Leadership
Co-chairman
Tim Westerbeck
Tim is a leading strategic advisor to higher education institutions around the world. His work focuses on helping institutions grow amidst significant disruption, by defining strategies and new business models aligned with the future. He has served as a columnist for Businessweek and is a frequent commentator in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and other global media. Tim is also a regular presenter at global industry forums, such as the Indian Management Conclave, AACSB International, The European Foundation for Management Development, and others.
Fun Fact: As a young journalist, Tim interviewed many famous people, including Desmond Tutu.
co-chairman
David Mulligan
David is a successful entrepreneur who has started and operated several businesses in his career, including a venture-funded start-up that grew to be a public company on NASDAQ. Leveraging his deep functional expertise in marketing, sales, strategy, and operations, he has advised higher education leaders on business growth strategies since 2010. David is an active member in the consulting, agency, and social impact groups of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), a global network of CEOs.
Fun Fact: Dave took his family (3 young kids!) to Italy and lived in Florence for 2 years.
Vice President & Partner
Steve Shriberg
Steve has been with Eduvantis for over 10 years and consistently speaks at higher education conferences, bringing forward proprietary data and insights. His background includes working at large advertising agencies and in the international education departments within universities. Steve has an MA in International Affairs and a BA in International Business and Marketing from Washington University in St. Louis.
Fun Fact: In middle school, Steve sang all over the country as part of the Cincinnati Boychoir.
AVP, Digital Marketing
Emily McMahon
Emily brings 10+ years of higher education marketing expertise focused on the utilization of SEO, UX, analytics, and down-funnel conversion tactics. She specializes in leveraging data-driven digital strategies to help universities drive enrollment and grow their brands. Her background includes inside-higher-ed experience leading marketing and enrollment management strategy and overseeing and optimizing cross-channel media budgets in excess of $8M annually. Emily has an MBA from Illinois State University, a Certificate in Data Analytics from Cornell University, and a BA with a double major in Communication and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.
Fun Fact: Emily spends a week each summer backpacking in the wilderness with a group of girlfriends.
Our Experts
Director, Research & Advisory Services
Jesse Golenberg
Jesse focuses on working with clients to develop effective growth strategies and identify new program opportunities. He is also a licensed attorney in the state of Illinois. Before joining Eduvantis, Jesse sailed with the University of Virginia Semester at Sea study abroad program as the appellate officer, sparking his interest in higher education. Jesse has a joint JD/MBA from Golden Gate University and a BS in Psychology from Indiana University.
Fun Fact: Jesse has sailed around the world on a ship, twice.
Strategic Advisor
Stacia Klasen
Stacia has nearly 20 years of experience in the higher education industry, specifically at senior levels within the online learning sector. She has also served in multiple academic leadership roles in student affairs, career/alumni services, and academic operations. Most recently, Stacia served as an Academic Strategist at Pearson Online Learning Services, consulting with university partners to implement impactful and scalable online degree programs using data-driven insights. Stacia has an EdD in Adult and Higher Education from Northern Illinois University, as well as an MS in Clinical-Counseling Psychology and a BS in Psychology from Illinois State University.
Fun Fact: Stacia was a D1 NCAA All-American in the 10,000m (track). She also makes a mean guacamole.
Analyst
Pat Nguyen
Pat is an analyst with experience across industries, from tech startups to Fortune 500 to higher education. With deep expertise in data analysis and data manipulation, Pat helps her clients expand their product portfolios to break into targeted industries, develop strategies to ease pressure, and build Business Intelligence systems. Pat has competed in 5 competitions, including the Harvard Case Competition and the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC). She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BS in Business Analytics and a minor in Finance with the highest distinction of Summa Cum Laude.
Fun Fact: Pat likes to journal, design, decorate her room, and vlog.
Senior Paid Media Strategy Advisor
Rich Funk
Rich has more than 10 years of experience developing effective digital strategies and managing digital marketing campaigns across a variety of industries. In addition to higher education, Rich has worked in diverse and complex digital marketing environments at Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and Tribune Media Company. Rich is also an experienced educator in digital marketing. He has taught at UC–San Diego and has been a featured speaker at Chicago Social Media Week and the American Marketing Association’s Annual Conference on Higher Education Marketing.
