Working Toward Equitable Solutions for Licensure Rate Disparities

Brandon Jones has over 20 years of experience in education/edtech, business leadership, and people development. He spent nearly two decades at Kaplan Test Prep He started his career as an SAT instructor and then advanced through a series of roles in academics, operations, sales management, and executive management, with the last several spent as the president of the largest business unit at Kaplan. Jones is passionate about the transformative power of education, and as an advocate of grit and growth mindset, he believes that just about anyone can do just about anything. Jones has a bachelor’s in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University, and lives in New York City with his wife and daughterBrandon Jones has over 20 years of experience in education/edtech, business leadership, and people development. He spent nearly two decades at Kaplan Test Prep He started his career as an SAT instructor and then advanced through a series of roles in academics, operations, sales management, and executive management, with the last several spent as the president of the largest business unit at Kaplan. Jones is passionate about the transformative power of education, and as an advocate of grit and growth mindset, he believes that just about anyone can do just about anything. Jones has a bachelor’s in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University, and lives in New York City with his wife and daughter.

Kathy Markeland is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of Family & Children’s Agencies (WAFCA). Markeland has represented WAFCA for more than 17 years – advocating for the human services and behavioral health sectors and advancing policy and practice that improves the lives of Wisconsin’s children and families.

Undraye Howard currently serves as vice president of equity, diversity, and inclusion at Social Current. In his roles over the years, he has provided invaluable consultation to community-based organizations. In his current role, he leads Social Current’s efforts in providing strategy, solutions, and support for the development of leaders in the social sector, with an emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Through his strategic leadership and direction, he and a team of network leaders have co-created helpful resources, consultation, and workshops that uplift and disseminate best practices to help community-based organizations advance their EDI journeys.

In addition, Dr. Howard was instrumental in developing Social Current’s leadership development model, the rEvolutionary Model, which helps develop the skills of change leaders to drive toward system and population-level results. Dr. Howard also leads the annual Executive Leadership Institute, which is held in partnership with Loyola University’s Quinlan School of Business. This transformational experience equips leaders with the knowledge and skills to create greater systems change.

Dr. Howard also has a deep appreciation and connection to the greater Milwaukee community. He sits on the board of AD2LUV Senior Housing (2006-present), Father Hood Initiative (2012-present), and the board of Holy Cathedral (1999-present), where he also led as youth director and deacon. He also served as a member on the State of Wisconsin Strengthening Families and Children.

Dr. Howard holds a doctorate in business from Bellevue University. He received his master’s in communication and bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.