NACURH, Inc. Speakers List

Please note that NACURH, Inc. does not endorse any one or team of particular speakers over others.

This l ist appears in alphabetical order, by speakers’ last names.

John (JM) Alatis | (303) 871-0901 or (202) 265-7500

jalatis@naspa.org | naspa.org

Topics: Peer Educator Certification Course | Diversity and Social Justice | Alcohol and Other Drugs |

Bystander Intervention | Listening Skills | Translating RA Work to Resume | Custom-Built Topics

Biography: JM Alatis serves as a professional Training Coordinator for NASPA – Student Affairs

Administrators in Higher Education. With over 1,500 institutional members and nearly 15,000 individual

members, NASPA is “the leading voice for the student affairs profession worldwide,” and strives to

support our college and university staff and students who spend time working on their campuses.

NASPA offers a Certified Peer Educator (CPE) Program, a 12-hour, nine-module course, which leads to a

certification focusing on skills that student leaders find vital in their day-to-day work. In addition, JM and

NASPA are able to provide training and consulting on a number of topics based on a campus’ individual

needs. Past topics include: diversity, inclusive excellence, and social justice; alcohol and other drugs;

bystander intervention; listening skills; and, translating RA work to resume. JM has a long history of work

within housing and residence life, serving for three years as a Resident Assistant at this alma mater,

Georgetown University, before attending the University of Denver and serving as a Graduate Residence

Director for two years. As someone who has always wanted to “find a job where he could do

icebreakers for a living,” he is excited to be able to work with students and student affairs leaders on

campuses.

Educational Experience: M.A. Student Affairs, University of Denver | B.A. Sociology,

Georgetown University

Accolades: Certified Peer Educator | NUFP Fellow | OPE Attendee | Former Hall Council Member

and Advisor

Shannon Arnett | (928) 606-7293 | shannon@arnettinnerpeace.com

www.arnettinnerpeace.com

Topics: Stress Management | Mindfulness | Increasing Peace Series (Multiple Topics Including Peace

in Relationships, Finances, Work and Student Self, and Body Image) | Conflict Resolution and Mediation |

Group Dynamics and Positive Change | Student Development and Engagement | Empowering Leaders |

Train the Trainer Facilitator Series Including: Establishing Presence, Compassionate Engagement, Power

of Listening, Diverse Service Delivery, Reducing Anxiety and Low Mood for College Students, Increasing

Overall Emotional Balance, SMART Goal Setting and Team Building/Group Cohesion

Biography: Shannon Arnett, Director of Inner Peace Facilitation and Training, LLC, has been

inspiring and working closely with many groups in Student Affairs for 18 years. Her passion for

connecting college students, community members, and groups to their best potential began in 1997,

when she was a Resident Assistant. Since that experience, she has worked in mental and community

health organizations, multiple roles training Resident Assistants and Student Affairs staff members in

Community and Staff Development, Advising, and leading workshops through her business both locally

and nationally. Her experience in Student Affairs and Holistic Health lead her to create Inner Peace in

2009, to serve as a platform for what she saw such need in students and professionals with whom she

worked; ways to cultivate peace, calm, and strength in the face of serving others. Since then, she has

presented over 300 workshops, retreats, classes, and sessions for clients and students toward this end.

When individuals and groups have support in harnessing their greatest potential, resources, and true

gifts, incredible things happen! Shannon Arnett revels in the opportunity to reflect this truth back to her

audiences, empowering them with tools to use that benefit their organizational goals and personal

dreams. Bringing Shannon, her experience, and education to your group is an opportunity to discover

the absolute best within each person in your team, be that a team of one or 300. She has lead training

for the Housing and Residence Life entire staff of 300 for Texas Tech University, The Housing

Professional Staff of Arizona State University, and multiple student leadership and community groups.

She can be reached with questions at shannon@arnettinnerpeace.com. She invites you to witness her

greater experience, training, information about her facilitator certification program, and testimonials at

www.arnettinnerpeace.com.

