WCET Steering Committee

Matthew Melton

WCET Steering Committee, Vice President, SACSCOC

LinkedIn Profile

J. Matthew Melton has been with SACSOC (the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools, Commission on Colleges) since January 2023. He spent twenty-two of his twenty-nine-year academic career in faculty administration. Before joining SACSCOC, Melton served as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Lee University in Cleveland, TN, and before that as chair of the Communication Arts department, Director of the Honors Program, and Director of Student Media. A recipient of the university’s student advising award, Melton taught courses in media, speech, journalism, and film, along with a general education course in classical world humanities. He has led multiple study-abroad experiences in Europe and South America. He has authored textbook materials for communication courses and the freshman collegiate experience. Melton has an MA in journalism and a PhD in communication studies from Regent University. He began working with higher education accreditation at his former institution in 2004 and began serving on SACSCOC committees in 2006 and as a committee chair in 2014. These latter experiences sparked a strong interest in higher education accreditation that ultimately led to his joining SACSCOC.

Claire Renaud

WCET Steering Committee , Manager of Quality Frameworks, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)

Claire Renaud is the Manager of Quality Frameworks at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC).  In this role, she works across academic units and with external partners to improve the quality of the students’ learning experiences. She is deeply committed to enhancing the access to quality learning experiences for all learners by leveraging data-driven decision-making and human-centered design principles. 

She previously served as a foreign language educator, as a coach and writing consultant, and as project lead for several teams of individuals with disabilities in the workplace setting. Being a lifelong learner herself, she approaches every interaction with a curious mindset to continuously grow and expand her capacities as well as those of the people around her. 

Erika Swain

Assistant Director of Academic Compliance and Authorization, University of Colorado Boulder

@ErikaGSwainLinkedIn Profile

Erika Swain serves as the assistant director of academic compliance and authorization at the University of Colorado Boulder and the associate director for state authorization at the University of Colorado System, working to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations relating to state authorization and accreditation requirements. In addition, she works closely with campus leadership and academic affairs to coordinate the process for new and revised university program offerings to verify compliance with state and federal regulations as well as university policies and procedures.

Prior to joining CU, Erika worked for many years in regional accreditation, overseeing training and federal compliance programs in her various roles at both the Higher Learning Commission and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and has also previously served as the Registrar at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake, NY. Erika also currently serves on the SAN Advisory Committee and leads the SAN Special Interest Team on Professional Licensure.

Karen Watté

WCET Steering Committee, Senior Director, Course Development and Training, Oregon State University Ecampus

Karen Watté serves as the Senior Director of Course Development and Training at Oregon State University Ecampus where she leads a large team of instructional designers, multimedia developers, and faculty development specialists to support faculty and departments across the institution in designing their courses for online delivery. She’s involved in multiple initiatives focused on improving quality in online course design and teaching. Her areas of focus include faculty professional development, organizational behavior, and online program management, and she has special interest in the use of AI tools in online teaching and learning.

Ryan Faulkner

WCET Steering Committee, Dean of Online Learning, College of Eastern Idaho

ryan.faulkner@cei.edu

LinkedIn Profile

I am celebrating my 23rd year of professional distance education work experience and my 6th year at CEI. I began my professional career at Idaho State University managing video courses and later transitioned to online learning. While at ISU and working full-time I completed my Master’s degree in Instructional Technology and later my Doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership in 2015. In January of 2018, I was hired by CEI to develop an online learning program from scratch as CEI transitioned to a community college from EITC. I have previously served as a WCET steering committee member and am also in my second term serving on the SAN Advisory Group representing 2-year colleges. For fun I spend as much time with fiance and my dogs as possible. I also have a pet turtle named Pokey.

Robert Griffiths

WCET Steering Committee Chair, WCET Executive Council, Assistant Vice Provost, Online Learning and Innovation, The Ohio State University (Re-elected October 2022)

griffiths.44@osu.edu

@griffiths44LinkedIn Profile

Robert Griffiths is assistant vice provost for online learning and innovation at The Ohio State University Office of Academic Affairs 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 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 Office of Distance Education and eLearning 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

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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 Vice Chair, WCET Executive Council, Director of Online Learning, University of Hawai'i System

gniles@hawaii.edu

@teachtoreachmeLinkedIn Profile

Gloria Niles is an internationally recognized thought leader in neurodivergent and technology-enhanced learning. Gloria currently serves as the director of online learning for the University of Hawai’i System, providing systemwide planning and direction of the university’s online learning programs, including all related institutional strategies for online delivery of instruction. In this role, she drives the implementation of policies, procedures, and systems necessary to execute the university’s vision and strategies for the statewide UH system with ten independently accredited campuses across the Hawaiian islands.

Brittany Dudek

Director of Library and OER Services , Colorado Community College System

Nick White

Chief Learning Officer, Sophia Learning

nick.white@sophia.org

LinkedIn Profile

Nick White is the Chief Learning Officer of Sophia Learning. Nick led the CBE program design and the digital badge initiatives at Capella University and currently leads the academic and program design functions for Sophia Learning. Nick was previously the chair of the WCET steering committee and is currently a member of the IMS Global Digital Credential Executive Board. Nick has a master’s degree in instructional design, is an award-winning instructional designer and administrator, and is a frequent speaker at national conferences.

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 Instructional 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 Innovations in Training 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 Fostering Inclusive Higher Education through Universal Design for Learning and Inclusive Pedagogy–EU and US Faculty Perceptions. Her service includes service as an inaugural fellow in EdSafeAI’s Women in AI and faculty fellow candidate in the Stanford d.School’s University Innovation Fellows program.

Theresa Umscheid

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

tumscheid@myiccoc.org

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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.

Melody Buckner

Associate Vice Provost, Digital Learning Initiatives and Online, The University of Arizona

Michelle Singh

Steering Committee, Assistant Commissioner, Digital Learning, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Chantae Recasner

Immediate Past Chair, Steering Committee, WCET Executive Council, Interim President, Seattle Central College

chantae.recasner@seattlecolleges.edu

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