Dr. Conn provides leadership and oversight for Student Housing and Residential Life at CSUN. Dr. Conn received his Doctorate in Education from New York University and has experience working in both small and large, private and public institutions. Dr. Conn has and continues to serve on local, regional, and national associations within residence life and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Dr. Conn has nearly fifteen years of experience working with and researching the topic of emotional intelligence and related dynamics within both student and professional staff. His passion for this content has inspired a number of initiatives in the areas of staff development, professional advancement, and divisional onboarding all informed by ongoing research and assessment efforts.

Dr. Conn has a strong passion for research turned engagement and has partnered with colleagues on international ACUHO-I grant-funded research projects focused on the evolving role of the Resident Assistant. Furthermore, Dr. Conn just published a book entitled, Evolving Landscape of Residential Education, which is a collaboration with several global colleagues in the field. In his spare time, he is an avid marathon runner, foodie, and travel enthusiast.

Design & Construction Services (DCS) is a group of dedicated architects, engineers, project managers, inspectors, contract administrators, and support staff responsible for the implementation and management of the campus capital program. The department is comprised of five units: Budget & Finance Administration / Contract Administration / Construction & Inspection / Project Management / Quality Assurance. The department is led by Brian Pratt, Associate Vice Chancellor & campus architect, who is the designated building official for the campus.

As Design Director, Mark brings over 35 years of experience in architecture, leading the charge on a broad spectrum of project typologies ranging from small multi-family residential projects to large-scale, mixed-use developments. Among his notable projects, Mark was Design Director for The Jasper – a 39-story high rise; Truckee Artist Lofts – a 77-unit modular, affordable housing project; and Electric Lofts – a micro-unit, co-living, urban-infill apartment building.

Vincent Polhemus is Senior Business Development Manager at Clark Pacific, a leading design-

manufacturer-builder of prefabricated building systems. Vincent’s experience in prefabricated building

systems spans 20 years in Southern California and includes unitized curtainwalls, window walls,

aluminum panels systems, architectural precast concrete, thin-shell concrete and GFRC. Starting as a

project manager for a glazing contractor, Vincent moved to Preconstruction in 2016, and has worked on

award winning projects throughout California, including the California New Natural Resources Building

in Sacramento, 510 S Vermont in Los Angeles and One Westside in Los Angeles.

A graduate of Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo, David formed McCullough Landscape Architecture as a sole proprietorship in 1999 while consulting for another firm. After wife and partner, Catherine joined the business in 2001 and became Chief Executive Officer and President in 2002; the firm became a woman-owned corporation and a certified Small Business by the State of California.

With offices in San Diego and the Bay Area, McCullough creates spaces for hospitality, retail, mixed-use and institutional properties around the world. As principal landscape architect, David oversees all aspects of the design and production of firm projects at McCullough. He serves as head designer on all projects and maintains quality control on all work completed. Previous projects have earned awards and recognition in several national publications.

David finds time in his schedule to take leadership in creative organizations such as the the San Diego Architecture Foundation (SDAF) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) local Urban Design Committee. He currently serves as Chair of the Pecha Kucha Night program, which is on its sixth successful year. He finds it inspiring to take part in such a diverse mix of creative minds while bringing them together to share with the public their wild ideas.

In addition, recently David was appointed by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer to serve on the Historical Resources Board as Chair, which governs the identification, protection, retention and preservation of historical sites in San Diego. Concurrently, he has been invited to serve on the city’s Code Monitoring Team (CMT).

David’s design philosophy is centered around merging context and creative passion with grit, soul, and style. The firm takes every project with a uniquely creative approach that centers around diversity, discovery and conservation. David feels it’s important to engage the human spirit with nature, while expressing empathy.

Recent projects include a large waterfront development in Shanghai, China, Seaport San Diego redevelopment, several multifamily projects in Calgary and Vancouver, along with other notable hospitality, entertainment, and mixed-use collaborations in the Western US and Canada.

Senior Vice President-Development, Student Living with The Michaels Organization (Michaels), leading the company’s public-private partnerships with higher education institutions in California, by bringing nearly 20 years of real estate development and finance experience including the development of large-scale housing and dining facilities that utilized public-private partnership (P3) delivery models. In addition to delivering P3 real estatement development projects on-campus, Raoul is the company's leader for off-campus student housing development in California.

As Chief Operating Officer, Natalie plays a direct role in formulating and executing the company’s strategy, and oversees its Acquisitions, Asset Management, Marketing, Investor Relations, Human Resources and Capital Markets activities.

Prior to joining MJW Investments, Natalie served as Senior Vice President at Entrada Partners, where she was responsible for all acquisitions, financings and dispositions. During her four-year tenure, Entrada’s portfolio size nearly tripled.

Before Entrada, Natalie was a Director in the acquisitions team at Rexford Industrial Realty (NYSE: REXR), where she completed fifteen acquisitions and was responsible for all asset dispositions. She also held the position of Senior Asset Manager at Colony Capital and worked in Wells Fargo’s REO Group; in each of these roles she managed nationwide portfolios comprised of 100+ commercial real estate owned (REO) assets and nonperforming loans across all property types. Natalie also served as Assistant Vice President in the finance group at Lowe Enterprises, closing over $800 million in loan transactions. She began her career in UBS Investment Bank’s Real Estate, Lodging & Leisure Group, focusing on M&A transactions and private equity placements.

