Student Leadership Conference 2026

Corey is currently Regional VP at a Fortune 1000 company and has 8+ years of business ownership experience and a degree from Indiana University.

He specializes in financial literacy and leads money management workshops. Corey is a board member of the Lawrence Township Boys Basketball League and values faith, family, and business. He is excited to present at the IU Student Leadership Conference for the second year in a row!

Laura Herrera is a sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington, majoring in East Asian Languages and Cultures and International Studies. She is an MS2 cadet in ROTC, a member of the National Guard, and a student coach for the women’s Little 500 Army team. Laura also serves as a Leadership Ambassador for the SILC and as a student ambassador for the Chinese Flagship Program.

Laura loves working globally and helping students overcome challenges and thrive on campus. She enjoys connecting with others, solving problems, and supporting people in pursuing their passions. After graduation, she plans to serve as a Military Intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, applying her leadership, language, and cross-cultural skills to make a positive impact.

Paulina Johnson, a native of Gary, Indiana, is an award-winning corporate leader, author, and inspirational speaker who has transformed adversity into achievement. Once a teen mother experiencing homelessness, she rose to become a respected business leader and a global voice for resilience and empowerment. Paulina brings more than two decades of extensive corporate experience, providing commercial leadership, managing teams, developing and implementing sales strategies, and driving global collaboration. 

Guided by her mantra #AchieveAgainstAllOdds, Paulina earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems in just three years, followed by an MBA in Marketing Administration from Indiana University Northwest. In addition to her corporate leadership roles, she has served as president of several nonprofit organizations. She is the celebrated author of I AM YOU – Achieving Against All Odds and has received numerous industry honors. Paulina currently serves as the Director, Programs bproauto for Stellantis.

Maurisa Li-A-Ping is a Black Queer Writer and Cultural Worker. She leverages creative writing and community building to document and honor the interiority of Black queer women. She is the Founder and Curator of Tulips in the Garden: A Black Queer Supper Club, which is a soft landing space for Black Queer millennials in North Carolina.

Her creative writing can be found in Puerto del Sol, Up the Staircase Quarterly, New Delta Review, The Offing, Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, and elsewhere. Maurisa's accolades include being a poetry Pushcart Prize nominee, Watering Hole Fellow, Tin House Fellow, Furious Flower Poetry Prize finalist, Nancy Craig Blackburn Fellow, Blood Orange Review Poetry Contest Winner, and more. She’s earned a M.S.Ed. in Higher Education Student Affairs from Indiana University and a M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Randolph College. Learn more on her website.

Jimmie McMillian proudly serves as Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Corporate Counsel for Penske Entertainment Corp. The company is comprised of INDYCAR, IMS Productions and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. As Chief Diversity Officer, Jimmie leads diversity and inclusion efforts across Penske Entertainment Corp. He’s also charged with implementing key pillars of Race for Equality & Change, an initiative to provide opportunities for underrepresented women and men in the motorsports industry and open wheel racing. 

As Senior Corporate Counsel, Jimmie’s work comprises a variety of legal matters including managing litigation and legal risks, drafting new event and facility contracts, vendor and sponsorship agreements. Jimmie is a graduate of Indiana University - Bloomington and the Robert McKinney Indiana University School of Law. 

Chris is the CEO of Fresh FP&A and has over 20 years of finance experience. He helps small- and medium-sized businesses improve their financial predictability and achieve strategic growth.

Chris is passionate about guiding businesses from the seed to enterprise stage, both domestically and internationally. He’s a proud alumnus of Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

Joe Packowski is a teaching faculty member in the Communications, Professional, and Computer Skills Area at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University – Bloomington. After 25 years in industry with two Fortune 400 companies as a sales professional and recruiter, he transitioned to academia in 2021 to pay it forward and share his experience with future professionals. His teaching philosophy emphasizes experiential learning and empowerment, creating an innovative, inclusive classroom. He integrates his core values—family, fun, and integrity—into each course and his priority is to help support student well-being, career preparedness, and long-term fulfillment. 

Joe is also the co-author of Specifications Grading 2.0 – an innovative grading solution to help restore rigor, motivate students, save faculty time, and develop career competencies. He resides with his wife in Bloomington, IN and has 3 children. In his spare time, Joe has a passion for acoustic guitar, whole-foods/plant-based living, and the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen. 

La-Tisha Pirtle is an Indianapolis native and the President & Co-Founder of MVGeneral Construction Services, where she leads a growing team focused on construction management and owner’s representation. She graduated from the Indiana University Bloomington School of Public and Environmental Affairs in 2011, grounding her work in a strong understanding of public service, policy, and community impact. La-Tisha brings extensive experience in construction consulting and community-centered development, supporting projects that range from infrastructure improvements to attainable housing initiatives across Indiana.

