Jodi Kantor is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter at The New York Times and bestselling author, whose work has sparked real-world change, from shifting workplace standards for women to reshaping policies at some of the country’s largest employers.

Her newest book, How to Start: Discovering Your Life’s Work, couldn’t be more timely for the Braven community. Published this spring, it offers wisdom and strategy for young people looking to launch meaningful careers, exactly the work at the heart of Braven’s mission.

At the Summit, she will address one of the most important questions of this moment: how do we ensure the next generation of leaders has the tools, networks, and opportunities to find and build meaningful careers?

Keisha M. Bell is the Global Head of the Office of Black Affairs at JPMorgan Chase, where she leads the firm’s global strategy to advance and support the Black community and its allies as part of the company’s Diversity, Opportunity & Inclusion commitment. With more than 20 years of experience in financial services and human capital, she is a recognized leader in product strategy, risk management, talent development, and inclusive leadership.

Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Keisha served as Managing Director and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at DTCC, where she led global talent development, DEI innovation, ESG, and corporate social responsibility initiatives, launching award-winning programs that advanced women’s leadership and inclusive workplace practices.
A sought-after speaker and industry advisor, Keisha has been recognized on Diversity Woman Magazine’s Elite 100, Diversity Global’s Top 15 Champions of Diversity, and the World Federation of Exchanges Women Leaders List. She has also contributed thought leadership to Forbes, HR Magazine, FinTech Futures, and other leading publications.

Susan R. Burns is the sixth president of the University of Mount Saint Vincent, where she champions the transformative power of the liberal arts and a strong commitment to access, equity, and student success. Since joining in 2021, she has led a period of strategic growth and innovation, including the University’s 2024 transition from college to university status, the launch of a new academic school structure, and the creation of Seton College—an associate degree program designed to support students with high academic need.

Under her leadership, the University has expanded academic offerings, strengthened partnerships across the Bronx community, and advanced initiatives in the arts and healthcare education, including the launch of a physician assistant master’s program. She has also overseen significant campus improvements and funding efforts while deepening the institution’s mission in partnership with the Sisters of Charity of New York.

A nationally recognized psychologist and educator, Dr. Burns is an accomplished scholar and author who remains active in mentoring student research and publication. She holds degrees from Emporia State University and Kansas State University and previously served in senior academic leadership roles at Clarke University and Morningside College.

Dr. Nancy Cantor is President of Hunter College, where she is leading a strategic vision centered on social mobility, public scholarship, and deep community partnership. A nationally recognized higher education leader, she champions universities as “anchor institutions” that drive racial equity and inclusive economic growth through cross-sector collaboration.

Previously, she served as Chancellor of Rutgers University–Newark (2014–2024), advancing initiatives in education, urban entrepreneurship, arts and culture, community health, and environmental science. She also led Syracuse University as Chancellor and President, earning the Carnegie Corporation Academic Leadership Award for her work in fostering impactful university-community partnerships.

A social psychologist by training, Dr. Cantor has held senior leadership roles at the University of Illinois, University of Michigan, and Princeton University. She is a prominent voice on diversity, equity, and public engagement in higher education, and a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.

Her career reflects a sustained commitment to expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and reimagining the role of higher education in society.

Aimée is the founder and CEO of Braven which works to ensure college students develop the skills, networks, confidence, and experience to land strong first jobs after graduation. She founded Braven based on her deep belief that our next generation of leaders will emerge from everywhere. Aimée spent the majority of her career at Teach For America. She held various senior leadership roles, including leading the organization’s groundbreaking work around its human capital efforts. Earlier in her career, Aimée taught sixth grade, led the Breakthrough/Summerbridge New Orleans site, and worked for the national organization. She is a Pahara-Aspen fellow, a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, a Braddock Scholar, a Draper Richards Foundation Entrepreneur, and a 2019 Obama Fellow. A graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, Aimée resides in Chicago with her husband and three children.

Executive Director of Braven – New Jersey, Samantha Davis (Crockett), has been an innovator and leader in education for nearly two decades, spending most of her time proving the possible for students in the state of New Jersey. She began her career as a 2007 Teach For America Corps Member in the Bronx, New York and went on to become a founding teacher at KIPP SPARK Academy in Newark, New Jersey. Samantha opened KIPP Life Academy in 2014 as founding principal and later joined KIPP Forward to build out career initiatives focused on promoting pre-college, internship, and quality job attainment for high school and college students.

In 2020, Samantha became an elected School Board Member in Orange, NJ, where she is serving her second term and participates in multiple committees including as Curriculum Chair, Policy Member, Personnel Member, and on the Negotiations Team.