Educational Experience: M.A. Counseling Psychology, University of San Francisco | B.A.,

Psychology, Northern Arizona University | Certified Energy Health Practitioner, Associate for

Comprehensive Energy Psychology | Registered Yoga Teacher | Intercultural Language Spanish

Immersion Program in Costa Rica | Other Professional Trainings---Complete List May Be Found on

Website

Accolades: Selected as National Speaker for Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (CE

Unit Provider) 2015 | Top 10 Speaker Award, NACURH 2011 | NACURH Bronze Pin Recipient.

Corey Ciocchetti | (303) 522-7110 | corey@coreyspeaks.com

www.coreyspeaks.com

Topics: Character Development | Integrity | Ethics | Values | Stress Reduction | Values-Based

Leadership | Character is Residence Life

Biography: An Associate Professor of Business Ethics and Legal Studies in the Daniels College of

Business at the University of Denver, Corey Ciocchetti is one of the University’s most popular and

highest-rated professors. Corey joined DU after graduating with a law degree from Duke University

School of Law, a Masters degree in Religious Studies, and two Bachelors degrees in Finance and

Economics---Summa Cum Laude---from the University of Denver. In August 2006, Corey won the

Charles Hewitt Master Teacher competition at the national meeting of the Academy of Legal Studies in

Business, and, in March 2007, he was awarded the Outstanding Professor of the Year Award by the

University of Denver Alumni Association. Recently, the Daniels College of Business awarded him with

the Scholarship of Teaching Award and the Scholarship of Discovery Award. Corey currently teaches

classes on Business Ethics, Business Law, Employment Law, and Constitutional Law in a department

ranked by the Wall Street Journal as seventh in the world for producing students with high ethical

standards. Corey also speaks to tens of thousands of individuals each year about “authentic success”

and living an ethical life and is the author of the book Real Rabbits: Chasing An Authentic Life. A

Colorado native, Corey resides in Westminster, Colorado with his wife, Jillian, and daughter, Sophia.

Educational Experience: J.D., Duke University | M.A., University of Denver | B.S.BA and B.A.,

University of Denver

Accolades: Spoken in 40 states and over 125 cities on the topic of authentic success, chasing an

authentic life, and stress.

Thomas Frank | (515) 480-7044 | thomas@collegeinfogeek.com

http://collegeinfogeek.com

Topics: Study Skills | Habits and Productivity | Internships and Careers

Biography: Thomas Frank is an author, speaker, and all-around geek who is passionate about

helping students hack their learning, becoming amazing job candidates, and pay off their loans. During

his sophomore year of college, he founded College Info Geek---a blog, podcast, and YouTube channel

that now reaches over 250,000 students every month. As a student, he also paid off $14,431 in student

debt before graduating, worked as an RA and an orientation leader for new students, consulted for

Adobe, and traveled to Japan. Thomas has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, FOX

Business, LifeHacker, and more. He’s spoken at major universities, including Iowa State University and

Simpson College, conferences, and student organizations.

Educational Experience: B.S. Management Systems, Iowa State University

Joshua Fredenburg | (310) 562-2998 | joshuavisionxy.com |

www.visionxy.com

Topics: Leadership | Diversity | Motivation | Orientation | Healthy Relationships

Biography: Joshua  Fredenburg  is  a  nationally  acclaimed  speaker,  media  commentator,  leadership/diversity  

consultant,  relationship  expert,  and  author  of  five  books.  He  has  served  as  a  keynote  speaker  for  different  lectures,  conferences,  retreats,  and  trainings  at  various  colleges,  non-­‐profit  organizations,  and  corporate  events  in  forty-­‐four  different  states.  He  is  also  a  dynamic  speaker  who  is  known  for  delivering  an  inspirational  message  with  expert  advice  that  leads  to  immediate,  life  changing  and  transformational  results!  

