Fatma Elshobokshy is Acting Lead Director, Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL), as well as Director of Learning Technology. She supports the Office of the Chief Academic Officer’s implementation of an institution-wide digital learning strategy that relies heavily upon leveraging technology to advance teaching and learning. In addition, Ms. Elshobokshy provides institutional leadership on the use of emerging instructional technologies across modes of delivery. She also oversees the Center for Digital Access & Learning, maximizing use of the facility to enhance teaching and learning at UDC. As Lead Director, she provides institution-wide solutions for the quality assurance process, building and reviewing courses for quality standards, and providing pathways to faculty to increase course-building competency.

Ms. Elshobokshy has worked in such diverse fields as community development, filmmaking, conflict resolution, web design, and sales. She integrates this experience with her current work in learning design and education technology. In her leisure time, she enjoys cooking, swimming, biking, tennis, and running.

Areas of expertise include instructional technology and design, instructional resources, filmmaking, digital storytelling, conflict resolution, customer service, marketing, web design, project management, and training.

Education

Post-Graduate courses in Learning Design and Technology, George Mason University

M.A. Intercultural Relations and Conflict Resolution, Lesley University

B.A. Hebrew Literature, Shams University (Cairo, Egypt)

In addition to serving as a Myrtilla Miner Fellow with CAL, Dr. Annette Miles is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator in the Human Development program at the University of the District of Columbia. She is a retired Special Education teacher with 36 years of classroom instruction and consulting experience in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. She specializes in teaching and assisting individuals with and without special needs to achieve educational, career, and life goals. Dr. Miles is an advocate for children and families. Her research interests include family engagement and developing community partnerships that support children in reaching their full potential.

Education

Ph.D. Human Development, concentration in Adult Learning, Virginia Polytechnic and State University

Education Specialist in Transition Special Education (Serious Emotional Disabilities)

M.A. Transition Special Education (Learning Disabilities), George Washington University

B.S. Special Education (Non-Categorical), University of the District of Columbia.

Other: Certified Online Educator/Course Builder, BrainPOP Animation Educator, Multi-Modal Educator, Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) Certified College Educator and Dean's Teaching Scholar.

In addition to serving as a Myrtilla Miner Fellow with CAL, Dr. Yolandra Plummer is a Professor in the Department of Management in the School of Business and Public Administration. She is also the Principal Investigator and Director of the Paving Access Trails to Higher Security (PATHS) program. The PATHS program provides work readiness training to District residents who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. She obtained her Ph.D. in Political Science from Howard University. Dr. Plummer is especially interested in the dimensions of online learning experiences for low-income populations, especially individuals with learner differences.

During the pandemic, Dr. Plummer and her team developed online Community Health Worker, Contact Tracing and Digital Literacy certifications for District residents receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. Her research interests focus on serving District residents who receive TANF benefits. Specifically, her recent research examines the impact of digital Literacy and work readiness on TANF populations.

Education

Ph.D. Philosophy (Public Administration concentration), Howard University

M.A. Public Administration, University of the District of Columbia

B.A. Journalism, Howard University

Dr. Jillian L. Wendt is Associate Professor of Science Education at the University of the District of Columbia in the Division of Education, Health, and Social Work and a Myrtilla Miner Faculty Fellow in the Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL). She has worked in the field of education for almost two decades, where she remains actively engaged in curriculum design, teaching, and research. Her interests include urban teacher preparation, science and STEM education, STEM mentoring, and online learning. Her most recent work has explored online peer mentoring to support women’s persistence in STEM and development of STEM identity. She is passionate about education—especially efforts to facilitate equitable representation across disciplines and to establish sustainable pipelines for broadening participation.

Prior to joining UDC, Dr. Wendt taught K-12 science in Virginia at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. After transitioning from the K-12 setting, she served as Curriculum Specialist for the Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching and Achievement at George Mason University, where she oversaw elementary science teacher coaches and assisted with curriculum development for secondary science teachers. Simultaneously, she was founding faculty for a teacher preparation program at an international university in Fairfax, Virginia. She also teaches in the graduate and doctoral education programs at a large, private university in Virginia.

Dr. Wendt is a native Virginian. She is an avid reader and author. She enjoys reveling in the marvels of nature—especially with her daughter, snuggling with her cats, and volunteering in her local community.

Areas of expertise include online course design, curriculum development, STEM education, mentoring, teacher development, and research methods.