Currently, Natalie is President of the UCLA Real Estate Alumni Group. She is also an active member of the Urban Land Institute, where she sits on the Multifamily Council. She is affiliated with several philanthropic organizations, including the Israel Democracy Institute.

Natalie received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard College at Columbia University (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa), and a Masters in Business Administration from UCLA Anderson School of Management (Dean’s List).

Dr. Keith Curry is the President of Compton College and CEO of the Compton Community College District. Dr. Curry is responsible for overseeing all departments and functions of Compton College and the District and serves as secretary for the CCCD Board of Trustees. He brings an abundance of energy and innovative ideas to Compton College, along with a wealth of experience as a postsecondary education administrator.

Dr. Curry co-founded and chairs Black Student Success Week. He currently serves as chair of both the National Panel on Black Student Enrollment and the Black Student Enrollment Expert Advisory Committee. He was a member of the California Alliance for Open Education Steering Committee and the University of Southern California Racial Equity in Guided Pathways Commission Task Force.

His recent honors include 2024 Diverse Issues in Higher Education – Diverse

Champion Award. Dr. Curry earned his doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California, Irvine, and a bachelor’s degree in American studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Dr. Linda Owens Jackson is the Chief Facilities Officer at Compton College. She is responsible for overseeing all construction, maintenance, and operations for the Compton College campus. Dr. Owens Jackson has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry covering diverse project types including educational facilities, healthcare facilities, petrochemical refining, power and steam generation facilities, and automotive manufacturing.

Dr. Owens Jackson earned her doctorate in business administration from Touro University Worldwide, her master’s in business administration from California State University, Monterey Bay, and her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Lawrence Technological University. Dr. Owens Jackson also has a certificate in real estate from the University of Southern California.

As President and leader of HPI’s Education Studio, Mr. Frapwell has over 45 years of professional experience in programming, planning and design of facilities for higher education with service to 25 California Community College Districts at 31 Campuses. Under his guidance, HPI has completed or is currently involved in the design of more than 2.2 million SF of instructional, student life, and support facilities (exclusive of student housing) within the past 5 years.

His student housing experience includes more than 2,400 beds at Orange Coast College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Napa Valley College, Compton College, College of the Siskiyous and College of San Mateo, as well as supporting over a dozen SB 169 Grant Applications totaling more than 3,600 beds for multiple districts throughout the State. Current work includes 450 beds of student housing and 180 units of workforce housing for San Bernardino CCD and a feasibility study for 362 beds of on-campus housing for a Central Valley District.

HPI’s work reflects a history of innovative programming, planning and design solutions which are responsive to and respectful of each colleges’ specific program, campus context, climate and community. Solutions which address project specific programs, enhance the campus environment, and enrich the student experience

With over 17 years of experience in the construction industry, Cameron brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to every project he undertakes. Specializing in K-12, community college, and multi-family housing developments, he is committed to creating spaces that serve and strengthen communities. As Regional Director at Bernards, Cameron oversees all phases of a project from preconstruction through closeout ensuring seamless coordination and execution. His collaborative approach, working closely with districts, community members, faculty, staff, and student representatives, has been a cornerstone of his enduring success. A proud graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Construction Management, Cameron is passionate about building environments that inspire learning, foster development, and empower future generations.

David is a seasoned Senior Project Manager at Gafcon PM-CM LLC with over 17 years of experience in the construction industry, delivering more than $1 billion in projects across diverse sectors. His portfolio spans residential developments, higher education facilities, parks, community spaces, and commercial projects. He has overseen both private and public sector work, including DSA-regulated projects at multiple campuses throughout California. David brings a deep understanding of construction methodologies, with hands-on experience managing ground-up builds, major modernizations, and sustainable design practices. His expertise also includes mass timber and prefab modular construction, where he has supported the integration of innovative, low-carbon building systems to meet evolving environmental and performance standards.

With more than 7 years of experience, Alexia has worked with over 30 colleges and universities from early feasibility through transition to a 24/7 campus. As a Project Director at Volz Company, she utilizes her strong communication skills and focus on student success, to direct and facilitate discussions that enable stakeholders, students, and cross-functional team members to explore priorities based on needs and align intended outcomes with the institutional mission. Her ability to work with multiple stakeholders while adapting to evolving needs results in empowered decision making and on-time/on budget project delivery.

At Compton College, as part of the Gafcon/Volz PM/CM team, Alexia plays a critical role in supporting construction management. She works closely with the Construction Manager on a wide range of responsibilities, including processing invoices, tracking material procurement, helping with Architect/Inspector/Contractor coordination, maintaining accurate meeting documentation, and assisting with schedule and budget controls. She monitors the site daily, ensuring it aligns with the project documents and safety requirements. Alexia fosters clear communication among stakeholders, and contributes to a well-organized, safety-focused construction site. This level of coordination helps keep the project on schedule and within budget, while reinforcing client satisfaction and project quality. Her work is rooted in collaboration and is essential to delivering on Compton College’s commitment to providing quality, affordable on-campus housing that supports student success.

Prior to joining Volz Company, Alexia worked in the veterinary care industry in Chicago, IL. She attended Lake Forest College, receiving her degrees in Environmental and Religious Studies