July 8-10, 2025 The Westin Washington, DC Downtown Hotel
The MCEC Global Training Summit (GTS) is the premier professional development opportunity for those who serve and support the educational needs of military- and veteran-connected children. This year’s theme is Tools of the Trade – Technology’s Impact on Education.
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Master Class:
Student-Led Transition Programs-Changing Life Trajectories
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Colonel (Ret) Eric M. Flake, M.D.
MCEC Board Vice Chair and MCEC Science Board Co-Chair
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Colonel (Ret) Eric M. Flake, M.D.
Colonel (Ret) Eric M. Flake, M.D., is a team member of Olympia Pediatrics, the largest independent pediatric group in Thurston County, Washington. He is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and created the Developmental-Behavioral Family Readiness Center for the DoD. Dr. Flake is faculty of the only Department of Defense (DoD) Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Tacoma, Washington, and founded the only DoD Autism Center — JBLM Center for Autism Resource, Education and Services (CARES). He attended the military medical school (USUHS), graduating in 2001.
Dr. Flake has published numerous articles and presentations regarding childhood resilience, autism and the psychosocial effects of deployment on children. He is an Associate Professor at the Uniformed Services University and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington, currently serves in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and serves on the science advisory board for the Military Child Education Coalition.
Leanne K. Knobloch, PH.D.
MCEC Science Board Co-Chair
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Leanne K. Knobloch, PH.D.
Leanne K. Knobloch(Ph.D., University of Wisconsin – Madison) is a professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois and co-chair of the Science Advisory Board of the Military Child Education Coalition. Her research examines how military families communicate across the deployment cycle. Her scholarship has been honored by the Golden Anniversary Monograph Award from the National Communication Association and the Biennial Article Award from the International Association for Relationship Research. Her research on military and Veteran families has been funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Institute (PCORI). She was recently named a University Scholar, which is the highest honor bestowed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recognizing outstanding research, teaching, and public engagement. She is a fellow of the International Association for Relationship Research and the International Communication Association.
School-based, peer-to-peer transition programs leave a lasting impact on all who participate, from newly enrolled students to withdrawn students, to student leaders themselves. Using MCEC’s Student 2 Student® (S2S™) program as an example, this master class will explore how student-led programs foster lifelong learning and leadership skills as realized in new findings from the 2025 S2S Alumni Study. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear first-hand from a featured panel of alumni about how their S2S experiences impacted their personal, academic, and professional journey and their successes beyond high school.
Collaborative Sessions:
Student-Led Transition Programs “Lunch & Learn”
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Enjoy lunch and some “food for thought” as you continue the morning’s dialogue in these facilitated discussion sessions (to include an intimate Q&A format with current S2S students and members of the alumni panel). In a small group setting, explore key takeaways from the previous master class through the eyes and ears of others to gain a deeper understanding of how peer-to-peer, student-led programs such as S2S can shape leadership skills, resilience, and student success for years to come.
