J. Garvey Pyke, Ed.D. (IELOL Alumni 2010; IELOL Co‑Director 2018, 2023-2024; Faculty 2019-2023)

Garvey Pyke is the Executive Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning in the School of Professional Studies at UNC Charlotte. He leads the Center in providing and supporting enterprise-level academic technologies and faculty professional development programs regarding high-quality instruction, scholarly teaching, and online and distance learning. He has served as the Chair of the University of North Carolina Faculty Developers Consortium, a statewide group for all seventeen member campuses of the UNC system, to build strategic partnerships among multiple campuses. In addition, he has served on the steering committee for OLC Innovate and as track chair for OLC Accelerate and has presented multiple times at these and other conferences.

As an educator for more than 20 years, Dr. Pyke enjoys collaborating with faculty members and staff to design and develop programs that impact faculty satisfaction and lead to student success. His work involves the practical application of research methods and instructional systems design methods to various instructional projects at the UNC Charlotte, and he is an affiliate member of the Graduate School and has taught at the university and K12 levels. He holds a doctorate in education in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Pepperdine University, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Tulane University. He also completed the OLC Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) in 2010 and the EDUCAUSE Learning Technology Leadership Institute in 2013.

Amanda Major (IELOL Alumni 2015; IELOL Faculty 2019-2023; IELOL Co-Director 2019-2020)

Amanda Major, EdD, CPLP, PMP is an organizational development and project management specialist in higher education digital learning with the University of Central Florida. Amanda has experience delivering results in a variety of learner-focused and client-oriented environments, spanning instructional design, faculty and professional development, online program management provider partnership, and special initiatives to enhance digital learning.

She holds a Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institution (PMI) and a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance certification from the Association for Talent Development (ATD) as well as certificates from the Online Learning Consortium and Quality Matters. Her academic credentials include an EdD in educational leadership, policy, and law; an MA in industrial-organizational psychology; and a BA in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in social psychological issues. She is currently completing courses toward an MBA. Actively involved in the digital learning profession, she has presented at national and international conferences and has peer-reviewed publications.

Karen Pedersen (IELOL Faculty 2015-2023)

Dr. Karen L. Pedersen, Ph.D., is currently the Dean for Global Campus at Kansas State University. She has a long history of serving in various digital learning leadership positions at both public and private higher education institutions. Prior to joining KSU, Karen worked as the Chief Knowledge Officer for the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) where she served as a thought leader and fostered initiatives related to learning innovation, quality enhancement, leadership development, and institutional transformation. She has expertise in leading award-winning online and off-campus units, expanding partnerships, engaging cross-institutional academic operations, and pursuing integrated marketing solutions to realize significant enrollment growth and retention outcomes. Other experiences include serving on the launch team for both a competency-based education initiative and a micro-credential initiative, leading a system-wide enrollment management transformation, and building academic collaborations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brazil.

Prior to starting her administrative career, Pedersen served as a faculty member at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oklahoma State University.

Luke Dowden (IELOL Alumni 2010; IELOL Faculty 2019 – 2020, 2023)

Dr. Luke Dowden is the Chief Online Learning Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs in the Alamo Colleges District. Through Alamo Colleges Online, he leads and supports capacity-building initiatives at all five colleges so each may gain a greater market share of online learners in their respective service areas. He was named to the Online Learning Consortium 2022 Class of Fellows.

He joined the Quality Matters Board of Directors in 2021, serves on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Learning Technology Advisory Committee, and is a member of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) Council for Credential Innovation Leadership. He has been honored four consecutive years by either the Emerging Leaders Program as a Trusted Leader (2019, 2020) or by Alamo Colleges Academy for Leadership Success (ALAS) as an Essential Leader (2021, 2022). This year, he was selected as one of three recipients of the new Excellence in Leadership Practice Award from the 2022 Emerging Leaders Class. He is a past Steering Committee and Executive Council Chair for the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET). Prior to joining Alamo Colleges Online, Dr. Dowden founded the Office of Distance Learning at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2010 and served as its Director for 8 years. Under Dowden’s leadership, the Office of Distance Learning earned the 2013 Online Learning Consortium’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Development for Online Teaching. Dowden was honored in 2014 as the inaugural recipient of the Online Learning Consortium Bruce N. Chaloux Award for Early Career Excellence in Online Education. Dowden’s other significant leadership achievements include the creation of an electronic course design and certification process, facilitating the development and delivery of 13 new online degree programs, and the creation of a suite of instructional technology tools for online course delivery.

