President of The Persimmon Group

Sara is a recognized expert in strategy execution, PMO leadership, and project portfolio management. She has helped organizations — from Fortune 500s to fast-moving startups — untangle the real barriers to execution, from siloed teams and shifting priorities to PMOs that have lost their purpose.

A frequent speaker, author, and instructor, Sara has contributed to the Project Management Institute’s global standards and delivered international keynotes and whitepapers on strategy execution, organizational change, and high-performing teams. Her consulting portfolio spans industries including energy, finance, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and technology, with projects ranging from industrial mega-projects to enterprise transformations.

Sara is also the author of Big Dumb Questions, a newsletter for PMO leaders and executives who want to see strategy move off PowerPoint and into the real world. Sara holds the Project Management Professional (PMP®), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP®), and Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II) certifications, along with a BA from Emory University.

Author, Educator, Strategist, Founder of TheoXTech and PastorGPT

Rev. Dr. Justin R. Lester is a pastor, author, educator, and strategist committed to building joyful, justice-driven communities. He serves as the Senior Pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Vallejo, California, where he leads a multigenerational, tech-forward congregation into deeper discipleship and civic impact. He holds a B.A. and M.A. from Marquette University, an M.Div. from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and a D.Min. from Boston University School of Theology. His doctoral work focused on gamification in the Black Church, rethinking how spiritual engagement can be revived through play, design, and innovation.

Known online as @ThatTechPastor, Dr. Lester is an international voice at the intersection of faith and AI. He is the creator of PastorGPT, an AI platform built to serve pastors and churches, and the founder of TheoXTech, a national conference exploring theology, innovation, and emerging technology. He has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN for his work on human agency in the age of artificial intelligence.

Dr. Lester is an adjunct professor at Virginia Union University’s School of Theology and serves on the Board of Advisors at Hampton University School of Religion, and the Board of Directors for the Black Religious Scholars Group.

Most of all, he is the proud husband of Courtney and father to Camden. Dr. Lester is the author of The Agentic Church and the Brown Dad, Brown Boy children’s series.

Project practitioner, Speaker, Author, Change Manager

Lisa DiTullio is an author, speaker, facilitator, and advisor with more than three decades of experience helping leaders navigate complexity, lead change, and make better decisions. Her work spans healthcare, financial services, technology, manufacturing, and the public sector, working with leaders and professionals at all levels.

Her perspective is shaped by experience both inside and outside the workplace. As a cancer survivor, competitive ocean rower, and founder of Row Forward, Lisa has learned that progress doesn’t always require having all the answers—it requires the clarity and confidence to keep moving forward.

Software Engineering Manager, Coach, Author, Part-Time Lecturer, BU

Star Dargin is the Gratitude Gap Closer. She helps leaders close the invisible gap between what they intend and what is experienced. Her work detects patterns and translates human into specific, observable behaviors leaders can strengthen.

Star began her career as a software engineer and went on to lead engineering teams, multimillion-dollar programs, and complex initiatives during periods of significant technological change. For more than 25 years, she has coached leaders, and for more than 20 years she has taught graduate-level project management at Boston University. Her approach combines an engineer’s analytical thinking, a project manager’s discipline, and an executive coach’s curiosity and human connection.

Star’s second book, released this year, is The Gratitude Gap: Transforming Leaders to Create More Human-Centric Workplaces and Leading with Gratitude. A Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), she brings decades of technology, project leadership, and coaching experience across multiple industries to a question becoming increasingly important as AI changes how we work: How do we become more intentional about how we lead as humans?

Senior Aerospace Systems Engineer, NASA

Jennifer L. Christopher is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and senior NASA Aerospace Systems Engineer with twenty-six years of experience advancing some of NASA’s most complex human spaceflight and technology initiatives. Her career at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) spans International Space Station operations, Artemis mission integration, and Advanced Nuclear Technology. She specializes in strategic planning, engineering, and project management for mission-critical initiatives and is known for bridging technical and business perspectives.

Jennifer has built her career at the intersection of people, technology, and mission execution. Her leadership philosophy centers on the project manager as Chief Integrator, connecting technical, programmatic, organizational, and human dimensions to turn ambitious objectives into executable missions. Her current role focuses on advancing NASA’s nuclear technology development for future space exploration missions.

Her academic background includes bachelor’s degrees in both Computer Science and Mathematics, and a master’s degree in Management Information Systems. She is also an MIT Certified Systems Architect and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. She was selected as one of two MSFC project managers to participate in NASA’s Project Management Success Lab, an intensive agency leadership development program.

