Applications for the 2027-28 cohort are due August 2, 2027
Collaborate with Fellow Scholars and Administrators
Welcome to the next wave of innovation where you can share your experience and insights with your community of scholars, department chairs, and administrators. As a Fellow with the Alliance of Future Makers, you will step into an immersive, practice-driven experience that blends learning, collaboration, and real-world application. You’ll engage with peers and mentors, explore the impact of technology and cultural shifts on the classroom and in the community, and develop solutions that combine theory with practical experience.
Fellows Cohort for 2026-2027
| Name | Title | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Herman Cavazos | Coordinator, Job Skills & Readiness | Austin Community College District |
| Dr. Pamela Shortt | Dean, Business & Information Technologies | Forsyth Technical Community College |
| Masonne Sawyer | Vice President, Student Success and Holistic Support | Forsyth Technical Community College |
| Dr. Maribel Garate | Dean of Faculty | Gallaudet University |
| Eyob Zerayesus | Associate Dean, Student Experience and Engagement | Gallaudet University |
| Dr. Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi | Dean of Curriculum, Outreach, Resources, and Effectiveness (CORE) | Gallaudet University |
| Brian Thomason | Director of Client Services | Harper College |
| Amie Granger | Manager of Community Relations | Harper College |
| Dr. Christine Crefton | Educational Resource Program Manager | Montgomery College |
| Dr. Chatney Spencer | Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness; Associate Professor, Chemistry | Motlow State Community College |
| Dr. Desiree Vannetta | First Year Experience Coordinator, Introduction to College Success; Assistant Professor, English; Learning Support Coordinator | Motlow State Community College |
| Donna Brewer | Associate Professor; Tenure and Promotion Coordinator, Languages Department | Motlow State Community College |
| Robert Rivas | Chief of Staff | Odessa College |
| Dr. Brian Jones | Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness | Odessa College |
| Jason Meldrum | Vice President of Academic Partnerships | Odessa College |
| Dr. Christi Amato | Vice Provost | Sinclair Community College |
| Julie Thompson | Director, Strategy Implementation | Sinclair Community College |
| Dr. Chris Prokes | Director of AI Excellence Institute | Sinclair Community College |
| Kyle Jones | Faculty Director of Integrated Technology | Sinclair Community College |
| Melissa Pena-Montes | Director | South Texas College |
| Robert Barrera, Jr. | Coordinator of Recruitment & Outreach | South Texas College |
| Dr. Donald Crampton | Director of Strategic Partnerships | Syracuse University |
| Kimberly Hatchet | Chief Change and Transformation Officer | University of Texas at Austin |
| Dr. Yulanda McCarty-Harris | Lecturer – Assistant Professor of Practice | University of Texas at Austin |
| Cindy Luttrell | Dean of Information Technology | Wake Technical Community College |
| Dr. Hessam Ghassemi | Associate Professor and Program Director, Mechanical Engineering | Wake Technical Community College |
| Beth Ihnatolya | Director of Civil Engineering and Geomatics Technology Programs | Wake Technical Community College |
| Dr. Mike Nicholson | Biotechnology Instructor | Wake Technical Community College |
| Jim Matlock | Assistant Professor of Computer Programming | Wake Technical Community College |
Fellows Track
For scholars, department chairs, and administrators driving change at the faculty and administrative level.
Real-World Implementation
- Design institution-wide foresight and innovation strategy
- Build a toolkit for scenario planning and organizational future-readiness.
- Connect directly with a national network of peers and innovators.
- Present at the Summit of Future Makers in Austin, TX, alongside your Fellows and Administrators cohort.
Who Should Join
Faculty, staff, and administrators who are building the skills to design and implement change at their institutions.
Benefits & Key Takeaways
As a member of the Fellows Cohort, you will focus on a clear set of learning objectives, including:
- Establish a Shared Language: Develop a common framework for forward futures thinking and strategic foresight.
- Horizon Scanning: Identify, analyze, and share emerging trends that will shape institutions and their ecosystems.
- Scenario Development: Construct 2-3 plausible scenarios relevant to the future of education/training and workforce systems.
- From Insight to Innovation: Translate trends and scenarios into actionable product or service concepts.
- Revenue Innovation: Prototype and test new models for sustainable revenue generation in your industry/sector.
- Institutional Readiness: Assess and strengthen institutional capabilities for innovation and future-readiness.
- Advanced Foresight Practice: Expand and apply a diverse toolkit of foresight methods for navigating change
- Collective Action: Co-create shared projects and leverage the Alliance network to amplify impact.
- Showcase & Scale: Present prototypes, insights, and future-ready solutions to set the stage for the Spring in-person Innovation Hub gathering.
Expectations and Commitment
- Attend monthly sessions (80% attendance required).
- Join monthly working sessions with a national peer cohort.
- All monthly meetings are virtual and approximately 3 hours.
- Members will complete an innovation project to present at the Summit of Future Makers in Austin, TX, April 2027.
Meeting Schedule
Meeting Details
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CST
- Virtual
- Kickoff Meeting
Meeting Details
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CST
- Virtual
Meeting Details
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CST
- Virtual
Meeting Details
- 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. CST
- Virtual
Meeting Details
- 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. CST
- Virtual
Meeting Details
- 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. CST
- Virtual
Meeting Details
- 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. CST
- Virtual
Meeting Details
- Two-Day Summit
- In-Person in Austin, TX
- April 29 & 30
Get Started
Explore your path today. By completing the application, you’ll help us understand your interests, expertise, and goals as we chart the best path forward: from starting here to getting there, together.
Applications for the 2027-28 cohort are due August 2, 2027
Your application should include the following:
- Letter of Commitment form from you, affirming your commitment to meeting the schedule and full participation in the AFM experience
- Application form
- Letter of support from your supervisor, affirming institutional backing for your participation in AFM
