Experience the Strategic Leadership Summit

The Co-Chair of Thompson Coburn’s Higher Education Practice, Aaron has over two decades of experience assisting institutions to navigate complex legal and policy matters. He and his colleagues are valued for their deep understanding of the postsecondary regulatory framework, including requirements relating to the federal financial aid programs, accreditation, and state authorization. The host of Thompson Coburn’s popular Higher Education Webinar Series, and editorial director of REGucation, the firm’s higher education law and policy blog, Aaron is a frequent writer and speaker on topics relating to higher education policy and regulation. He currently resides in Saint Louis, Missouri, with his wife and three kids, the world’s greatest dog, a second dog, and four rowdy chickens.

A Washington political advocate and strategic advisor for the education sector, Chris has a keen interest in supporting organizations with ideas on how to disrupt the status quo. Chris understands education policy, which spans all corners of education, from pre-K through primary, secondary, and postsecondary, from institutions and trade associations to technology companies and investors. Drawing on his intuitive knowledge of political and business dynamics, Chris proactively spots opportunities so his clients can work collaboratively with policymakers and stakeholders to support their growth. Conversely, when an agency takes an adverse action, he shapes and executes strategies that lead to favorable conclusions. Chris chairs Thompson Coburn’s Lobbying & Policy practice and also co-chairs its Regulatory Practice Group. Chris has been recognized for his work with various awards. Most recently, the National Law Journal named the Lobbying & Policy practice at Thompson Coburn as one of the top six policy firms in the nation for the second consecutive year.

Nuno Fernandes is President of American Public University System (APUS), where he leads efforts to make online higher education more affordable, accessible, and outcomes-driven. Since joining APUS in September 2022, he has championed a global digital strategy focused on personalized, collaborative, technology-enhanced learning. Prior to APUS, Mr. Fernandes served as President and CEO of Ilumno, one of the world’s largest online program managers, where he expanded access to higher education and improved student success across Latin America. He also brings over a decade of leadership experience from the consumer goods industry at Bosch. A native of Porto, Portugal, Mr. Fernandes holds an MBA from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Porto.

Raymond Todd Blackwood, Vice President of Product Management for Student Information Systems at Anthology, has spent over 29 years inventing technology solutions that run college campuses. His passion for technology and bringing people together to create efficiencies on college campuses can be heard on a variety of webinars, podcasts, papers and presentations throughout the world. Raymond holds an MBA in technology management and lives in Boca Raton, FL.

Heidi Wind is an Enterprise Senior Strategic Consultant. A proven Education Executive with over 17 years in operational leadership roles, including former Campus President for many colleges. With Heidi’s prior experience as an Anthology partner, she understands how our solutions support the institution’s short-term and long-term strategy and mission for efficient and effective college operations. She is passionate about serving people and helping them succeed in life. Heidi graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and received her Executive MBA from Grand Canyon University. She and her husband reside in Houston, Texas, and enjoy watching their sons play baseball!

As Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Michael leads the Anthology legal team with over a decade and a half of experience in litigation and contract negotiations. Previously, as Deputy General Counsel at Anthology, Michael served as the lead attorney for Anthology’s domestic and international client, vendor, reseller, and channel partner contracting. Prior to that, Michael served in various roles in the EdTech industry as an in-house attorney for Blackboard Inc. and Higher One, Inc. Mike began his career as an attorney in the commercial litigation department of a large law firm following a clerkship with the Connecticut Appellate Court. Michael has a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College with a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Boston College and a Juris Doctor with honors from University of Connecticut School of Law.

As Chief Product Officer, Nicolaas leads the product strategy for Anthology’s holistic EdTech ecosystem. He is passionate about helping solve the needs of students, instructors and institutions around the world and delivering high quality, enjoyable and innovative product experiences. Nicolaas has nearly 20 years of experience in EdTech, having worked for several institutions around the world. He was the co-founder of Fronteer, developing Ally, a revolutionary tool that helps institutions make their course materials more accessible for all learners. Following the acquisition of Fronteer by Blackboard, Nicolaas joined the organization as Product Director for Ally before leading the Product Management team for Anthology’s Learning Management System. He holds a degree in Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing from the University of Cambridge.

Dr. Michelle Singh is a distinguished leader in the field of digital education innovation. With a career spanning over two decades in Texas, Dr. Singh has established herself as a strategic visionary, expertly navigating the intersections of digital infusion, artificial intelligence, open education, and change management in higher education. She has served as Chairperson of the Board for the Texas Distance Learning Association, held positions on the Board of Directors and Advisory Board for the United States Distance Learning Association, and was a founding member and Chair of the Texas A&M University System Council for Academic Technology and Innovative Education. Her contributions to digital teaching and learning have been acknowledged through multiple accolades, including induction into the Texas Digital Learning Association Hall of Fame, the Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications Trailblazer Honor, and the USDLA International Outstanding Leadership Award.