A dedicated mentor and active contributor to the project management community, Jennifer shares lessons learned from a career spent transforming ambitious space initiatives into successful mission outcomes. Her career is driven by a commitment to bringing exceptional people together, solving problems that matter, and advancing the technologies and mission capabilities that will shape the future of human space exploration.

Management and Program Analyst, NASA

Tim Wharton, a 2022 graduate of BU’s MS Project Management program, is from Huntsville, AL. He recently completed a 28-year career in the US Navy’s nuclear propulsion field and served aboard submarines and aircraft carriers around the world. He began his career as a junior mechanic in a submarine engineroom, and became a nuclear trained officer managing complex technical projects and leading challenging operations at sea.

After leaving the Navy, Tim joined the NASA team at Marshall Space Flight Center supporting space nuclear propulsion as a project manager. His efforts promote the advancement of space nuclear technology, and the SR-1 Freedom project which will deliver helicopters to Mars and demonstrate space nuclear electric propulsion technology. Tim is a PMP and has been a prior speaker at the Project Management in Practice Conference and a guest speaker in BU courses.

Tim’s hobbies include endurance sports, camping, waterskiing, and flying.

PMI Fellow, Co-Founder PMI Nigeria, Construction Project Manager

Dr. Lambert Ofoegbu is a PMI Fellow, becoming the first recipient from Sub-Saharan Africa to receive PMI’s highest distinction. A distinguished scholar-practitioner, systems thinker, and global project leader, he brings more than 22 years of experience spanning construction project delivery, organizational transformation, risk management, and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies. As co-founder of the PMI Nigeria Chapter and a past President Dr. Ofoegbu is a contributor to global standards including the PMBOK® Guide Construction Extension, OPM3®, and PM Competency Development Framework PMCDF®, he has helped shape project management practice across diverse industries and global regions.

Currently an International Faculty member at Rome Business School, Dr. Ofoegbu’s work explores the intersection of AI ethics, infrastructure development, organizational resilience, and sustainable transformation. He is the developer of the Contextual Excellence framework, which examines how goal clarity, stakeholder alignment, and human-centered leadership enable organizations to navigate complexity and achieve lasting impact. He is co-author of Leadership at the Frontier: Wisdom from the World’s Most Distinguished Project Management Minds, a recent work advancing servant leadership and transformational practice in an age of rapid technological change.

CEO, ReliSource, Chair of Board of Advisors, BU, Author, AI Researcher, Inventor

Wasim Chaudhuri is a seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of experience driving innovation across healthcare, enterprise systems, and artificial intelligence. As CEO of ReliSource US, Inc. and Chair of the Board of Advisors for Boston University Metropolitan College’s Project Management Programs, he brings deep expertise in transforming complex business challenges into scalable technology solutions.

Throughout his career, Wasim has held leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies including United Technologies, Warner Bros., and Crane Payment Innovations, as well as pioneering healthcare technology firms such as WIRB-Copernicus and CSafe Global. His work spans AI-driven clinical trials, secure payment systems, supply chain optimization, and digital health platforms, and he currently serves as Chairman of Charles River Partners, Inc. and an adjunct professor of graduate courses at Boston University.

A published author and holder of U.S. Patent #7,127,721, Wasim has contributed influential research on AI-driven protein prediction in drug discovery and the transformation of clinical trials through artificial intelligence, presenting his work at the European Alliance & Innovation (EAI) conference in Slovakia. His thought leadership bridges academic research and practical industry application, making him a sought-after speaker at international conferences. He holds an Executive Management credential from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, an M.Sc. in Computer Science from Boston University, and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from SRU of Pennsylvania.

Experienced PM Leader, PhD Candidate

Janani is a PhD Candidate in International Business at Southern New Hampshire University, already having achieved an M.S. in Project Management with a concentration in Program and Portfolio Management, Boston University.

She has over 13 years of professional experience across project and workflow coordination, client operations, banking, team leadership, stakeholder and vendor management, training, and higher education. Her research interests span geoeconomic fragmentation, multinational location strategy, global value chains, supply-chain resilience, project management, and AI-enabled decision-making.

She has been an invited speaker at Boston University International Trade and Supply Chain Management courses, presenting on globalization, geoeconomic fragmentation, multinational location strategy, and supply-chain resilience, and has given conference presentations at the AIB U.S. Northeast 2026 Conference (interactive session) and the AIB U.S. Southeast 2026 Conference (poster presentation).

