Meet the Team
Amanda Wickramasinghe, PhD, EdD
Dr. Amanda Wickramasinghe is a speaker and educator in the fields of global competencies, global mindset, women’s leadership, organizational development, and instructional design. She is both the Director of Education for ERA Brokers, overseeing education initiatives, learning management system content development and an adjunct professor at Brandman University and National University. In addition to these and earlier leadership roles, she serves on multiple international outreach committees, creating global strategic partnerships. She has traveled extensively internationally, interviewing global leaders for her contributions to literature about foreign policy and global leadership. Amanda is a board member for the International Center for Global Leadership and an active member for the International Leadership Association, for which she has chaired research panels and moderated keynote speaker events. She serves as an advocate for international affairs and is a founding member of the International Women’s Innovative Network. She earned her EdD and PhD at Pepperdine University and has recently authored a chapter in the book, Women in Leadership: Work-Family Integration, published by Cambridge Scholars, and is a member of the Work-Life Integration Project. Additionally, she is a leader for the Orange County Waves Chapter (for Pepperdine) and was recognized as an Inaugural 40 under 40 Honoree at Pepperdine University.
Margaret J Weber, Ph.D.
Margaret J. Weber, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Global Engagement and oversees the initiative on Religion, Gender and Identity Formation within the Center for Women, Faith and Leadership. Before joining IGE, Dr. Weber served as Dean and Professor, Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP), at Pepperdine University (and leadership positions at Oklahoma State University). Dr. Weber developed global programs, including the Global Leadership Internship in the Social Entrepreneurship and Change master's program where students work and learn in developing countries and supported the development of Aliento, the Latino(a) Center for Mental Health therapy in Spanish speaking countries. She led student groups on educational/immersion trips to several countries in the global south. Weber has recently co-edited 3 books on Women in Leadership: Work-Family Integration, published by Cambridge Scholars and is a founding member of the Work-Life Integration Project. As the founder of Influencing Voices, she continues her advocacy for women around the world.
Kerri Cissna, Ph.D., Ed.D
Dr. Kerri Cissna serves as Visiting Assistant Professor in Entrepreneurship and Creativity at the Department of Entrepreneurship and the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship in Miami University's Farmer School of Business. She earned her BS at Warner Pacific University in Portland, OR, and then earned a Master of Education in College Student Affairs from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, CA. She earned her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership and her Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change from Pepperdine University. She has published articles in several refereed journals, including the Journal of Leadership Education and the Journal of Global Leadership. She has four published books on #WomeninLeadership and #WorkLifeIntegration. At Wake Forest University, Kerri was a Teacher-Scholar Postdoctoral Fellow in the Program for Leadership and Character and the Center for Entrepreneurship. While serving as a postdoctoral fellow at Wake Forest, Kerri designed and taught undergraduate courses in Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Character of Entrepreneurship. Her career in higher education spans two decades and includes Assistant Vice-Chancellor in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Director of Housing & Residence Life, and Leadership Development Coordinator at Pepperdine University.
Lene Martin, Ed.D
Dr. Lene Martin is the founder and director of the Blockchain at Pepperdine Program and teaches blockchain business applications and analytics at the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. She is also the founder of a Malibu consulting company, an entrepreneur and investor of tech startups, an advisor and director of several boards, a published author and international speaker, and a leader in innovative solutions for blockchain, cybersecurity, and communications at organizations such as Lockheed Martin Corp. and Amgen Inc. She holds M.A. degrees in communications and women studies, an EdD in organizational leadership, a Ph.D. candidacy in global leadership and change at Pepperdine GSEP, and is the recipient of a Pepperdine Waves of Innovation grant award. Dr. Martin, an advocate for women leaders and social impact, recently authored a chapter in the book on Women in Leadership: Work-Family Integration, published by Cambridge Scholars, and is a member of the Work-Life Integration Project. As a Norwegian-American, her research agenda focuses on Nordic organizational models of economic growth and social prosperity, specifically the convergence of emerging technology strategies and corporate social responsibility standards.
Elena Einstein, Ed.D
Elena Einstein, Ed.D., is a Principal Manager, Contracts and Grants at Universities Space Research Association (USRA), where she leads the contracts portfolio for the NASA Academic Research Mission Services program. Previously, she was Senior Contracts Manager at L3Harris leading international and domestic programs. Dr. Einstein spent most of her career with The Boeing Company in satellites and space launch programs. Additionally, Dr. Einstein has extensive experience in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) space. She is an adjunct faculty at the University of La Verne teaching Diversity Management and Gender and Culture in the undergraduate and master’s programs. She is also a member of the USRA DEI committee. Dr. Einstein holds a doctorate from Pepperdine University, a MSLM from the University of La Verne and a BS from Cal Poly Pomona. Dr. Einstein has recently authored a chapter in the book on Women in Leadership: Work-Family Integration published by Cambridge Scholars and is a member of the Work-Life Integration Project. As the founder of The Einstein Group, she provides business consulting in global leadership, change management, and supports advocacy projects to help improve the lives of women and minorities.
Veronica Ufoegbune, Ed.D
Dr. Veronica Ufoegbune, Consultant and Advocate for Early Learning and Care Programs is the Executive Director of a Berkeley Non-Profit for Early Learning and Care and serves as Adjunct Professor at Brandman University and Mills College Graduate programs. As a Gubernatorial Appointee of Governor Edmund Brown, she served as a California State Advisor on early learning, care policies, and practices. She has co-authored 3 publications as a co-researcher with the center for play research at the prestigious Mills College in the San Francisco Bay Area. Appointed by Council Woman Wilma Chan, Commissioner Veronica Ufoegbune served as the former Chair of Alameda County’s Early Care and Education Local Planning Council. Veronica, a Nigerian-American Educator completed her BA at the University of Benin, Nigeria, her MA at Mills College, and her Ed.D., at Pepperdine University in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policies. She is also the current President and a Co-Founder-since 1991 of Anioma USA Tribal Association, Inc., Northern California; the National Chair of the Anioma USA Inc. 2nd Generation-Youth Group and on the Board of Directors of the United Nations Association, USA Inc. of Northern California in the East Bay. She recently authored a chapter in the book on Women in Leadership: Work-Family Integration published by Cambridge Scholars and is a member of the Work-Life Integration Project.
Stacy Rothberg Montgomery, Ed.D
An experienced leader in higher education with a 25-year career in very different institutional settings, Dr. Montgomery cultivates a transformational difference in each community that she serves. Recently, Dr. Montgomery served as an Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Pepperdine University for 19 years. She holds a MA degree in educational counseling and EdD in organizational leadership. Her leadership is hallmarked by Mattering, Positivity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Support. Sailing as Dean of Students (Summer 2009 and Spring 2014 voyages) on Semester At Sea combined her passion for international education, learning communities, and creating global citizens. Dr. Montgomery’s research focused on women cancer patients/survivors and their work-life integration. Besides the findings in her dissertation, Dr. Montgomery is also a cancer survivor. For 13 years, Dr. Montgomery was the advisor for Pepperdine’s Colleges Against Cancer where she cultivated student leadership and hosted Pepperdine’s annual Relay For Life. Dr. Montgomery also led a Malibu Cancer Survivor Group to connect and support Pepperdine cancer survivors.