in business administration from Harvard Business School. He also received a master’s degree in industrial relations and personnel management from The London School of Economics and Political Science.

Monica Carson, M.Ed.

Chief Growth Officer

Monica Carson oversees the functions related to partnership development and new student recruitment for ACE.

Carson’s professional experience spans more than 18 years of service in enrollment operations for higher education. During her career, Carson has worked for the University of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University, Orbis Education, and Dream Center Education Holdings.

With more than 15 years of senior management experience, Carson brings a solid education foundation and passion for developing state of the art processes that support partnership growth, new student recruitment, and overall positive student outcomes and success.

Carson earned her bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University, and her master’s in adult and continuing education and teaching from the University of Phoenix. Carson attended Harvard Graduate School of Education’s 2018 Women in Education Leadership Conference, a program designed to help senior-level administrator shore up their leadership skills and advance education initiatives.

Bryce Peterson, MS, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Bryce H. Peterson joined American College of Education in June of 2018, as Chief Financial Officer responsible for ACE’s finance and compliance strategies and operations.

Prior to joining ACE, Peterson was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI) responsible for UTI’s finance, IT and compliance strategies and operations. While at UTI, Peterson led the successful early adoption of ASC 606 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers); architected and implemented the company’s Financial Improvement Plan; implemented multiple, industry-leading technology solutions that significantly reduced operating costs; streamlined compliance operations and improved compliance metrics; and was recognized by Microsoft and the Phoenix Business Journal as a leader in technology innovation. Before joining UTI, Peterson was a Manager at KPMG, LLP, where he served international clients in multiple industries.

Peterson is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of Arizona and received a Master’s Degree in Information Systems Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Brigham Young University. Peterson is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has published multiple articles on accounting, compliance, and technology innovation in the Journal of Accountancy, The Internal Auditor, and Books 24×7. Peterson currently serves on an advisory board at Brigham Young University and previously served on advisory boards at Pearson Education and Arizona’s Children Association. Peterson speaks Thai fluently and is actively involved in community service and faith-based initiatives.

KK Byland, MS, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Chief Human Resources Officer

KK Byland is the vice president of human resources and B Corp benefits officer. With a people-first mindset, Byland has set the tone for the college’s organizational culture, leading the development and implementation of paid parental leave, tuition assistance and remote working. She ensures ACE is compliant with employment legislation and refines processes to nurture employee engagement and growth as part of her leadership of the human resources office.

Byland successfully led ACE through the B Corp certification process, which evaluates companies based on their social and environmental impact. ACE was the first Benefit Corporation and certified B Corp in the state of Indiana. As part of that designation, Byland has led multiple service initiatives and cemented nonprofit partnerships with School Tools, Treasures 4 Teachers, Kids in Need, Kappa Delta Pi, A Gift for Teaching, World Vision and Teachers’ Treasures to reach students in need. She also serves on the board of directors for Teachers’ Treasures, helping set direction for the organization through strategic planning and budgeting.

She received her master’s degree in human resources management and services from Indiana Wesleyan University and her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and teaching from Ball State University. Byland also took part in Harvard Graduate School of Education’s 2017 Women in Education Leadership, a program designed to help educational leaders learn how to navigate competing demands and constituencies.

William Liu, MBA

Chief Marketing Officer

William Liu joined American College of Education in December of 2021. He currently serves as the Chief Marketing Officer and is responsible for the marketing strategies and operations at ACE.

Overall, he brings close to 20 years of marketing experience across multiple industries starting with his enlistment in the U.S Army. Prior to joining ACE, he led the marketing department at Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California. While at the Academy, he led several key initiatives to vastly improve the school’s marketing and enrollment efforts. He transformed the Academy’s digital marketing capabilities, enhanced its CRM integration, and streamlined its data warehouse and attribution infrastructure.

He received his bachelor’s degree from American InterContinental University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.

Jodi Feikema, Ph.D.

Chief Academic Officer & Provost

Dr. Feikema joined American College of Education in January of 2023 as Chief Academic Officer and Provost responsible for creating and executing ACE’s academic strategies and operations, including faculty operations, curriculum, and the student learning experience. 

Prior to her appointment at ACE, Dr. Feikema served as Senior Vice President, Learning Products and Services, where she was responsible for providing academic services to several universities, as well as creating and delivering innovative learning products aimed at improving student success metrics. With over 15 years of higher education experience, she has served in a multitude of roles, as both faculty and administration, having extensive experience in prior learning assessment, program review and learning outcomes assessment, curriculum development, higher education accreditation and regulations, academic operations, learning products, faculty operations and training, and innovation in higher education. 

Dr. Feikema earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Leadership from University of the Rockies, where her research focused on the quality and effectiveness of degree programs at four-year universities. She has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Ambrose University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Iowa State University.