Noelle Kendrick-Bonds, Ed.D., is a visionary leader in upskilling, workforce education, and business development, with a career spanning over a decade across higher education, ed-tech solutions, and business development.
As the founder and CEO of MODRN Education, she specializes in bridging the critical gaps between higher education, industry, and workforce needs—empowering institutions and individuals alike through innovative partnerships, transformative course design, and holistic consulting. Through thousands of hours of working with higher education institutions, dozens of industry associations, individual companies, workforce development organizations in the US and abroad, and studying various product types and their challenges, benefits, and funding models, she made it her mission and business to understand the ecosystem of upskilling education and what it would take for universities to play a strong role in providing industry education. A systems thinker at heart, Noelle’s multifaceted expertise enables her to deliver actionable solutions that drive real-world impact for organizations and learners worldwide.
Noelle has also spent 13 years teaching professional adult learners and has developed and taught undergraduate and graduate courses in business, liberal arts, and political science programs at multiple universities. Her learner-centered approach and practical curriculum design have impacted students across generations and industries. Beyond academia, Noelle’s journey includes service as a K-12 educator, city commissioner, and U.S. Army veteran with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her academic credentials—a Doctorate of Education and Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University, a Master’s in Public Policy and Public Administration from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Campbell University—reflect her lifelong commitment to learning, leadership, and educational innovation.
Driven by a passion to transform lives through education, Noelle stands as a catalyst for change, dedicated to cultivating tomorrow’s leaders and fostering a culture of continuous growth.
Dr. Emilsen Holguin brings over two decades of expertise in corporate and academic environments, transforming visionary ideas into actionable strategies that drive growth and innovation. With advanced degrees in leadership and business administration and professional development at Harvard University, Dr. Holguin specializes in benchmarking academic programs, analyzing data to enhance institutional effectiveness, and fostering impactful collaborations.
A dynamic leader in higher education, Dr. Holguin has held senior roles where she led curriculum enhancements, improved student outcomes, and spearheaded initiatives in accreditation and regulatory compliance. As a bilingual professional fluent in English and Spanish, she serves as a vital connection between institutions in the U.S. and Latin America, cultivating cross-cultural partnerships that enrich academic offerings.
Passionate about online learning, Dr. Holguin has developed global curricula in leadership and organizational culture, mentoring emerging leaders while championing inclusive and innovative educational practices.
Dr. Robin Oxer is a higher education executive, learning strategist, and innovation leader with more than 20 years of experience transforming academic models, designing scalable learning ecosystems, and guiding institutions through digital evolution. Known for her ability to bridge academic quality, modern learning science, and operational efficiency, she has led major initiatives across universities, EdTech organizations, and corporate partners worldwide.
Dr. Oxer advises higher education institutions, EdTech companies, and workforce development organizations on accreditation readiness, program and curriculum development, competency-based education (CBE), instructional design, e-learning strategy, and micro-credential implementation. Her work includes designing full academic models, conducting institutional gap analyses, developing rapid-scale course builds, integrating generative AI into learning and faculty development, and leading digital transformation for education-focused organizations.
Previously, Dr. Oxer served as Chief Learning Officer, Acting Dean, and Vice President of Innovation at Nexford University, where she was one of the founding leaders responsible for building the university from the ground up. She designed Nexford’s global competency- and skills-based academic model, created the infrastructure for scalable course development, led accreditation efforts (DEAC, HELC), and implemented retention and advising strategies that significantly improved learner success metrics. Her leadership also extended to international business development, partnerships, and workforce-aligned microcredential strategies.
Dr. Oxer has held senior academic leadership positions including Director of Academic Innovation at McGraw Hill Higher Education, Associate Dean of Business at Excelsior College, and Program Director at American Public University System. She has managed large faculty teams, overseen hundreds of courses and program portfolios, driven curriculum modernization, and designed innovative faculty development and mentoring programs. Her teaching career spans more than 25 years across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in leadership, management, business, HR, organizational behavior, and CBE-based models.
Dr. Oxer holds an EdD in Organizational Leadership, an MS in Human Resource Development, and a BA in Clinical Psychology, certification as a Job and Career Transition coach, along with multiple coaching and instructional credentials. Her professional affiliations include service as a reviewer for IACBE, OLC, and several academic journals.
With a career defined by transformation, collaboration, and learner-centered innovation, Dr. Oxer continues to champion accessible, high-quality education through modern academic design, evidence-based strategies, and forward-thinking leadership.