You can find generic leadership speakers everywhere. What you won’t find anywhere else is what ASGA has assembled: a team of specialists who have personally lived the student government experience, and then devoted their careers to it.
What makes ASGA speakers different from everyone else:
- They’ve been in the trenches. Every speaker served as an SGA officer or advisor, most as president, before becoming a trainer. They are not outsiders giving generic advice.
- They stayed in the field. Most ASGA speakers have been training student governments for a decade or more. Several have been with ASGA for many years. This is their specialty, not a side project.
- They hold advanced credentials. Multiple speakers hold doctoral degrees (Ed.D., Ph.D.) and law degrees. They combine practical SG experience with serious academic preparation.
- They are high-level higher education professionals. ASGA speakers include current and former senior administrators, including executive directors, directors of student life, chief diversity officers, deans. They understand how institutions actually work.
- They specialize exclusively in student government. Not leadership in general. Not higher education broadly. Student government specifically, including its unique challenges, its unique opportunities, and what actually makes it effective.
No other conference, association, or higher education organization brings a speaker team with this combination of lived SG experience, advanced credentials, and decades of focused specialization. This is what makes ASGA training different and why it works.
Meet the 2026 ASGA Speaker Team
Click on each speaker’s profile to see a full biography, social media links, videos, and photos. See the conference schedule for workshop assignments.
Want to be an ASGA Speaker? Click here.
Click a speaker’s name to see their contact info. Click “Read full profile” to expand their full bio.
Michael D. Anthony, Ph.D.
Strategist
ASGA's strategist — helps SGs think big-picture and make leadership personal and actionable through humor, case studies, and dialogue.
Read Michael's full profile
Dr. Anthony serves as President at Prairie State College. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Louisville and brought extensive SGA experience as Student Body Treasurer, Student Senate President, Student Body President, and University Trustee at NC State. He has led hundreds of workshops on leadership, diversity, assertive communication, team development, and managing change. He lives in the south suburbs of Chicago, IL.
Michael A. Cadore Sr., Ed.D.
Ambassador & Advocate
ASGA's Ambassador and Advocate — develops campus leaders through Educate, Encourage, and Empower with a fun, interactive style.
Read Michael's full profile
Dr. Cadore serves as Executive Director of Community Engagement for External Affairs at Eastern Florida State College. A former NFL New Orleans Saints draft pick and Montreal Machine player, he retired from law enforcement in 2019 and now serves as a Rockledge, FL city councilman. He is a 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from Eastern Florida State College and a 2022 Distinguished Service Award recipient from Eastern Kentucky University.
Rasheed Ali Cromwell, Esq.
The Mirror
ASGA's mirror — helps student leaders look inward and lead themselves before they can truly lead others. Former SGA president.
Read Rasheed's full profile
Attorney Cromwell graduated from NC A&T with a degree in Chemical Engineering and served as SGA President. He earned a Juris Doctorate with honors from Texas Southern University, clerked in U.S. Federal District Court in Houston, and worked at a prominent IP law firm in Washington, D.C. He is founder and CEO of The Harbor Institute, which empowers minority students to excel, and has trained at over 300 colleges in 45 states.
Vicky Goodin, Ed.D.
Student Development Expert
ASGA's Student Development expert and advisor to the Advisors — Certified Gallup Strengths Coach with 29+ years in student affairs. Former SGA advisor.
Read Vicky's full profile
Dr. Goodin, the Strengths Doc, is a Certified Gallup Strengths Coach and Leadership Consultant with 29+ years in student affairs. She has worked across student governments, orientation, student activities, leadership development, and residential life. She holds a B.S. from Longwood University, an M.Ed. from George Mason University, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Florida International University.
Christopher C. Irving, Ed.D.
Team & Capacity Building
ASGA's team and capacity building specialist — former two-term SGA President focused on Emotional Intelligence and organizational foundations.