Fun Fact: Outside of digital marketing, Rich is a freelance concert photographer.
Associate Director, Marketing & Creative Services
Ashley Bollhorst
Ashley brings 10+ years of design experience, specializing in digital and print design, brand identity, and user experience. She brings deep expertise in website and conversion optimization strategy and specializes in helping clients leverage creative as a tool that elevates their brand, engages prospective students, and drives enrollment. In addition, Ashley has direct experience in enrollment management as a recruitment advisor. She holds an MS in Arts Technology with a focus on UI/UX from Illinois State University.
Fun Fact: Ashley is a co-inventor and designer for an educational card game, Collaborate, which teaches nursing students about cross-discipline collaboration.
Marketing operations Manager
Jada Carter
Jada leverages operational expertise and excellent communication skills to ensure that all of our client engagements run smoothly. She works with our digital clients and her Eduvantis teammates to ensure consistent communication and reporting across our spectrum of digital campaigns, supports internal team operations, and enables our teams to work with our clients in a way that drives synergy. Jada holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing from Hofstra University.
Fun Fact: Jada was a D1 cheerleading champion.
Marketing Strategist
Kenna Doherty
Throughout Kenna’s academic and professional journey, she has acquired hands-on experience and skills that make her a versatile asset to our clients focusing on optimizing client connections. With an unwavering commitment to staying ahead of industry trends and developments, Kenna is passionate about leveraging her expertise to devise strategies and deliver results in this ever-evolving digital landscape. She specializes in ad copy strategy, copywriting, and refinement, project management, and client communications. Kenna holds a bachelor’s in marketing with a concentration in digital from DePaul University.
Fun Fact: Kenna loves to cook and enjoys trying new recipes.
Marketing & Web Specialist
Jala Byrd
Jala brings evolving expertise in organic performance, with a focus on SEO and content strategy. She helps clients optimize their websites for discoverability by conducting SEO assessments, delivering tailored recommendations, and supporting ongoing content development. As search behavior shifts toward AI and social search, Jala guides clients on how to navigate and thrive in this new era by integrating strategic alignment across all channels. Jala holds a B.S. in Marketing with a concentration in Marketing Communication and Analytics from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Fun Fact: Jala loves reading and is working towards having a personal library.
Marketing Manager
Bryanna Somers
With expertise in digital marketing, content strategy, and SEO, Bryanna brings over 10 years of experience in marketing and higher education. She specializes in crafting data-driven digital strategies that enhance brand visibility, improve audience engagement, and drive meaningful results. Bryanna holds an MFA in Writing from Rutgers University and a BA in English and Communications from Bellarmine University.
Fun Fact: Bryanna has taught at Illinois State and Rutgers University. She is completing her PhD on representations of activist movements in literature.
Digital Marketing Strategist
Allison Brock
With expertise in paid media strategy, campaign optimization, and cross-platform advertising, Allison brings nearly a decade of digital marketing experience. She has managed organic social and paid campaigns across Google, Meta, and LinkedIn. Her work focuses on helping clients achieve measurable growth through data-driven strategy. Allison holds a BS in Digital Media and an AAS in Marketing, both from Alfred State College. She values collaboration and believes the best results come from strong partnerships and clear communication. She’s also driven to help clients exceed their goals and is always looking for new ways to improve campaign performance.
Fun Fact: Allison is on a mission to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and all 50 U.S. states—she’s down to her final 3 stadiums and 4 states!
Digital Marketing Strategist
Nicole Duerr
Nicole is a seasoned digital marketing professional with over 10 years of experience developing and executing full-funnel strategies across a wide range of industries. Her expertise spans paid digital media, higher education marketing, and comprehensive social media management for Fortune 50 tech and entertainment brands. From performance optimization and analytics to content strategy and social listening, Nicole brings a strategic, data-informed approach to every campaign. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from St. John’s University.
