Regarded as one of the nation’s preeminent lawyers for institutions of higher education, as well as large corporations and organizations facing issues related to the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, Ishan is a go-to lawyer for universities, companies, and organizations facing their most difficult challenges. He is a Co-Chair of the firm’s Education Practice, a leader of its Technology Practice, and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. In his TED Talk, viewed more than 1.4 million times, he discusses how organizations can foster productive and responsible debate while protecting free speech. His work has been featured in numerous publications including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune.

Large institutions and companies turn to Ishan when they face complex challenges with significant financial, operational, or reputational consequences. He specializes in commercial, constitutional, and regulatory law and has successfully litigated cases in numerous state and federal courts, including the US Supreme Court. He has substantial arbitration experience and also represents his clients before administrative agencies and in government investigations. Ishan frequently advises public company boards on critical issues of ethical and regulatory risk, including most recently the risks companies face as a result of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Through the firm’s CLE Relay, Ishan and Lauren Hartz provide clients with the latest legal developments since the Court ruled in SFFA that race-conscious admission policies are unconstitutional. In 2023, they presented DEI Programs: Risks and Strategies in a Changing Legal Landscape."

 In 2024, they will offer a retrospective that describes the landscape one year after the SFFA decision Ishan’s clients include leading educational institutions and major technology companies. Ishan has counseled numerous colleges and universities on issues ranging from free speech and admissions to athletics, Title IX, and research funding. He has represented various institutions in large-scale class actions with multibillion-dollar potential liability and is also a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). Likewise, Ishan has advised and defended technology companies on free speech issues, commercial litigation, and government investigations. He regularly consults on how disruptive technologies will be assessed under existing regulatory structures.

 Ishan is a member of the Legal Advisory Council for the McArthur Justice Initiative, the Legal Council for the President’s Alliance for Immigration and Education, and Law360’s Diversity and Inclusion Editorial Advisory Board. He was recognized by both Bloomberg Law and the National Law Journal as one of the 40 best lawyers under 40 in the United States. Prior to joining Jenner & Block, Ishan worked at the US Department of Justice and the Boston Consulting Group.

John is an Instructional Coach for the Hamilton County Educational Service Center, and he brings 25+ years of experience to the organization.  John has a proven track record for creating and implementing strategies to enhance the academic achievement of students.  John authored the article Teacher Diversity Starts with Belonging as published by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). John uses data visualization to translate data into actionable visual context thereby positioning key stakeholders to formulate action plans for the attainment of educational objectives and goals.

Prior to coming to Hamilton County Educational Service Center, John held the following positions: Principal, Associate Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean of Instruction, and Instructor. John specializes in providing oversight for school operations to include effectively working with the community to spearhead programs to prepare students for their futures. 

John and his wife Kerri are generous donors whose philanthropic giving focus on the development, mentorship and exposure for minority students. 

John has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Kansas State University and a Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University. John holds various certifications, and he serves on numerous community committees and boards thereby fulfilling his civic duty to strengthen the community.

Shavonne Gordon graduated from the University of Virginia (UVA) with a BS in Systems Engineering. She started her career as a Computer Systems Analyst, working in manufacturing for 5 years before joining Capital One, where she worked for 21 years.  She spent much of her career in Technology and Operations before joining HR in 2014 to follow her passion for recruiting and supporting diverse talent. In June of 2022, Shavonne joined Morgan Stanley as the Global Head of Talent and Diversity for the Company and Infrastructure divisions, continuing to focus on the diversity work that is both her passion and purpose.  

In 2019, Shavonne was recognized by Savoy magazine as one of the Most Influential Women in Corporate America, and again in 2023 as one of the Most Influential Executives in Diversity and Inclusion. In 2020, Shavonne was appointed by the governor to the Board of Visitors for Virginia State University, an HBCU in VA, where she served until July 2024.  She currently sits on the board for the CALIBR Global Leadership Network, the Ridley Scholars Program, and the Advisory Board for the Ron Brown Scholars Program.  She resides in Glen Allen, VA with her 15-year-old daughter, Simone, and her 20-year-old daughter, Kennedy.

Maya Kobersy’s primary practice areas include affirmative action and diversity, election law, privacy, research and research misconduct, University logo issues, and in-state tuition guidelines for students. Maya is the OGC liaison to the Institutional Review Board-Health Sciences and Behavioral Sciences. She also serves on a number of University committees and is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys. She has presented at University, state, and national conferences on issues relating to diversity, human subjects research, election law, Title IX, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and employment compensation, among other topics.

Prior to joining the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel in 2005, Maya worked in the Education Group of Hogan & Hartson, L.L.P. (now Hogan Lovells), where she advised clients on numerous K-12, higher education, and civil rights issues. She received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she was an Executive Editor of the Harvard Law Review and a finalist and oralist in the Ames Moot Court Competition. In recognition of her work to help ensure that Americans with limited English proficiency have meaningful access to federal and federally funded programs, Maya received the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s Excellence in the Legal Profession Award in 2002 and the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium’s Distinguished Service Award in 2003.

Dr. Jessica Elmore, currently serving as the Senior Director of Cross-Cultural Learnings within CASE’s Opportunities and Inclusion Centerᵀᴹ (OIC), has made a profound impact in the field of educational advancement. In her role, she has been the driving force behind CASE’s first online DEIB course, "The Journey Starts with You: DEIB in Advancement," and has delivered tailored training programs through CASE@Campus. Jessica’s strategic vision has focused on developing training and content that upskills professionals, enhances job performance, and strengthens organizational culture, ultimately contributing to the growth of outreach and engagement with diverse alumni, donors, and stakeholders.

Before joining CASE, Jessica relocated from the Midwest, where she led community relationship building and engagement programming for diverse domestic and international alumni and students at the Kansas State University Alumni Association. Her accomplishments include raising over $600,000 from diverse donors and organizations, establishing a successful volunteer leaders board pipeline, and executing over 300 culturally affiliated events, earning national recognition and industry awards. Jessica also played a pivotal role as co-editor of the Association’s first diversity-devoted alumni magazine issue, and her ability to connect across campus entities led to successful collaborations with international programs, athletics, and campus administration.

With expertise in creating award-winning external programming and fostering relationships, Jessica is an interactive trainer and communicator. She excels in making complex concepts accessible and creating environments where individuals feel confident to navigate new spaces and contribute meaningfully. Her approach empowers participants to not only understand but also apply their knowledge in ways that drive real impact.