Meet Our Team
We solve complex challenges through a customized approach that is highly personal, based in collaboration, and focused on getting results.
Dr. Richard Guarasci,
Founder & Principal
Richard Guarasci, Ph.D. is a national leader in higher education and civic engagement. He has served Wagner College as its longest tenured president. He chaired The Association of American Colleges and Universities, Campus Compact, The Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities and served on the Anchor Institution Task Force, and the Boards of Project Pericles and Bringing Theory to Practice. He is the author of a number of articles and books, the latest “Neighborhood Democracy: Building Anchor Partnerships Between Colleges & Their Communities” (Stylus Pub, 2022).
Areas of expertise
Institutional Leadership
Executive Coaching
University Community Partnerships
Strategic Development and Fundraising
Undergraduate Curriculum
Stephen Greenwald,
Founder & Principal
Stephen Greenwald is an educator, lawyer, media executive and consultant. He served as President of Metropolitan College of New York from 1999 to 2007 and as the Chief Executive Officer of three media companies; taught law at Temple University Law School, Fordham Law School and in Israel, and developed graduate media programs at Wagner College. Stephen’s diverse experience in both academia and business encompasses all aspects of institutional management including financing, program innovation and leadership.
Areas of expertise
Presidential Transitions
Experiential Learning
International Collaborations
Institutional Leadership
Mergers and Joint Ventures
Media Program Development & Implementation
Dr. Brian Murphy, Consultant
Brian Murphy, Ph.D., is an experienced organizer, educator, and leader in civic engagement and equity in higher education. He served as De Anza College's president for fourteen years, taught political theory and urban politics at the University of California and San Francisco State, directed the San Francisco Urban Institute, was co-founder of The Democracy Commitment, and served as the principal legislative consultant on the review of California’s Master Plan for Higher Education.
Areas of expertise
Civic and Community Partnerships
Institutional Change
Undergraduate Curriculum
Legislative Policy and Representation
International Programs and Partnerships
Dr. Nyeema Watson, Consultant
Nyeema Watson, Ph.D. is an experienced leader in civic and community engagement, higher education administration, anchor institution partnerships, student success initiatives, policy and program development, and research on issues relating to minority children and youth who live in high poverty areas. Committed to diversity, access and inclusion and supporting individuals, communities and institutions working in partnership to achieve shared goals for positive transformation.
Areas of expertise
College Access & Success Program Development
Civic Engagement Curriculum and Pedagogy
K-12 Partnership Development
Strategic Planning for Civic Engagement
Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Strategies
Dr. Valerie Holton, Consultant
Valerie Holton, Ph.D. has worked with higher education institutions, associations and non-profit organizations across the United States and globally to enhance, assess, and demonstrate their impact. Valerie has provided technical assistance to human service organizations and state agencies in the areas of strategic planning, board development, and program design and evaluation. She is passionate about helping universities and organizations tackle the major challenges facing our communities.
Areas of expertise
Designing Strategies Critical to Engaged and Anchor Missions
Aligning Institutional Assets with Community-identified Opportunities
Developing and Implementing Enterprise Data Mechanisms
Creating Supports for Community-engaged Teaching and Research
Coaching Diverse Leaders Committed to Collaboration
Tim Gannon
, Consultant
Tim Gannon has an extensive background as a leader in high schools across New York City. He has served as a high school math teacher, Dean, Chairman of Math Department, Assistant Principal of Security and Discipline, Assistant Principal of Mathematics Supervision, and Principal of Port Richmond High School. At Port Richmond High School he reorganized the school into one of New York City’s first Community Schools, partnering with Wagner College to develop a strong civic engagement partnership and developing a neighborhood K-12 college pipeline to address the social and educational needs of one of Staten Island’s most at-risk communities.
Areas of expertise
K-12 Schools/Districts and University Partnerships
Developing and Improving Community Schools
Creating a College-going Culture within K-12 schools
Principal and K-12 Leadership Coaching
K-12 Leadership Academies Targeting at-risk Youth
Marty Blank, Consultant
Marty Blank was the founding director of the Coalition for Community Schools, and President of the Institute for Educational Leadership. Marty was instrumental in the growth of community schools – where educators and community partners work together to enable students to learn and thrive – as a universal strategy for school change. He works from the grassroots to the grasstops to ensure that policy solutions are responsive to the needs and desires of students and their families. He was a VSITA Volunteer and has an AB degree of Columbia University and a JD from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Areas of expertise
Presidential Transitions
School and Community Partnerships
Dynamic Vision-Driven Strategic Planning
Community Engagement
Nurturing Sustainable Change
Listening to Student and Community Voice