WCET Steering Committee

Gary Chinn

WCET Steering Committee, Assistant Dean, Digital Learning, The Pennsylvania State University

gmc14@psu.edu

@gchinnLinkedIn Profile

Gary Chinn is assistant dean for Digital Learning at Penn State University’s College of Arts & Architecture. In this role, he leads the Office of Digital Learning, which collaborates with faculty in the design, development, and delivery of fully online programs and courses, curricular design of new academic programs, and technology integration in support of resident instruction. Gary’s research areas include the impact of technology on teaching and learning in design studio contexts, and factors influencing levels of institutional affinity by online learners. He also teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses and is an active member of university committees focused on digital learning policy, adult learner support, and alternative credentials.

Janelle Elias

WCET Steering Committee, Vice President, Strategy & Advancement, Rio Salado College

janelle.elias@riosalado.edu

LinkedIn Profile

Janelle Elias serves as the chief strategy officer for Rio Salado College. She provides leadership for strategic planning, institutional research, compliance and accreditation, conduct and community standards, disability services, marketing, development, strategic partnerships, and the national division.

Chantae Recasner

WCET Steering Committee Vice Chair, WCET Executive Council, Equity Research Manager for Advanced Analytics, Western Governors University

chantae.recasner@wgu.edu

LinkedIn Profile

As the equity research manager on the Advanced Analytics team at Western Governors University, Chantae Recasner is responsible for driving and supporting research to help advance WGU’s efforts to close inequitable attainment gaps across student groups. She leads a team of faculty research fellows with the support of a data scientist and works to help the Advanced Analytics team drive contribution to WGU’s Academic Equity Compendium.

Jory Hadsell

WCET Steering Committee Chair, WCET Executive Council, Vice Chancellor and CIO, Technology, Foothill-De Anza Community College District

jhadsell@cvc.edu

@joryhadsellLinkedIn Profile

Dr. Jory Hadsell is the vice chancellor of technology for the Foothill–De Anza Community College District, providing leadership for administrative and educational technology services serving students and staff in a large, multi-college district. Jory also oversees institutional research and state-wide grants. He serves as executive sponsor of the California Virtual Campus-Online Education Initiative, a state-wide grant-funded initiative for the California Community Colleges that has expanded online learning access, infrastructure, and professional development across 116 institutions. Jory previously served as executive director of the CVC-OEI and as a tenured professor of academic technology. He is passionate about the intersection of online education, personalization, and cross-institutional collaboration, and currently serves as Chair of the WCET Steering Committee.

Shani Suber

WCET Steering Committee, Dean of E-learning Effectiveness and Enhancement, Dallas College

shani@dcccd.edu

@ShaniSuberLinkedIn Profile

Shani Suber is the inaugural dean of e-Learning effectiveness and enhancement at Dallas College. She has served in a variety of roles including 23 years in education as an adjunct, faculty, and administrator. In her current role, she is the academic lead administrator for Dallas College’s learning management system upgrade, development of effective online teaching practices, calibration of distance education guidelines and policies. Her leadership spans across 60k students, 3k faculty, and 7 ‘Schools Of’ at Dallas College. Shani has also led collaboration across the college to aid in online accessibility and technology. She advocates for students with disabilities and equality in education for all students while implementing innovation and quality online. As an online learning leader, Shani has been committed to diversity and inclusion efforts in higher education over the years. It’s her honor to commit her professional career to encouraging, developing, and collaborating with educators in this incredible and meaningful industry.

Robert Griffiths

WCET Steering Committee, Chief Digital Learning Officer, Office of Technology and Digital Innovation, The Ohio State University (Re-elected October 2022)

griffiths.44@osu.edu

@griffiths44LinkedIn Profile

Robert Griffiths is associate vice president for distance education in the Office of Distance Education and eLearning (ODEE) at Ohio State where he has led the university’s online education initiative since 2013. He remains passionate about the affordances and possibilities of technology-empowered learning opportunities.

Robert also guides other ODEE initiatives, including those related to state authorization, non-degree student support, and organizational culture. He is a team member for university-level projects related to the curricular redesign for general education, workforce development, and scaling teaching and learning support. Prior to his current role, he created the ODEE grants program and served as principal investigator in a study of how the use of technology can engage students, increase instructor efficiency, and support anytime/anyplace learning. Robert earned his bachelor’s degree from Denison University, and his master’s and doctorate from Ohio State and is the author or co-author of numerous book chapters and journal articles.

Robert Saum

WCET Steering Committee, Senior Strategy and Deployment Specialist, Division of Academic Innovation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Incoming October 2022)

LinkedIn Profile

Robert Saum serves as the Senior Strategy and Deployment Specialist for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In this role, he collaborates with faculty and academic leaders on new learning approaches and ways to innovate distance and online learning. He recommends, plans, deploys, and continuously improves learning operations and the learner experience, enhancing student success.

Gloria Niles

WCET Steering Committee, Director of Online Learning, University of Hawai'i System

gniles@hawaii.edu

@teachtoreachmeLinkedIn Profile

Gloria Niles is the director of distance education for the University of Hawai’i-West O’ahu. In this role, she manages the Office of Distance Learning, which is charged with the oversight of all facets of online instruction. Gloria collaborates with administrators, faculty, and instructional designers across the ten campuses within the University of Hawai’i System to facilitate effective support services and articulated online programs for distance education students across the Hawaiian islands. Additionally, Gloria has improved the quality of online teaching and learning by implementing a Distance Learning Tactical Plan that works in alliance with the university’s strategic plan. She holds both a Doctor of Chiropractic degree with post-doctoral training in Neurology and a Ph.D. in Special Education Leadership and continues to demonstrate her expertise and passion for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion for neurodiverse learners in higher education, particularly in the online environment.

Missy (Melissa) LaCour

WCET Steering Committee, Director of New Markets, Academics and Workforce, Louisiana Community and Technical College System

melissalacour@lctcs.edu

LinkedIn Profile

Missy LaCour is director of new markets for the Louisiana Community & Technical College System (LCTCS) where she collaborates with all LCTCS Colleges and partners on the development, coordination, and delivery of programs to new student markets with an emphasis on innovative delivery methods. At LCTCS, she has led multiple projects including implementation of a system-wide instance of Canvas, development of a delivery model and environment to serve Juvenile Justice students online, implementation of strategies to reduce the cost of attendance by over $9 million using OER, and creation of a system-wide curriculum for cloud computing. Missy has been in higher education for over 24 years and has extensive experience in online and campus teaching, administration, leadership, project management, and the system office.

Krysia Lazarewicz

WCET Steering Committee, Vice President, University Business Development, Wiley University Services

klazarewic@wiley.com

LinkedIn Profile

Krysia Lazarewicz is Wiley University Services’ vice president of business development. She has been with Wiley for 10 years and served in various roles including vice president of academic services, vice president of new ventures, and general manager of Advancement Courses. Krysia has helped 100 institutions develop and launch new online programs and uses her extensive knowledge to help new prospective partners develop program and academic strategies to achieve their mission and enrollment goals. She remains passionate about helping people improve their lives through education and helping learners achieve meaningful change in their communities.

Suzanne Ehrlich

WCET Steering Committee, Associate Professor & Co-Director, UNITE Design Lab, University of North Florida

suzanne.ehrlich@unf.edu

@terpprofLinkedIn Profile

Suzanne Ehrlich is an Associate Professor in the Educational Technology, Training and Development program at the University of North Florida and is a certified ASL/English interpreter. She recently co-led the design and launch of the UNITE Design (Universal Design for Inclusion and Education) Lab, and now serves as co-Director. She has presented nationally/internationally on the topics of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework in workplace training, inclusive design for online courses, and leveraging technology for increased access. Her recent work focuses on the UDL mindset in post-secondary settings and the workplace. Her recent publications include a study Learning from COVID-19: Universal Design for Learning Practice Among Faculty Pre and Post COVID-19, How a UDL Mindset Can Support Learning in the Workplace, and UDL Mindset and Implementation into Online Graduate-Level Training and Development Curricula. Her service includes service as a Honors College fellow, Vice President of Technology for Association of Training and Development (ATD) of Northeast Florida, elected Chair for AERA’s Workplace SIG.

Theresa Umscheid

WCET Steering Committee, Executive Director, Iowa Community College Online Consortium

tumscheid@myiccoc.org

LinkedIn Profile

Theresa Umscheid is the Executive Director for the Iowa Community College Consortium, a collaborative partnership comprised of 7 of Iowa’s Community Colleges and one private university. She has been part of the ICCOC since its inception in 1999 first acting as the Director of Distance Learning for Iowa Lakes Community College and now as the ICCOC Executive Director.

Theresa’s experience in online learning leadership found her seeking new and innovative initiatives to challenge the ICCOC to continually deliver high quality online education and provide supportive student services. Theresa has spearheaded several faculty development initiatives and grant-funded activities over the years and today leads the ICCOC team, working with its partner colleges, to drive their online learning programs forward.

Theresa has also served on many state and national committees focusing on continual improvement in online learning for postsecondary education. These committees include Pearson Learning Studio Advisory Committee, Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, ICN Regional Council, and President of IDLA.

Kelvin Thompson

WCET Steering Committee, Vice Provost of Online Strategy & Teaching Innovation, University of Louisville

@kthompsoLinkedIn Profile

Ilona Marie Hajdu

WCET Steering Committee, Senior Associate Director, Office of Online Education, Indiana University

ihajdu@iu.edu

LinkedIn Profile

Shannon Riggs

WCET Steering Committee Past Chair, WCET Executive Council, Executive Director of Academic Programs and Learning Innovation, Oregon State University Ecampus

shannon.riggs@oregonstate.edu

@ShannonRiggsLinkedIn Profile

Shannon Riggs serves as executive director of academic programs and learning innovation for Oregon State University Ecampus. In this role, she supports Oregon State’s land grant mission by providing leadership and direction for academic programs and learning innovation throughout the division. Active nationally in the field of online education, Shannon regularly presents at conferences and has written for publication about online course development, faculty development, leadership, and innovation. She is currently serving a three-year elected position for the Quality Matters Academic Advisory Council and is the chair of the WCET Steering Committee.