Dr. Tierney J. Bates has established himself as a national thought leader, speaker, networker, career coach, innovator, and voice on student affairs, the student experience, and GENERATION NOW! He has given over 120 keynote talks, presentations, and workshops. With over 20plus years in higher education, he has progressed from entry level to senior level administration providing leadership, vision, and responsibility for strategic initiatives, planning, and solutions in student affairs, diversity & inclusion, career services/workforce development, recruitment, and fundraising. He is currently at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Special Projects & Executive Director for University Career Services in the Division of Student Affairs and has served in leadership roles at Virginia Union University, North Carolina Central University, University of Louisville, University of Tennessee, and Bowling Green State University. Dr. Bates is from Cleveland, Ohio and received his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Communications with a minor in African-American History from the University of Akron, his Master of Arts in Higher -Education Administration from the University of Akron, and his MBA from Bryan College, and a Doctorate degree from Spalding University.