Archives: Bios

Cassie Lynott translates the Education Design Lab’s work and research into visual resources as the Lab’s Communications Designer.

Cassie supports the Lab by designing infographics, data visualizations, publications, and other communications assets (including webinars) that explain and promote the Lab’s work and impact. She partners with Labbies to communicate how their human-centered design approach can transform educational opportunities and outcomes for New Majority Learners.

Before joining the Lab, Cassie worked in museum education, elementary mathematics, data analysis, and strategic school funding. She supported Washington, D.C., school communities as a teacher and through roles at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, where she led system redesign and strategic communication efforts to strengthen education programs for students and educators.

HOMETOWN: Allentown, Penn.

BACHELOR’S: B.A., Art History, Dickinson College

MASTER’S: M.A., Art Education, The Ohio State University

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Graphical excellence is that which gives to the viewer the greatest number of ideas in the shortest time with the least ink in the smallest space.” — Edward R. Tufte

WHEN I’M NOT AT WORK I’M…
Making things with clay, growing flowers and vegetables, finding the best pizza, and enjoying time with my family.

Dr. Katerina Wingfield brings her experience in dual enrollment pathway design, community college partnerships, and equity-centered education to advance student opportunities as an Education Designer. She primarily works with the Career Ready by Design program, working alongside technical colleges to create dual enrollment pathways that prepare students for careers. She additionally supports the Britebound and Readiness Network initiatives.

Prior to joining the Lab, Katerina served as Dean of Academic Affairs at Lone Star College-Tomball in Texas, where she oversaw dual enrollment, library services, faculty professional development, and institutional effectiveness. With over 25 years in education — including more than 15 in higher education across community colleges, articulation, and workforce-aligned programming — Katerina has spent her career building the connective tissue between institutions, students, and workforce opportunities. She brings a consistent focus on historically underserved learners who are too often left out of the equation.

Katerina also brings valuable K–12 perspective, having led CTE academies and curriculum development in the Houston area, giving her a ground-level understanding of what students need long before they begin their postsecondary journey. That dual vantage point has shaped her deep commitment to designing pathways that are seamless, equitable, and built with real students in mind.

She is also the founder and principal of Rooted Elevations, LLC, her independent educational consulting practice, and serves as an adjunct faculty member at Lone Star College.

Katerina is thrilled to bring her passion for equity-centered design to the Lab, especially work that connects secondary, postsecondary, and workforce systems into clear, viable pathways for students pursuing sustainable careers!

HOMETOWN: Born in North Carolina, raised in Virginia

BACHELOR’S: B.S. in Business Administration, minor in Hospitality Management, Central State University

MASTER’S: MBA in Management and Accounting, Strayer University

DOCTORATE: PhD Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Houston

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela [and] “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Shirley Chisholm

WHEN I’M NOT AT WORK I’M…

I’m on the golf course cheering on my son, somewhere with my husband listening to live music, reading a good book, or watching a good show!

Breanna Shaw graduated in 2024 with a degree in marketing and a minor in entrepreneurship. As an Assistant Education Designer and a former parenting learner, she is passionate about supporting student parents and helping learners navigate systems that were not always designed with them in mind.

Before joining the Lab, Breanna worked as a marketing intern for both a visitors center and a mental health organization, where she developed a love for creating meaningful content and building connections with diverse communities. She is excited to contribute to human-centered design work that advances pathways, belonging, and success for New Majority Learners.

HOMETOWN: Fitzgerald, Georgia

BACHELOR’S: Bachelor’s of Business Administration

FAVORITE QUOTE: “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”

WHEN I’M NOT AT WORK I’M… Spending time with my loved ones, trying new foods, designing graphics, and simply just enjoying life.

Dr. Wallace E. Boston has spent more than two decades guiding universities, colleges, and students toward success.

In 2022, Boston co-founded Green Street Impact Partners, a private equity fund, investing in edtech start-ups that can positively impact learners.

Boston was appointed President Emeritus of the American Public University System (APUS) after serving as President and CEO for more than 16 years.

He is a former member of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), which advises the Department of Education’s Secretary on accreditation.

Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee is president of the Community College of Aurora (CCA) in Colorado, which joined the Lab’s Community College Growth Engine in 2021.

