Dr. James E. Samels
President and CEO
Dr. James E. Samels is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of both The Education Alliance and The Samels Group, a full service higher education consulting firm specializing in academic planning and program development, enrollment management, campus, multi-campus and system-wide change management, strategic alliances, new academic program development, executive leadership search and organizational development, international education, and distance learning. Dr. Samels is the founding partner of Samels Associates, a law firm serving independent and public colleges, universities, foundations, non-profit and for-profit higher education organizations across the nation and overseas. Dr. Samels holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a Master’s degree in Public Administration, a Juris Doctor degree and a Doctor of Education degree. Dr. Samels has served on the University of Massachusetts and Bentley College faculties, and was a guest lecturer at Harvard New President's Program. Prior to his appointment at the University of Massachusetts, Dr. Samels served as the Deputy and Acting State Comptroller in Massachusetts, Special Assistant Attorney General, Massachusetts Community College Counsel, and General Counsel to the Massachusetts Board of Regents. Dr. Samels publishes scholarly articles and opinion editorials appearing in the Chronicle of Higher Education, The London Guardian, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, and The Boston Business Journal. Dr. Samels has co-authored eight books published by John Hopkins University Press. Dr. Samels has previously consulted on projects and presented research papers at universities, colleges, schools, and ministries of education in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North and South America.
Arlene L. Lieberman, Esq., has been an Associate with Samels Associates, Attorneys at Law, for more than 25 years, concentrating her practice in the fields of higher education and preventive law. The firm advises schools, colleges and universities in the areas of labor relations, discrimination, student rights, contracts, and real and intellectual property. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Attorney Lieberman received her law degree from Northeastern University. She previously served as General Counsel for Cambridge College, Assistant Counsel for the former Board of Regents of Higher Education in Massachusetts and as staff attorney for the Boston Juvenile Court and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and to the United States District Court, First Circuit.
Arlene L. Lieberman, Esq.
Senior Associate
Aaron Fox joins the Alliance after completing his studies at Boston University - majoring in Political Science with a Minor in Jewish Studies. Aaron has served as an intern in the office of State Senator Patrick O'Connor and has experience advocating before federal legislators in D.C.. Mr. Fox provides valuable insights into the world of education, youth engagement, and enabling student civic leadership and responsibility.
Aaron Fox
Research Fellow
Jeffrey C. Riley worked in public education as a teacher, counselor, principal and superintendent/receiver before being appointed as Massachusetts' 24th commissioner of elementary and secondary education in early 2018. During his time as commissioner, he brought a renewed focus on instruction with his Deeper Learning Initiative, increased enrichment opportunities for students, developed programs to ensure all schools had great leaders and teachers, and led the state through Covid.
Commissioner Riley lives in Boston and holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Pomona
College in California, a master's degree in counseling from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and a master's degree in school administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University.
Jeff Riley
Senior Advisor
James Lee
Senior Advisor
Dr. Lee serves as the Dean of Art and Sciences of Post University in Waterbury, CT. With over 20 years of academic leadership experience, Dr. Lee promotes access to high quality teaching and learning at American college and universities. Dr. Lee began his academic career journey as a Research Fellow in Biology at Harvard University - holding a Bachelors Degree in Marine Biology from the University of Miami; a Masters Degree in Natural Sciences from Harvard University; and an M.Ed from Northeastern University. At Harvard, Dr. Lee led the Harvard Marine Science Review and the New England Seacoast Institute (NESI). As Cambridge College Dean of Undergrad Studies, Dr. Lee has extensive experience in academic management, faculty and curriculum development, grant funding, and labor relations. Dr. Lee is a recognized expert in international education and global program development, and has secured preferred partner status in China where he established collaborations with seven different universities. As an institutional reviewer for the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), Dr. Lee is an authority on accreditation standards, policies, and reporting requirements.
Thaddeus King
Senior Advisor
Thaddeus King brings nearly 30 years experience to the field of education. He has a wide breadth of experience in both urban and suburban communities as a Superintendent of schools, a classroom teacher, and a middle and high school Principal. Thad brings a private industry background where he severed in management capacities for educational divisions of Fortune 500 Tech Companies. Thad is specifically interested in Early/Really Early College, leadership mentoring, strategic planning and budgeting.
Jonathan Reinsdorf serves as a partner, senior analyst, and advisor to Stonegate Alliance. Mr. Reinsdorf is the CEO of FroogalPay, a payments solutions company that services software developers and merchants designed to improve the efficiency and functionality of credit card and ACH processing. Mr. Reinsdorf is a member of the Executive Committee for the United Center Joint Venture (home to The Chicago Bulls and The Chicago Blackhawks). In addition, Mr. Reinsdorf is on the Board of Hope Chicago, Board of Trustees for the Noble Network of Charter Schools, and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. Mr. Reinsdorf holds an MBA with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a JD from Northwestern University School of Law.
Jonathan Reinsdorf
Partner
Mr. Kevin Carney has 25 years of experience as an education professional, ranging from Pre-Kindergarten through post-secondary grade levels. As a former school superintendent, assistant principal and principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Mr. Carney brings a depth of experience in strategic planning, budgeting, risk management, school safety and security, school scheduling, school guidance programming, and strategic partnerships that connect student learning in K-12 school systems to higher education and industry sector workforce demands in the regional, state, and global economies.
Kevin Carney
Partner
Dr. Charles E. Combs served as head of General Education/Liberal Arts at Berklee College of Music for 16 years and Associate Professor/Director of Theatre at Plymouth State College (NH) for 12. He also was invited to serve for a year as Interim Associate Director of CIHE/NEASC. While at Plymouth State he established the Theatre Arts major, served as editor of the Children's Theatre Review and the Youth Theatre Journal, and was founding editor of the New England Theatre Journal. Dr. Combs received his Ph.D. in Theatre and Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his B.A. and M.A. from San Jose State University in California.
Dr. Charles Combs
Senior Consultant
Mr. Jacob Brewer joined The Education Alliance after receiving his degrees in Economics and Psychology from The University of Chicago. Mr. Brewer brings his experiences in behavioral economics, early childhood education, research, and data analysis to The Alliance.