Advisory Committee and Staff
Kathryn Gillam, Co-Chair
Executive Director, Emerita, Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute (DCI)
Kathy Gillam recently retired from a long career in higher education administration at Stanford. As the inaugural Executive Director of the DCI, she used her wide range of experience and understanding of the dynamics of universities to help Dr. Pizzo build the program from the ground up. Kathy helped develop the vision and mission of the program and to execute the results of strategic planning efforts. She managed the DCI program’s activities, supervised the staff, and coordinated fund-raising and grant writing activities.
Thomas Schreier, Jr., Co-Chair
Founding Director, University of Notre Dame Inspired Leadership Initiative (ILI)
Tom Schreier has been told by lifelong friends and colleagues that it only took him thirty years to find the most authentic manifestation of his true passion: transforming lives by creating a space for people to discover, discern and design a life motivated by purpose. He believes that this can best be done through engaging receptive people of all ages with great colleges and universities in immersive programs that create that space through community, academic engagement and, for those interested, an invitation to spiritual enrichment.
Kate Schaefers, Ph.D., L.P.
Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Minnesota
Formerly the Executive Director of UM’s Advanced Careers, Kate Schaefers weaves a portfolio of work into a career with one unifying theme: to help individuals and organizations shine. She is a psychologist and leadership coach, an adjunct psychologist and coach and a skilled educator, facilitator and trainer. Kate is also actively involved in nonprofit and community work. She is Volunteer State President of AARP-MN, founding board member of SHIFT, a member of Pollen Midwest, and a contributor to Encore.org.
Katherine Connor
Executive Director, Distinguished Careers Institute, Stanford University
A former DCI Fellow (Class of 2018-19), Katie Connor is the Executive Director of the Distinguished Careers Institute at Stanford University. She is a passionate educator, innovator and connector who believes in the importance of lifelong learning. Thrilled to be part of the DCI, an innovative program that engages Fellows in courses across the university with graduate and undergraduate students, her focus is on creating new opportunities for successful professionals to learn, contribute and lead as they pursue what's next.
Katie earned a BS in Applied Earth Science, and MS in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Mark Canada, Ph.D.
Chancellor, Indiana University Kokomo
A longtime champion of student success, Mark Canada is an award-winning leader, professor, author, and speaker with expertise in student success, American literature, the English language, journalism, and information literacy.
A scholar of American literature, Mark has written extensively about Edgar Allan Poe, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Wolfe and other authors, as well as the intersections of journalism and literature. His seven books include the Audible Originals Ben Franklin's Lessons in Life and Edgar Allan Poe: Master of Horror.
Mark earned his BA at Indiana University Bloomington, and his Masters and Ph.D. from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Bonnie Zavon, Project Manager
An independent meetings and event planner [BEventz], Bonnie Zavon is responsible for Nexel’s day-to-day operations and manages the relationship with our fiscal sponsor, Community Initiatives. As a key point of contact at The Nexel Collaborative, she initiates and organizes meetings and projects along with leaders from colleges and universities around the world. She also has the honor of wearing several hats at Stanford’s Distinguished Careers Institute.
Bonnie has worked for Stanford since 1999. She earned her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2017, and holds a Bachelour of Fine Arts degree in Film and Video Production from York University in Toronto, Canada, eh.
Simon Chan
Strategic Advisor, University of Waterloo
Simon works with leaders, educators, and organizations to reframe their thinking and redesign new ways of working across life stages. He works at the intersection of longevity and work and how we might adapt careers, work systems, and what “retirement” might look like.
Simon is a well-respected futurist who speaks regularly at conferences on the future of work & learning and corporate innovation. He recently contributed a chapter in a book on redefining what retirement can be called Longevity Lifestyle by Design.
Simon holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and the CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation.