Retaining Women in Online Programs

Whitney Kilgore

Co-Founder and Chief Academic Officer, iDesign

Whitney Kilgore is co-founder and chief academic officer of iDesign, a partner to universities that wish to build, grow, and support online and blended course program offerings. iDesign provides concierge, white-glove instructional design support to faculty partners and ensure that faculty feel comfortable, informed, and in control throughout the process of creating online learning experiences for their students. Whitney is currently working on research related to care theory in online learning and the impact to practice of humanizing online teaching and learning. She resides in North Texas with her husband, their four children, two dogs, and a cat. They enjoy hiking, swimming, and wearing their masks.

Cali Morrison

Chief Instigator and Courageous Coach, Creative Synapse, LLC

@calimorrisonLinkedIn Profile

Cali M.K. Morrison is chief instigator and courageous coach at Creative Synapse, LLC. Previously Cali was interim dean, Center for Professional & Continuing Education and associate dean, alternative learning at American Public University System (APUS). She also served as assistant director, communications and analysis and project director of Transparency by Design at the WCET, where she studied adult learners and accountability. Her current interests include the future of learning, work, and credentials as well as competency-based education. Cali lives in Belgrade, MT with her four-legged officemates, homebuilder hubby, and daughters; she is active in the community, supporting the One Valley Community Foundation, Montana Science Center, and Thrive.

Patrice Torcivia Prusko

Director of Learning Design, Technology and Media, Harvard University

patrice_torcivia@gse.Harvard.edu

@profpatriceLinkedIn Profile

As director of learning design, technology and media within the Harvard Graduate School of Education Teaching and Learning Lab, Patrice Torcivia Prusko oversees the design, development, and project management of online and technology enhanced courses in the TLL portfolio. Most recently, her team led the design and development of the first fully online Master’s program at HGSE. Patrice’s research interests include the assessment of pedagogical practices in online learning, application of theory to practice, and cultivation of care. She is passionate about increasing global access to STEM education for all women and believes this will enable more communities across the globe to thrive and flourish.

Tanya Spilovoy

Director, Open Policy, WCET Staff 2016 - 2022

Tanya was the director of open policy at WCET where she led the National Consortium of Open Educational Resources (NCOER) initiative, which focuses on the policy, practice, and implementation of Open Educational Resources in compact regions, states, systems, and higher education institutions. She and her team conducted research, shared best practices, and initiated efforts to ensure all students have equitable access to low-cost, openly licensed, high-quality learning materials. As director, she collaborated with the regional compacts (MHEC, WICHE, NEBHE, and SREB) to implement open educational resources in states and systems across the nation.

Tanya joined the team in 2016 and previously served as the director for distance education and state authorization for the North Dakota University System. Her continual commitment to the field is evidenced by her engagement in multiple capacities, from co-authoring two national reports to co-creating and teaching at the SPARC Open Educational Leadership Program. She was also presented the 2020 MHEC Outstanding Service Award.

In her spare time, Tanya can be found at the ice rinks cheering on her kids Dakota and Ruby as they play ice sports, although one can also spot her singing or acting in a local musical production.