Speaker Bios

KEYNOTE

Rebecca Malotke-Meslin
Rebecca Malotke-Meslin is the founder of Pleasantly Aggressive Coaching & Consulting, where she helps women working in independent schools and nonprofit organizations lead more confidently, authentically, and unapologetically. Rebecca combines a background in social research with 20 years of sales, marketing, communications, and school leadership to create an in-depth and engaging experience for her clients. Through one-on-one coaching, leadership cohorts, and speaking engagements, she delivers enthusiasm and expertise to her audiences. In her role as a consultant, she works with organizations to eliminate barriers, reduce biases, and create more inclusive spaces for all women. Rebecca is also the co-host of the Confidently You: Women in Leadership Podcast.

Michelle Pearson
Michelle is the Artistic Director of Black Box Dance Theatre, a NC based company known for their groundbreaking collaborations in the making of deeply human and physically compelling dance. Michelle is the inaugural recipient of the Jan Van Dyke Legacy Award, has been the subject of several national and internal documentaries featuring transformative artmaking, and is recognized as a leader in her field. She was a core member of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange from 93-98 before moving into the position of Associate Artist with the troupe for another 15 years. She has been a guest artist and adjunct faculty at numerous schools including Meredith College, Catholic Univ, UNCG, St. Mary’s School, The American Dance Festival, Harvard Medical School, NCSU, and Arts Together. As an A+ Fellow of A+ Schools, Michelle leads professional development workshops for K-12 educators throughout NC and the US. She was recognized by the NC Arts Council with a Choreographic Fellowship and was selected by the US Department of State to lead Cultural Democracy missions to Sierra Leone in 2011, China in 2014, 2016 and Kazakhstan, 2019. Recently, the USO has deemed Michelle and her cohort of dancers as SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) and engaged them to lead Warrior Reset Programs for active duty service members. Michelle is a William C. Friday (Leadership) Fellow committed to improving human relations in the state of NC.

Susan Perry
Susan is a proven, experienced, interdependent, and relational educational leader who thrives in the nexus of campus life having served in executive and leadership roles at independent schools (Governor’s Academy, Phillips Academy, Asheville School, Ravenscroft School) and in higher education (Duke University and Smith College).

Susan is a certified executive coach and certified facilitator of the EQi-2.0, EQ 360 (Emotional Quotient Inventory 2.0 and 360) to support human performance and development in educational settings. For more than a decade, she has completed extensive training in leadership development and team facilitation with the Center for Creative Leadership. She is certified as a facilitator of the Better Conversations Every Day™ training tool, which assists schools in creating vertical alignment with a feedback culture through developing and sustaining behavioral communication skills at all levels. She is the Associate Head of School for Wellness and Belonging at Forsyth Country Day School in Lewisville, North Carolina, as well a Senior Consultant with EXPLO Elevate.

Susan has served on two National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) committees charged with examining best practices and providing recommendations to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of students, including being appointed to the NAIS/Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) Independent School Task Force on Educator Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response. In 2014, Susan appeared as an expert panelist on PBS/UNC-TV’s Focus On: Educating Black Boys, which explored issues around education, opportunity, race, identity, and parenting in the 21st century. Additionally, Susan has completed the Racial Equity Institute Groundwater and Phase 1 training and The Principals’ Center (TPC) at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education (HGSE) program in Race, Equity, and Leadership in Schools. Her clinical training has included two separate in-residence internships at Duke University, and she has completed Advanced Clinical Certification in The Relational Model Levels I & II at the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute, part of the Stone Center, Wellesley Center for Women (WCW) at Wellesley College.

Susan is a published author and holds an earned doctorate in educational administration. She has served as consultant/advisor/educator to boards of trustees, executive leaders, faculty, families, and students, and has traveled extensively as a conference speaker and trainer nationwide.