President
Paula Peinovich, PhD
Dr. Peinovich brings 35 years of outstanding leadership of higher education to the College. Long a champion of serving the underserved in higher education, Dr. Peinovich has devoted her career to meeting the needs of working adults. She began her career as an officer of AFT Local 243 in Madison, Wisconsin, where she championed and successfully won a fight for women’s rights on the job. Over her career she has focused on developing learner-centered, innovative programs delivered at a distance and in an online environment, as Academic Vice President at Excelsior College and most recently as President of Walden University. She is extremely well-positioned to lead NLC through its exciting expansion with new programs and improved accessibility to education for all union members.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, is the past president of the Association for Continuing Higher Education, a Fulbright Scholar, and a frequent presenter and writer on distance education, accreditation and assessment. She received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison, and a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.
Phone: 301-431-5401
Executive Assistant to the President
Laura Barrantes, MA
Laura joined the College in August 2011 and brings with her over 10 years working in higher education. Laura has worked in student affairs at the University of Maryland, College Park, the University of California, Irvine, American University, and most recently, at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. She holds a BA in Government from Cornell University and an MA in College Student Personnel from the University of Maryland.
Phone: 301-431-5401
Fax: 301-628-4861
Email: [email protected]
Registrar
Jeff Bria, MBA
Since 2006, Jeff has been the CEO of Bria Consulting. In addition to independent consulting, he has held positions as an Executive Director of Students Services and University Registrar for Walden University; Director of Partner Relations and Business Integration Manager for iSeek Solutions; Associate Director of Academic and Student Affairs for the College of Visual Arts; Registrar and Director of Academic Advising for the College of Visual Arts. He began his career as an Assistant Registrar at Northern Michigan University. Jeff holds a BA in Public Administration and Education from Northern Michigan University and his MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
Phone: 301-431-5410
Email: [email protected]
Director of Financial Aid
D Denny, PhD
Dr. Denny joined National Labor College in May 2013 as Director of Financial Aid with more than 35 years of administrative experience in student financial assistance. She earned her doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, her master’s from The Ohio State University, and her bachelor’s from Marietta College.
Phone: 301-628-4253
Email: [email protected]
Vice President for Government Relations, General Counsel, and Director of Human Resources
James Gentile, JD
James has taught classes for the University of Baltimore, Montgomery College, and NLC. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Government from Georgetown University and a JD from Catholic University.
Phone: 301-431-5454.
Email: [email protected]
Provost, Dean of Labor Studies, and Professor of History
Daniel Katz, PhD
Daniel Katz is Provost of the College. He joined NLC in January 2012 as Dean of the School of Labor Studies and interim Dean of the School of Professional Studies. He was an Associate Professor of History at the State University of New York, Empire State College, where he was also chair of the Master of Arts in Policy Studies program. He earned his PhD in history at Rutgers University. His book, All Together Different: Yiddish Socialists, Garment Workers, and the Labor Roots of Multiculturalism was published in November 2011 by New York University Press and has been reissued in paperback in July 2013. He is also co-editor of an anthology from the New Press called Labor Rising: The Past and Future of Working People in America. He is a contributing editor of Labor: Studies in Working-Class History of the Americas, the official journal of the Labor and Working-Class History Association (LAWCHA). Provost Katz has been an organizer and union representative with the Service Employees International Union, the United Auto Workers, the American Federation of Teachers, and Doctors Council of New York City.
Phone: 301-431-5402
E-mail: [email protected]
Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Bruce A. Pankey, MBA
As the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at NLC, Bruce has responsibility for financial strategy, planning and operations. Bruce comes to NLC from George Washington University where he served as Director for Finance. He has more than 25 years of hands-on experience in finance, accounting, budget management, contract administration as well as strategic planning, systems technology design and implementation. He holds a BS in Business Administration from Olivet Nazarene University and an MBA in Finance from Averett University.
Phone: 301-431-5427
E-mail: [email protected]
Vice President for Operations
Beth Shannon, MS
Beth has been with NLC since December 2002. Prior to joining NLC, she worked for the AFL-CIO International Affairs Department, including two years working on education and training programs in Asia. She holds a BS in Architecture from The Catholic University of America and a MS in Organization Development from American University.
Phone: 301-431-5413
Email: [email protected]
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Director of Advising 
Julie Mendez-deLeon, MA
Julie Ann has worked at the college since 1997. As a faculty member, she developed and taught courses in labor arts and education, instructional methodology, prior learning assessment (PLA) and adult student success. She also served as Director of Academic Advising where she designed and administered the online orientation and advising courses for new and returning students. She holds an MA in Education from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she also completed her undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Phone: 301-431-5426
Email: [email protected]
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Director of Advising