Leadership That Moves Education Forward.

Edgar Montalvo serves as NWSC's Vice President of Finance & Budgeting and is also faculty in the Department of Mathematics & Finance.

He received his MBA from the University of Chicago and a master's degree in civil engineering from Norwich University.

Mr. Montalvo has served in various capacities, including Economic Officer and Military Liaison for the U.S. Army and Department of State, as well as Program Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

With years of experience as a financial officer, Mr. Montalvo also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer at Kirkuk Global.

Dr. Debra Gurney serves as Dean of Academic & Student Affairs at Northwest Suburban College, where she provides leadership for academic quality, curriculum development, faculty oversight and student outcomes.

She brings more than a decade of senior leadership experience in nursing and health sciences education across Illinois. Her previous roles include Associate Dean and Professor in the School of Nursing at Aurora University, Founding Director of the MSN Program and Associate Professor of Nursing at North Central College, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences and Director of Nursing at the College of DuPage, Assistant Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Founding Executive Director of the BSN Program at Dominican University, and Executive Director of Nursing Programs at City Colleges of Chicago.

Dr. Gurney holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education from Northern Illinois University and also teaches in the Health Sciences department, reinforcing her commitment to academically engaged leadership and student success.

Ms. Shazia Ilyas serves as the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at Northwest Suburban College, where she oversees academic operations, student services, institutional compliance and accreditation initiatives.

She works collaboratively with faculty, staff and leadership to support student success and institutional effectiveness.

Ms. Ilyas holds a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Harvard University and brings more than 15 years of experience in higher education administration, program development, academic coordination, student support services and regulatory compliance.

Her professional background includes serving as Academic Dean and working as an Academic Consultant, providing educational consulting services in institutional planning, program development and oversight, accreditation preparation, policy implementation and continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Dr. Gayathree Raman has a master's degree in medical laboratory technology and a PhD in molecular biology.

She has more than five years of experience at NWSC serving in various administrative roles and assisting Program Directors, Faculty and Externship Coordinators with regard to externships, advising, student affairs, accreditation, career placement services, and institutional and financial aid.

Mr. Andy Berger is a higher education and enrollment management professional with senior leadership experience in admissions, recruitment and institutional strategy.

He holds a master's degree in Higher Education Leadership and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

During his tenure at Robert Morris University, Andy served in progressive leadership roles including Vice President of Admissions & Recruitment, Dean of Admissions and Director of Admissions. In these roles, he led multi-campus enrollment operations, managed large marketing and scholarship budgets, increased undergraduate and graduate enrollment, and built strong partnerships with school districts and community organizations.

His leadership is marked by data-driven decision-making, collaborative partnership development and a strong commitment to student success.