Attendee List

Conference Evaluation

NPSMA National Leadership

2024 NPSMA CONFERENCE BIOS

Cynthia Bainton is senior programs operations manager of professional programs in the College of Science at Northeastern University. She has administered the university’s Professional Science Master’s in Biotechnology since its inception in 2003 when 3 students were enrolled to its current size of over 750 students today. She works closely with the program’s faculty and staff to implement systems and improvements with an emphasis on quality and efficiency. Cynthia has been involved with the National Professional STEM Master’s Association since its establishment in 2007. She served on NPSMA’s Peer Review Committee and was then elected to two terms on the board of directors. While on the board she served as convener, finance officer, Strategic Planning Committee chair, and Awards Committee chair.

Cynthia holds a BA in English from Bowdoin College and an MBA from Northeastern University.

Tim Born - NPSMA President, Interim Dean, Padnos College of Engineering, Grand Valley State University.   Tim Born received his BS in Biochemistry from Calvin College in 1990 and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Mayo Clinic Graduate School in 1996.  After spending four years as a post-doc at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he joined the Chemistry faculty at George Mason University in 2000.  In 2013 he moved back to Grand Rapids and joined GVSU, first as the Coordinator of the Professional Science Master’s programs and then as the Associate in Dean in PCEC.  He currently serves as the Interim Dean of the Padnos College of Engineering.  He has been a member of the National Professional STEM Master’s Association Board of Directors for 8 years and served as President of the Board in 2020 and 2024.

Tim and his wife have three children who keep them busy with their hockey games and horse jumping competitions (yes, he actually owns a horse!). He also tries his best to avoid yard work and has been known to go out for the occasional bike ride with friends.  His goal is to work up to a 100-mile ride. He enjoys most sports, loves to play golf, and is a fan of the Washington Nationals and the Washington Capitals.

Kathleen Cashman-Walter - For over 30 years, Kathleen has been empowering leaders from all industries to become more confident, accountable, and courageous. As the President of Cashman Consulting LLC, a Leadership Development and Coaching Organization, Kathleen's branded coaching, "Conversations with Kathleen," has become synonymous with effective leadership coaching that delivers results.

Kathleen provides individual, executive, and team leadership coaching to senior leaders, coaches, and their organizations and teams. Her expertise in Leadership and Performance and Career Coaching has helped countless clients overcome challenges, find answers, and unlock their full potential.

Kathleen's experience in various senior positions while supporting the recruiting function has kept her relevant to her clients and earned her a reputation as a trusted advisor. Her ability to interact with organizations across industry spectrums and at all levels, beginning at the top, allows her to tailor her coaching approach to meet the unique needs of each client.

Kathleen is a certified Professional Coach – PCC and is currently the 2024 President of the New Jersey Charter Chapter of the International Coaching Federation.

As a Professor of Communication & Leadership, Kathleen has created and executed a premier program that is considered a critical component of the overall program. Additionally, she has been an advisor, Industrial Advisory Board Leader, and Executive Coach for the Rutgers Professional Science Master's Program for the past 12 years. Kathleen holds several coaching certifications, including Professional Certified Coach (ICF) and Professional Coach (Robbins-Madanes RMT Certified Life Coach), as well as Professional Development Certification in Assessments such as DISC, LIFO, MBTI, Emotional Intelligence - Travis Bradberry, Strategic Communication System - The Kraft Concept, Hogan, and Strengths Finders.

Kathleen holds a dual Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and management from Seton Hall University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Tait Chirenje holds a PhD in Trace Metal Biogeochemistry from the University of Florida (Florida), an MS in Earth Science from the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada) and a BS from the University of Zimbabwe (Harare, Zimbabwe).  He works in the area of aquatic chemistry, brownfields assessment and redevelopment and the urban geochemistry of trace elements. He is the current and founding Chair of the Professional science Masters Degree in Environmental Science at Stockton University. He is a current member of the National Professional STEM Master’s Association Board of Directors. Tait currently runs the Stockton University Environmental Internship Program (SUEIP) and he and his team of 10 students and four scientists help the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NJDMAVA)’s Environmental Monitoring Bureau (EMB) meet environmental compliance at their 27 sites in the state of New Jersey. He also advises local communities on stormwater quality and watershed management projects.
 
Tait teaches courses in the field of environmental chemistry, including water chemistry, environmental remediation and biotechnology, environmental toxicology and environmental pollution and regulation. He also teaches and engages students in international sustainable development projects in Zimbabwe, Ecuador and Brazil.

Meghan Dovick is the Director of the Professional Science Masters program at the University of Utah, bringing over fifteen years of experience in higher education. Her roles have spanned course creation, instruction, research, and administration. Meghan’s expertise lies at the intersection of environmental science, sustainability, and policy, with a passion for interdisciplinary, practical application, and experiential approaches. Her goal is to prepare tomorrow's workforce to be leaders and change agents. Currently, Meghan serves on the Board of Directors for the National Professional STEM Masters Association as President-Elect. She is a regular presenter at the annual NPSMA national conference, discussing professional development and ways to enhance the graduate student experience. Additionally, Meghan is part of the leadership team for the Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine, focusing on workforce development within the National Foundation Regional Innovation Engines program.

Meghan has a BS in biology, an MS in environmental law and policy, and a PhD in geomicrobiology.

Seema Freer is the Director of Research Development in the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) at Temple University. Research Development is often the first step in the grant lifecycle and in her role in OVPR, Seema engages Temple's outstanding research faculty to explore intramural / extramural funding and assist in creating opportunities for Temple research teams to seek interdisciplinary research grants. OVPR Research Development also hosts multiple events during the year providing collision spaces for our faculty to look for alignment in research interests across the campus.

Previously, Seema served as an Associate Professor (T/I) in the Department of Biology and Managing Director of the Professional Science Master's Programs (PSM) in the Department of Biology. The PSM programs create a career path for STEM majors who are seeking opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry. Seema has been involved in the Temple PSM programs since its inception in Biology. Along with building the individual Steering Committees of each PSM program, Seema oversaw program development, student professional formation, internships and job placements.

Seema was elected as President of the Board of the National Professional Science Master's Association in 2023, and she oversaw the broadening of the vision and name change to National Professional STEM Master's Association. Seema continues to serve as an adjunct in Biology teaching Ethics in Biotechnology and the Professional Development Seminar.

Juliet Chin Hart | Founder & CEO Hart & Chin Associa