Keynote Speaker
We are honored to welcome Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten as the keynote speaker for HERU 2026. A nationally recognized expert in leadership, crisis management, and organizational development, Dr. Wooten brings deep insight and real-world perspective to the conversation about where higher education is headed next.
She currently serves as the ninth president of Simmons University and is the first African American to lead the institution. Throughout her career, she has championed inclusive leadership and organizational transformation in both academic and corporate settings.
Dr. Wooten previously served as the David J. Nolan Dean at Cornell University’s Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and spent nearly two decades at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. She is the author of several influential books, including the Wall Street Journal best-seller Arrive and Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership.
She is a past recipient of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business’s BBA Student Award for Teaching Excellence as well as the school’s Andy Andrews Distinguished Service Award. She also was chosen as a “Next Generation Business Thinker” by the Financial Times.
With research, writing, and teaching rooted in purpose-driven leadership, Dr. Wooten is a dynamic voice at the intersection of innovation, equity, and impact.