Prior to joining UL Lafayette, Dowden founded the Division of Accelerated Learning at Bossier Parish Community College. He led the efforts to create 6 online, accelerated degree programs with wrap-around student support services. During this time, the Louisiana Board of Regents tabbed him to found the Center for Adult Learning in Louisiana. As Executive Director of CALL from 2008-2013, he worked primarily with 6 community colleges and regional universities to create and launch over 18 accelerated online degree programs, introduce prior learning assessment policies and strategies, and coordinate marketing the programs statewide to the over 500,000 adults with some college and no degree.

Dowden earned a bachelor’s in History and a master’s degree in Adult Education from Northwestern State University before earning his Doctorate of Education in higher education administration in 2009 (Nova Southeastern University). He is a 2010 Graduate of the Penn State and Online Learning Consortium Institute for Emerging Leaders in Online Learning (IELOL).

Brian Beatty (IELOL Faculty 2021-2023)

Dr. Brian Beatty is Professor of Instructional Design and Technology in the Department of Equity, Leadership Studies and Instructional Technologies at San Francisco State University. Brian’s primary areas of interest and research include social interaction in online learning, flipped classroom implementation, and developing instructional design theory for Hybrid-Flexible (HyFlex) learning environments. At SFSU, Dr. Beatty pioneered the development and evaluation of the HyFlex course design model for blended learning environments, implementing a “student-directed-hybrid” approach to better support student learning.

Previously (2012 – 2020), Brian was Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Operations at San Francisco State University (SFSU), overseeing the Academic Technology unit and coordinating the use of technology in the academic programs across the university. He worked closely with IT professionals and leaders in other units to coordinate overall information technology strategic management at SFSU. Prior to 2012, Brian was Associate Professor and Chair of the Instructional Technologies department in the Graduate College of Education at SFSU.

Brian received his Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University Bloomington in 2002. Dr. Beatty also holds several CA single-subject teaching credentials, an M.A. in Instructional Technologies from SF State and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University. Dr. Beatty has more than 35 years’ experience as a classroom teacher, trainer, and instructional designer at schools, businesses, and the US Navy.

Cristi Ford (IELOL Alumni 2012; IELOL Faculty 2018, 2022-2023)

Dr. Cristi Ford serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at D2L. She brings more than 20 years of cumulative experience in higher education, secondary education, project management, program evaluation, training, and student services to her role. In this role, she offers thought leadership and direction to the academic affairs unit of the organization. Her previous roles have allowed her to have impact in education from secondary and higher education settings as well as the on the international landscape. Her reach has allowed her to focus on building online education in the US and African continent.

In addition to her experience building new online learning programs and research related to teaching and learning in the online environment, Dr. Ford possesses significant experience in the design and delivery of integrated educational support, training, and transition services for young adults and children with neurodevelopment disabilities.

Dr. Ford was selected by the Online Learning Consortium, as the 2022 OLC Fellow which is the highest professional distinction offered by the association. She is a tireless advocate for quality online education where she has leveraged her passion and expertise in many realms in the education space. She is known for utilizing her leadership in extraordinary ways to help institutions build capacity to launch and expand online programming through effective faculty development, instructional design and pedagogical practices.

Dr. Ford holds a PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in the field of Psychology from Hampton University and University of Baltimore, respectively.

Renee Pilbeam (IELOL Alumni 2021; IELOL Co-Director 2022; IELOL Faculty 2023)

Dr. Renee Pilbeam (she/her) serves as the Director of Learning Initiatives with EdPlus at Arizona State University. She began her career in 2012 as an instructional designer working with faculty to develop enriching and engaging online learning experiences. In her 7 years of instructional design work, she was also afforded the opportunity to work on projects like the Global Freshman Academy (earning a president’s award for innovation) and the PLuS Alliance (including a 6 month secondment to the University of New South Wales) where she was able to expand her skills and experience in a variety of global contexts.

Additional past roles of Renee’s have included Assistant Director, Professional Development & Training where she managed the professional development and training efforts to support faculty that are teaching online as well as a Manager of Special Projects and Strategic Initiatives. In each of these roles she has learned the deep value of developing relationships, the importance of caring for one another, that joy and human connection are essential, and that equity and inclusion must be central to all that we do.

Renee also maintains a vested interest and focus on advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work in higher education. In 2021 she received the Chair’s Award from the Committee for Campus Inclusion for her work to integrate equity standards Into the course design process and expand professional development and learning opportunities for the instructional design community. She believes that education is a human right and that everyone who wants access to education should have it and then be supported in their success in completing that education. She also recognizes that simultaneously we must work to dismantle the systems of oppression that are deeply embedded in education and beyond.

Renee is a proud graduate of the 2021 IELOL program cohort and was honored to be able to serve as program co-director from the ASU side in 2022. Not only has IELOL significantly impacted her work and career trajectory, it has helped her build incredible connections with other passionate and committed online learning professionals (and amazing humans) around the country and world.

