President, Brown Mackie College – Quad Cities

Kareem Odukale was raised in South Minneapolis, Minnesota by his mother and his sister.  From a young age his mother stressed the importance of solid education.

Kareem did not disappoint his mother. He has been in higher education for ten years. He has been President of Brown Mackie College – Quad Cities since August 2008. He previously served as Executive Director for Southeastern Career Institute located in Midland, Texas; and Associate Campus Director and Campus Director for Rasmussen College located in Eagan, Minnesota. According to Kareem, “The sky is the limit for Brown Mackie College in the Quad Cities.  With Associate degree, certificate, and diploma program offerings, the community will be served well with the graduates that we produce.”

Sydney Sattler is the President of Brown Mackie College – Atlanta. In her role, she provides leadership and support to the school's staff and faculty, and prepares students for the workforce.

Ms. Sattler has over 20 years experience in proprietary education. She served as Vice President of Finance and Campus Operations for American InterContinental University in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia. 

When asked about her role, she said, “I am extremely excited about leading Brown Mackie College – Atlanta because of its history of educational excellence and continued commitment to providing higher education to its students. Brown Mackie College – Atlanta is filled with devoted students and dedicated faculty and staff.  It’s an honor to be a part of the present and future plans and developments at the school.”

William Brittain, Jr. is the President of Brown Mackie College – Phoenix. Prior to joining the school, he served as Executive Director, Los Angeles Campus of West Coast University, and Campus President, Universal Technical Institute.

Brittain is in has five years of leadership experience in the higher education industry and has more than 15 years of domestic and international experience across multiple business sectors coupled with process improvement. He is an accomplished professional who provides vision and strategy with a determined passion for fulfilling that vision and implementing the strategy expeditiously. He sees his role as a valued partner, recognizing that his customer is his student, his faculty and staff, and his community.

Bill holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He also holds Six Sigma Black Belt certification.

Bill and his wife, Angelina, have six children, and four horses (Yes, they are part of the family!).

Terri Leap, President of Brown Mackie College – St. Louis, has over 15 years experience in higher education leadership. Prior to her appointment as president of the St. Louis school, Leap served as Dean of Academic Affairs at Brown Mackie College – Indianapolis where she supervised academic departments; new program development; and the recruitment, hiring, and training of new faculty.

Before joining Brown Mackie College – Indianapolis, Leap served as Campus Director for the Virginia School of Massage in Charlottesville, VA; Director of Education at Sanford-Brown College in Hazelwood, MO; and President of Allied College in Fenton, MO.

Leap holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Eastern Illinois University and a Doctor of Chiropractic from the Logan College of Chiropractic.

Denise Choquette is president of Brown Mackie College – Tulsa.  Prior to joining Brown Mackie College – Tulsa, Choquette served as Director of Graduate Placement at Spartan College of Aeronautics in Tulsa.  In this position, Choquette planned career fairs, coordinated campus interviews, conducted resume and interview skills workshops, and recommended key business individuals as candidates for the college’s program advisory committee.  She also served as Director of Student Services and Housing Manager at the college, and held accounting and business positions at the Tulsa Housing Authority, and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority in Boston.

Choquette earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Bentley College and an Associate of Science in Business Administration from Hudson Valley Community College.

Jim Bishop is the President of Brown Mackie College — Fort Wayne. He previously served as Dean of Academic Affairs for the college. In his role, Jim provides leadership and support to faculty and staff, and helps prepare students for the workforce.

A native of northern Indiana, Jim earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana and an MBA from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

He has more than 12 years of experience in senior administration in higher education. Prior to joining Brown Mackie College — Fort Wayne, he served as Vice President, Extended Studies Division with Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech) and was instrumental in developing the graduate division of that university.

Jim is happily married with two young children and enjoys spending his spare time with his family; fishing, golfing and reading books are among their favorite pastimes.

Sheryl Elston is the President of Brown Mackie College — Merrillville.  She has served in this capacity since August, 2007.  Prior to that, for three years, Sheryl served as President of Brown Mackie College — Michigan City (Indiana).

