Master's in Higher Education Administration
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board for the Master’s in Higher Education Administration consists of distinguished practitioners who guide the future direction of the program and provide students with mentorship and professional opportunities. These esteemed experts play an essential role in connecting the program to a deep network spanning local, national, and global communities.
Marcel Bolintiam, M.S., M.C.P.
Associate Dean of Executive and Language Education, School of Continuing Studies, Georgetown University
Marcel Bolintiam is Associate Dean of Executive and Language Education at Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. He brings nearly twenty years of experience in strategic planning, change management, and international partnerships. As the School of Continuing Studies, Mr. Bolintiam leads all aspects of the School’s executive programming, including professional development and certificate programs, custom/B2B executive education, the Center for Social Impact Communication, the English Language Center, and the Institute for Transformative Leadership. He holds an M.S. in education from The City College of New York, a master’s in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in sociology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Erika Cohen-Derr, D.L.S.
Associate Vice President, Student Affairs, Georgetown University
Dr. Erika Cohen-Derr serves as Assistant Vice President in Student Affairs at Georgetown University. She oversees a variety of student engagement units, including student organizations, leadership programs, new student orientation, campus recreation, student centers, and events management. She holds a doctorate in liberal studies from Georgetown University, an M.Ed. in counseling and personnel services from the University of Maryland, and a B.S. in anthropology from the College of William & Mary. Her doctoral research studied the effects of achievement-oriented context on student leadership identity development.
Thomas Harnisch, Ed.D.
Vice President for Government Relations, State Higher Education Executive Officers
Thomas Harnisch has over a decade of experience in higher education policy and serves as a national voice for state higher education leaders. He joined the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) in 2020 as Vice President for Government Relations. Prior to joining SHEEO, he was Director of State Relations and Policy Analysis at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). He holds a doctorate from The George Washington University, a master's degree from the University of Minnesota, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin.
Andrew Hirsch, M.P.S.
Assistant Dean, Business and Management, Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
Andrew Hirsch has been at the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies since January 2016 when he became Program Director of the Sports Industry Management program. In January 2020, Mr. Hirsch transitioned to Assistant Dean for the Business and Management programs supporting the Global Hospitality Leadership, Higher Education Administration, Human Resources Management, Sports Industry Management, and Supply Chain Management degree programs. Previously, he worked in professional athletics and intercollegiate athletics focusing on event management, stadium operations, and coaching. He holds a master's degree in sports industry management from Georgetown University and a bachelor's degree in management from Juniata College.
Jonathan Kaplan, J.D.
Education Executive, Strategic Advisor & EdTech Investor
Jonathan Kaplan has served in leadership positions in higher education, business, and the public sector. He advises a range of education and other companies on market trends, digital learning, and investment opportunities. Mr. Kaplan also is a lecturer within the Higher Education Administration master’s program at the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. Mr. Kaplan previously served as President of Walden University and CEO of the Online Division at Laureate Education, Inc. Earlier in his career, Mr. Kaplan served in the White House as special assistant to the President for economic policy under President Bill Clinton, and practiced law as an associate at Covington & Burling.
Judith Pérez-Caro, Ph.D.
Sociologist & Thought Leader
Dr. Judith Pérez-Caro (she/her) has held several leadership roles across Georgetown University, including the Law Center, Main Campus, and the School of Continuing Studies, and currently serves as a faculty member for the Master's in Higher Education Administration. She has worked in the field of higher education for over two decades as an administrator, professor, and researcher. She is a sociologist who holds an executive certificate in crisis leadership in higher education from the Harvard University Kennedy School, a Ph.D. in sociology and advanced certification in Latino studies from Fordham University, an M.A. in higher education administration from Columbia University Teachers College, and a B.A. in communication studies and creative writing from Canisius University.
Sarah B. Steinberg, Ed.D.
Provost Emeritus, University of Arizona Global Campus
For more than 30 years, Dr. Sarah Steinberg’s professional and personal interests have been at the intersection of technology and education. Recently retired as Provost and Senior Vice President at the University of Arizona Global Campus, she continues to consult with university leaders on issues pertaining to adult students and online education and leverages her extensive leadership experience in higher education and education technology. Dr. Steinberg is the founder and CEO of Frogstone Strategies and is an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University and the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, Dr. Steinberg spent 20 years at Johns Hopkins University, where she last held the position of Executive Vice Provost and oversaw business strategies and the implementation of more than a dozen fully online master’s degree programs. She holds an Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.B.A. Northwestern University, and a master’s and B.S. in civil engineering from Cornell University.
Brittany Strong, M.P.A.
Program Director of Business and Management Programs, School of Continuing Studies, Georgetown University
Brittany Strong is Program Director for the Master’s in Higher Education Administration program at Georgetown University and supports the programmatic activities of several other degree programs in the School of Continuing Studies. Ms. Strong has experience working as an Indigenous Student advocate for the Omaha Public School District, a classroom teacher in multiple urban school districts, and multiple projects with the University of Nebraska Medical Center using Indigenous research methods. She holds a master’s in public administration from Bellevue University and a B.S. in secondary education with a concentration in social studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Kimberly Underwood, Ph.D.
University Research Chair, Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research
Dr. Kimberly Underwood has over two decades of experience in people management and strategic planning in business, government, and higher education. As a highly recognized leader in higher education and owner and principal consultant of KMU Consulting Group, she has received numerous awards throughout her career, including the UPCEA Research and Scholarship Award and Georgetown University Tropaia Outstanding Faculty Award. Dr. Underwood earned a Ph.D. in educational policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an executive certificate in strategic diversity and inclusion management from Georgetown University. She also holds numerous certificates from Duke University, University of Maryland, and Cornell University.