Janani’s scholarly focus is on bridging academic research and managerial practice to understand strategic decision-making in increasingly uncertain global environments.

Software Developer, Manager, Consultant, Therapist, Part-Time Lecturer, BU

Pamela Campbell has been a lecturer at Boston University since 1999. After years of work with psychiatric patients, including running an Outward Bound-inspired group therapy program at the McLean Hospital, she transitioned to computer work while working on her Masters degree at Bentley University in CIS. Early in her career she participated in the development of the first computerized databases and information systems at the McLean Hospital. Later, she worked with the US and Canadian governments through MITRE, where she developed a Data Maturity Matrix for use in evaluating large database development efforts.

She has 30 years of work experience in software development, large database design, and eventually many years as a manager developing and implementing training programs for technical instructors for BEA Systems (now ORACLE).

She also consults with the remote-work company Bridging Distance, addressing the needs and interest of public and private entities in helping managers to develop skills in directing diverse teams, especially those with hybrid work arrangements. Her goal is to assist leaders and potential leaders in addressing the often conflicting needs expressed by those in hybrid environments.

When not teaching or consulting she is happy breeding and handling her Nubian dairy goats and Suffolk Punch draft horses on her farm.

Former Associate Vice Chancellor and CIO, UMass Lowell, Part-Time Lecturer, BU

Michael Cipriano is a seasoned Information Technology executive and project management professional with extensive experience leading enterprise technology initiatives. He recently retired after twelve years as Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. His areas of expertise include enterprise-wide ERP and CRM implementations, technical infrastructure, strategic IT leadership, and project management.

Michael has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Boston University’s Metropolitan College for the past thirty years, where he has taught a variety of project management courses. His combination of executive leadership, hands-on technology experience, and three decades of teaching provides a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing today’s project management professionals.

Michael holds a BS from Boston College and an MS in Computer Information Systems from Bentley College.

Real Estate Developer and Construction Project Manager; Lecturer, Boston University Metropolitan College

Alex Elentukh is a well-known real estate developer and construction project manager in the Boston area. His company, EFCBoston.com, features nine successfully completed residential projects in which Alex led the efforts and coordinated owners, municipal authorities, contractors, and specialized trades throughout the construction lifecycle. His portfolio includes new construction and substantial residential renovations in Brookline, Boston, Watertown, and Somerville.

Since 2014, Alex has been a Lecturer at Metropolitan College of Boston University, teaching courses in software quality management. Alex has also taught in Northeastern University’s State of the Art program. His industry experience includes positions as an Agile coach at EMC, enterprise architect at Fidelity Investments, and QA director at two successful technology start-ups, Jupiter and Reveal. He has authored numerous papers on software quality, reliability, and software-engineering practice.

Assistant Vice President for Projects, Programs, and Governance, Information Services & Technology, Boston University

Pete Groustra currently serves as the Assistant Vice President for Projects, Programs, and Governance within Information Services and Technology at Boston University. In this role, he oversees project management, business analysis, continuous improvement, and change management practices within IS&T. A certified PRINCE2 and Agile/Scrum practitioner, Pete has directed highly complex IT initiatives including managing the Wheelock College merger IT migration, various student engagement and constituent relationship management (CRM) implementations, and a program for replacing BU’s legacy mainframe student system in addition to various AI related projects aimed at improving student services and driving operational efficiency.

Prior to BU, earlier technology leadership responsibilities included roles in the travel and insurance industries in addition to working at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. He holds a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems and a Master of Business Administration from Boston University, alongside a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Kenyon College.

Program Manager | Higher Education Technology Strategist

Aqib Jahangir is a program and project management leader with expertise in digital transformation, portfolio governance, and organizational change. He leads strategic initiatives focused on operational excellence, Change Management and project management best practices within higher education and complex enterprise environments.

He holds a Master of Science (Sc.M.) from Brown University, an MBA from Michigan State University, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education at Boston University. A certified PMP, Agile practitioner, and Prosci Change Management Practitioner, Aqib is passionate about helping organizations navigate transformation through effective leadership, innovation, and ethical use of AI.

Recent speaking engagements have focused on predictive student success, AI-enabled transformation, and change management in higher education.

