Tim Alvarez Ph.D.

President of Otero Junior College

Dr. Alvarez currently serves as the President of Otero Junior College located in La Junta, CO.  He is responsible for improving the quality of life and the economic well-being of the Colorado citizens and communities by providing access to a quality learning environment and fostering student success. 

With over 28 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Alvarez is committed to providing student focused, inclusive, and innovative leadership. Dr. Alvarez encourages students to maximize their potential by pursuing academic, professional and personal growth inside and outside of the classroom.

Dr. Alvarez has been engaged with NASPA on the regional and national level, as regional NUFP Coordinator; State Membership Coordinator; Regional Membership Coordinator; Regional Director; member of the James Scott Academy; and lastly, as a NASPA Senior Fellow. 

Other professional experiences include Vice President of Student Affairs at North Dakota State University, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Vice President of Student Services at Western Nebraska Community College; Academic Advisor/Coordinator of Minority Students and Assistant Director of Admissions at UNL; Director of the Adopt-A-Scholar Program/Vocational Evaluator at Eastern Wyoming Community College.

As a first generation and non-traditional student, Dr. Alvarez is a relentless advocate for underrepresented students. A life-long learner, Dr. Alvarez is an avid reader, exploring best practices, and implementing new initiatives to benefit students. He earned an associate degree from Western Nebraska Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Bellevue University, a master’s from Chadron State College, and Ph.D. in educational administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1999. He has provided leadership as a member of the Executive Committee of Student Affairs for the Association of Land Grant Universities (APLU).

He has committed time and energy to the broader community as demonstrated by involvement on school boards, Chamber committees, and other boards. Tim and his wife Lori are the proud parents of three adult children.

Kathy Obear, Ed.D.

Author and Social Justice Expert

Dr. Kathy Obear is nationally recognized as a Social Justice expert, training leaders and facilitators to effectively maneuver through difficult dialogues and challenging dynamics to create lasting transformation and change.

Her expertise has put her in front of numerous higher education groups, human service and K-12 organizations, and corporations across the United States and internationally to increase the passion, competence, and commitment necessary to creating inclusive, socially-just environments for all members of the organization. At hundreds of universities and organizations across the nation, Kathy has delivered workshops and spoken about transforming toxic situations within organizations into ones that are far more empowering, productive, and inclusive.

A Washington College graduate with a BA in History with a Secondary Education Certificate, Kathy received her Master’s in College Student Personnel Administration from The Ohio State University.

Continuing her education at The University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Kathy received her doctorate in Social Justice Education, where she also taught graduate level courses on Effective Facilitation. Earlier in her career, she worked in residential life at several colleges, coordinating educational programming and leadership development.

In 1998, Kathy co-founded the Social Justice Training Institute, which provides a forum for the professional and personal development of social justice educators and practitioners to enhance and refine their skills and competencies to create greater inclusion for all members of the organization.

In addition to her speaking and training, Kathy is an accomplished author, recently publishing several books: Turn the Tide: Rise Above Toxic, Difficult Situations in the Workplace, But I’m NOT Racist: Tools for Well-Meaning Whites, and It For the Long Haul: Overcoming Burnout and Passion Fatigue as a Social Justice Agent.

Outside of her work…Kathy is loving her new life in Colorado with her wife of over 30 years and her delightful kitty muses who bring her incredible joy each day!

Mamta Accapadi, Ph.D.

Vice President of Student Affairs at Rollins College

Mamta Accapadi is a mother first. She is grateful to be in a head and heart space where her daughter challenges and affirms her sense of purpose every day. In her professional role, Mamta serves as the Vice President of Student Affairs at Rollins College.  She finds inspiration in working at a liberal arts college where student affairs are central to the facilitation of a liberal education for its students. 

Prior to Rollins College, Mamta worked at Oregon State University as the Dean of Student Life, and as facilitator of the College Student Services Administration program, where she also served as faculty.  In prior roles, Mamta worked in Multicultural Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, and has held faculty appointments in Ethnic Studies, Education, and Women’s Studies. 

Mamta received her Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Texas at Austin, and she served as a postdoctoral fellow in Women’s Studies at the University of Houston. She also holds a M.Ed. in higher education administration and B.A. in microbiology, both from the University of Texas at Austin.