WCET Steering Committee

Marina Aminy

WCET Steering Committee, Executive Director, California Virtual Campus

maminy@cvc.edu

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Dr. Marina Aminy is Associate Vice Chancellor at Foothill-De Anza Community College District and Executive Director of the California Virtual Campus (CVC), a statewide initiative serving the California Community Colleges system, which supports 2.2 million students annually across 116 colleges. The CVC expands student access to high quality online courses, digital technologies, course sharing, and an ecosystem of instructional and student services to accelerate completions. She previously served as an administrator and full-time faculty member at both the college and university levels, and has more than 25 years of experience in higher education. Marina holds a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, and has dedicated her career to advancing student success through equity-minded practices, policy, and innovation in digital learning.  

Senenge Andzenge

WCET Steering Committee, Assistant Vice Provost, Director of Program Design & Innovation, University of Minnesota

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Senenge Andzenge is the assistant vice provost and director of program design & innovation with the Office of Distributed Learning. As an organizational scientist, Senenge helps leaders, teams, and organizations acclimate to the integration of technology in teaching and learning environments. His research, scholarship, and practice take a critical lens to technology in learning and emphasize people over tools. Senenge was previously on faculty at Minneapolis College (formerly MCTC) and Metropolitan State University, teaching courses in educational philosophy and planning and academic development. Prior to his career in higher education, Senenge spent over a dozen years as a consultant in project management and organizational development.

Claire Renaud

WCET Steering Committee , Director of Insights and Effectiveness, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)

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Claire Renaud is a director of insights and effectiveness at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). In this role, she conducts analyses and develops insights to support the evaluation, effectiveness, planning, and decision-making for the department she’s assigned to. She remains committed to enhancing access to quality learning experiences for all learners by leveraging data-driven decision-making and human-centered design principles.

Claire 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. Most recently, she worked as a curriculum designer and manager of quality frameworks for UMGC, working across academic units and with external partners to improve the quality of the students’ learning experiences. 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.

Allie Dirks

WCET Steering Committee, Director of Online and Interstate Compliance, Office of Online Learning, Metropolitan State University of Denver

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Allie Dirks serves as Director of Online and Interstate Compliance at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where her work spans online enrollment and academic compliance. She leads recruitment and enrollment strategy for MSU Denver’s portfolio of more than 30 fully online undergraduate programs while also overseeing institutional efforts related to state authorization, professional licensure, and online education compliance. With more than 10 years of experience in higher education, Allie’s work has focused on expanding access to online education, supporting students from inquiry through enrollment, and building sustainable processes that allow institutions to grow while navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment. She brings a cross-functional perspective that connects enrollment strategy, student experience, academic affairs, and compliance.

Sahara Haney

WCET Steering Committee, Director of Digital Learning & Academic Support, Baton Rouge Community College, Louisiana's Community & Technical Colleges

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Sahara Haney is the director of the Digital Learning & Academic Support Center at Baton Rouge Community College. With 14 years of experience spanning K-12 and higher education, she has advanced digital learning through roles in academic support, faculty development, and digital literacy. Haney has developed faculty onboarding programs, guided the integration of proctoring and AI tools, and advanced inclusive approaches to instructional design. Her work centers on developing innovative digital learning practices that improve access, affordability, and student success.
 

Ryan Faulkner

WCET Steering Committee Chair, Executive Council, Dean of Online Learning, College of Eastern Idaho

ryan.faulkner@cei.edu

LinkedIn Profile

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Ryan Faulkner is celebrating 25 years of experience in distance education and eight years at the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI). He began his career at Idaho State University, where he managed video-based courses before transitioning into online learning. In January 2018, he joined CEI and led the development of the institution’s online learning program as it transitioned from Eastern Idaho Technical College to the College of Eastern Idaho.

Ryan serves the digital learning community representing two-year institutions on the State Authorization Network (SAN) Advisory Group and the WCET Steering Committee, of which he is the vice chair.

Outside of work, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife and his dogs. He is also the proud owner of a pet turtle named Pokey.​‌

Karen Watté

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

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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.

Robert Saum

WCET Steering Committee, Senior Strategy and Deployment Specialist, Division of Academic Innovation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

LinkedIn Profile

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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.

