Dr. Jose da Silva

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Jose da Silva, Ph.D., is the Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success at Southwest Tennessee Community College, in Memphis, TN. Previously, Dr. da Silva served as Interim Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at Southwest Tennessee Community College, as well as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at the University of North Texas at Dallas, in Dallas, TX. Dr. da Silva earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration from University of North Texas with an emphasis on community college leadership; a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Florida State University; and an Associate of Arts from Tallahassee Community College.

Dr. da Silva’s leadership experience spans multiple colleges and universities across Washington, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and Tennessee. In his current and previous roles, Dr. da Silva immersed himself in his community by serving as a Board member of his community’s Chamber of Commerce, as a United Way Foundation Board Member, and as a Board Member of the local Economic Development Corporation. Academically, Dr. da Silva has published book reviews, a novel about community colleges, and taught community college courses. 

Dr. da Silva and his wife, Jill, consider themselves to be a higher education family as she too works in higher education finance. They have three sons, Tiago, Mateo, and Leo.

Dr. Cliff Davis

Wednesday, Oct. 28

Cliff Davis has served as an administrator at the Ozarks Technical Community College System since 2004. He currently serves as President of the Ozarks Tech Richwood Valley Campus. Previously, Davis served as President of the Ozarks Tech Table Rock Campus. He also served as Vice Chancellor for Advancement, Student Affairs, and Strategic Planning, concurrently serving as Executive Director of the Ozarks Tech Foundation.
 
Prior to joining Ozarks Tech, Davis served as Assistant to the President and Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs at Missouri State University. He has taught undergraduate courses in communication and marketing at Missouri State University, Drury University, and Ozarks Tech, as well as master's- and doctoral-level courses in higher education administration at Lindenwood University.
 
From 2014 to 2015, Davis served as chair of the Presidents and Chancellors Council for the Missouri Community College Association. He was also appointed by the Commissioner of the Missouri Department of Higher Education to assist in developing the state's coordinated plan for higher education. Davis currently serves on the CoxHealth System Advisory Board and Chair the Ozark Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He previously served on the Branson Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. In 2026, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognized Davis with the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, the society's highest honor for community college presidents.
 
Davis holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Lindenwood University. His dissertation research focused on the changing role of the community college presidency. He also earned a Master of Arts in Communication and a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Missouri State University.

Dr. Caron Daugherty

Thursday, Oct. 29

Dr. Caron L. Daugherty began her tenure as Flint Hills Technical College’s seventh president in July 2021. Dr. Daugherty has 33 years of diverse higher education experience, including roles that span student affairs, academic affairs, and administration. These positions include those as an academic advisor, a faculty member, a director of grants and an honors program, and a dean. In executive positions, she has served as a vice president of instruction and as a vice-chancellor of instruction. Starting her career with Missouri State University, her introduction to the community-technical college landscape was as an adjunct faculty and part-time testing support staff with Ozarks Technical Community College in the late 1990s. This experience launched her professional transition from the university to the student-centered, service-oriented landscape of the 2-year sector in 2002.
 
Dr. Daugherty is a commissioner on the Commission on the Future of Work (formerly the Economic and Workforce Development Commission) with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). With the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), she serves on the Institutional Actions Council (IAC), and since 2014, she has been an HLC Peer Reviewer with significant service as a Peer Review Chair. Recognitions include National Academic Advising Association Outstanding Advisor and Moraine Park (WI) Association of Career & Technical Education (MPACTE) Administrator of the Year.
 
Dr. Daugherty received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Missouri State University, her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri, and an Executive Leadership Certificate from Cornell University.