Sheryl has been involved in proprietary education for over 15 years. She served as an instructor and as Director of Admissions at The College of Court Reporting in Hobart, Indiana.  She joined Brown Mackie College — Merrillville in 1996 and served as Director of Admissions until she was promoted in 2004 to President of Brown Mackie College — Merrillville.

Sheryl is an active member of the Indiana Association of Private Career Schools.  She has also served in the capacity of an evaluator, specializing in court reporting for the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).

Louise Stienkeoway has been appointed President of Brown Mackie College — South Bend. In her new role, Louise will provide leadership and support to the school’s staff and faculty and continue to prepare students for the workforce.

Louise has over has over 15 years executive management experience in proprietary education. Most recently, she served as President, Everest University (formerly Florida Metropolitan University). Louise also served over three years as a Regional Vice President with Florida Metropolitan University.

Ms. Stienkeoway earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Management from Warner Southern College and Masters in Business Administration from Northwest Nazarene University.

When asked about her new role, Louise stated, “I am extremely excited about working for Brown Mackie College because of their long history of educational excellence and continued commitment to providing practical education to its students.  “Brown Mackie College — South Bend is filled with devoted students and dedicated faculty and staff.  I am honored to be a part of the present and future plans and developments at the South Bend campus.”

Rick Murphree was appointed as President of Brown Mackie College — Boise in August 2008. In his role, Rick provides leadership and support to the school's staff and faculty and prepares students for the workforce.

Mr. Murphree has over five years of executive management experience in proprietary education. He served as Director of Operations for Santa Barbara Business College in Santa Barbara, CA.  At the college he managed campus directors who supervised faculty and staff.
He also spent ten years in the U.S. Army, serving as a Chief Operations Officer. 

Mr. Murphree earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and M.B.A. in Business Administration, from the University of LaVerne in Ventura, CA.

When asked about his role, Rick stated, "I am extremely excited about working for Brown Mackie College-Boise because of their long history of educational excellence and continued commitment to providing practical education to its students.  "Brown Mackie College — Boise is filled with devoted students and dedicated faculty and staff.  I am honored to be a part of the present and future plans and developments at the Boise campus."

Tod Gibbs moved from Florida to join Brown Mackie College ? Akron in September 2008. He brings more than 22 years of experience, having served in every role in education, from instructor to admissions officer to COO. He has held senior management positions in higher education since 1998. With a desire to lead BMC ? Akron to the next level in educational success, Gibbs takes pride in helping students follow their dreams. "I am impressed and proud of the fact that Brown Mackie College staff and faculty can offer resources to help students with most anything," he said. He is currently working on an MBA with Central Michigan University, and also works as a personal trainer on weekends, specializing in senior citizen fitness. Hiking with his two dogs is a favorite pastime.

Holly Helscher is president of Brown Mackie College – Tucson. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring that a quality education is offered to Tucson students that results in their ability to pursue career opportunities that meet with the student’s definition of success.

Helscher has a decade of experience in private career education, beginning with Brown Mackie College – Cincinnati as an adjunct instructor. She was promoted to Dean of Academic Affairs before becoming its Campus Director. She was appointed President of Brown Mackie College – Louisville in 2005, and has been President of Brown Mackie College – Tucson since 2007. 

Prior to joining Brown Mackie College, she served nearly eight years in an executive director role in the assisted and skilled living industry in Cincinnati, Ohio.  In that position, she was responsible for the day-to-day operations of a residential living facility.  While in Cincinnati, Helscher also served as director of operations for an emergency shelter for homeless women and children. She says her unforgettable experience there played a strong factor in her decision to change careers and enter the education industry. 

She was also very involved in Women Writing for (a) Change, active as a writer and a producer for the organization’s radio broadcast.   Helscher believes very much in the ethics and integrity taught by neighborhood sporting organizations and has served her community as an ice hockey coach and as a soccer coach.  She was also the president of the Wyoming (Ohio) Soccer Association for many years.

Helscher earned a Master of Arts in Community Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in English Literature from the University of Cincinnati. She is active in the community, working to build relationships that will allow Brown Mackie College – Tucson to become a college of choice when employers seek out new graduates for employment opportunities. She is most notability a member of the Chief’s Steering Committee of the Tucson Police Department. 

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Helscher currently resides in Tucson, Arizona.