Renee holds a doctorate degree from Arizona State University in Educational Technology (2016) as well as a Masters in Education (Educational Computing and Technology concentration and certification) and a B.A.S. in exercise science, both from the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Peter van Leusen (IELOL Alumni 2019, IELOL Co-Director 2021-2022, IELOL Faculty 2022)

Peter van Leusen collaborates closely with academic departments and faculty on student success initiatives across diverse modalities and disciplines. His recent projects focused on collaborating on adaptive curriculum and courseware development, designing MOOCs in a foreign language, and spearheading innovative digital educational experiences for broad audiences. Peter is a proud IELOL 2019 graduate! Before joining ASU, Peter worked as the Assistant Director in the Office of Instructional Consulting in the School of Education at Indiana University and previously taught middle and high school German. Peter holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University, Bloomington. His research interests include Faculty Development, Instructional Technology, Instructional Design, and Innovative Teaching & Learning in face-to-face, hybrid, and online formats.

Jonathan Lashley (IELOL Alumni 2016, IELOL Global Alumni 2020, IELOL Global Curriculum Co-Author 2021, IELOL Faculty 2022)

Jonathan Lashley, Ph.D., is the outgoing Associate Chief Academic Officer for the Idaho State Board of Education and the incoming Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). Lashley has worked in a variety of faculty, staff, and leadership roles at colleges and universities across the United States. In Idaho, specifically, Lashley has coordinated statewide implementation of initiatives, policies, and pilots related to online education strategy, open educational practices, general education administration, and technology-enhanced teaching and learning. An equity-driven leader and vocal advocate of educational access as a human right, Lashley regularly advises institutional leaders on matters related to open and distributed learning: change management, faculty support, universal design, strategic planning, design-based research, and more.

Lashley earned a Ph.D. in Learning Sciences and an M.A. in Professional Communication from Clemson University. He earned his B.A. in Literature from Western Washington University. In addition to supporting both IELOL Stateside and IELOL Global, Lashley serves as faculty for the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Institute on Open Educational Resources (IOER), is a co-editor and -author of OER: A Field Guide for Academic Librarians, and regularly reviews for the International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning (IRRODL). His scholarship emphasizes intersections between rhetorical theory and design-based practices for promoting experimentation, scaling collaboration, and sustaining self-efficacy among educators.

Dr. Shubha G. Kashyap (IELOL Alumni 2012, IELOL Faculty 2020-2021)

Dr. Shubha G. Kashyap is a higher education and organization development professional with extensive experience in strategic planning, program development and delivery, online and professional education, and serving students from under-represented backgrounds. Currently, she is the Director of Online Learning Design & Innovation for the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. Previously, Dr. Kashyap has served at Penn State University as the Director of Academic Affairs for Graduate Business and Education programs for Penn State World Campus, and as an academic counselor for the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity.

Prior to that, she worked in academic affairs units for student-athletes at Michigan State University and Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Kashyap’s drive for increasing access to education is eminent throughout her career. She has successfully launched several online degree programs designed for adult learners, specializes in program development for diverse learners, manages small and large-scale strategic education initiatives, and is an advocate for first-generation college students and inclusive education practices.

Carl Moore (IELOL Alumni, 2015, IELOL Faculty, 2020-2021)

Dr. Carl Moore is currently the Vice President for Teaching and Learning at Howard Community College. He previously served as the Assistant Chief Academic Officer at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). He also serves as Certificate faculty in Temple University’s Teaching in Higher Education Certificate program, teaching faculty for USC’s Equity, and a workshop facilitator for the Online Learning Consortium. He is also frequently an invited speaker and consultant on inclusion, leadership, and faculty development, and teaching and learning related topics. He has a Doctorate in Urban Education from Temple University and a Masters of Arts from The Ohio State University in Higher Education Administration. His dissertation investigated how exemplary college faculty employ Universal Design for Learning principles in their teaching practices.

Carl has been teaching for over 15 years and has more than 20 years of experience in higher education. Along his path, he has served as maintained appointments across the faculty classification gamete serving in Instructional, Adjunct, and Tenure-Track faculty roles. He has also created and instructed a variety of courses in education at The Ohio State University, Temple University, Cabrini College, and Arcadia University in both face-to-face and online formats. For the past several years Carl has dedicated his career to advancing the field of faculty development. He has done so by serving as a Department Chair at UDC, Assistant Director of the Teaching and Learning Center at Temple University, and Co-Chair of the POD Network Conference. Alongside his career in academic affairs, Carl has also served in a number of student services leadership roles charged with enhancing student success. These roles entailed work in advising, retention, multicultural affairs, and TRIO programs. As a self-described “techie” and advocate for mission alignment the sum of Carl’s passions lie leveraging technology to enhance student outcomes at the course and institutional levels.

