Facilitators

Leadership Academy Facilitator
Dr. Elizabeth J. Altman is an associate professor of management at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Manning School of Business. She has served as a visiting scholar at the Harvard Business School and a visiting professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point in the Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department. Altman's research focuses on strategy, innovation, platforms, ecosystems, organizational change, and future of work topics. Her work has been published in the Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, Journal of Management Studies, Marketing Letters, and other internationally recognized management journals and books. In 2020-21, Altman is serving as guest editor for the MIT Sloan Management Review (MIT SMR) "Future of the Workforce" project, a joint research effort with Deloitte and part of the MIT SMR Big Ideas Initiative. Before academia, Altman spent 19 years in industry, primarily in mobile telecommunications, with nine years as a vice president at Motorola. She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Harvard University, Masters' of Science degrees in mechanical engineering and management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University.
Leadership Academy Facilitator
Deborah Casey is an Assistant Teaching Professor with UML's Manning School of Business. Deb comes from industry, having served as a senior business leader with proven success in developing strategies, leading teams, and directing operations. Deb often mentors new and experienced salespeople, teaching them how to handle multiple roles and management responsibilities while personally driving new business. As an instructor, Deb's courses include Professional Communications and Buyer Behavior.
Leadership Academy Facilitator
Elissa Magnant, an attorney, entrepreneur, trained conciliator & mediator is currently pursuing a second doctorate in Leadership in Higher Education. Elissa teaches in the Management Department, Manning School of Business. As Co-Director of the Donahue Center for Business Ethics & Social Responsibility she engages ethics centered learning opportunities. Elissa is Faculty Advisor to a student government organization called Manning Women in Business. Parlaying years of experience in various roles as a solo law practitioner, the President of a franchise, and as a partner in family businesses, Elissa's research interests include ethics in business and education.
Leadership Academy Facilitator
Eileen Powers-Twichell has more than 25 years' experience in interpersonal team development, organizational development, and project management training. Eileen has consulted for a number of Fortune 100 and 500 clients in industries from manufacturing, education and telecommunications, to government, automotive, insurance, pharmaceutical, biotech, and finance. Eileen holds a master's degree in business administration with an emphasis in training and development from the University of Redlands, California, and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Leadership Academy Facilitator
Catherine M. Rymsha, EdD, knows what makes a leader, a leader. Based on her years of training, research, and consulting, she's determined how a person becomes one: they make the decision to lead. She details this further in her recent book, The Leadership Decision. Catherine spent over ten years in marketing/communications leadership roles and now leads learning and development for a software company. Her TEDx Talk, "Want to Become a Better Leader? Here's How. Just Listen," focuses on the importance of listening to leadership. She holds a master of science in leadership and a doctorate of education with a focus on organizational leadership from Northeastern University in Boston.
Leadership Academy Facilitator
Olga Tines is an Assistant Teaching Professor with UML's Manning School of Business. Olga holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Hampton University and an MBA from Northeastern University. Ms. Tines has held a number of organizational development roles in industry for organizations like Xerox, Digital Equipment, IBM/Lotus, and BAE Systems.
Leadership Academy Facilitator
Dr. Lauren A. Turner is the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Organizational Strategy & Effectiveness at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member in their Robert E. Manning School of Business. Turner has served in top leadership positions in human resource management in higher education for over 35 years. She holds a PhD in Leadership and Organizational Studies from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, a Masters of Arts degree in psychology from Mount Holyoke College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in human resource management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Scholarly interests are in the areas of human resource management, leadership, diversity management, and organizational effectiveness. Her work has been published in the Harvard Educational Review, Psychological Reports, Translational Issues in Psychological Science, IGI Global, and other management journals and practitioner publications.