Fun Fact: A self-proclaimed Disney junkie, Nicole happily trades PTO days for park-hopping.
Senior Web & Advertising Strategy Consultant
Tien Barnett
Tien is a results-oriented leader with 20+ years of experience in web development, and digital and traditional media. She is passionate about marrying data science and analytics together with the art of visionary creative to produce winning strategies and websites. She has strong expertise in digital experience (UX/UI), SEO, lead generation, and brand strategy. Tien holds a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Wisconsin – Stout and an MS in Integrated Marketing from Northwestern University.
Fun Fact: Tien and her family own three retired racehorses and show on the national dressage circuit.
Marketing Specialist
Arianna Thompson
Arianna is a graphic designer and digital advertising specialist with six years of experience developing creative, results-driven campaigns in the public sector. She brings extensive experience collaborating with over 150 companies to create strategic, visually compelling materials that connect talent with opportunity. She combines strategic thinking with creative design to deliver impactful, results-oriented campaigns. A summa cum laude graduate of Alabama State University with a B.A. in Graphic Design, she also holds real estate licenses in Alabama and Georgia.
Fun Fact: Arianna was a D1 collegiate cheerleader and Miss Alabama State University 2018-2019.
Marketing Coordinator
Sydney Strickland
Sydney is a marketing and digital strategy professional with experience in driving engagement and leading data-driven content strategy. Seasoned in client service, she has extensive experience managing social listening, copywriting, and analytics for Fortune 50 brands. Sydney specializes in digital storytelling and sparking meaningful connections, blending creativity with strategic thinking to help clients achieve their marketing goals. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Psychology from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Fun Fact: Sydney loves cats and has worked with multiple organizations to provide care, socialization, and adoption assistance to help cats find their forever homes.
Marketing Coordinator
Heidy Rodriguez
Heidy is a marketing specialist with strong project management skills who thrives where creativity meets strategy. She’s brought ideas to life through music projects, nonprofit campaigns, and digital work with organizations like the National Veterinary Association. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from San Francisco State University.
Fun Fact: Heidy loves attending live events—especially concerts and sporting events. She’s almost always up for joining a friend at one!
Marketing & Content Strategist
Courtney Cox
Courtney is a writer who brings deep experience in marketing strategy, instructional design, and higher education to her work at Eduvantis. She holds a PhD in Rhetoric and Writing from Illinois State University, an MA in Digital Publishing from the University of Illinois–Springfield, and a BA in Anthropology/Sociology and Creative Writing from Lindenwood University.
Fun Fact: Courtney’s first job was teaching karate after she earned her black belt at age 15.
Director, Integrated Strategy
Beth Emrie
Beth brings deep marketing leadership experience across higher education & online programs. Leveraging a data-informed approach to full-funnel strategy, campaign optimization, and cross-functional leadership, Beth helps institutions align their value proposition with modern student demand. She holds an MBA and earned her undergraduate degree from Butler University.
Fun Fact: Beth and her family hosted two international exchange students who became like bonus daughters, giving her the ultimate excuse to travel overseas!
Senior Marketing Coordinator, Content Marketing
Laura Sandino
Laura brings more than 15 years of content marketing experience in higher education technology. Her background includes leading integrated content strategies across multiple SaaS brands and managing a portfolio of prestigious institutional clients with a 98% renewal rate. Laura brings deep fluency in SEO-informed content and multi-brand voice development, honed on both the agency and client side. She holds a Master of Humanities in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a BA in English from Niagara University.
Fun Fact: Laura has completed five Ragnar Races — 200-mile relays run by teams of 12, tackling legs of the course around the clock over roughly 72 hours, through the Adirondack Mountains of New York and parts of Ontario, Canada.
Social Media Strategy Consultant
Jordan Young
Jordan has spent her entire professional career in marketing and social media strategy. She utilizes her deep expertise in social media, analytics, and marketing strategy to help institutions push strategic initiatives, promote events, and drive enrollment. She has won three national marketing awards from the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators in the Giveaway Promotion, Fan Engagement Video, and Student Promotion categories. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Business Administration and Accounting and an emphasis in Marketing from Presbyterian College and an MBA from Illinois State University.
