Dr. Lauren Goldstein serves as Strategic Engagement Specialist in the Office of the Chancellor at New Mexico State University (NMSU). In her position, Lauren works directly with departments, units, colleges, and administration to revise and optimize university processes. She provides support and expertise in organizational writing, communication, and facilitation related to the NMSU LEADS 2025 strategic plan.
She is currently PI on a Thornburg Foundation-funded project, Aligning Our AgriFuture (bit.ly/aligningouragrifuture), which uses multiple Strategic Doing convenings to address the question, “Imagine the Village of Los Ranchos is the center for sustainable urban agriculture in central New Mexico–what does that look like?”
At Arrowhead Center, NMSU’s innovation and entrepreneurship center, she piloted the integration of Strategic Doing with NSF I-Corps site teams to foster momentum toward commercialization. She is currently working with community champions across New Mexico to utilize Strategic Doing for strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems through the Arrowhead Community Entrepreneurship Program.
Outside of work, she’s an avid silversmith, a poet, and a dog-whisperer.
Lauren earned her B.A. in English at Creighton University, her M.F.A. in creative writing at Virginia Tech, and her Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Professional Communication at New Mexico State University
Kolenich, Brian
Executive Director, Ohio Living
Ohio, SD Certified Workshop Leader and Fellow Candidate
Brian Kolenich is an experienced Executive Director with Ohio Living, with a demonstrated history of working in the retirement community industry. A skilled agile strategy practitioner, Brian is also accomplished in nonprofit leadership, performance excellence and innovation methodologies. Brian has a demonstrated history of building an integrated and innovative culture of active aging throughout a continuum of care.
A strong business development professional, Brian displays solid skills in community board and leadership involvement, serving on the boards for the United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley and Wick Neighbors, Inc. He has led initiatives to start an advocacy network for high risk older adults (MAPN), chaired the United Way’s Impact Committee, created the Mahoning Valley Lifelong Learning Institute, and co-created Tedx Youngstown. In addition, he is involved in quality and performance excellence on a national level through the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, as a Master Examiner. Appointed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Brian has served on the Baldrige’s Board of Examiners since 2003, evaluating organizations for the award, which is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive.
Brian has a B.A. from Youngstown State University and a Master of Arts focused in Management and Organizational Development from McGregor School at Antioch University. Additionally, he is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator in the State of Ohio and a Fellow-Candidate and Certified Workshop Leader with the Strategic Doing Institute.
Darshini Render is a higher education professional. At present, she serves as an Assistant Director for Student Success in the College of Engineering at Purdue University, where she operationalize and implements programs for professional development. She teaches career development, cross-cultural leadership skills and introduction to Strategic Doing for undergraduates.
Since 2009, Darshini has been involved in training and development in several public and private universities. Darshini has considerable practical experience in mentoring, coaching, career services program development, multidisciplinary research, consulting, and teaching. Darshini is a PLUS-Fulbright scholar, and received her B.A in Sociology and Business Administration from Colorado State University and her M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Darshini is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Engineering Education at Purdue University. Her research interests are in pedagogies of collaborative sciences.
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Dr. James K. (Jim) Woodell helps to realize the economic and societal impact of higher education. He provides professional services to institutions of higher education, and to their current and prospective partners in the private, civic, and government sectors.
Dr. Woodell recently served as vice president for economic development and community engagement at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), where he worked closely with member institutions to develop tools and resources to enhance their regional engagement and economic development efforts. Dr. Woodell’s expertise includes: R&D and innovation, including technological advancement, entrepreneurship, and regional technology-based economic development; education, training, and workforce development, including strategies for design and delivery of programs; and community development and improved quality of life in regions through higher education engagement, outreach, and public service.
Woodell holds a doctorate in higher education from Penn State University, a Master of Education degree from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Science in communications (television, radio, and film) from Syracuse University.