Senior Executive Director, IIL, Author

Dr. Harold Kerzner is Senior Executive Director for Project Management for the International Institute for Learning (IIL). He has an MS and Ph.D. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Utah State University. He is a prior Air Force Officer and spent several years at Morton-Thiokol in project management. He taught engineering at the University of Illinois and business administration at Utah State University, and for 38 years taught project management at Baldwin-Wallace University. He has published or presented numerous engineering and business papers and has published more than 60 college textbooks/workbooks on project management, including later editions. Some of his books are (1) Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling; (2) Project Management Metrics, KPIs and Dashboards, (3) Project Management Case Studies, (4) Project Management Best Practices: Achieving Global Excellence, (5) PM 2.0: The Future of Project Management, (6) Using the Project Management Maturity Model, (7) Innovation Project Management, and (8) Global Project Management Playbook.

He is a charter member of the Northeast Ohio PMI Chapter.

He traveled around the world conducting project management lectures for PMI Chapters and companies in Japan, China, Russia, Brazil, Singapore, India, Korea, South Africa, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Croatia, Mexico, Trinidad, Barbados, The Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Venezuela, Columbia, United Arab Emirates, France, Italy, England, and Switzerland. He has delivered keynote speeches at PMI Global Congresses on the future of project management.

His recognitions include:

• The University of Illinois granted Dr. Kerzner a Distinguished Recent Alumni Award in 1981 for his contributions to the field of project management.
• Utah State University provided Dr. Kerzner with the 1998 Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the field of project management.
• The Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Project Management Institute gives out the Kerzner Award once a year to one project manager in Northeast Ohio that has demonstrated excellence in project management. They also give out a second Kerzner Award for project of the year in Northeast Ohio.
• The Project Management Institute (National Organization) in cooperation with IIL has initiated the Kerzner International Project Manager of the Year Award given to one project manager yearly anywhere in the world that demonstrated excellence in project management.
• The Project Management Institute also gives out four scholarships each year in Dr. Kerzner’s name for graduate studies in project management.
• Baldwin-Wallace University has instituted the Kerzner Distinguished Lecturer Series in project management.
• The Italian Institute of Project Management presented Dr. Kerzner with the 2019 International ISIPM Award for his contributions to the field of project management.

CTO, ReliSource, Research Fellow, Part-Time Lecturer, BU, Founder ZW Foundation

Zomana Majid is a technology executive, academic researcher, and global humanitarian with more than 20 years of leadership across public health, pharmaceutical supply chains, enterprise technology, and life sciences. As Chief Technology Officer of ReliSource Inc., she leads the technology strategy behind public health compliance and cold chain systems that track temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and food products worldwide, including the ultra-cold monitoring critical to COVID-19 vaccine logistics. Her teams have delivered end-to-end clinical trial platforms connecting sponsors, CROs, research sites, and patients, and B2B software across many industry verticals.

At Boston University, where she earned both a BS in Computer and Electrical Engineering and an MS in Computer Science, Zomana is a Research Fellow and Part-time Lecturer teaching MET CS 673, Software Engineering. Her research sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, life sciences, and public health, with a focus on using AI and translational science to accelerate drug discovery and clinical outcomes. She is the architect of five technology startups and the holder of US Patent 7,127,721 for a core object model for network management configuration in telecommunication systems.

Alongside her industry and academic work, Zomana co-founded the ZW Foundation, which has raised close to one million dollars for emergency aid, small business grants, and nutrition programs since 2020. As Vice Chairman of the board of M. A. Majid Science College, she helped build the college’s 27,000 square foot campus and supports tuition-free education, room, and board for roughly 225 students a year from remote areas of Bangladesh. She is a member of IEEE and IEEE Women in Engineering, and speaks and publishes regularly on AI in clinical research, cold chain systems, and industry-academic collaboration.

Rich Maltzman, PMP is a 40-year veteran of the telecom industry, with the last 30 years in Global PMO roles. He’s also Master Lecturer at Boston University, developing and teaching graduate project management and leadership courses at the graduate level. He focuses on applying PM knowledge to real projects, advancing project managers to project leaders.

Rich has presented to large audiences in Malaysia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Italy, India, Canada, Cyprus ,The Netherlands, the USA, Ireland, and South Africa, and has been the featured guest of many popular podcasts. Rich was the opening keynote speaker at the 1000 attendee 2024 Bulgaria PMI Summit.

Rich has co-authored 8 books on project management, including Green Project Management, (PMI’s Cleland Award winner for Literature), the recent Green PMO, and DeGruyter’s Handbook of Responsible Project Management.  He has co-authored (with Jim Stewart) two books on planning and running successful project meetings.  He and 3 other BU Faculty have just published AI-Powered Leadership from Pearson (March 2025).  He’s also been a contributor to the 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th Editions of PMI’s PMBOK® Guide, advocating an increased emphasis on sustainability and the delivery of value.

