+ Read Dr. Grant L. Azdell's Bio

Dr. Grant L. Azdell currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, and is a Professor at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. As the Senior Student Affairs Officer (SSAO), he serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet. He also previously served on the President’s Cabinet at Lynchburg College as Associate Vice President of Student Development and Dean of Religious Life. Dr. Azdell has provided almost twenty years of leadership in the areas of assessment, strategic planning, budgeting, retention, fundraising, and higher education law. He has also managed multi-million dollar budgets for several organizations, including two terms as Treasurer for Region III of NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators).

With a background in Emergency Management, Dr. Azdell is frequently called upon as a subject expert in crisis management and emergency planning. He currently teaches classes in emergency management, leadership, education, and pre-hospital emergency care—he started EMT programs at two of the schools that he has served.

Dr. Azdell seeks to exemplify for students the importance of service and community engagement by serving on the boards of the following community organizations: Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, Ashland Police Department Chief’s Advisory Board, Ashland Volunteer Rescue Squad, and the Lynchburg Life Saving Crew. In addition, Dr. Azdell is a certified Emergency Medical Technician and has spent over 25 years (10 years as Chief of a department) serving as a volunteer EMS/Rescue technician/Firefighter in Virginia, Tennessee, and Florida.

+ Read Jeffrey Burklin's Bio

Jeff Burklin currently serves as the Director of Security Systems and Technologies for Northwestern University’s Department of Safety & Security. This is inclusive of multiple units to include Police, Transportation & Parking, Communications, and Emergency Management.

While serving as a police officer for over twelve years, Jeff pursued an alternate career in information technology, eventually moving onto the positions of Assistant Vice President with Chase Bank’s Enterprise Desktop Services Advanced Support and Engineering Services, as well as Director of Information Technology for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Administration and Sociology from Western Illinois University and a Master of Science in Communication Systems Strategy & Management from Northwestern University.