Speakers

Opening Keynote: Dr. Saundra Yancy McGuire

Dr. Saundra Yancy McGuire is Professor Emerita of Chemistry and Director Emerita of the Center for Academic Success at Louisiana State University (LSU). Before her tenure there, she spent eleven years at Cornell University, where she received the coveted Clark Distinguished Teaching Award. A nationally recognized expert in metacognitive learning strategies, Dr. McGuire has delivered keynote addresses and workshops at over 500 institutions across 48 states, 15 countries, and six continents, helping faculty and students apply cognitive science to improve academic performance. She is the author of the bestselling books Teach Students How to Learn and Teach Yourself How to Learn.

McGuire’s most recent accolades include being listed in 2023 as one of the Top 100 Learning Influencers in history by Eduflow, being named a 2022 Louisiana Legend by Louisiana Public Broadcasting, being listed in the 2020 edition of Marquis Who’s Who in America, and induction into the LSU College of Science Hall of Distinction. She is an elected Fellow of the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Council of Learning Assistance and Developmental Education Associations. She received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring in a White House Oval Office Ceremony.

Closing Keynote: Dr. James Tanton

James Tanton (PhD, Mathematics, Princeton) is an educator, author, and international consultant dedicated to transforming how the world engages with mathematics. With over 20 years of classroom teaching experience and 15 years of global consulting work, he champions joyful, streamlined approaches to mathematics that emphasize deep thinking, sense‑making, and student empowerment.

His work is driven by the belief that mathematics is a powerful pathway to creativity, confidence, and intellectual growth. Through curriculum design, professional development, and public programming, he strives to reimagine mathematics education as a source of wonder, possibility, and genuine relevance for all learners.

James has recently arrived to the San Francisco Bay Area and currently serves as an Associate Coordinator of Public Programs for BSE. He is also the Mathematician‑at‑Large for the Mathematical Association of America, co-founder of the Global Math Project, and Chief Mathematics Officer for SmartWithIt.

Concurrent Sessions

More information about speakers for Concurrent Sessions will be available in April.