Chip has spent 25 years in education as a program developer, technologist, funder, and policy advocate where his focus has been turning emerging technologies into impactful services. As a funder, he has advocated for and enabled numerous programs focused on technology enabled education and alternative pathways.  At Duke University, he spent a decade as a senior technologist and Innovation Architect, building one of the largest and most recognized programs of its kind in higher education and earned a listing among the Top 50 by Newsweek Magazine. He frequently collaborates with innovators, entrepreneurs, and funders and has been involved in developing numerous products, services, publications, and inventions. Chip also co-founded Construct3D—a company focused on professional development and the national dialogue around Innovation Centers.  Through this outlet, he is a frequent speaker on Industry 4.0, educational technologies and pedogogical paradigm shifts. His current focus is on next-generation digital credentials, microlearning and pathways, which combine to guide learners on their career journey in ways never before possible. He has worked on implementing these technologies and pushed for the development of a $15 million fund to support these programs. 

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Taylor Gibson has served as the Dean of Data Science and Interdisciplinary Initiatives since 2022. In this role he helps develop new data science and interdisciplinary coursework and collaborates with faculty from all departments to deliver these new opportunities to students across all of NCSSM’s campuses and programs. Previously Taylor was a member of the mathematics faculty from 2013 to 2022, serving as the Dean of Mathematics from 2018 to 2022. In the Mathematics Department he helped create new courses in cryptography and data science and piloted a new standards-based grading approach to assessment. Taylor holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a master’s degree in mathematics education from the University of Georgia.

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Chad Keister is a Pennsylvania native, but a Tar Heel at heart. Chad is passionate about teaching, collaborating with colleagues, and working with students on projects related to creativity and innovation. As a member of the humanities faculty, he has taught a variety of residential courses including AP Economics, Contemporary Challenges in Economics, International Relations, Introduction to Entrepreneurship, and Applications in Entrepreneurship. Through NCSSM’s Distance Education and Extended Programs, Chad has taught International Relations, Western Political Thought, and AP Economics. He also developed the Mini-Term course Walden Redux or How I Learned to Love Life More, Screen-Less. Before NCSSM, Chad was a faculty member of Enloe Magnet High School. While at Enloe, he served as department chair and taught IB Theory of Knowledge, AP Economics, AP US Government and Politics, and various other social science courses. Prior to teaching, Chad was a social worker in Pittsburgh helping people transition from welfare to work. He holds a BA in political science from the University of Pittsburgh and an MS in education from Duquesne University. Chad is a serious Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

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Joe Colopy is a technology entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with a strong commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) area. In 2002, Joe co-founded Bronto Software in Durham, NC, and as its CEO, grew the company to over 300 employees before its acquisition by Oracle. His success at Bronto earned him recognition as a Triangle Business Journal 40 Under 40 winner and a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Carolinas.

After Bronto, Joe launched several ventures, including GrepBeat, an outlet focused on the Triangle tech community; Jurassic Capital, an investment firm for regional software companies; and Primordial Ventures, supporting early-stage startups in the Triangle.

Joe’s philanthropy includes a significant contribution to the North Carolina School of Science and Math (NCSSM), establishing an Entrepreneurship Program to inspire and equip future innovators. His efforts are part of a broader commitment to growing RTP as a global hub for technology and entrepreneurship.

Earlier in his career, Joe worked at Red Hat and served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Harvard University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Originally from Akron, Ohio, Joe now lives in Durham with his wife, four children, and a lively mix of chickens. 

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