Speakers
Paul Knopp
KPMG LLP
February 14, 2025
Friday Plenary Speaker
Paul Knopp is Chair and Chief Executive Officer at KPMG LLP – one of the world’s leading professional services firms, providing innovative business solutions and audit, tax, and advisory services to many of the world’s largest and most prestigious organizations. He also serves as Chair of the Americas region and is a member of both KPMG’s Global Board and Executive Committee.
Leading more than 36,000 partners and professionals across the United States, Paul is further strengthening KPMG’s inclusive and values-driven culture. He has extensive experience serving large, multinational clients in a wide variety of complex industries and is recognized for his commitment to excellence and quality and for leading KPMG teams with ethics and integrity.
Paul joined KPMG’s San Antonio office in 1983. Paul has also served in KPMG’s New York, Norfolk, Stamford, Chicago, and St. Louis offices.
Prior to becoming Chair and CEO, Paul’s career as an audit partner focused on serving leading global companies in the manufacturing, life sciences, transportation, professional services, and technology industries. He served as the global lead audit engagement partner and Engagement Quality Control Review Partner for KPMG audits of numerous Fortune 500 companies.
He was elected to serve a five-year term on KPMG’s U.S. Board of Directors in 2012 and served as Lead Director of the Board of Directors.
In recognition of his professional accomplishments, Paul has received numerous accolades including Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People, the National Association of Corporate Directors’ 100 most influential leaders in the boardroom, and Glassdoor’s list of Top CEOs.
Additionally, he lends his time and expertise to many civic and charitable organizations. He is Chair of the Governing Board for the Center for Audit Quality as well as a board member of Catalyst, Partnership for New York City and Project Healthy Minds. Paul also serves on the Development Board of The University of Texas at Austin and on the Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee of The University of Texas System.
He holds B.B.A. and M.B.A degrees from The University of Texas at Austin; is a licensed CPA in New York and Texas; and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Kenneth P. Ruscio
Washington and Lee University
February 14, 2025
Friday Lunch Speaker
Kenneth P. Ruscio is President Emeritus of Washington and Lee University, where he served as President from 2006-2016. Previously he held faculty and administrative positions at W&L and was Dean of the University of Richmond’s Jepson School of Leadership Studies from 2002-2006. From 2017-2018, he was President of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges and Senior Distinguished Lecturer at the Jepson School from 2019-2023. He received his MPA and Ph.D. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and honorary doctorates from Roanoke and Hampden-Sydney Colleges. His writing and teaching have focused on democracy, leadership, and public policy. He has served on several boards, including as chair of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. He currently serves on the Boards of Skidmore College in New York and the Collegiate School in Richmond, as well as the Advisory Board of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.
Gonzalo Tudela
EXAMIND AI
February 15, 2025
Saturday Plenary Speaker
Gonzalo Tudela is a renowned speaker and the founder of EXAMIND AI, a learning platform that helps professors save time and improve learning outcomes. Driven by a passion for addressing the challenges in higher education, Gonzalo brings a wealth of AI experience and innovative thinking to the industry. His insights have been featured in prominent media outlets such as The Globe and Mail, Entrepreneur Magazine, TechCrunch, and CBC. .