Fireside Chat: Guiding Your Institution for Tomorrow's Educational Needs

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  Marvin Krislov

  Marvin Krislov has served as the eighth President of Pace University since August 1, 2017. He is deeply committed to Pace’s mission of Opportunitas—providing all students, regardless of economic background, access to the transformative power of education. Under his leadership, Pace is developing innovative new interdisciplinary programs, continuing the transformation of its New York City campus, and delivering on its experiential education model, the Pace Path, that produces superior career outcomes. He is personally committed to initiatives supporting student mental health and wellbeing, ensuring college access for all students, and advancing priorities for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Before coming to Pace, Krislov spent 10 years as the president of Oberlin College, where he led collaborative, consensus-driven efforts to make the college more rigorous, diverse, inclusive, and accessible. Earlier, he was vice president and general counsel at the University of Michigan, where he led the legal defense of the University’s admission policies that resulted in the 2003 Supreme Court decision recognizing the importance of student body diversity. Prior to entering academic life, he served as associate counsel in the Office of Counsel to the President under President Bill Clinton and later as acting solicitor and then deputy solicitor of national operations in the US Department of Labor. In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated, and the Senate confirmed, Krislov to serve on the National Council on the Humanities, where served until the summer of 2019 Krislov earned a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, at Yale University in 1982, and he was named a Rhodes Scholar. He earned a master’s degrees at Oxford University and a juris doctor degree at Yale Law School in 1988.

  Pace University

  President

  Keynote

  Marvin Krislov

  President

  Pace University

• Keynote

  Barbara Holahan

  CFO

  NYIT

• Keynote

  Jed Shivers

  SVP, Finance

  Stony Brook University

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  Jimmy Kuhn

  James (Jimmy) D. Kuhn is the firm’s President and Head of Investor Services and is a principal of and shareholder in Newmark. In his role, Kuhn aligns all brokerage activity for leasing, investment sales, and debt & equity placement, and maximizes the collaboration of brokerage functions with valuation, global corporate services, property management and all related service and specialty practice groups. Kuhn also founded and leads Newmark’s Technology and Innovation practice group. With more than 6,500 employees worldwide, Newmark operates from approximately 170 global offices. The firm’s merger with BGC Partners, Inc. in 2011 led to one of the fastest-growing Capital Markets practices in the world through the acquisition of over 50 assets including that of Grubb & Ellis Company in 2012; the acquisition of Cornish & Carey and ARA, the largest national multifamily practice, in 2014; and the acquisition of Berkeley Point Capital in 2017 - reinforcing Newmark’s Capital Markets platform with real estate investment banking and debt & equity capabilities. Newmark went public on Nasdaq in December 2017 under the symbol NMRK. Kuhn joined Newmark in 1992 after 15 years in partnership with Bernard Mendik, as owner/manager, where he acquired 11 million square feet of office space and 6,000 apartments; the company was sold to Vornado in 1997.

  Newmark

  President & Head of University Practice Group

  Moderator

  Jimmy Kuhn

  President & Head of University Practice Group

  Newmark

Aligning Campus & Student Experience with Infrastructure & Institutional Strategy

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  James Kellerhouse

  Vice Chancellor, Strategic Initiatives

  Vanderbilt University NYC

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  Christopher Bruno

  Chief of Economic Development Programs & Strategies

  NYLS

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  Annie Snyder

  As Director of Education & Events, Annie works with the engagement team to develop and coordinate the Green Building Initiative’s calendar of events, including webinars, GBI hosted events and conferences. She oversees the end-to-end professional credential training development and serves as the lead production project manager for webinars and other online trainings. Annie also establishes and maintains relationships with higher education institutions to incorporate Green Globes and the GGEP training program into curriculum. Previously, Annie planned and executed events for both nonprofit organizations and hospitality groups. She is passionate about nonprofit work and incorporating best practices into event standards. Annie graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Communication with a focus on media development. She currently resides in Cape May, New Jersey.

