Research Project Advisory Board
A flexible group of project advisors bring insight and periodic feedback to Running Start Institute™ research activities. Professors from three universities, serving as independent representatives of multiple disciplines, represent the fields of Education, Leadership Development, Law Enforcement, and Sociology. An experienced psychologist provides expertise in Personal Life Success Planning and organizational strategic planning. Two education programming consultants lend their experience toward the empowerment and educational support of youth and adults of all learning styles and abilities.
Collectively, members of the advisory committee serve as participant advocates. Their depth and breadth of experience anticipates a range of potential secondary study options and expands our capacities to spot outcome trends. Committee members include:
Dr. Roger L. Collins
Dr. Collins, Professor of Education, University of Cincinnati, gained his Masters of Arts in Teaching (Social Science) at Yale before completing his doctorate at Harvard in Clinical Psychology and Public Practice. He currently serves as a member the Urban Appalachian Council Task Force on Research and Higher Education (Cincinnati, OH). An active playwright and writer of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, Dr. Collins has been a member of the Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative since 2003.
Nancy J. Colegrove
Colegrove is an Education Administration consultant working with urban public school districts. During her career as a teacher and principal, she worked with students and staff from Pre-school through college. Through contracts through the Ohio Disabilities Council, she consulted with school administrators and coached teachers and parents in the context of the “Success for All Students” project. She also participated in the assessment of the national "No Child Left Behind" Department of Education initiative.
Roger Evans
Evans, a public school principal emeritus and school district consultant leads “life long learning” leadership programs for the United Theological Seminary. He provided strategic planning guidance to four schools as part of Ohio’s “Success for All Students” (Leave No Child Behind project) and programming for students enrolled in Talented and Gifted programs.
Dr. Y. Gail Hurst
An Associate Professor in the Xavier University Department of Social Work and licensed social worker (Ohio), Dr. Jenkins’s expertise centers on gender and racial cultural systems. An expert in Family Policy, Child Abuse, and other social matters, she presents at national and international conferences. During the 1990s, she presented at conferences in Russia, Singapore, and served as a delegate to the People’s Republic of China, as part of the Community Enrichment Program with the Citizens Ambassador Program.
Dr. Carolyn Jenkins
An Associate Professor in the Xavier University Department of Social Work and licensed social worker (Ohio), Dr. Jenkins’s expertise centers on gender and racial cultural systems. An expert in Family Policy, Child Abuse, and other social matters, she presents at national and international conferences. During the 1990s, she presented at conferences in Russia, Singapore, and served as a delegate to the People’s Republic of China, as part of the Community Enrichment Program with the Citizens Ambassador Program.
Dr. Michael Thorne Kelly
Michael is the inventor and developer of the strategic catalyst processes for groups and Running Start™ for individuals. He has a B.A. in Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology and has developed techniques, programs, seminars and software for creative problem solving, team building, decision-making, and conflict and change management. Michael has worked successfully with government agencies, non-profit organizations and the private sector. Clients have included the U.S. Air Force, Department of Energy, and the Center for Consensual Democracy and Xerox. His assignments have focused on the implementation of strategic vision, strategic teaming, agile marketing and reengineering organizations to thrive in change driven environments.
Dr. Barbara Bradley Stonewater
As Executive Director of the Northern Kentucky Council of Partners in Education, Barbara provides leadership to a wide range of collaborative projects among eighteen school districts and three postsecondary education institutions. Her areas of expertise include university decision-making dynamics, curriculum alignment and transition strategies (pre-K through postsecondary education). Her credentials include a Ph.D., Administration and Higher Education and an M.S. in Education, Counseling and Personnel Services.