He previously worked at several public and private higher education institutions, including St. Philip’s College in Texas, the University of Charleston in West Virginia, Blinn College District in Texas, and Houston Baptist University.

Brownlee publishes frequently, including in the Community College Daily (published by the American Association of Community Colleges), and he previously served as a columnist for EdSurge, where he wrote about partnering with the Lab to design five behavioral health micro-credential pathways. Brownlee has written over 50 articles on topics involving educational technology, workforce development, and the future of higher education.

What do you hope to learn from the CCGE Fellows program?

I am looking forward to working with new colleagues to operationalize pathways that make sense for the learner and for our state’s workforce needs. We need to provide more flexible and relevant credentialing opportunities that promote economic mobility and support our students throughout their journey.

Dr. Andrew Gardner is an experienced leader in workforce development and education. In March 2023, he assumed the role of Associate Vice President of Workforce Strategies at the North Carolina Community College System. Prior to this, he held key positions at Montgomery Community College in Troy, North Carolina. He served as the Director of Business and Industry Services and later as the Dean of Continuing Education, where he facilitated various workforce programs, including apprenticeships and customized training. Before entering higher education, Dr. Gardner gained experience in local government management. He holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University, and a Bachelor’s in Public Administration from George Mason University. His passion for workforce development and education, along with his diverse background, makes him a valuable asset to the North Carolina Community College System and an esteemed expert in his field.

What do you hope to learn from the CCGE Fellows program?

How to maximize existing efforts!

Dr. Tina Moore serves as the Arkansas Division of Higher Education Director of Workforce Development. Through cross-sector collaboration, she leads projects and influences policy to positively impact the economic mobility of Arkansans. Dr. Moore coordinates engagement among K-12, higher education, and workforce development stakeholders on education and training leading to high-wage, high-demand careers. She leads collaborative interagency partnerships among government offices to solidify data-driven, K-Workforce pathways.

Dr. Moore received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, both in secondary mathematics education. She completed a specialist degree through Arkansas State University and a doctoral degree through Liberty University in educational leadership, curriculum, and instruction.

What do you hope to learn from the CCGE Fellows program?

How to best support institutions in their development of micropathways that meet the needs of both learners and industry partners. Also, how can we apply this process across systems in our state? How can the Talent Pipeline Management process align with the CCGE micropathways development process, as our state has also focused on TPM.

Dr. Andrea J. Crowley, Executive Director of the North Carolina Student Success Center, fosters the holistic growth of lifelong learners and advances educational excellence. Dr. Crowley brings a business development perspective gained from private sector experience in developing strategic media partnerships prior to her roles in higher education. With experience as a Department Chair, QEP Director, and Workforce Development Consultant, Dr. Crowley designs organizational models connecting science to strategy for community colleges. Her focus is on student-centered design and preparing learners for the future of work.

Dr. Crowley earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and Finance from the University of Hartford, a Master of Business Administration from Belmont University, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Mississippi.

What do you hope to learn from the CCGE Fellows program?

Change leadership through student centered design.

Daniel Archer serves as the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), where he leads efforts to advance student success, academic excellence, and strategic growth across the system. He spearheaded the development of NSHE’s first comprehensive strategic plan, Success by Design, which was approved on January 17, 2025, and will guide the system through 2025-2031. The plan features actionable strategies, a data-driven progress dashboard, and clear targets for concurrent enrollment, traditional and adult student enrollment, retention, research, and completion to drive measurable outcomes.

Prior to NSHE, Archer held leadership roles at both institutional and state-system levels. Most recently, he served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Kansas Board of Regents, where he led the creation of the state’s first systemwide general education package and systemwide associate degree program, restructured academic program review, spearheaded the initiative to make FAFSA a high school graduation requirement, and initiated major remediation reforms to improve student success.

An Oklahoma City native, Archer also served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Registrar at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and Academic/International Advisor at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City.

He holds a Doctorate of Education from Abilene Christian University, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Oklahoma State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, and an Associate in Arts from Oklahoma City Community College.

He resides in Henderson, Nevada, with his wife, Lindsay, an attorney, their two children, and three dogs.

What do you hope to learn from the CCGE Fellows program?

Connect with colleagues who share similar interests, collaborate to improve system processes, streamline operations for greater efficiency, and simplify procedures to enhance the student experience—all while increasing access, success, completion, and post-graduation outcomes.