With engineering degrees (BSEE from the University of Massachusetts, an MSIE from Purdue University), Rich takes pride in bridging technical expertise, strategy, leadership, and sustainable value delivery.

Squad Leader at Airbus, Speaker, Author

Luigi Morsa is a Team Leader, Project Manager, and Aerospace Engineer. He holds a Ph.D. in Space Fluid Dynamics from the University of Naples and completed part of his research as a Visiting Ph.D. at the University of Michigan (2011). During his doctoral work, he contributed to visionary aerospace concepts, including the Spaceliner project in collaboration with Italian and German Aerospace Centers. After entering the aviation industry in 2012, Luigi transitioned into project management in 2019, gaining extensive experience in leading cross functional teams within highly demanding technical and organizational environments.

His passion for project management has led him to contribute chapters and case studies to several books by Dr. Harold Kerzner, including Project Management Case Studies (2017, 2022), Innovation Project Management (2019, 2023), and Global Project Management (2026). Together with Richard Maltzman, he co authored 10 Lessons Learnt from Irresponsibility in Project Management for the De Gruyter Handbook of Responsible Project Management (2023). Luigi has delivered guest lectures at Boston University and has spoken at major industry events such as the PMI EMEA Congress (Berlin, 2018), the Project Management in Practice Conference (Boston, 2024), and the International Project Management Day hosted by the International Institute for Learning (online, 2024). He is a regular contributor to the IIL Blog and Project Management World Journal, writing on Innovation, Team Performance, Conflict Resolution, Agile practices, and Artificial Intelligence in project work.

Owner, Adaptive HVAC, PM Leader, Part-Time Lecturer, BU

Oduwa Osagiede is an entrepreneur, engineering and project management leader, and educator. As Owner and President of Adaptive HVAC Company, he leads the company’s growth and expansion, with a focus on strengthening its service operations and expanding its product portfolio to meet the evolving needs of commercial and industrial HVAC markets.

Prior to founding Adaptive HVAC Company, Oduwa held leadership and technical roles with global organizations including United Technologies Corporation, Carrier, and Schneider Electric. His career spans management, engineering, marketing, sales, and project management, giving him a multidisciplinary perspective on leading complex initiatives, developing teams, and driving business growth.

Oduwa holds a master’s degree in Computer Systems Engineering and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University. He is also an alumnus of Boston University Metropolitan College’s Master of Science in Project Management program and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) through the Project Management Institute.

Oduwa currently serves as an adjunct professor at Boston University Metropolitan College, where he brings his industry experience and practical perspective to the next generation of project management professionals.

Lead Program Manager, Walt Disney Company

Dr. Rose is an energetic Lead Program Manager with extensive experience leading, supporting, and mentoring project managers in delivering complex technology initiatives—from ideation through implementation—for Fortune 500 corporations such as ExxonMobil, Phillips Petroleum 66, Circle K, Starbucks Coffee Company, Siemens Energy, Tek Systems, Verizon, Infosys, and The Walt Disney Company.

She manages program budgets of $250 million and multi-year project budgets ranging from $10 million to $40 million. Her strengths include assessing project health across technical, financial, and operational domains, optimizing resource allocation, and proactively escalating risks and issues. She excels at building trusted stakeholder relationships across Engineering, Design, Data, Finance, and executive leadership—aligning priorities, co-defining OKRs, and guiding end-to-end roadmaps within Agile and SAFe frameworks—while functioning as the primary liaison between project teams and senior leadership. With deep expertise in AI-powered tools, data products, and data visualization, alongside strong financial acumen, she effectively governs complex portfolios with a focus on measurable outcomes.

She also served as an adjunct professor for 11 years at Seminole State College of Florida, teaching Project Management and Business Communications in the Bachelor of Science in Business Information Management program.

Project Management Controls Specialist

Sanaz Sadeghian, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-SP, is a project management professional with more than 10 years of experience leading complex, cross-functional projects and programs in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. She holds a Master of Science in Project Management from Boston University and a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering.

Her experience spans pharmaceutical development, GMP facilities and infrastructure, engineering and equipment implementation, clinical supply planning, and high-technology product development. She has led multidisciplinary teams across technical, clinical, engineering, and business functions, managing projects from planning and design through execution, qualification, and delivery.