  Green Building Initiative

  Director, Education & Events

  Annie Snyder

  Director, Education & Events

  Green Building Initiative

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  Warren Celiz

  VP, Facilities Management - North America

  CBRE

Mapping the Future of Urban Campus Development & Design

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  Vlad Kowalyk

  Project Director

  Pace University

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  Steven Stainbrook

  Director Planning

  Fordham University

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  Danei Wallen

  Danei Wallen is a registered architect and senior project manager with nearly two decades of experience in healthcare and higher education projects. Her strategic oversight has driven projects for major healthcare systems and municipal hospitals, leading to repeated client engagements. Notable works include her current leadership of a major university dental school design and construction project, radiation oncology centers, wellness hubs, and multimedia educational facilities. Danei's comprehensive architectural foundation and proven ability to navigate complex regulatory environments make her an exceptional project manager in dense urban settings and occupied facility renovations. Her technical expertise, combined with strong stakeholder management and risk mitigation skills, consistently delivers projects that exceeds client expectations. Beyond her project management roles, Danei is a recognized leader within the A/E/C community. She has served as an AIA New York board member and chaired the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, advocating for diversity and inclusion and fostering mentorship among young professionals. She holds affiliations with AIA, NOMA, and RIBA, and earned her Bachelor of Architecture from The City College of the City University of New York in 2010. Danei is dually an educator and a scholar; she is pursuing her Masters in Public Health at Yale University, where she also serves as a Professor for Systems Integration in their Graduate School of Architecture.

  Group PMX

  Senior Project Manager

  Danei Wallen

  Senior Project Manager

  Group PMX

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  Vinicius Gorgati

  Vinicius is a design leader at Sasaki, spanning the continuum between planning, design, and implementation. A consummate collaborator, he leads interdisciplinary teams of architects, landscape architects, planners, and engineers through an intense process of research, discovery, and innovation via design. Vinicius partners closely with his clients to create projects that embrace mission, address pragmatic concerns and contribute simplicity and elegance to the built environment. His work—which includes academic buildings, concert halls, student residences, art spaces, and sports facilities—embodies design excellence in the form of authentic and sustainable places. Vinicius has over 25 years of experience creating award-winning work. He is a registered architect and holds a master of architecture in urban design from Harvard University and a bachelor of arts in architecture from the University of São Paulo.

  Sasaki

  Principal

  Vinicius Gorgati

  Principal

  Sasaki

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  Jonathan Hernandez

  Jonathan Hernandez is a seasoned engineering geologist with over 15 years of global experience in geothermal project development. He began his career in 2010, leading geoscientific surveys and geothermal drilling campaigns across North, Central, and South America, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. His early work focused on utility-scale geothermal power generation, where he developed deep expertise in subsurface characterization, resource assessment, and high-temperature drilling operations. Today, as Director of Geoscience at Brightcore Energy, Mr. Hernandez brings that same rigor to the commercial and industrial sectors, spearheading the development of geothermal heat exchange systems. He serves as a subject matter expert in geoscience, drilling, and thermal modeling, helping to advance sustainable energy solutions through innovative ground-source heat pump (GSHP) technologies. His leadership bridges technical excellence with strategic execution, supporting Brightcore Energy’s mission to decarbonize the built environment.

  Brightcore Energy

  Director of Geoscience

  Jonathan Hernandez

  Director of Geoscience

  Brightcore Energy

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  Talya Santillan

  Talya Santillan, PE, LEED AP BD+C, is a Partner at Kohler Ronan, where she leads the design of mechanical systems for major academic, cultural, and residential projects. Talya brings exceptional technical expertise, strategic leadership, and a passion for sustainable, high-performance building design to the teams and projects she leads. Her portfolio includes work for institutions such as the New York Public Library, Pace University, The New School, and Collegiate School. A licensed Professional Engineer in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, Talya is known for translating complex engineering concepts into clear, accessible solutions. She has been recognized among Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s “Top 40 Under 40” and is an active member of ASHRAE, PWC, and SCUP.

  Kohler Ronan

  Partner

  Moderator

  Talya Santillan

  Partner

  Kohler Ronan