Wayne Anderson (IELOL Faculty 2021, IELOL Co-Director 2021)

Wayne Anderson has led institutional change projects at large and small universities, including Arizona State and Penn State universities, focusing on learner experience and student success. During his tenure, he has helped architect emerging educational models, including pathway programs for learners at various developmental stages like ASU Earned Admissions, personalized education solutions, 21st Century benefits solutions with Uber, informal learning content on YouTube, blended learning with Mayo Medical School, high school curriculum with ASU Digital Preparatory School, and unique programs on Coursera and EdX. Curiosity, collaboration, and outcomes drive Wayne’s approach to steer projects from concept to reality, with an acute focus on opportunities and business impact.

Angela Gunder (IELOL Faculty 2020)

Angela Gunder is OLC’s Vice President of Learning. Angela is responsible for gathering, curating, and leveraging the intellectual capital created by and disseminated through OLC. Her over fifteen-year career as a designer for higher education informs her leadership and design practices, where she leverages her expertise in instructional design, andragogy, web design, usability, visual communication, programming, and standards-based online learning.

Prior to her position at the OLC, Angela served as the Director of Instructional Design & Curriculum Development for the Office of Digital Learning, managing and mentoring the team that builds the fully-online programs for The University of Arizona. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science and Fine Art from Fordham University, an M.Ed. in Education Technology from Arizona State University, and is completing her Ph.D. in Teaching, Learning and Sociocultural Studies at The University of Arizona.

Russ Poulin (IELOL Faculty 2019 – 2020)

Russ Poulin is Vice President of Technology-enhanced Education for WICHE and Executive Director of WCET for WCET. The WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies is a national organization focused on the practice, policy, and advocacy of technology-enhanced learning in higher education. Russ directs WCET’s state and national policy efforts, research activities, and supports efforts to improve the practices of multi-institution consortia. Russ represented the distance education community on national committees, comments on policy issues, and edits the WCET Frontiers blog. Russ received a bachelor’s from the University of Colorado Denver and a master’s from the University of Northern Colorado. He is also partial to movies, cats, and his wife, Laurie.

Elizabeth (Liz) Ciabocchi, Ed.D (IELOL Alumni 2010, IELOL Faculty 2017, 2019)

Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Ciabocchi currently serves as associate provost for academic affairs at Adelphi University. In this role, she oversees all curricular offerings, working closely with each of the University’s deans, faculty and administrative offices to implement, manage and revise the curriculum, including interdisciplinary offerings. She also serves as the primary Adelphi University liaison with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), the New York State Education Department and the U.S. Department of Education.

With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Liz most recently served as vice provost for digital learning and executive director of online learning and services at St. John’s University, where she led academic initiatives to develop digital learning strategies for programs offered in fully online and hybrid formats. Prior to her time at St. John’s, she served in various roles at Long Island University, such as associate vice president for online learning, and also in areas including instructional technology, academic planning and academic affairs. She previously worked at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and the New York College of Health Professions.

Author of two book chapters, Liz has published peer-reviewed journal articles and has presented her research on leadership and e-learning in higher education and other topics at dozens of conferences. Her teaching experience includes graduate-level courses in St. John’s University’s School of Education and undergraduate courses and graduate thesis supervision at the New York College of Health Professions. She has been extensively involved in committees and evaluation teams for Middle States reaccreditation and has held board and committee positions with the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), which named her a fellow in 2015.

Liz earned her EdD in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University; a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Scranton. She holds certifications from the OLC in Online Teaching and Leadership in Online Learning.

Meg Benke (IELOL Faculty 2009-2010, Co-director 2014-2016

Meg Benke, Ph.D., is a professor and academic coordinator of Empire State College’s graduate programs in adult learning and emerging technologies. Dr. Benke has had an extensive administrative career at Empire State College, serving as dean of the Center for Distance Learning, vice provost, provost and acting president.
In 2015 Dr. Benke was selected as a research Fulbright Scholar and joined the Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland. Dr. Benke was named to the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame for lifetime achievements in adult and online education. Dr. Benke was recognized for the Most Outstanding Achievement in Online Learning by an Individual, by Sloan-C, a national consortium for distance learning providers in 2007. In 2010, Benke was honored by the board of directors of the Sloan Consortium, by being named to its inaugural class of Sloan-C Fellows, for her extraordinary qualifications, significant experience, distinguished service and leadership in the field of online learning. Shortly thereafter, she was named president of the board of directors of Sloan-C where she served for three years.

Dr. Benke also serves as a commissioner for the Middle States Association for Higher Education, and participated as a commissioner for the National Commission on Inter-state Regulation of Distance Education. See also serves as a member of New York State’s Regents evaluation committee for academic programs.