Education

Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction, Liberty University

Ed.S. Teaching and Learning, Liberty University

M.Ed. Teaching and Learning, Liberty University

B.S. Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University

A.A.S., John Tyler Community College

Dominique Laws is an instructional designer with the Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL). In addition to supporting a range of instructional design and course development functions in CAL, she also shares her expertise in inclusive design, accessibility, and learning science through its webinars offered to faculty. Finally, she offers direct support to faculty through “course makeovers,” which can include consultation to apply the right "tool" for the job at hand to keep students engaged and active throughout the course.

In her career, Ms. Laws has enjoyed opportunities to develop curriculum, to train and learn from other designers in the industry. She reports that among the most rewarding moments in education that she has encountered is when the learner experiences the "eureka effect." These victories, be they big or small, serve to validate her purpose as an educator and further her mission to help others.

Ms. Laws is a native Washingtonian. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, getting outside with her daughter and French Bulldog Jellyfish, spending time with family and friends, listening to podcasts, decorating and re-designing her home, and delving into a good audiobook as she traverses the traffic of the ever-famous Interstate 495.

Areas of expertise include instructional design, inclusive and equitable design, learning theory, accessibility, instructional technology, rapid development, eLearning, application of Quality Matters methods, and use of Articulate Storyline.

Education

M.A. Instructional Systems Development, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

M.A. Network Communications Management and Project Management, Keller Graduate School of Management (Arlington, VA campus)

B.S. Information Systems Management, Carlow University

David Serna is an Instructional Technology Specialist and Professional Development Coordinator at UDC’s Center for the Advancement of Learning. He provides professional development for successful application of emerging instructional technologies, with a specialization in HyFlex and Immersive Technologies.

Prior to joining the UDC team, Mr. Serna worked for VIPKid, the largest online English as a second language (ESL) company in China. In that role, he provided weekly webinars on successful application of online teaching skills, including topics on Gamification, Teacher Voice Development, Time Management, and Student Engagement. He also worked closely with the Chinese Government to develop Online ESL Teaching training that was viewed by 60,000+ Chinese English teachers simultaneously. In addition, Mr. Serna has worked in both traditional and online classrooms in South Korea, China, France, and Thailand. He enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and cooking.

Areas of expertise include HyFlex, virtual reality, instructional technology, instructional resources, training, course design, Web 2.0 tools, gamification, learner engagement, podcasting, and ESL training.

Education

M.Ed. Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum, University of Missouri
B.A. American Literature & Culture (English) with a minor in Film & Television, University of California Los Angeles

Pat Kittrell is the Education Technology Specialist at the Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL). He serves as the Learning Management System Administrator and works closely with academic departments and other stakeholders to evaluate, test, and implement building blocks for existing and emerging technology. He designed and implemented the One-Button Studios available to support the creation of audiovisual presentations by faculty, staff, and students. Mr. Kittrell has nearly two decades of work experience in audiovisual production and support, information technology, and digital media/web technology. Unfailingly positive and always eager to work with others to explore opportunities, he is committed to ensuring that the UDC community gets a good return on its technology investments.

Mr. Kittrell’s industry experience includes education, legal services, non-profit, and government contracting. His knowledge and experience gained across these sectors have helped to drive his passion for helping people while ensuring they have the best experience possible.

In his spare time, Mr. Kittrell enjoys spending time with his family. He is also a self-taught musician and creates music in his studio. He plays drums, keyboard, turntable, bass, and guitar.

Areas of expertise include helping people, audiovisual technology system management, video production, audio production, information technology support, immersive technology, music production, customer service, and training.

Education

B.S. Digital Media/Web Technology, University of Maryland Global Campus
A.A. General Education, College of Southern Maryland

Julian King is the Learning Design Coordinator at the Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL). In this position, he provides consultation and expertise on research-driven best practices of learning science and course design. Mr. King also consults on data-driven assessment methods and resource planning for applications of emerging instructional technologies. As the Assistant Blackboard administrator, he collaborates with faculty and staff in drafting training programs, work plans, and instructional technology support including web-based and interactive video-based courses. He regularly delivers training to UDC faculty through webinars on topics such as use of the Blackboard Gradebook and learning design.

Prior to joining UDC and CAL, Mr. King worked in secondary education, where he provided coaching, training, and resources to enhance data-driven mathematics instruction and foster a sense of community within his partnering DC high schools. He has also spent 6+ years working in the public sector of education as a math instructional coach and secondary math teacher.

Mr. King also enjoys traveling, swimming, sports, and hanging out with friends.

Education

M.Ed. Instructional Technology, University of Maryland Global Campus

B.A. Mathematics: Secondary Education, Virginia Union University