Meet the Team
Lead Consultant & Culture StrategistDr. Amber R. Smith
Dr. Amber R. Smith is the Founder & CEO of EDUSWAG, Inc. and a nationally recognized culture strategist with more than 20 years of experience designing inclusive leadership frameworks, organizational transformation initiatives, and equity-driven programs. A former Vice President for Student Experience, Success & Belonging and Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer, Dr. Smith has led large-scale culture redesign, launched immersive learning environments, and delivered multimillion-dollar impact initiatives across higher education, government, and corporate sectors. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial & Organizational Psychology and is known for helping organizations translate belonging into measurable business outcomes.
Human Resources, Reorganizations, Training & DevelopmentKARA OOLEY
Kara Ooley, SPHR, is an experienced Human Resources and culture consultant with deep expertise in organizational design, talent strategy, and employee engagement. As Eduswag’s Lead Culture Curator & HR Solutions Specialist, she guides clients through complex culture transformation initiatives, leadership development, and people-centered strategy alignment. Kara previously served as Human Resources Director at the University of Indianapolis and held multiple progressive HR leadership roles with Hilton Hotels & Resorts, culminating as Area Director of Human Resources for the Midwest. She is recognized for her strategic insight, data-driven approach, and commitment to building strong, resilient organizational cultures.
Leadership Development, IDI AdministratorRob Williford
Rob Williford is an experienced culture coach and organizational restructuring specialist with expertise in human resources systems, restorative practices, and equity-centered organizational design. As Eduswag’s Lead Culture Coach & Organizational Reengineering Specialist, he supports clients in redesigning people systems, strengthening leadership capacity, and cultivating cultures of belonging through empathy-driven, human-centered strategy.
Rob previously served as Associate Vice President & Dean of Students at the University of Indianapolis and now serves as Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Butler University’s Founder’s College. Across progressive leadership roles in Student Affairs and Residence Life, he has overseen large-scale operations, guided policy and process redesign, and built strong, values-driven teams. He is known for his relational leadership, systems thinking, and commitment to fostering organizations where people and their stories can thrive.
Data Analysis + Strategy & Insights
Dr. Kalan Horton
Dr. Kalan G. Horton is a strategy scholar and research analyst specializing in business ecosystems, organizational evolution, and stakeholder strategy.
As Lead Research Analyst for Eduswag, he brings applied expertise in organizational culture, data-driven insights, and strategic analysis. Dr. Horton holds a PhD in Strategy from Florida State University and has prior industry experience with Boeing, higher education, and statewide research initiatives.
Lead - Sales EnablementConnor P. Donovan
Connor Donovan is the founder of Me.Mentor, a social enterprise startup that equips high schools and colleges with the tools and resources needed to develop virtual mentorship programs for their students. Most recently, he served as Senior Program Manager of Government Programs at Correlation One, where he led initiatives in support of federal clients and spearheaded the organization's efforts to bring responsible AI education and competition-based learning opportunities to U.S. high school students. Prior to that, Connor served as a Program Officer at World Learning in Washington, D.C., supporting the U.S. Department of State's premier professional exchange program, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
Connor brings international working experience to his practice, having led business development and educational matchmaking projects for a premier graduate engineering school in Angoulême, France, and having completed commerce research work as an intern for the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China. He graduated as the top student from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2017 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business (Chinese Concentration), then went on to earn a Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service in 2019, with focus areas in international relations, economic development, and education. He holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute and a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida.