Speakers

Dr. Jamie Lathan is a distinguished educator, scholar, and advocate for equitable access to education. As Vice Chancellor for Extended Learning at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), he leads statewide initiatives that bring high-quality, honors-level learning opportunities to thousands of students, especially those in rural and underrepresented communities. Under his leadership, NCSSM’s extended learning programs, including NCSSM Connect, virtual summer enrichment, and educator outreach, have expanded in reach and impact, offering students rigorous instruction in courses such as AP U.S. History, African American Studies, Latin American Studies, and Honors Science of Race.

Dr. Lathan began his career at NCSSM in 2001 as a social studies teacher and quickly became one of the most respected and well-loved members of the faculty. He holds a Ph.D. in Education from UNC Chapel Hill, as well as a B.A. in History and M.A.T. in Social Studies Education from the University of Virginia. A National Board Certified teacher, he has spent more than 20 years teaching and mentoring students in both residential and online settings. Throughout his career, Dr. Lathan has prioritized inclusive curriculum design, student engagement, and culturally responsive pedagogy.

His work has earned statewide recognition. In 2020, he received the UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching, one of the highest honors in the UNC System. He was named a 2019 Kenan Fellow, during which he co-developed a racial equity assessment tool for educators and school districts. As a leader during the COVID-19 transition to remote learning, he helped guide teachers and administrators across North Carolina in best practices for virtual instruction, emphasizing connection, clarity, and compassion.

Beyond awards and credentials, Dr. Lathan is known for his warmth, humility, and ability to inspire. Colleagues describe him as a “rock-star teacher” who builds powerful learning communities, even across digital platforms. Students have called him a life-changing mentor whose classes sparked their passion for social justice, history, and civic leadership. A frequent speaker and facilitator, Dr. Lathan brings a unique perspective that bridges traditional teaching values with forward-thinking approaches to equity and innovation in education.

He lives in Durham, North Carolina, with his wife Lucinda and their three children. Deeply rooted in both family and service, Dr. Lathan continues to shape the future of public education in North Carolina through his leadership, scholarship, and unwavering dedication to student success.

Greg came to Duke during the famed summer of 2020 from Tufts University, where he served as Executive Director of the Career Center since 2016. Greg has experience developing innovative and enduring partnerships between the career team and other campus partners, including Alumni Affairs, the First-Generation Center, the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and Athletics. He successfully developed and launched a “Designing Your Life” course for first-year students and oversaw the creation of numerous career and student-alumni global networking events. He is focused on outreach to employers and alumni across a wide range of industries and nonprofit sectors and works to ensure that all students see themselves and their pathways represented in Career Center programs and initiatives.

In his 25-year career, Greg served as Executive Director of Continuing Education at Rhode Island School of Design, where he was previously Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Director of the RISD Career Center. During nearly a decade at Syracuse University, Greg taught in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, led the highly regarded First-Year and Transfer Programs office, and served as a lead with employer engagement in the Syracuse Career Center. Greg has also held positions at Colgate University and Ithaca College and taught junior high school social studies. He serves on the Board of Regents at his alma mater, Le Moyne College.

One of Greg’s favorite jobs was serving as “Scooch,” mascot for the Syracuse Mets (formerly the Syracuse Chiefs), a AAA baseball club—the same level as the Durham Bulls. That position allowed him to “be as goofy as I wanted to be, to bring joy, laughter, and excitement to fans,” he said. “It offers a glimpse of my spirit, energy, and enthusiasm.”

In his free time he enjoys traveling, food (cooking and exploring new restaurants), and spending time with his partner David and puppy Faya.  Greg is also a huge college sports fan and is excited to cheer on the Blue Devils.

Heather Ryan joined the Duke Athletics staff in 2005 and serves as the department’s Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Student-Athlete Experience & Senior Women Administrator. She previously held positions of Academic Coordinator, Director of Academic Support and Executive Director of Academic Support and Associate Director of Athletics/Academic Services & Senior Woman Administrator before being promoted to her current position in July 2021.