Read Chris's full profile
A native of Paterson, NJ, Chris served two terms as SGA President at Ramapo College. He holds a BA in Political Science from Ramapo and an MA in Public Policy from William Paterson University. He is a Doctoral Student and Adjunct Professor at Seton Hall University and serves as Executive Director & CEO of the Ceceilyn Miller Institute for Leadership and Diversity in America.
Christopher Jachimowicz
Rules & Procedures
ASGA's rules and procedures specialist — constitutions, bylaws, and parliamentary procedure made practical and immediately useful.
Read Chris's full profile
Chris holds a B.S. in Communications from Millersville University and an M.S. in Counseling from Shippensburg University. A member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians for over a decade, he specializes in constitution and bylaw reconstruction. He has served as assistant dean, director of student activities, dean of student affairs, and director of new student programs at WPI, Salve Regina, York Technical Institute, Muhlenberg College, and Millersville University.
Kimberly Jones, Ph.D.
Teambuilding Expert
ASGA's teambuilding and student leader expert — fosters stronger bonds and inspires students to grow into their best leadership selves.
Read Kimberly's full profile
Dr. Kimberly F. Jones has nearly 20 years of experience strengthening campus communities. A proud Latina and first-generation college graduate, she serves as Director of Student Life at a Maryland community college, most recently serving as Interim Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University and is known for her dynamic, human-centered leadership approach.
Kat Klawes, M.A.
Advocacy & Policy
ASGA's expert in advocacy, policy, and systems change — helping students harness their voice for real impact. Former SGA president.
Read Kat's full profile
Kat Klawes is a former SGA President at Northern Michigan University who led a national lawsuit related to sexual assault and Title IX. Credited as one of the youngest bill authors in the country, she was a 2018 Bank of America "50 Under 50" honoree. She holds a BA in Education from NMU and an MA in Education Policy from Marquette University, working with governments and nonprofits on policy and systems change.
Andrew Ortiz, J.D., M.P.A.
Advocacy Expert
ASGA's advocacy expert — former ASU Student Body President, recognized by presidents, governors, and Congress for leadership and public service.
Read Andy's full profile
Andrew Ortiz holds three degrees from Arizona State University — BA in Political Science, JD, and MPA. He served as ASU Student Body President of the nation's 4th largest university. A 2008 U.S. Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award recipient, National Fellow with the Center for the Study of the Presidency, and member of the Congressional Award Foundation Board, he is co-founder of Omega Delta Phi Fraternity and President & CEO of Ortiz Leadership Systems, LLC in Tempe, AZ.
Butch Oxendine
Generalist
ASGA's generalist — pragmatic, solutions-focused workshops covering all aspects of Student Government with no gimmicks.
Read Butch's full profile
Butch is founder and executive director of ASGA. Former SGA vice president and college newspaper editor-in-chief, he has published student-oriented magazines, books, and websites for nearly 40 years. Named in 1992 as one of the nation's top 100 entrepreneurs under age 30, he authored So You Want to Be President, Poster Secrets, and Inspiration for Student Leaders.
Sarah E. Schoper, Ph.D.
The Professor
ASGA's professor — discussion-based workshops connecting personal leadership with SG organizational structure and improvement.
Read Sarah's full profile
Sarah is an independent consultant based in Macomb, IL with prior experience at Longwood University, University of Maryland-College Park, University of Dayton, and Western Illinois University, advising Student Government, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and leadership programs. She holds a B.S. from TCU, M.S. from Miami University, and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. She is a 2014 Annuit Coeptis Award recipient from ACPA.
Suzette Walden Cole, Ph.D.
Truth Teller
ASGA's Truth Teller — candid, research-based sessions on belonging, inclusion, and advocacy that never sugarcoat the hard stuff.
Read Suzette's full profile
Dr. Suzette Walden Cole holds a Ph.D. in Education Administration from Illinois State University with 15+ years advising student governments. Co-Founder and Team Lead for Social Responsibility Speaks, an equity and inclusion consulting firm, she is a former Director of Student Conduct at Illinois State and 2013 ASCA Student Conduct Professional of the Year. She holds degrees from Mercer University and the University of South Carolina.

