Jeff Dess is an author of five books and serves as the Director of Leadership and Engagement at New Jersey City University. Lenny is a professor within the business departments at multiple institutions, with an MBA.

Both men have traveled nationwide and abroad as public speakers, educators, and co-founders of their Leadership Institute, Trill or Not Trill which focuses on culturally responsive leadership and student development.

With just over 20 years of combined experience in Higher Education, Lenny and Jeff have dedicated their careers towards changing lives and disrupting success. They have spoken to over 30,000 students at colleges, universities, conferences, barbershops, pizzerias and more. Between the two of them, they have appeared on CBS, Fox 5 New York, The Boston Globe, Ebony Magazine, Black Enterprise, The Root, and Hot 97. From working with, consulting and presenting for the NFL, TEDX, Twitter, Buzzfeed, NASPA, NCSL, and The NSLS, these two have continually pushed the envelope when it comes to impacting all those they meet.

Now we must say, Lenny is a Chicago Bulls Fan and Jeff continues to painfully root for the New York Knicks but for some reason they are still great friends and colleagues who are dedicated to changing the world of higher education and beyond. Their forthcoming book, “I  Wear Kicks to Work” creates a blueprint and develops strategies towards becoming more effective as culturally responsive educators and leaders.