Tangible Strategies and Emerging Opportunities: Digital Learning Leaders’ Hopes for 2023

Leah Matthews

WCET Executive Council, Executive Director, Distance Education Accrediting Commission

John Opper

Executive Director, Distance Learning and Student Services, Florida Virtual Campus

As executive director for distance learning and student services, John Opper oversees the operation of the distance learning and student support services offered through the Florida Virtual Campus. He interacts regularly with state policymakers, education leaders, community agencies, educational entities, and industry regarding issues pertaining to technology and education, and participates in creating statewide distance learning policy and programs affecting Florida’s schools, colleges, and universities. Opper has authored policy studies and recommendations in the area of undergraduate education, academic libraries, funding policy, and educational technology. In addition, he has served on a variety of state, regional, and national workgroups and boards.

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.

Jessica Rowland Williams

Director, Every Learner Everywhere, WCET Staff 2019 - 2023

jrwilliams@wiche.edu

LinkedIn Profile

Jessica was the director of Every Learner Everywhere, a network of organizations with a mission to help institutions use new technology to innovate teaching and learning and better serve Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students, poverty-affected students, and first-generation students. As director, she provided leadership and vision for the network and lead the operation of the network strategy.

Prior to this role, Jessica served as the completion grant initiative project director for University Innovation Alliance. She also worked as project director in Georgia State University’s Office of the Senior Vice President of Student Success. During her time at Princeton University, Jessica served four years as a diversity fellow in the Office of Academic Affairs and Diversity and was honored with the Patrice Y. Johnson *80 Memorial Service Award by the Association of Black Princeton Alumni in recognition of her high levels of performance and service to the university. Jessica has devoted her career to helping institutions better serve marginalized students.

Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and earned both her M.A. and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Princeton University. She is also a mother of four children. As her spare time allows, Jessica enjoys traveling and escaping into the world of literature. Currently, her favorite literary character is Janie Crawford, from Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.

Megan Raymond

Senior Director, Membership and Programs, WCET

303-541-0233mraymond@wiche.edu

@meraymondLinkedIn Profile

Megan has been with WCET since June of 2007. As the senior director of programs and membership, she oversees member recruitment and activities and manages various programs, most notably the Annual Meeting, Summits, monthly webcasts, and Closer Conversations. Megan brings 20 years of higher education experience to her current position and holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Fort Lewis College and a master’s degree in Nutrition and Health Education. Prior to joining the WCET team, Megan worked as the assistant director for student housing and conference services at a small liberal arts college where she was entrenched in student affairs.

In her spare time, Megan enjoys racing mountain bikes, skiing, and chasing her son on his bike or feet. Her two rescue pups include a 75-pound lap dog and a quite cunning shepherd mix whom she is sure is plotting to take over the world. Megan’s favorite television character is Saul Goodman from Better Call Saul.