MEET THE DEMAND FOR HIGHLY SKILLED CYBERPROFESSIONALS

Executive Director, National Partnerships
Email: karmen.spear@purdueglobal.edu
Phone: 717-377-0251

Karmen Spear is a strategic, results-oriented leader who works closely with our corporate and community partners as executive director, national partnerships. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Purdue Global (formerly Kaplan University), graduating summa cum laude, and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Leadership and Management with a concentration in human resources. With a keen understanding of gainful employment and career services, Karmen is able to offer our corporate partners a student’s viewpoint as well as that of a senior manager in corporate America. Focused on leadership, mentoring, and providing options for traditional and nontraditional students, Karmen understands how to drive change and embrace transformation in business.

Karmen previously served as vice president of operations with Citi and Costco, and as a senior manager and leadership specialist for organizations such as American Express and MasterCard. She has also worked extensively in higher education with Kaplan Test Prep, supporting the admissions process and career services.

Executive Director, Regional Partnerships
Email: chris.motz@purdueglobal.edu
Phone: 301-739-2680

As executive director for strategic regional partnerships, Chris Motz leads the effort to bridge the skill gaps that corporate and community organizations have identified as areas of great need. Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Huntington College, a Master of Divinity from Huntington College Graduate School of Christian Ministries, and a Master of Arts in Higher Education from Ball State University. Chris is also a graduate of the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and is currently enrolled in the Executive Juris Doctor program at Concord Law School of Purdue University Global.

In previous roles, Chris served as president of Hagerstown Business College, Kaplan College, and as an area president for Kaplan University. His combined experience in higher education and multilevel education environments enables him to drive strategy and partnership development that leads to positive growth outcomes for both the organization and the individuals who make it happen.

Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships
Email: mcote@purdueglobal.edu

As executive director, strategic partnerships, Matt Cote leads the effort to provide educational solutions to the corporate business community and community college systems in the northeast region of the United States. Over the past decade, Matt has served in various positions in higher education, including admissions and operations, and most recently served as a campus president for the Purdue Global (formerly Kaplan University) Augusta, Maine, campus. His passion for higher education and workforce development drives him to meet the unique business needs of each client across all industries.  

Matt is very active in the communities across New England and serves as a board member of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Organizational Studies from the University of Southern Maine, and his Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.

National Director, Strategic Partnerships
Email: robert.elz@purdueglobal.edu
Phone: 202-930-5004

As national director, Robert Elz leads the institution’s efforts to transform how U.S. organizations address critical skills gaps in IT, cybersecurity, and data analytics on a national scale. Robert earned his Bachelor of Science in Business from Columbia College and both his Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) from Keller Graduate School of Management. He is currently working on his post-graduate certification in cybersecurity from Purdue Global, as well as a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management.

Robert previously served as senior vice president at Apollo Education Group and University of Phoenix, where he led the overall strategy for academic partnership efforts with the world’s largest employers. His team also led the creation of Phoenix Career Services, connecting over 1 million students and alumni to career opportunities and resources. Prior to joining Apollo, Robert was director of ecommerce at UPS and vice president of digital strategy for Schlumberger, the world’s largest oil services firm.