Dr. Benke presentations and publications focus on adult learning, online education, prior learning assessment and progressive education. She recently co-authored a book, Leading the E-Learning Transformation of Higher Education and had a chapter published in an Educause e-book, Game Changers in Higher Education.

Mark Brown (Guest Lecturer 2012-2013, IELOL Faculty 2014-2016)

David Cillay (IELOL Faculty 2016, Co‑director 2017 – 2018)

David R. Cillay is the Vice President,Washington State University Academic Outreach and Innovation. As part of his role, he oversees WSU’s Global Campus (online degree program), Summer Session, and Academic Media Services. Dr. Cillay is responsible for online and external credit program implementation and delivery. Dr. Cillay is nationally known as an expert in the field of elearning. He has been published in journals and textbooks, and has presented at national and international conferences. He also instructed and managed a graduate program in instructional design. Dr. Cillay’s academic background includes faculty appointments at Washington State University and University of Idaho.

Cynthia Golden (IELOL Faculty 2011-2013)

Cynthia Golden served on the faculty for the Sloan-C IELOL from 2011 through 2013, and was honored to be part of it.

She is the director of the Center for Instructional Development & Distance Education at the University of Pittsburgh, where she is responsible for leading online learning, teaching support, instructional technology, measurement and evaluation of teaching, and other academic support services. She serves as a member of the Provost’s Advisory Council on Instructional Excellence, as a member of the Provost’s Information Technology Advisory Committee, and on other university committees and campus and professional working groups.

Prior to joining Pitt, Cynthia was Vice President of EDUCAUSE, where she led professional development activities as well as the association’s content and knowledge management initiatives. Before joining EDUCAUSE in late 2001, she served as Executive Director of Computing and Technology Services at Duquesne University, where she had been the CIO since 1998. Previously, Cynthia was manager of business applications in the Information Systems division at MIT, where she also coordinated administrative computing architecture. She was Associate Director of Administrative Systems at Carnegie Mellon University before joining MIT.

Currently, she directs the Senior Leadership Roundtable at EDUCAUSE, and serves as a faculty member in the association’s New IT Mangers program. She is a frequent presenter at conferences, and author of numerous articles as well as author and editor of the book Cultivating Careers: Professional Development for Campus IT. She served on the Board of Directors of the IMS Global Learning Consortium, the Seminars on Academic Computing, the Northeast Regional Computing Consortium and CAUSE; participated on national conference program committees; and served as a member of many professional association committees over a twenty-year period.

Laurie Hillstock (IELOL Faculty 2015 – 2018, Co‑director 2018)

Laurie G. Hillstock has been a faculty member and administrator in higher education for over 15years. Most of her experiences have been in the distance learning arena, focusing on strategic planning (i.e., organizational structure, policy, accreditation, and funding models), technology integration, faculty and curriculum development, and student success. In addition, she has taught a number of credit-bearing courses in the online, hybrid, and web-enhanced learning environments. She has also administered and/or taught with a variety of LMS systems including Blackboard, Canvas, e-Racer, Moodle, and Sakia.

Dr. Hillstock currently serves as a Consultant for the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). She is the developer and facilitator for both the OLC Leadership in Online Learning Mastery Series and the OLC Advanced Online Teaching Certificate Program. She is also a mentor for the basic OLC Teaching Certificate program as well as a content developer and workshop facilitator for other OLC workshops.

Kathleen S. Ives (IELOL Alumni 2011, IELOL Faculty 2012-2015)

Kathleen S. Ives, D.M., has worked in online technology for more than 20 years and serves as The Online Learning Consortium’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. Previously, Dr. Ives served as chief operating officer where she managed the organization’s operations as well as facilitated workshops in higher education online best practices. Formerly, Dr. Ives oversaw all forms of alternative instruction at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Massachusetts (distance learning, accelerated programming). She teaches in on-ground, online, and blended modalities for the University of Phoenix and Bay State College in Boston, Massachusetts. Additionally, she serves on the Massachusetts Department of Education Distance Learning Advisory Board.

Dr. Ives began her career at CBS and helped to develop the service that evolved into Prodigy. She then spent 14 years designing and implementing consumer online information services, first at AT&T and then at Verizon where she spearheaded the development of the nation’s first online Yellow Pages product, now called superpages.com. Dr. Ives has degrees in communication, communication management, and organizational leadership from the University of California at Davis, the University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication, and the University of Phoenix-Online, respectively.

Barbara Macaulay (IELOL Faculty 2009)

Dr. Barbara A. Macaulay currently serves as the Associate Provost for Online Education/CEO of MCPHS Online at MCPHS University, overseeing the development and implementation of online health care programs. In the time that she has been with MCPHS, the number of online programs has grown to 20 and enrollments have increased by 30%. Prior to joining MCPHS, Barbara spent some 28 years in the public higher education arena at both the community college and university levels, overseeing adult and continuing education endeavors; she last served in the position of Associate Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for UMassOnline.