Since joining Braven in 2023, Samantha has doubled the number of students served at Rutgers University-Newark to 500+ Fellows annually and exceeded quality outcomes post-college. She is also actively working to expand Braven’s footprint in New Jersey so that more college students, the majority of whom are first-generation,

Samantha holds a dual master’s degree from Bank Street College of Education in Childhood Education and Special Education and a bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from Binghamton University, where she became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She is a mom, avid Knicks fan, and grew up training Kung Fu at the USA Shaolin Temple.

Kate joined Bridgewater in 2017 and is currently the Head of Macro & Policy Research and a Partner at the firm. In her role, she is responsible for overseeing and evolving Bridgewater’s estimates of growth, inflation, and their impact on global policy. Kate works closely with Bridgewater Associates’ co-CIOs and regularly shares her insights in the Bridgewater Daily Observations.

In 2023, Kate was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 – Finance list, and was a 2024 Millenium Fellow at the Atlantic Council. Prior to joining Bridgewater, she studied English Literature at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge.

Peter Eastwood is President and Chief Executive Officer, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, a position he has held since joining Berkshire Hathaway in April 2013. Prior to joining Berkshire Hathaway, Peter was employed by American International Group (AIG), where he began his career in the insurance industry in 1991 as an underwriter. At AIG, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AIG’s property casualty businesses in the Americas. Peter also previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lexington Insurance Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AIG.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University and a master’s in business administration degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of Ohio Wesleyan University.

Lisa Freeman serves as President of Northern Illinois University, where she champions social mobility, impactful research, and community engagement while fostering an inclusive learning environment.

A member of NIU’s senior leadership team since 2010, Dr. Freeman previously served as Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and Executive Vice President/Provost. Before joining NIU, she spent 16 years at Kansas State University in faculty and research administration roles.

Dr. Freeman earned degrees from Cornell University and The Ohio State University and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Rochester. In 2023, she was recognized by Women We Admire as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Education.

Harrison Keller serves as the 17th president of the University of North Texas, the third-largest university in Texas and flagship of the UNT System. Since assuming the role in August 2024, he has focused on advancing student success and elevating UNT’s national profile in academic and research excellence.

A recognized leader in higher education policy and innovation, Keller most recently served as Commissioner of Higher Education and CEO of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, where he led statewide efforts to improve college readiness and student outcomes, particularly for low-income and first-generation students.

Previously, he held multiple leadership roles at the University of Texas at Austin, including Deputy to the President for Strategy and Policy and Vice Provost for Higher Education Policy and Research. His career also includes experience in state government and teaching roles at Georgetown University, St. Edward’s University, and UT Austin.

Keller earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and his master’s and Ph.D. in philosophy from Georgetown University. He also served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve for a decade. He and his wife, Gena, have three children.

Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr. serves as the 15th President of Alabama State University since assuming office in 2017. Under Dr. Ross’s leadership, Alabama State University has witnessed over $20 million in comprehensive infrastructure enhancements. His dedication to academic excellence and institutional quality is evident in ASU’s reaffirmation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) through 2030.

Through his strategic roadmap titled FOCUS 2030, Dr. Ross has expanded educational access, increased enrollment, and advanced student success. These efforts have led to historic fundraising records, innovative academic programming, and national recognition positioning ASU among the top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the nation.

Dr. Ross’s influence extends beyond the campus gates. He holds key national leadership positions, including an appointment by President Joe Biden to the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities Board of Advisors. He also serves on the HBCU Capital Financing Advisory Board, is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Board of Directors, and is Chairman of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Commission. Dr. Ross was recently appointed to the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, where he also serves on the Finance Committee.

Dr. Ross has more than 30 years of experience in education, with a distinguished career that includes K–12 and higher education, legislative leadership, and community advocacy. A proud alumnus of ASU, he is also an engaged member of civic and community organizations, including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the 100 Black Men of America.

Dr. Tonya Smith-Jackson, PhD, CPE, Chancellor of Rutgers University–Newark, is an industrial and systems engineer with extensive academic leadership experience. Formerly Provost at North Carolina A&T State University, she has also served in industry and government, including at the National Science Foundation, as well as other universities and community colleges in NC, NY, VA and Germany. A Fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, she has directed research labs and centers focused on human factors in human-computer interaction, and human-systems design and evaluation for accessibility, consumer products, healthcare, construction, transportation, and communication technologies.

Dr. Harry L. Williams serves as President & CEO of Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the nation’s foremost organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. Leading TMCF, Dr. Williams oversees its 55 member schools, comprising America’s publicly supported Historically Black Colleges (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), collectively educating 80% of students attending HBCUs.

Dr. Williams has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to higher education. His illustrious career includes senior positions at the University of North Carolina General Administration, Appalachian State University, and North Carolina A&T State University.
Dr. Williams earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Appalachian State University and a Doctorate from East Tennessee State University. Named President Emeritus of Delaware State University, he is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Williams is a devoted family man. Married to Dr. Robin S. Williams, they take pride in their two accomplished sons, Austin, and Gavin.