Lisburn Academic Advisory Council
The Lisburn Academic Advisory Council (LAAC) brings together distinguished academic leaders from across law, finance, communications, and higher education administration to help shape the strategic direction of Lisburn University. Drawing on decades of combined professional and academic experience, the Council ensures that Lisburn University continues to operate at the forefront of global higher education.
Lisburn University's Panel
The Lisburn Academic Advisory Council’s role is to advise the President directly on matters of institutional strategy, regulatory compliance, policy development, and academic excellence. Lisburn University draws on the insight of this group of accomplished academic and professional leaders who understand both the traditions that anchor credible higher education and the innovation required to remain competitive within it.
LAAC Mission
The Council’s mission centres on five interconnected priorities: upholding academic excellence across every faculty, strengthening quality assurance and accreditation standards, building meaningful global academic partnerships, supporting the University’s sustainable institutional growth, and advising on the innovation and technology decisions that shape the modern learning experience.
Our Panel Members
As Vice President for Student Affairs at Lisburn University, Sophia Martinez leads efforts to support student success, campus engagement, and the overall student experience. She joined Lisburn University after earning her MA in Communications, and previously served as Director of Freshman and Transfer Programs, where she helped shape the university’s approach to student transitions and retention. Sophia holds both a BA and MA in Communications from Lisburn University and has dedicated much of her career to advancing student affairs within the College.
Contacts:
Sophia Martinez
Vice President, Student Affairs
Michael Ashworth oversees Lisburn University’s professional and executive training programs, drawing on a career spanning consulting and higher education leadership. He specializes in designing career-oriented curricula for working professionals.
Contacts:
Michael Ashworth
Head of Executive Education
Aaliyah Jackson joined the Lisburn University faculty in 2002 and received tenure in 2007. Before joining the faculty, she was a visiting assistant professor at Syracuse University College of Law. Prior to that, she worked as a legal consultant at JPMorgan Chase, a contract attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, and an assistant prosecutor for the Ministry of the Attorney General in Toronto, Canada.
Contacts:
Aaliyah Jackson
Acting Vice President for Finance
Aiko Tanaka specializes in international curriculum design and cross-cultural learning frameworks. Her research supports the university’s global partnerships and student exchange programs.
Contacts:
Aiko Tanaka
Associate Professor of Global Education
Olivia Carter was a member of the faculty at Texas Tech University School of Law, where she held the Alvin R. Allison Distinguished Professorship and received every teaching award the law school and the university conferred. She was the Distinguished Fulbright Professor of American Constitutional Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Greece in 1992. She now serves as Acting Vice President of Administration at Lisburn University.
Contacts:
Olivia Carter
Acting Vice President of Administration
Thabo Nkosi is a senior lecturer whose work centers on global governance and cross-border policy. He has contributed to numerous academic publications and regularly represents the university at international education forums.
Contacts:
Thabo Nkosi
Senior Lecturer, International Relations
Everything You Need to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
As Vice President for Student Affairs at Lisburn University, Sophia Martinez leads efforts to support student success, campus engagement, and the overall student experience. She joined Lisburn University after earning her MA in Communications, and previously served as Director of Freshman and Transfer Programs, where she helped shape the university’s approach to student transitions and retention. Sophia holds both a BA and MA in Communications from Lisburn University and has dedicated much of her career to advancing student affairs within the College.
Contacts:
Harriet Erickson
Vice President, Student Affairs
David Miller was named Senior Advisor to the President in May 2018. An expert in corporate law, he teaches a wide range of courses at Lisburn University, including Contracts, Sales, Closely Held Business Organizations, Publicly Traded Corporations, Mergers & Acquisitions, International Law, and International Securities Regulation.
Contacts:
Wesley Clarke
Senior Advisor to the President
Aaliyah Jackson joined the Lisburn University faculty in 2002 and received tenure in 2007. Before joining the faculty, she was a visiting assistant professor at Syracuse University College of Law. Prior to that, she worked as a legal consultant at JPMorgan Chase, a contract attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, and an assistant prosecutor for the Ministry of the Attorney General in Toronto, Canada.
Contacts:
Betty Bowman
Acting Vice President for Finance
With over four decades of law teaching experience, David Chen is a nationally recognized constitutionalist at Lisburn University. He has received numerous awards for his teaching, including the first-ever Pioneer Award for his commitment and dedication to students from the FIU Student Bar Association in 2004. Since then, students have voted him “Professor of the Year” multiple times.
Contacts:
Johnny Jones
Dean, Diversity and Compliance
Olivia Carter was a member of the faculty at Texas Tech University School of Law, where she held the Alvin R. Allison Distinguished Professorship and received every teaching award the law school and the university conferred. She was the Distinguished Fulbright Professor of American Constitutional Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Greece in 1992. She now serves as Acting Vice President of Administration at Lisburn University.
Contacts:
Dennis Ruiz
Acting Vice President of Administration
Darius Johnson first joined Lisburn University in 2006 as Assistant Dean for Academic Support Programs. He served as Assistant Dean until 2013, when he became a full-time lecturer at the College. He teaches classes relating to legal theory and reasoning, race and law, gender and law, and commercial transactions.
Contacts:
Vernon Lowe
Assistant Vice President for Communications