About
Our People
At Athos, our strength lies in our people. We are a collective of driven, principled individuals united by a commitment to excellence, integrity, and purpose. Grounded in classical inspiration and modern strategy, our team brings together diverse talents and shared values to build lasting impact.
Chad Thevenot
Founder & Lead Consultant
Chad is a strategic education and nonprofit leader with over two decades of experience advancing mission-driven organizations. Most recently, Chad was the SVP for Advancement at the University of Austin (UATX). He also served as the Executive Director of the Institute for Humane Studies, where he championed academic freedom and classical liberal ideas. Known for his thoughtful leadership and collaborative approach, Chad brings deep expertise in strategy, philanthropy, and public engagement.
Asra Nadeem
Advisor
Asra is the CEO of DraperU and a Partner at DraperU Ventures, where she invests in frontier tech companies across AI, aerospace, defense, and critical infrastructure. A pioneer in global startup ecosystems, she has led investments in over 57 companies—including three unicorns—and collaborates with 60+ governments to drive innovation and job creation. Asra is also a sought-after speaker and advocate for free markets, free speech, and generational entrepreneurship.
Ryan Ruffaner
Organizational Development Specialist
Ryan Ruffaner is an organizational development specialist with 10+ years of experience optimizing organizational performance through data-driven systems and evidence-based practices. He specializes in change management, professional development, and talent strategy, partnering with leaders to drive measurable growth and lasting results. His writing has appeared in Quillette, FAIR, and other publications.
Kéyah Doering
Operations Consultant
Kéyah is a development and operations professional passionate about advancing mission-driven organizations. As a graduate of The King’s College NYC, Kéyah has a deep appreciation for the transformative power of a truly excellent education. She helped build the University of Austin (UATX)’s development infrastructure as its first non-leadership hire.
Dr. Pano Kanelos
Founding Partner
Dr. Kanelos is a nationally recognized academic leader and innovator in higher education who advises institutions on growth and transformation. He previously founded and led the University of Austin and served as President of St. John’s College, advancing intellectual pluralism, open inquiry, and institutional innovation. He received the Courage in Education Award from the Steamboat Institute and the Hero of Intellectual Freedom Award from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.
Gerry O’Sullivan
Senior Advisor for Accreditation & Compliance
Dr. O’Sullivan brings over 30 years of experience in independent higher education, having served in a variety of roles from faculty member to provost to consultant. He has extensive experience in accreditation, having authored key reports and served in roles such as visitor, team chair, and consultant to state and federal agencies. He has led start-ups, mergers, and new program development, with expertise in budgeting and compliance. His writing has appeared in Change: The Magazine of Higher Education, among other publications.
Will Harwood
Strategic Advisor
Will Harwood is an internationally experienced communications and public affairs leader with over 15 years of experience advising global brands and organizations in high-growth, high-change environments.
He has built and led high-performing communications functions, most notably as Head of Communications and Public Affairs at Lidl US, where he drove more than $500 million in positive earned media and served on the executive team. Will brings deep expertise in media relations, crisis communications, and strategic storytelling to help organizations navigate complex challenges and elevate impact.
June Arunga
Strategic Advisor
June is a legally trained strategist and systems builder with experience across infrastructure, technology, media, and civic-sector initiatives. She advises leaders navigating complex institutional environments, especially where the mandate is still forming, stakeholders are not yet aligned, and strategy must quickly become executable. She supports Athos clients on landscape analysis, roadmap development, stakeholder coordination, and implementation planning.
Mary Miller
Strategic Advisor
Mary Miller is the Principal of Consortio Advising, a premier philanthropy and non-profit consulting firm that partners with visionary individuals and organizations to drive transformational, systems-level change across the country.
She has raised millions of dollars for leading national organizations, launched donor-led philanthropic projects that have grown into thriving non-profits, and built an elite national network of subject matter experts, philanthropists, executives, and coalitions. With deep expertise spanning public policy, criminal justice reform, K-12 and higher education, Mary brings both the strategic vision and the relationships to turn ambitious philanthropic goals into lasting, meaningful change.