Ryan’s appointment as Duke’s SWA included an initial five-year term which started in July 2020.  As defined by the NCAA, the purpose of the SWA designation is to promote meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports.

Additionally, Ryan is a member of the athletics department’s Executive Staff, the top administrative leadership under Vice President and Director of Athletics Nina King. Ryan has oversight of student-athlete development, equipment, be the lead contact for NIL educational efforts while serving as the secondary administrator for football. She will continue to have sports oversight of men's and women's swimming and diving.

On the national landscape, Ryan currently serves as chair of both the NCAA 4-2-4 Transfer Waiver Committee and the NCAA Region 3 Post Graduate Scholarship Committee.  She is also the active vice chair of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Women’s Lacrosse Committee.  On Duke’s campus, Ryan serves as a panelist for the Institutional Undergraduate Conduct Board, is a member of the Athletic Oversight Committee, and mentors students as a Trinity pre-major advisor.

Ryan, who came to Duke after serving as the Director of Academic Services in the athletic department at Tulane University, spearheads academic assistance for the Blue Devil women’s basketball and football programs and coordinates day-to-day support activities in the Johnson-Campbell Academic Support Center.

A native of Goodland, Ind., Ryan graduated from Indiana University in 1997 with a degree in sports marketing and management and later earned a master’s degree in college student personnel with an emphasis in counseling and development from Purdue University in 2002.  Ryan earned her doctorate degree in educational leadership, policy and human development from N.C. State University in 2021.

Terrell Smith, a Duke University alumnus and former All-ACC safety for the Blue Devils, holds the position of Assistant Director of Athletics/NIL Strategy. In this role, Smith is responsible for leading the advancement of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) efforts at Duke. His work ensures that athletes, coaches, staff, and recruits have the necessary tools, education, and resources to maximize opportunities in this dynamic area.

His responsibilities in this role include serving as a liaison on NIL-related issues, spearheading internal discussions, crafting communication strategies and collaborating with Duke Athletics staff on educational initiatives. His role is pivotal in planning and executing athlete NIL education, working on NIL licensed merchandise initiatives and navigating opportunities in the NIL space, all while ensuring compliance with Duke and NCAA policies.

Smith rejoined Duke in 2022 as Director of the Future Initiative, a role that involved enriching the skills of Duke football student-athletes to prepare them for post-graduation success, focusing on knowledge, skills, networking and confidence. Prior to this, he was the recruiting coordinator for Penn State University's football program, contributing to the team's top-ranked recruiting class for 2022, according to ESPN.com and 247Sports.com.

Earlier, Smith spent three years (2016-18) as the assistant athletic director of football operations at East Carolina University. He served as the chief of staff and oversaw the day-to-day operation of the Pirate football program. Smith served as the direct liaison to the Chancellor, Board of Trustees, and other external stakeholders in addition to student affairs support services.

As a four-year letterman (2000-03) with the Blue Devils, Smith played in 40 career games and amassed 321 tackles and three interceptions. In 2003, he served as a team captain while earning All-ACC honors after leading the squad in tackles with 140, a total which currently ranks tied for 10th on the school's single-season chart. Among Smith's highlights during his senior season was a career-high 22-tackle performance in Duke's 27-24 overtime victory over Rice.

Smith graduated from Duke in 2004 with a degree in political science. Following graduation, he spent one season on the football coaching staff at Lenoir-Rhyne College before returning to his alma mater in 2005 as a graduate assistant coach. Smith later served as Duke's assistant director of player development (2006), director of player development (2007) and assistant director of football relations (2008-10).

After stints at Oklahoma State as an assistant director of football recruiting (2011-12) and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts as an assistant director of admission for multicultural recruitment (2013-14), Smith returned to Duke in 2015 as the director of football operations.

Smith also earned a master's degree in humanities from the Duke in 2006.