OUR STRATEGISTS
Strategic thinkers with decades of proven higher‑education leadership
At The Hardy Group, our strategists draw on decades of real-world experience to help institutions and organizations thrive with strategic, future‑focused solutions. From data fluency to AI ethics, we diagnose pain points and deliver tailored treatments that foster clarity, resilience, and innovation. We also draw on a wide, trusted network of seasoned colleagues—allowing us to bring in exactly the expertise you need, when you need it.
Explore the minds shaping our strategic framework—and discover how we can shape yours.
Darcy Hardy, PhD, is a nationally recognized leader who brings more than three decades of experience helping institutions navigate complexity, strengthen academic and operational systems, and build sustainable, high‑quality digital learning environments.
Her work is grounded in a deep understanding of how the learning ecosystem influences every part of an institution—from governance and policy to faculty development, student experience, and long‑term institutional health. Her expertise spans strategy and vision, governance, quality oversight, organizational design, and the development of scalable online learning practices.
For client institutions, she supports leaders in making informed decisions, aligning stakeholders, and building systems that endure. Her work empowers institutions to move forward with confidence, clarity, and a renewed sense of possibility.
Darcy W. Hardy, PhD
Founder & Chief Strategist
Rob Robinson, PhD, is a highly skilled technologist, strategist, and trainer who brings a rare blend of analytical depth and human‑centered leadership to The Hardy Group. He excels at quickly interpreting complex data and translating it into clear insights that drive institutional decision‑making.
His work leverages artificial intelligence and machine‑learning–driven analytics to help organizations identify opportunities, strengthen operations, and implement effective change management initiatives at scale. He is known for building consensus around strategic plans and new initiatives—often through training and learning development experiences that bring faculty, staff, administrators, and stakeholders into alignment.
For client institutions, Rob brings a rare combination of analytical depth, technological fluency, and human‑centered leadership.
Rob Robinson, PhD
Senior Strategist & COO
With 27 years of hands-on experience spanning public, private, non-profit, and for-profit higher education, Dr. Lisa Clark brings a rare depth and breadth of institutional knowledge to every engagement. Her career encompasses both faculty roles and senior leadership positions, including Dean of Online Programs and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, giving her firsthand insight into the challenges institutions face at every level.
For the past seven years, she has applied that experience as a sought-after consultant to institutions across the US, leading high-stakes engagements in strategic planning, assessment, accreditation, change management, and eLearning strategy and planning. Her work helps institutions navigate complexity with confidence, drawing on decades of real-world implementation rather than theory alone.
Lisa's expertise is further recognized through long-standing national roles. She has facilitated workshops for Quality Matters since 2010 and has served as a Peer Reviewer Team Chair for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 2015, a testament to the trust her peers place in her judgment and standards.
Lisa Clark, PhD
Strategist
Karen Yoshino, PhD, has decades of experience in higher education, regional accreditation, and standardized testing. Combined with her expertise in higher education leadership, she is a unique resource for our clients.
Her areas of expertise include competency-based education program design, outcomes assessment planning and design, online program strategy, and analytics for program improvement.
Her work in competency-based education includes public and private higher education, corporate, and government clients.
For client institutions, Karen helps them harness the power of AI to support curriculum design and assessment, and understand how a competency framework can increase the clarity and lower the stress of teaching, learning, and assessment.
Karen Yoshino, PhD
Strategist, Accreditation & Testing
Barbara Van Gorder is a seasoned marketing and communications strategist with deep expertise in content development, brand storytelling, and audience engagement.
With more than two years supporting The Hardy Group’s marketing strategy and services, she brings a sharp understanding of how to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with higher‑education leaders.
Barbara E. Van Gorder
Strategist, Marketing