Work with thought leaders and academic experts from Truman State University

Michael Sebek is a highly educated and experienced chemist with a passion for research and teaching. He received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Truman State University in 2012, where he conducted undergraduate research in the field of analytical chemistry. He then went on to earn his Masters and Ph.D. in Chemistry from Saint Louis University by 2017, where his research focused on the interplay between network science and electrochemistry. After completing his Ph.D., Michael continued his research as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Northeastern University, where he works in food science, network medicine, and AI/ML. His work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals and has been presented at national and international conferences.

Dan Baack is an expert in advertising, brand management and international marketing. His academic research focuses on how differences in how consumers process information affect promotional activities. This includes investigations of creativity and advertising effectiveness, of advertising’s impact on brand image and of culture’s influence on marketing activity.

I have over a decade of experience in academic administration and program management. As the Director of Education and Workforce Development at the Digital Intelligence and Innovation Accelerator (DI2) and the Office of Health Information and Data Science (OHIDS) at Washington University in St. Louis, I have spearheaded the creation and evaluation of interdisciplinary educational programs. These initiatives are designed to equip learners and professionals for the challenges of a rapidly changing digital economy and healthcare landscape. My career also includes significant roles in strategic oversight, program development, and stakeholder engagement, particularly focused on fostering a digital-first culture within a university setting. My research emphasizes the development and evaluation of competency-based education curricula and the integration of AI and machine learning tools to enhance education. I also combine my expertise in acting and science to offer science communication training for faculty, staff, trainees, and industry professionals. Before my tenure at Washington University, I was a teaching artist and arts integration specialist. I hold a BA in Theatre, an MA in Communication Arts, and I am a PhD candidate in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.