Education Strategists

Meet our team of experts in K-12 and higher education

Our Education Strategists are former educators and industry specialists that have extensive background in successful implementation of technology and learning initiatives, advocating for learning technology and digital infrastructure innovations to support student success.

Expert guidance to help transform teaching and learning

  • Develop professional learning plans to support educators
  • Define the role technology plays in empowering learning
  • Student engagement technology strategies

Adam Garry

Adam Garry

General Manager, Education Innovation Strategy

With 15 years of consulting experience, Adam helps schools pursue digital and student-led learning transformation. He has presented at conferences such as ISTE, published articles on technology integration and has co-authored 2 books, “Teaching the iGeneration” and “Personalized Learning Through Voice and Choice”. Adam was a Florida elementary teacher and holds a BA in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Teaching and Learning (Technology emphasis), and a Certificate in Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University.

Jeremiah Okal-Frink

Jeremiah Okal-Frink

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Jeremiah is a veteran educator, leader, professional developer and technology integrator. He has led change in teaching and learning through the catalyst of technology in rural, suburban and urban districts. At Dell EMC, he is an Education Strategist at the forefront of embedding and researching learning initiatives regarding learning spaces, emerging technologies such as VR and AR, social media, online and blended learning, and increasing equitable access for students.

Katina Papulkas

Katina Papulkas

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Katina is an experienced educator with a background in teaching, online learning, educational leadership, assessment and educational technology. Katina was an elementary teacher, a central instructional leader who designed and implemented initiatives around the effective integration of technology into curriculum, and a middle school administrator at the Toronto District School Board. Most recently, she was the Director of Educational Partnerships at Television Ontario (TVO) where she focused on the design and development of digital learning resources. Katina holds a Master’s Degree in Education and Technology from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

Kendall Latham, PhD

Kendall Latham, PhD

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Kendall is a life-long learner and committed educator focused on partnering with districts to optimize learning and growth for all. Her academic training and 15 years working in public education have provided a broad perspective of the demands challenging communities today. She is passionate about collaborating with district and state leaders to design equity-oriented structures that leverage digital resources to meet the needs of all stakeholders- students, educators, and the community. Kendall has a Ph.D. in Urban Education with a Literacy concentration from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master’s Degree in Reading Education from East Carolina University.

Matt Dascoli

Matt Dascoli

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Matt’s passion is helping customers make learning a more interactive, hands-on experience. As a former K-12 science teacher, he helped redefine a Virginia based school district’s approach to professional learning and re-envision teaching and learning practices. Additionally, he was the lead architect behind the district’s student laptop deployment. Matt holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Nekia Tharps Becerra

Nekia Tharps Becerra

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Nekia has spent the last decade working in public education, most recently serving as the Director for Academics for Austin ISD. Nekia has served as an Elementary Teacher, a Technology Design Coach, and a campus administrator. Nekia has supported and coached teachers in a variety of capacities to support the designing of blended and personalized learning experiences to include differentiation and culturally responsive teaching.

Suzanne Newell, EdD

Suzanne Newell, EdD

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Suzanne sees public education as the best hope for the future of democracy. This belief drives her to create structures, systems, and capabilities in which students from all backgrounds can achieve success. Through her experience teaching in elementary settings, leading professional learning, building teams and departments within central office, consulting in a variety of settings, and adjuncting in university courses, she works to create experiences that spark joy, learning, curiosity, and agency in students. Suzanne holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Oklahoma State University, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas. Some of her most meaningful work has been in the areas of standards-based assessment, student voice initiatives, and envisioning new futures for education resulting from the global pandemic. She has worked in small, large, urban, and suburban settings and most recently served in the role of Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction in the Austin (TX) Independent School District.

Tara Nattrass, EdD

Tara Nattrass, EdD

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Tara is an experienced educator focused on eliminating opportunity gaps and ensuring every student is engaged in meaningful learning experiences in healthy, safe, and supportive environments. As a district-level administrator, including most recently as Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for Arlington Public Schools (VA), Tara collaborated with teams to implement systems and structures that lead to success for all students including strategic planning, curriculum development, social emotional resources, and professional learning frameworks. Throughout her career, Tara has served in multiple roles, including as a classroom teacher in St. Louis and Cobham, England; literacy facilitator; school level administrator; Director of Elementary Education; and part-time lecturer for undergraduate and graduate students. She has experience implementing programs such as STEM, Language Immersion, Montessori, and International Baccalaureate. Tara earned a Doctorate in K-12 Educational Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University and holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership as well as an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from St. Louis University.