Fun Fact: Jordan is a former D1 softball player.
Social Media Strategy Consultant
Sadie Dunnett
Sadie brings expertise in organic social media and digital engagement to her work with higher education and beyond. She has helped institutions and organizations connect with their audiences through authentic content, strategic campaigns, and innovative digital storytelling. Her background includes serving as a Digital Marketing Graduate Assistant in Athletics at Illinois State University and consulting with a wide range of businesses on strengthening their social media presence. Sadie holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Communication from Houghton College and a master’s in Communication from Illinois State University.
Fun Fact: Sadie won an award for “Best Music Video” in her university film festival.
Junior Analyst
Pat Chutijirawong
Pat is passionate about using research and data to better understand people, markets, and organizations. She is especially drawn to investigative work: asking thoughtful questions, digging into unfamiliar industries, and using both quantitative and qualitative evidence to uncover meaningful patterns. Across her experiences in economic research, strategy and analytics internships, and student leadership, she has focused on turning complex information into clear insights that help teams make more informed decisions. Pat graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Economics and minors in Business Institutions and Data Science. She has also studied Political Economy at Sciences Po in Paris.
Fun Fact: Pat grew up in Thailand, has traveled to more than 15 countries, and is always up for an adventure—whether that’s hiking, scuba diving, ice skating, or simply discovering cool new coffee shops!
Project Coordinator & Executive Assistant
Zee Truzan
Zee operates at the intersection of executive support, operations, and marketing, bringing over 6 years of experience in creating structure and momentum for high-level leaders. She leverages this multidisciplinary expertise to ensure internal workflows and executive priorities run smoothly, with a sharp attention to detail that leaves nothing to chance. By specializing in proactive systems, Zee provides the clarity and coordination necessary to keep fast-paced teams moving in sync. With a focus on problem-solving and reliability, she serves as a vital link in maintaining organizational momentum. Zee holds a bachelor’s in Business with a major in Human Resources Development.
Fun Fact: Zee manages a lively household of 14 cats and 8 dogs — an environment that has only sharpened her organizational skills, adaptability, and ability to handle a little chaos with ease.
Administrative Services Manager
Bridget Thies
Bridget has 15+ years of administrative experience and is responsible for overall office management and providing administrative support to the leadership team. Her previous experience as a Critical Care nurse laid a solid foundation for situational awareness, prioritization, multitasking, meticulous documentation, and strong interpersonal skills, which she now uses to benefit Eduvantis and its clients.
Fun Fact: Bridget spent several years working with a 501(c)(3) organization to build out a culinary program for detainees in the Cook County Jail.
Paid Media Strategist
Rebecca Streeter
Rebecca is a seasoned digital marketing professional with nearly 20 years of experience developing and optimizing paid media strategies that drive measurable results. Her expertise spans Google Ads, Meta, LinkedIn, and cross-platform campaign strategy, with extensive experience in higher education marketing. She has managed campaigns across a wide range of budgets and organizations, using data to uncover opportunities, improve performance, and maximize ROI. Rebecca brings a strategic, test-and-learn approach to paid media and is always looking for new ways to connect the right audiences with the right message at the right time. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pittsburg State University.
Fun Fact: Rebecca’s family has owned and operated a fireworks stand for over 40 years. After all those years around explosives, she’s happy to report that she still has all 10 fingers.
Administrative Services Manager
Bridget Thies
Bridget has 15+ years of administrative experience and is responsible for overall office management and providing administrative support to the leadership team. Her previous experience as a Critical Care nurse laid a solid foundation for situational awareness, prioritization, multitasking, meticulous documentation, and strong interpersonal skills, which she now uses to benefit Eduvantis and its clients.
Fun Fact: Bridget spent several years working with a 501(c)(3) organization to build out a culinary program for detainees in the Cook County Jail.
It’s nice to meet you.
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