Dan Okoli is the Chief Architect and Director of Capital Planning and Development at University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he is responsible for guiding the sustainable development of the campus to achieve greater architectural coherence, and building bridges with many stakeholders to ensure more effective project delivery. Prior to his current position, he held senior facilities leadership positions at the Ohio State University, and Pace University’s downtown campus and three campuses in Westchester County, New York.
With over 20 years as a campus leader, he has developed a reputation for collaboration across campus and beyond, providing strong strategic leadership to diverse crossfunctional teams, leading change and managing transitions. Dan is committed to creating and maintaining physical campus environments that promote learning in and out of the classroom. He holds graduate degrees from the Ohio State University and Colorado State University, and a combined honors undergraduate degree in Structural Engineering and Architecture from the University of Aston in
Birmingham, England.
Special Assistant to VP for Finance and Administration
Interim Director, Capital Planning and Development
With 30 years of experience at Oregon State University, Anita began her career in 1986 as an Assistant Professor of Horticulture. She became a Full
Professor in 1997 and then subsequently served as the Department Head of
Horticulture from 2003-2012. She provided leadership for a statewide program in teaching, research and Extension that consisted of approximately 45 faculty members, over 20 research assistants/associates,
35-45 graduate students and more than 200 undergraduate students.
Additionally, she was responsible for providing oversight of 250 acres of local research farms. Anita was recognized for her leadership skills with the
College of Agricultural Sciences Roy Arnold Leadership Award, Women’s
Leadership Through Science Award, and Award for Excellence in Organic Policy Leadership.
In 2012, she joined the Graduate School as the Associate Dean. In September 2015, Anita was asked to provide leadership and management of the Capital Planning and Development unit in the Division of
Finance and Administration as the Special Assistant to the VP. She has leadership and management responsibility for planning, design, development and construction of over 160 projects totaling in excess of $425M, 2-yr capital and 10-yr capital forecast planning, space management, leasing and real estate, land use planning, the office of sustainability and administrative services. Additionally, she is a co-

steward with her husband of their 200-acre farm and has over 20 years of experience in a family owned general contractor and finish carpentry business.
Ed Soltero is the Assistant Vice-President, University Architect at Arizona
State University. His varied career includes the management of multifunctional teams in both private sector firms and institutions, business development, project management, strategic leadership and customer service. Ed has developed an exceptional background in architecture and construction project management during the course of his 31 years of professional experience.
Ed has a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the University of Houston and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso.
He also earned a Masters of Architecture degree at Newschool of
Architecture and Design in San Diego. He is currently a doctoral student at Arizona State University. His dissertation topic focuses on developing a framework for “Desert-Adapted Modernism.” He recently served as a juror for the American Institute of Architects National Design Awards. Ed has also served on several design juries, boards of the Texas Society of Architects, namely the Design Awards Committee, and the Publications Committee. He previously chaired both the Codes and Standards and the
International Practice committees for the same professional organization. Ed continues to serve as a contributing editor to Texas Architect magazine and the “Shape of Texas” radio show. He is also the past-president of the American Institute of Architects, El Paso Chapter, and served as a State Director representing the same chapter. He is a LEED Accredited Professional since October 2008. Ed also serves as a member of the Joint Review Committee for the City of Tempe, Arizona. Ed leads the charge on integrating sustainability initiatives on all capital improvement projects at ASU. He is currently involved in the development a new Student Pavilion which is slated to be ASU’s first Net Zero facility.
Ed has received several design excellence awards for architecture projects he designed while in private practice. He was also recently elevated to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects. His personal interests include travel and photography in China, Europe, India, Japan, Mexico, Morrocco,
Nepal, South America, Thailand, Tibet and Turkey. He is a student of Indian Classical music and has embarked on a life time journey of learning the poetry of playing sitar.