Educational Experience: Ed.D. Organizational Leadership | M.A. Organizational Leadership |

B.A. Communication Studies

Accolades: 2015 Award Winning Leadership Conference | Young Professional Community Service

Award

Karin Hurt | (443) 750-1249 | karin.hurt@letsgrowleaders.com

http://letsgrowleaders.com

Topics: Making the Most of Your College Leadership Experience | Building Your Social Media Brand |

How to Get the Job You Want | How to Get the Job You Want | Communicating With Impact | Building

Trusted Partnerships

Biography: Karin Hurt is a keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and MBA professor. A former

Verizon Wireless executive, she has over two decades of experience in sales, customer service, and HR

which she leverages to help clients turn around results through deeper engagement. She was recently

named on Inc’s list of 100 Great Leadership Speakers, AMA’s 50 Leaders to Watch in 2015, and a Top

100 Thought Leader in Trustworthy Business. Her book, Overcoming an Imperfect Boss, is available on

Amazon. She knows the stillness of a yogi, the reflection of a marathoner, and the joy of being a mom

raising emerging leaders.

Educational Experience: M.A., University of Maryland | MBA and M.S. Programs

Accolades: Inc’s 100 Great Leadership Speakers for Your Next Conference | American Management

Association’s 2015 50 Leaders to Watch | Trust Across America Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trusted

Business Behavior

Adam C. James | (412) 779-5977 | acjames@SightsSoundsSuccess.com |

www.AdamJSpeaks.com

Topics: Leadership | Mentoring | Overcoming Adversity | Time Management | Conflict/Resolution |

Diversity Inclusion | Teamwork | Risk/Reward | Comfort Zone

Biography: Adam James grew up in a small steel-mill town outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He

didn’t begin speaking until age 4 and when he did talk, he had a speech impediment that required he

go to a speech therapist up until his high school years. Upon graduating high school, Adam decided

he’s move to Florida for a new beginning and to attend Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). After

graduating from FGCU, he spent a year teaching school before setting out to begin his own motivational

speaking business. In the beginning months, Adam found himself unable to make ends meet and left

having to sleep from his car. Fast forward a few years later and Adam has spread his message of hope

and inspiration to varying corporations, colleges, and conferences around the country. When not

speaking, he can be found officiating NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball games. He credits many of the

lessons he’s learned on the floor as a basis through which he’s built his business and continues to inspire

others.

Educational Experience: B.A. Education, Florida Gulf Coast University

Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos | (862) 215-6026

Shawnsimons.afterthefire@gmail.com | www.alvaroandshawn.com

Topics: Safety | Overcoming Adversity | Fire Safety | Friendship | Leadership | Motivational and

Inspirational Speaking

Biography: Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos were both inner city kids from New Jersey, who

despite violence, drugs, and bad influences in their neighborhoods, made education a tool to finally get

out of those conditions. Both first generation college students, they attended Seton Hall University in

South Orange, NJ in the fall of 1999. Meeting for the first time after being assigned to room together in

the freshmen residence hall, Boland Hall, they hit it off and found they had many things in common.

Though Alvaro was very shy and reserved and Shawn was very outgoing and the life of the party, they

found an equilibrium that complemented each other. Shawn and Alvaro did well in their classes their

first semester, but little did they know their biggest test would come on the morning of January 19,

2000. While the two roommates slept, two classmates, as a drunken fraternity prank, set a banner on a

bulletin board on fire in the 3rd floor lounge and ran off without pulling any alarms or alerting any of the

residents. As a result of prior months of false fire alarms in the freshmen residence hall, many students,

including Shawn and Alvaro, took their time getting out of the building when the alarm was finally

pulled. Three students perished and 58 others were injured due to the arson. Shawn and Alvaro were

amongst the most severely burned and injured. Their journey of recovery and the investigation into the

criminal acts of the arsonists are documented in the New York Times Bestsellers book “After the Fire: A

True Story of Friendship and Survival” and later turned into an award-winning documentary “After the

Fire: A True Story of Heroes and Cowards.” Shawn and Alvaro travel the country speaking to college

and high school students and administrators about the most difficult time of their lives and the

importance of fire safety and prevention on and off campus. Their story is one of overcoming adversity

despite the challenges, becoming comfortable in their burned skin, and how their bond with each other,

as well as their families, friends, and campus community, helped them get their lives back.

Educational Experience: B.A. Business Management

Accolades: Presented at over 100 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. Been in and on

several local newspapers and news programming. Keynote speaker at several college safety-related

conferences across the country.