Keynote Panelist Bios
Kristin Fabrizi, Clinical Psychology, Psy D 2023
Dissertation Title: Hippocampal Volume and the Detection of MCI in the Older Adult Population: Assessing Performance on Virtual Versus Traditional Cognitive Screeners
Dr. Kristen W. Fabrizi is a licensed psychologist with specialized training in neuropsychology. She earned her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Neuropsychology from the Florida School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University in 2023. She completed an APA-accredited predoctoral internship through the Centerstone Consortium, followed by a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology.
Dr. Fabrizi has served as an adjunct professor at National Louis University, provided didactic training to predoctoral interns within the Centerstone Consortium, and lectured for the Lakeland Regional Health Psychiatry Grand Rounds Series on the role of neuropsychological assessment across the lifespan.
Dr. Fabrizi’s clinical work focuses on comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluation. Earlier in her career, she worked with patients across the lifespan, conducting neuropsychological assessments with adult and geriatric populations to assist in the diagnosis and treatment planning of neurocognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other forms of dementia. She now specializes in the evaluation of children and adolescents to provide diagnostic clarity and treatment planning for a range of neurodevelopmental, emotional, and medical conditions.
Nicole Monroe, Strategic Educational Leadership Ed.D. 2026
Dissertation title: Leadership Without Assimilation: Restructuring Executive Leadership Development to Affirm Black Identity and Leadership Persistence
Nicole Monroe is an executive leadership coach, educator, and founder of Emerge the Soul LLC. With a 26-year career in education, including service as a Chicago Public Schools principal, she brings deep expertise in leadership development, culturally responsive practice, and identity-centered learning.
As the founder of Emerge the Soul LLC, Nicole designs transformative leadership experiences that support the emotional wellness and development of leaders, creating space for reflection, healing, and authentic growth. Her work centers on affirming identity, building cultural intelligence, and preparing leaders to navigate and transform complex organizational systems. Through her roles as an adjunct professor at National Louis University and Community Engagement Manager with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, she bridges education, leadership, and community advocacy.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis, Nicole is committed to finding purpose in her pain and uses her journey to fuel her work in empowering others to lead with authenticity, resilience, and impact.
Her leadership philosophy is deeply influenced by Ella Baker, who believed that true leadership lies in developing leadership in others. This belief, along with her personal motto,“Enter to Learn; Depart to Serve,” by Mary McLeod Bethune, grounds her commitment to purpose-driven, community-centered leadership.
Anne Montgomery, Graduate School of Business Leadership, DBA 2026
Dissertation Title: From Campus To Community: The Role Of Higher Education In Strengthening Regional Entrepreneurship Ecosystems In Appalachia
Anne Montgomery is a scholar-practitioner in higher education and nonprofit leadership with more than 15 years of experience in program development, entrepreneurship education, and community partnership building. She serves as an Associate Professor of Business Administration and Director of Graduate Business Programs at Tennessee Wesleyan University, where she has helped expand executive graduate programs, launch interdisciplinary initiatives, and support grant-funded experiential learning and entrepreneurship.
Anne recently completed her DBA at National Louis University. Her research examines how higher education institutions can strengthen rural entrepreneurial ecosystems in Appalachia, reflecting her broader interest in community impact, regional development, and applied leadership. She also holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She brings prior experience in nonprofit executive leadership, corporate accounting, sales, and marketing, giving her both academic and practical insight into organizational growth and mission-driven leadership.