Her areas of expertise include project and portfolio management, strategic planning, stakeholder management, risk and critical-path management, scheduling, cost tracking, and cross-functional team leadership. She is passionate about practical project management and sharing insights from real-world experience navigating complex projects in highly regulated and technically challenging environments.

Senior Consultant for Learning & Development at Volkswagen Group

Jill Senff is a human resources professional with more than 30 years experience in global manufacturing organizations. Throughout her career, she has partnered with leaders and teams to build stronger workplaces through talent development, organizational effectiveness, leadership capability, and employee engagement.

As Senior Consultant for Learning & Development at Volkswagen Group of America, Jill designs and leads initiatives that support leadership development, learning strategy, culture transformation, and workforce growth. Over her 17-year tenure with Volkswagen, she has held progressive roles spanning employee relations, talent management, professional development, organizational development, and learning. Prior to joining Volkswagen, Jill built her HR career with Japanese-owned Tier 1 automotive suppliers and gained valuable firsthand experience living and working in Japan. These experiences fostered a global mindset and expertise in expatriate programs, employee relations, compensation and benefits, and cross-cultural workforce development.

Jill holds a Master of Science in Human Resources from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, along with bachelor’s degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Washington State University. She is passionate about helping organizations create environments where people can learn, grow, and contribute their best work, and she frequently facilitates leadership and professional development programs that translate business strategy into meaningful employee experiences.

CEO, US Veteran, Author, Board Member, STSI, Part-Time Lecturer, BU

Dr. Dave Silberman serves as a lecturer at BU Metropolitan College, and in addition is a senior executive leader, speaker, and author committed to unlocking human potential without constraints. His career roles have spanned government, hi-tech startup, software, healthcare, and venture capital sectors. He is a decorated disabled United States combat veteran and hold a Ph.D. in Human Resources Development. His published interests focus on a multidimensional exploration of organizational performance, with a particular focus on the intricacies of the human side of the workplace. He has focused on the role of leadership, communication, and cognitive complexity in adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms. He’s been published in Forbes magazine and is a principal in the Systems Thinking Standards Institute.

Speaker profile coming soon.

Program Manager, Information Services & Technology, Boston University

Nate Trusten is a Program Manager in Information Services & Technology at Boston University, where he leads the Enterprise CRM Program with a recent focus on improving student engagement through automation and agentic capabilities. He has spent 11 years in IT project and program management, leading cross-functional teams through initiatives that range from targeted system integrations to multi-year student system and CRM implementations, drawing on agile, waterfall, and hybrid methodologies as the work requires.

He holds a Master of Science in Project Management from Metropolitan College at Boston University and is a Professional Scrum Master and Certified SAFe Agilist.

Program Director for Human Resources, Boston Children’s Hospital

Scott Wadland is a project, program, and portfolio management practitioner who has spent his career turning complex organizational priorities into executable work. He currently serves as Program Director for Human Resources at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he leads strategic programs and oversees HR’s project portfolio, resource planning, and project management practices.

Scott’s career has taken him from hands-on technology project management to program leadership, digital health transformation, and the development of an HR project management office. Along the way, he has led enterprise healthcare projects, built organizational PM practices, and taught project management and change management to professionals across the organization.

His PM experience also extends well beyond the corporate environment. Scott has provided community oversight and leadership on major public school building projects in Framingham, and, as a Board member of the MetroWest YMCA, has helped guide the planning and development of the Team Hoyt Early Learning Center in Ashland. These experiences have given him a perspective on project management that spans corporate, healthcare, public-sector, nonprofit, and community settings.

Scott holds an MBA from Northeastern University and is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Prosci Certified Change Management Practitioner.

Assistant Professor, BU School of Public Health

Mary D. Willis is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Willis investigates how energy systems, new technologies, and associated infrastructure impact population health, grounded in a structural determinants of health framework. She integrates spatial epidemiology, quasi-experimental methods, and data science to generate evidence for health-protective policy interventions. Her research is presently funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Experienced IT/PMO Leader, Part-Time Lecturer, BU

Jason Wong is an IT and PMO leader with more than a decade of experience across healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply, and regulated enterprise technology, spanning enterprise AI platform delivery, multi-million-dollar IT portfolio governance, and graduate-level teaching in project, program, and portfolio management. His focus is helping leadership teams translate AI strategy into production delivery, mature PMOs to deliver value and outcomes, and align executive stakeholders behind a shared roadmap. He is co-author of The AI Revolution in Project Management (2023), holds a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems, and is a certified PMP, PMI-ACP, and CSPO.