Higher Education Strategists

Adam Garry

Adam Garry

General Manager, Education Innovation Strategy

With 15 years of consulting experience, Adam helps schools pursue digital and student-led learning transformation. He has presented at conferences such as ISTE, published articles on technology integration and has co-authored 2 books, “Teaching the iGeneration” and “Personalized Learning Through Voice and Choice”. Adam was a Florida elementary teacher and holds a BA in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Teaching and Learning (Technology emphasis), and a Certificate in Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University.

Adrienne Garber

Adrienne Garber

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Adrienne Garber is a Dell Technologies Senior Higher Education Strategist, and has been improving teaching, learning and technology in higher education for the past 15 years. She has an extensive background in instructional design, faculty development, program assessment, and education technology project management. Most recently, Adrienne was the Associate Director of Instructional Design at Columbia University. Her interests include human computer interaction, learning analytics, and AI for personalized education. Before joining Columbia University, Adrienne contributed her research and development skills to innovative technology projects and grant-funded research at both Carnegie Mellon University’s Field Robotics Center and Language Technologies Institute. Adrienne earned her BS from Lehigh University, MS from Carnegie Mellon University and EdM from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is currently completing her EdD at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Danielle Rourke

Danielle Rourke

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Danielle Rourke is a Dell Technologies Senior Higher Education Strategist and brings extensive leadership and technology skills, having worked in a variety of disciplines and industries. Prior to joining Dell Technologies, Danielle served as an Associate Director of Information Technology for the University of Colorado Boulder, where she championed new and innovative methods of utilizing technology to make education more accessible to under-served student populations. A technologist and analyst at heart, Danielle's true passion is helping broker technological solutions to help students, staff, and faculty across the globe engage more fully in the power of education. In addition to undergraduate degrees in Psychology, Business Quality Management, and Computer Operations, Danielle holds a Master's Degree in Information Technology from Capella University.

Hernan Londono, PhD

Hernan Londono, PhD

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Hernan Londono is a Senior Higher Education Strategist with Dell Technologies and brings over 22 years of technology and leadership skills as the former Associate Vice-President for Information Technology and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Barry University. In this capacity, Hernan was responsible for the design, development, and deployment of technology systems and services in support of academic and administrative functions, as well as all cybersecurity efforts aimed at protecting such system. Hernan received Barry’s Visionary Award of Excellence 2014, and the South Florida Digital Alliance’s - Digital Advancement and Excellence Award for Education. Hernan earned both a BS in Computer Science, and MS in Information Technology from the Barry University and a PhD in Computer Science from Nova Southeastern University.

Jeffrey Lancaster, PhD

Jeffrey Lancaster, PhD

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Jeffrey Lancaster is a Senior Higher Education Strategist who is passionate about technology and how it can enable new human experiences. Prior to joining Dell, Jeffrey consulted startups focused on technology education and the future of work, and he was Head of Product Development NA for a company whose mission was to educate Fortune 100 leaders about how to engage in digital transformation. Before his sojourn into the startup world, Jeffrey was the Emerging Technologies Coordinator at the Columbia University Libraries where he oversaw the Digital Science Center and supported the research, teaching, and learning needs of Science & Engineering faculty, students, and staff. Jeffrey earned undergraduate degrees in Chemistry, Art History, and Sculpture from Washington University in St. Louis; a M.Sc in the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology from Oxford University; and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Columbia University.

Katina Papulkas

Katina Papulkas

Chief Education Innovation Strategist

Katina is an experienced educator with a background in teaching, online learning, educational leadership, assessment and educational technology. Katina was an elementary teacher, a central instructional leader who designed and implemented initiatives around the effective integration of technology into curriculum, and a middle school administrator at the Toronto District School Board. Most recently, she was the Director of Educational Partnerships at Television Ontario (TVO) where she focused on the design and development of digital learning resources. Katina holds a Master’s Degree in Education and Technology from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

K-12 education solutions

See our solutions for enabling personalized learning—where students, teachers and technology work together to enrich the learning process.

Higher education solutions

Discover how we help higher education institutions with innovative solutions to help deliver enhanced learning experiences, improved student outcomes and advance research initiatives.