Monica Guerrero Rogers

WCET Steering Committee, Director of AlamoONLINE- Student Support, Alamo Colleges District

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Monica Guerrero Rogers is a higher education professional with 17 years of experience dedicated to student success, educational equity, and online student engagement. As a director and doctoral student, her work focuses on creating inclusive learning experiences, strengthening support systems, and advancing innovative strategies that foster academic success, connection, and belonging for diverse student populations. Through her leadership and research, Monica is committed to expanding access to online education as a pathway for upward mobility, economic empowerment, and transformational opportunities for students and their families.

Brittany Dudek

WCET Steering Committee, Director of Learning Resources, Colorado Community College System

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Brittany Dudek is a leader in library and information science, specializing in Open Educational Resources (OER) and equitable access to education. As the director of learning resources for the Colorado Community College System, she has established the online library serving 13 colleges and oversees course material processes for central online courses. A passionate advocate for student success, Brittany manages system-level OER projects, serves on WCET’s Steering Committee, and contributes to local and national OER and library communities of practice like DOERS3 and the Colorado Consortium of Libraries. Her innovative leadership reflects a commitment to increasing the accessibility of digital learning.

Nick White

WCET Steering Committee, Chief Learning Officer, Sophia Learning

nick.white@sophia.org

LinkedIn Profile

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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.

Kim Scalzo

WCET Steering Committee, Senior Associate Provost, Digital Innovation and Academic Services (DIAS), Open SUNY

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Rae Mancilla

Executive Director of University Digital Education, University of Pittsburgh Center for Excellence in Digital Education (Pitt EDGE)

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Rae Mancilla is the executive director of Digital Learning and Innovation at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Excellence in Digital Education (Pitt EDGE). She leads institution-wide strategy and innovation in digital learning, advancing online and hybrid program development, academic excellence and cross-campus collaboration. A dynamic leader in higher education, she works closely with Pitt’s 16 schools and industry partners to strengthen the quality, accessibility and impact of digital education across the University.

With over two decades of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, faculty development, program evaluation and assessment, Mancilla is a nationally recognized expert in online learning and digital accessibility. She currently serves as vice chair of the Quality Matters Instructional Design Association, a bilingual peer evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a Quality Matters Master Reviewer and Research Colleague, and an invited scholar for the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction.

Melody Buckner

WCET Steering Committee Vice Chair, Associate Vice Provost, Digital Learning Initiatives and Online, The University of Arizona

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Melody Buckner is the associate vice provost of Digital Learning and Online Initiatives for the University of Arizona. In this role, she collaborates with university leaders, faculty, and academic staff to articulate the implementation of online education and assist in defining the institutional values for digital learning to align with the University’s mission. Her faculty affiliation is with the College of Education, and she conducts research and teaching in the areas of educational technology, digital and creative literacies, and multicultural education.

She serves on the board of BYTE, a cross-border youth development program offering tennis and academic classes on both sides of the Nogales US/Mexico border. She became involved with this organization because of her passion for digital storytelling and love of the game of tennis. Her informal education consists of living in over 40 different places, including several countries overseas.

Michelle Singh

WCET Steering Committee, Vice President for Strategic Educational Alliances, University of North Texas

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Dr. Michelle Singh, vice president for strategic educational alliances at the University of North Texas, is a recognized leader in learning transformation. With over two decades in higher education, she brings strategic vision to digital infusion, AI, open education, and change management. Renowned for her ecosystem approach to digital transformation, Michelle is celebrated globally for her advocacy of open education and adaptive innovation. She has led initiatives in artificial and business intelligence, data-informed strategy, and the use of OER to strengthen digital communities.

Michelle has held leadership roles with the Texas Distance Learning Association, United States Distance Learning Association, WCET, SREB Educational Technology Cooperative, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Her honors include induction into the TxDLA Hall of Fame, the USDLA International Outstanding Leadership Award, and Corpus Christi’s Top Under 40. With expertise in computer science, counseling, and educational leadership, she champions a human-centered approach to innovation in higher education. Her work consistently demonstrates a commitment to holistic, forward-thinking solutions in the ever-evolving landscape of digital learning and higher education.

Gloria Niles

WCET Steering Committee Past Chair, Chief Academic Technology Innovation Officer, University of Hawai'i System

gniles@hawaii.edu

@teachtoreachmeLinkedIn Profile

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Gloria Niles is an internationally recognized thought leader in neurodivergent and technology-enhanced learning. Gloria currently serves as the Chief Academic Technology Innovation Officer 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.