Alma A. Allen, Ed.D.
Chair of the Board
Representative
With a long career in public education, Ms. Allen is a retired administrator with Houston Independent School District. She serves on the boards of the University of Houston Alumni Association, the American Red Cross, and is currently a member of the Board of Education's Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund and the Texas Growth Fund.

Karen Baillie

Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary for EDMC

Ms. Baillie was born and raised on Long Island, New York.  She currently lives and works in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She has a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematical Economics from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Joe Kolenda
Vice Chair of the Board
Director for Career and Technical Education and Principal of the Guthrie Center,
Spring Branch Independent School District
After spending 14 years in the restaurant industry as General Manager/District Manager/Director of Operations for various companies including Wendy's International, Two Pesos, Fuddruckers and TGI Friday's, Mr. Kolenda moved into education with the Spring Independent School District in 1992 where his Masters of Education in Administration serves him in his current positions in Spring Branch ISD.

Michael Maki, Ph.D.
Board Member
Senior Vice President, The Art Institutes
More than 25 years' experience in education in Phoenix, Arizona, New York, New York and in Houston, Texas as Dean of Education at The Art Institute of Houston from 1989 to 1995. Dr. Maki serves on the Boards of Trustees for the The New England Institute of Art and The Art Institutes International — Minnesota.

Martha Tovell Nesbitt, Ph.D.
Board Member
President, Gainesville College
Gainesville, GA
Twenty years experience in education management and actively involved in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Has chaired reaccreditation teams, served on the Appeals Committee and Executive Committee of SACS and received the Commission on Colleges of Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Meritorious Service Award in 2000.

Debbi Ray Walder
Board Member
Human Resources Director, Fogarty Klein Monroe
A graduate of Southwest Texas State University in Secondary Education, Ms. Ray taught high school for two years. She has work at Grey Advertising, A&M Records and has been at FKM for seven years. Active member of the Houston Advertising Federation and American Women in Radio & Television.