Dr. Macaulay has taught graduate courses both in person and online in adult and continuing education at several colleges in Massachusetts, as well as at Teachers College/Columbia University in New York; she also served as a doctoral advisor for the AEGIS Program at Teachers College for several years. In addition to formal teaching, Dr. Macaulay has presented in several venues about online education, including Academic Impressions, UPCEA, and the Sloan Consortium.

In addition to earning an Ed.D. and MA at Teachers College, Dr. Macaulay holds an M.Ed. from Worcester State University and a B.S. from Springfield College. Her research interests are strongly tied to adult learning in various settings and venues; this area of interest/expertise connects well to online education in which adult learning practices must be carefully integrated into online program and course delivery, as well as in faculty preparation.

Tracy Mitrano (IELOL Faculty 2013-2014)

The Director of Information Technology Policy and Internet Culture, Policy and Law Program at Cornell University for twelve years, Dr. Tracy Mitrano has been a frequent speaker at conferences, colleges and universities on the subjects of “virtual global universities” and the creation of international inter-institutional courses; online education; digital literacy and undergraduate Internet competencies; social networking; electronic surveillance; policy development, organizational development and leadership programming; information management; privacy, security, compliance and risk management.

Dr. Mitrano sits on the Boards of the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Arts Education; New York State Board of Education, Task Force on Distance Education 2013; Tompkins County Library Board of Trustees and Broadband Committee of the Legislature. Previously, Dr. Mitrano has been a Director of the EDUCAUSE, Hawkins Leadership Roundtable, Board of Directors, (2006-2000, Treasurer 2007, Secretary 2008, Vice President 2009); Executive Leadership Program, Annual Institute (2003-2005). As faculty, Dr. Mitrano currently serves the Institute for Emerging Leaders in On-Line Education (of the Sloan Consortium) and has served Seminars on Academic Computing (2006); EDUCAUSE Executive Leadership Institute (2003-2005); Frye Leadership Institute, sponsored by the Council on Library and Information Resources and EDUCAUSE (2004-2008).

Since 2012, Dr. Mitrano has been the author of the Inside Higher Ed blog, “Law, Policy and IT?” Dr. Mitrano has English and History Bachelors of Arts degrees from the University of Rochester, Masters and Doctorate in American History from Binghamton University and a Juris Doctor degree from Cornell Law School. Before retiring from Cornell, Dr. Mitrano taught Computer Information Science and Social Policy, at Syracuse University American Legal History, and at the University of Buffalo American History.In 2005, she taught Internet Law at the MiNe Program, Universite Cattolica in Piacenza, Italy, has spoken at International Conference on Piracy and Counterfeiting sponsored by the U.S. Italy Embassy at the Consulate in Florence. In March of 2014 she will teach intellectual property at Ithaca College’s Executive Master’s Program, and in July, Internet Media at John Cabot University in Rome, Italy. Dr. Mitrano is currently also working for Internet 2 on its National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace.

Anymir Orellana (IELOL Faculty 2014)

Dr. Anymir Orellana is a program professor in instructional technology and distance education at the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education, Nova Southeastern University (NSU). She earned a Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology and Distance Education from NSU; a Master of Science in Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering from the University of Florida; and a Bachelor of Science in Informatics Engineering from Universidad Centroccidental “Lisandro Alvarado” (UCLA), Venezuela.

Dr. Orellana graduated cum laude from UCLA, Venezuela, and has received important academic awards among which are the 2011 IAP Distance Education Second Place Book Award for the co-edited book The perfect Online Course: Best Practices for Designing and Teaching, from the Association for Educational Communications and Technology; the Outstanding Applied Dissertation Award from NSU; the National Merit-Award for University Professors, from the National Committee for Merit Awards to Professors of Venezuelan Public Universities; and a scholarship from the Inter-American Development Bank to pursue graduate studies.

Since 2006 she has been teaching online doctoral courses in Spanish and English at NSU, in areas such as instructional media, instructional technology, distance education, system analysis and design, and instructional design. She serves as applied dissertation chair and committee member to doctoral students, in Spanish and English. From 1997 to 2005 she taught undergraduate courses in computer data structures and analysis of computer algorithms in the in the B.S. in Informatics Engineering at UCLA, and for several years she taught in the Masters in Information Systems at this university.

She is currently involved in the initiative “Quality Assurance Process for Online Education” to promote quality and improve the practice of online education in Latin America. This is a joint effort of the Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (CREAD), the Sloan Consortium, the Institute for Quality Distance Higher Education in Latin-America and the Caribbean (CALED), and NSU.

