Dr. Brennan has a PhD in Comparative Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley, an EdD in Educational Leadership and Change (Fielding Graduate University), an MA in English (UC Berkeley) and an MS in Cognitive Psychology (USM). In the last two decades, he has focused his research on higher education leadership, best practices in non-cognitive learner competencies and the intersection between race, culture, equity, and access to education. Dr. Brennan is a faculty member (and former chair) of the English Department at Mission College in Santa Clara, California. He designed and coordinated an On Course Program at Mission College that significantly improved the retention and academic success rate of students in developmental English, Mathematics, Reading, and ESL. He was voted Faculty of the Year at Mission College in 1999-2000 and was awarded a NISOD Teaching Excellence Award. In April, 2005, he was awarded the Stanback-Stroud Diversity award from the California State Academic Senate, and in 2008 was awarded the California State Hayward Award for Excellence in Education. Since 2006, he has served as Chair of the On Course National Conference and is currently Editor of the On Course student success newsletter which has nearly 200,000 subscribers worldwide. He has facilitated workshops on improving student learning for over 6,000 faculty from colleges and universities across North America. Dr. Brennan�s teaching, writing, and consulting are guided by his belief that all students deserve an opportunity to find their passion for lifelong learning, and accomplish their academic, career, and life goals.

SKIP DOWNING is an international consultant in the field of faculty development and student success strategies. Dr. Downing has earned degrees from Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Santa Monica, and Carnegie Mellon University. He holds advanced degrees in both English and counseling psychology. He was Professor of English at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) for 32 years.

In addition to his role as an academic instructor, Dr. Downing created and coordinated BCCC's Student Success and Learning Community Programs. These programs teach students how to apply proven strategies of success to achieve their full potential in college and in life. The College Success Program resulted in a significant increase in both student academic success and retention.

Dr. Downing has made numerous presentations at national conferences and conducted faculty development workshops at many two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and the Virgin Islands. Since 1996, he has facilitated the On Course Workshops, intensive four-day retreats for college educators focusing on proven strategies for empowering students to become active, responsible partners in their education and to achieve greater success in college and in life. These workshops offer participants the option of earning three graduate credits in a follow-up on-line course. Dr. Downing's teaching, writing, and consulting are all guided by his belief that the greatest mission of any educational institution is empowering its students to live rich, personally fulfilling lives.