Before co-founding MVGeneral in 2014, she worked in both private- and public-sector roles that shaped her commitment to helping owners and developers navigate complex real estate projects with clarity and care. She is energized by work that blends technical expertise with community purpose and is passionate about creating spaces that enhance quality of life for the people and neighborhoods they serve.

Kenneth Riddle is from East Chicago, Indiana. He earned an associate degree from Ivy Tech Community College in 2016 and a bachelor’s degree in Management and Health Administration from Indiana University Northwest in 2018. While in undergrad Kenneth proudly worked in UITS Technology, served as president of Brothers 2 Brothers/Student African American Brotherhood (B2B/SAAB), and tutored at Block Jr. High in East Chicago. 

Kenneth currently serves as the Lead Technology Coordinator and Districtwide Middle School Athletic Director for the Gary Community School Corporation, where he oversees district technology operations and coordinates middle school athletics. He is pursuing a master’s degree in Computer Information Systems to further advance his leadership and technical expertise.

Dr. Alonzo O'Shae Ross currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of First Year and Family Experience Programs at Indiana University Bloomington. In this role, he leads efforts to shape the first-year experience for undergraduate students and builds strong partnerships with families to facilitate a smooth and supportive transition to university life. 

A first-generation college graduate, Dr. O'Shae Ross is committed to empowering students to reach their full potential. His career in higher education spans over a decade, reflecting his focus on supporting and inspiring scholars. 

Dr. O'Shae Ross' contributions to college student affairs were recognized last March at a national level when he was named a Stellar 50 recipient by NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. This prestigious annual award honors 50 professionals for their significant impact on the field of student affairs. 

Beyond his role at Indiana University, Dr. O'Shae Ross serves on the board of the Indiana Math and Science Academies, where he champions the development committee. He is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. His professional background and personal journey position him as an insightful leader dedicated to fostering student success and delivering the charge to this year's graduates. 

Dr. O'Shae Ross holds a Doctor of Educational Leadership in Student Personnel Services (Student Affairs) from the University of the Cumberlands (Class of 2025), a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Indiana, and a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University.

Muhammad Saahir, Ed.S., LMHC has experience of working with clients dealing with depressed moods, anxiety-related disorders, and adjustment issues in both individual and couples counseling. Furthermore, Saahir has a passion for working with traditionally underserved populations with a focus on identity exploration and development, with a focus of honoring the experience of the client.

After completing an undergrad degree and a masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University Bloomington (IUB), Saahir earned a masters in Counseling and Counselor Education from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Saahir is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Indiana and a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Toluwalope is a senior studying Human Resources Management at the IUB O'Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs. He is a Leadership Ambassador for the SILC, a Residence Assistant for Briscoe Quad, and a Student Ambassador for the O'Neill School. He is also the Director of Training & Recruitment for Mu Beta Lambda Business Fraternity, Inc.

Toluwalope loves working with students to solve problems and help them excel in their various passions on campus. Post-graduation, his goal is to use his role in H.R. at Eli Lilly to make training more fun, interactive, and engaging.

Dr. Jasmine D. Vaughan is a Research Specialist at the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC), where she leads statewide research focused on strengthening college-to-career pathways and expanding opportunity for students across Illinois. A scholar and former leadership education professor, her work centers on leadership development, equity, rural student experiences, and higher education policy.

She has authored more than 20 publications and regularly partners with colleges, communities, and state leaders to translate research into practice. Dr. Vaughan holds a Ph.D. in Educational Organization and Leadership and an M.A. in Education Policy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a B.A. in Communication and Culture from Indiana University Bloomington.

Dr. Walls is a licensed psychologist and the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at IU Bloomington. She primarily focuses on integrating holistic well-being through access to mental health resources and advocacy.

As a first-generation college student, she is passionate about social justice initiatives that challenge taken-for-granted assumptions, working to create experiences of inclusion and belonging for all identities. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her partner, who is also a therapist, and their cat.

Hunter Wienke is the Leadership Programs Coordinator at Indiana University Bloomington. With a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Iowa, and current studies toward a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts, Hunter’s professional mission is to integrate storytelling and communication principles into student leadership development.

Before coming to Bloomington, Hunter previously served as the Student Life Program Coordinator for the Latino Native American Cultural Center at the University of Iowa.

Councilwoman Sydney Zulich made Bloomington History when she was elected as the youngest person to serve on the Bloomington City Council: just six days after her 21st birthday. During her time on council, she has primarily worked on economic development, infrastructure projects, and making Bloomington a place where young professionals can thrive.

To Sydney, service requires action, which is why she strives to be a representative who leads with empathy and delivers results for her community.