She is Assistant Editor of the refereed journals Quarterly Review of Distance Education and Distance Learning; a member of the review panel of the MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching; and a member of the review committee for Apertura journal in Spanish. In addition to research in the fields of online distance education and instructional technology, Dr. Orellana has experience in the analysis, design, and development of management information systems; database management systems; instructional media production; and instructional design.

Loyce Pailen (IELOL Faculty 2012)

Dr. Loyce Pailen, CISSP, Associate Provost, Office of Instructional Services and Support, University of Maryland University College. In this position, she provides broad administrative oversight and leadership for three units, Course Development, the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Center for Support of Instruction (CSI) – all crucial components of the institution’s broad strategic vision for delivering quality higher education to students worldwide.

Pailen earned a Doctor of Management from UMUC, with her doctoral research on “A Framework for Developing and Managing Information Technology Online Laboratories at Institutions of Higher Education” that culminated in the development of a useful tool for educators and instructional technologists as they contemplate the inclusion of virtual laboratories into the distance education environment. Her earlier career includes 20 years working at The Washington Post Company in various programming, management and directorial positions in information technology.

Lawrence C. Ragan (IELOL Co-director 2009-2017)

Dr. Lawrence Ragan serves as the Co-Director for the Center for Online Innovation in Learning at Penn State University where he helps direct the Center’s mission of research, scholarship, technology innovation, and leadership development programming. Dr. Ragan has been a part of the creation and management of Penn State’s World Campus since it’s inception in 1998. From 1995 through 2008 Dr. Ragan served as Director for Instructional Design where he provided leadership in the design, development, and delivery of courses via the World Campus. Since 2008, Dr. Ragan has lead the design and development of Outreach and Online Learning Faculty Development, which offers a range of professional development programming for World Campus and Penn State faculty preparing for online and continuing education teaching success.

Dr. Ragan served as the Co-Director of the Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) from 2009-2017. In partnership with the leadership at OLC, IELOL addresses the operational and strategic leadership on the design and development and preparation of the next-generation of leadership in online learning. Dr. Ragan has served in leadership roles as co-director and faculty of the EDUCAUSE Learning Technology Leadership program (2005-2007). He is also active in the design and delivery of international leadership development institutes. Dr. Ragan has taught online from 2001 through 2007 as an Affiliate Faculty in the College of Agriculture, and as part of the IELOL program. Dr. Ragan maintains research and publication activities focusing on a range of topics including the definition of competencies necessary for online teaching success, quality of instruction in online learning, and a framework for quality assurance in faculty development programming.

Ray Schroeder (IELOL Faculty 2009-2010)

Ray Schroeder is Associate Vice Chancellor for Online Learning at the University of Illinois Springfield and Director of the Center for Online Leadership and Strategy at the University Continuing and Professional Education Association (UPCEA). Schroeder has numerous national presentations and publications in online and technology-enhanced learning. Ray has published the popular Online Learning Update and Educational Technology blogs for the past decade. He was a Sloan Consortium Distinguished Scholar in Online Learning 2002-2003, recipient of the 2002 Sloan-C award for the “Most Outstanding Achievement in ALN by an Individual,” University of Southern Maine “Visiting Scholar in Online Learning” 2006-2009, and co-founder of the New Century Learning Consortium.

Ray was named the inaugural 2010 recipient of the Sloan Consortium’s highest Individual award – the A. Frank Mayadas Leadership Award. He received the 2011 University of Illinois Distinguished Service Award. Schroeder is an inaugural Sloan Consortium Fellow and the 2012 Innovation Fellow for Digital Learning by the UPCEA. https://sites.google.com/site/rayschroeder

Peter Shea (IELOL Guest Lecturer 2009)

Peter Shea, Ph.D., is currently Associate Provost for Online Learning with University at Albany, SUNY and provides leadership and strategy for online teaching and learning in collaboration with academic, administrative, and support units across the University. Dr. Shea joined the department of Educational Theory and Practice in Fall 2004 with a joint appointment with the Department of Informatics in the College of Computing and Information. His research focuses on technology-mediated teaching and learning in higher education. He is the author of numerous articles and several book chapters on the topic of online learning and co-author of “The Successful Distance Learning Student”. He is a co-recipient of several national awards including the EDUCAUSE Award for Systemic Progress in Teaching and Learning for the State University of New York, and Sloan Consortium Awards for Excellence in Faculty Development and Asynchronous Learning Networks Programs.

Dr. Shea has also been the recipient of significant external funding for his recent work. This includes three grants from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to research faculty and student experiences in complete online learning environments and support for the development of hybrid learning environments at the University at Albany. He is now principal investigator on a US Department of Education grant to research and develop an online system to support the teaching of Chinese to children in K-12 public schools.

