About Dr. Candice McQueen

Dr. McQueen began her tenure as Lipscomb Univerity’s 18th president in September 2021. She has more than 25 years of experience in education spanning classroom teaching, higher education leadership, state government and nonprofit sectors. She was previously CEO of the National Institute of Excellence in Teaching, a national nonprofit founded by the Milken Education Foundation to encourage and incentivize teaching excellence across the country. She also served as Tennessee Commissioner of Education under former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University, a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.

About Ryan Jolley

Jolley directs Business Services for Tennessee’s Vocational Rehabilitation program at the Tennessee Department of Human Services, leading a team of consultants and managers aiding employers to enhance disability inclusion in the workforce. Prior, he designed a learning initiative for disabled students, then worked in employer relations and talent services. Legally blind due to macular degeneration, Ryan is a disability inclusion advocate emphasizing the business value of intentional integration of talent with disabilities throughout all levels of organizations. He holds an MBA from Trevecca University, specializing in Human Resources, and completed the Tennessee Government Executive Institute.

About Shane Douglas

Douglas, who is principal and executive vice president at Colliers, boasts 15 years of expertise in intricate commercial real estate deals, aiding clients in achieving investment goals. With negotiations surpassing $500 million, his market insight and extensive network uniquely benefit clients in today’s competitive landscape. His accolades include multiple Colliers Nashville Top 10 Producer titles, leadership roles in prestigious organizations and awards like the NBJ Commercial Real Estate Heavy Hitter. Currently, Shane co-chairs Colliers International’s Law Firm Practice Group, serves in the Nashville Downtown Rotary Club, Colliers Tenant Advisory Council, and Woodmont Christian Church. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.

About Gabriela Moran 

Moran is an MBA candidate at Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. Prior to graduate school, she served as a consulting contract analyst and financial analyst at HCA Healthcare in Nashville. She also worked as an investment performance analyst and team leader at Cambridge Associates in Arlington, Va. She has served internships with the U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee and the Nashville Export Assistance Center. Gabriela received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and International Business at American University. She also attended the Kogod School of Business at American University. She formerly served as Goodwill’s Vanderbilt-Owen Graduate School of Management board fellow.

About Abdullah Azhar

Azhar is an MBA candidate at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. With a background in robotics deployment engineering, he has led impactful projects, improving fulfillment operations, shipment efficiency and safety measures. His experience includes managing robotic deployments for Amazon and conducting engineering testing at Phizer in connection with the development of COVID 19 vaccines. Previously, he  served as a Senior IT Technician at Grand Valley State University, promoting sustainability through IT equipment maintenance. He also gained engineering experience at Gill Industries, honing CAD skills and leading projects. Abdullah’s diverse background includes roles in data collection and project management.