CADE 2025

Dr. Rhianna C. Rogers is a global leader in digital equity, public policy, and interdisciplinary research with over 20 years of experience in federal, academic, and non-profit sectors. Formerly Biden-Harris Administration’s Chief DEIA Officer and Counselor to the Assistant Secretary for Management at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, she led initiatives in diversity, AI policy, and digital equity, earning the 2024 Department of Education Gold Medallion of Appreciation. A co-founder of the Sustainable Progress and Equality Collective (SPEC), former director of RAND’s Center to Advance Racial Equity Policy, and former Ernest Boyer Presidential Fellow at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, she has spearheaded multimillion-dollar research projects on equity in technology, health, infrastructure, and education. Dr. Rogers has presented at the United Nations, TEDx, and other global platforms, highlighting her expertise in innovation and inclusivity. An award-winning educator, she has taught at SUNY Empire State University and California’s Command College, shaping the future of equitable technology practices.

Brandon Protas, Ed.D. serves as the Assistant Vice President for Alliance Engagement with Complete College America (CCA). He guides the planning and management of the CCA Alliance to support institutions, systems, and states in their efforts to improve student success. Brandon contributes to policy and advocacy of college completion and equity-focused efforts while leading regional and national projects to implement and scale. He has created resources and has led webinars, blogs, articles, and publications on many of the CCA student success strategies including Corequisite Support, Credit for Competency, Dual Enrollment, Multiple Measures, and 15 to Finish / Stay on Track.

Prior to joining CCA, Brandon worked for nine years at Community College of Denver directing their concurrent enrollment program. He led the college through accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP). He subsequently served on both the NACEP and Colorado concurrent enrollment advisory boards. Brandon also worked for more than a decade in the K12 system in the Sunnyside Unified School District in Tucson, Arizona in a variety of capacities including social work, community building, and college readiness programming.

Brandon is passionate about education as a public good to improve society and to transform individual lives. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University, a Master of Social Work from Arizona State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.