Previously Dr. Shea was the Director of the SUNY Learning Network, the online education system for the 64 colleges of the State University of New York. Dr. Shea has also served as manager of the SUNY Teaching, Learning, and Technology Program and Project Director for SUNY’s participation in the Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT), an international collaboration for peer review of discipline-specific online learning resources. He is also a member of the USNY Technology Policy Council.

Andrew Shean (IELOL Alumni 2012, IELOL Faculty 2014-2017)

Dr. Andrew Shean, Chief Academic Learning Officer, Bridgepoint Education. Dr. Shean, previously the Vice Provost of Provost of Curriculum and Innovation at Ashford University, now leads the centralization of resources across all Bridgepoint universities to drive greater productivity related to learning resources in order to better position and deliver even HIGHER quality education through consistency of best practices in instructional design, innovative use of educational technology, and successful student outcomes.

Andrew joined the Ashford University team in 2011 as the Executive Dean of the College of Education. Dr. Shean was responsible for academic, curricular, and co-curricular policies, as well as the academic programs of the college. His duties included coordination of campus deans, chairpersons, and faculty in various academic environments, and interaction with accreditation agencies. He supported the University provost and president in the achievement of University goals. Before assuming the position of Executive Dean, Dr. Shean was an Associate Professor in Ashford’s College of Education and the Council Chair for Ashford’s Education Leadership and Technology program.

Prior to joining Ashford University, Dr. Shean was an Administrator in the Poway Unified School District, leading the district’s initiative to develop an online education program and being named Poway Unified School District Teacher of the Year. He has held faculty positions at Alliant International University, has taught at Chapman University and Palomar Community College, and was an Academic Dean at Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. He has been a keynote speaker at many educational presentations and conferences. Dr. Shean earned his Doctor of Educational Leadership and Management degree from Alliant International University. He holds an MA in Education and a BA in Sociology from the University of Northern Colorado.

Kaye Shelton (IELOL Faculty 2015)

Kaye Shelton, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership in the Center for Doctoral Studies in the College of Education at Lamar University. Previously as the Dean of Online Education for Dallas Baptist University, she led the development and ongoing operations of their online education programs with over 55 majors and degrees offered fully online. She is certified as an online instructor, teaching online since 1999, and also an online education consultant.

Dr. Shelton’s education includes an M.S. in Education emphasizing Online Teaching and Learning from California State University-East Bay and a PhD in Educational Leadership (Higher Education) from the University of Nebraska. Winner of the both the Blackboard and eLearning exemplary online course awards, she has published over 30 articles and book chapters in the field of online education, including a book entitled An Administrator’s Guide to Online Education. Dr. Shelton was also awarded a Sloan-C Effective Practice award for her research on the Quality Scorecard for the Administration of Online Education Programs, the John R Bourne award for Outstanding Achievement in Online Education and the NCPEA Morphet Dissertation award, Dr. Shelton has been involved with research in online education since 1997. She has spoken at numerous conferences and workshops and advised peer institutions regarding the creation of an online education program and the best practices for teaching online and faculty support. She has also served as an advisor regarding online education programs for several peer institutions.

Recently, Dr. Shelton has been involved in the international use of the Quality Scorecard for the Administration of Online Programs as it has been adopted by Mexico and Latin America. She is also an Online Learning Consortium Scorecard evaluator and teaches workshops regarding its implementation.

Support Staff

Jennifer Paloma Rafferty (IELOL Alumni 2014, IELOL Co-Director 2020-2021)

Jennifer Rafferty is the Director of Instructional Design for PresenceLearning. Prior to this role, Jennifer worked as the Director of the Institute for Professional Development at OLC, where she provided leadership in researching, scoping, managing, and evaluating a full range of professional development solutions for multiple audiences within the OLC Institute. She has worked for over 16 years supporting online learning initiatives in higher education and in the adult basic education system. Prior to OLC, Jennifer worked for over seven years as an instructional designer at Quinnipiac University Online in Hamden, Connecticut. During her time at Quinnipiac University, Jennifer was also responsible for spearheading the development of the first online Spanish course at the University. She continues to teach this specialized curriculum for the School of Nursing and presents both nationally and internationally on the topic of online foreign language instruction. Prior to working in higher education, Jennifer was the project manager for the Massachusetts Adult Basic Education Distance Learning Project. In this role, she collaborated with the Massachusetts Department of Education and Project IDEAL to research and identify best practices for distance learning programs serving adult GED and ESL students. Jennifer holds a Masters of Education in Instructional Design from UMASS Boston, a Masters of Arts in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an undergraduate degree in Romance Languages from Mount Holyoke College.