WCET Speakers

	Elizabeth Aguilar-Barnett Student Solutions Manager Western Governors University Elizabeth Aguilar-Barnett has worked in higher education for more than ten years in a variety of roles. She started her career in the student life department and quickly moved into online education and course management. She is currently a pilot and innovation solutions manager within the student experience practice at Western Governors University. During her time with WGU, she has been a faculty member, faculty manager, faculty trainer, and project manager. She holds two master's degrees in education and continues to learn something new everyday.

	Amrit Ahluwalia Managing Editor The EvoLLLution Amrit Ahluwalia is the managing editor of The EvoLLLution, the online newspaper developed by Destiny Solutions to create a conversation hub focused on non-traditional higher education and the transforming postsecondary marketplace. Ahluwalia was part of the team that conceived of and launched The EvoLLLution. The EvoLLLution, which launched in January 2012, serves over 1800 contributors and attracts approximately 65,000 monthly visitors. The site publishes articles and interviews by some of the industry’s leading thinkers at every level from across the United States and around the world.

	Michelle Alvarez Associate Dean of Social Sciences at Global Campus Southern New Hampshire University Michelle Alvarez, MSW, EdD was professor of Social Work at the University of Southern Indiana and Minnesota State University, Mankato. After completing a year as an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow, she has spent the last five years at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) as an associate dean of Social Sciences at Global Campus. She has experience developing face-to-face, hybrid, online and competency-based courses. In March 2019 she joined the newly formed Digital Credentials Lab team which is charged with developing the Microcredentials strategy for SNHU. She is an advocate for student success and innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

	Maria Andersen CEO and Co-founder Coursetune Maria Andersen has spent most of her career teaching at the college level and developing digital products for learning. She built iPad games to teach algebra, launched the Canvas Network MOOC platform, designed adaptive learning platforms used by McGraw Hill, and worked as the director of learning design for Western Governors University (a fully-online CBE institution). Currently, she is the CEO of Coursetune, a software platform that helps educational institutions to design and manage their curriculum. Andersen is a professor, software designer, CEO, and learning futurist.

	Linda Baer Senior Consultant Linda L. Baer, Consultants Linda Baer is a senior consultant with Linda L. Baer Consultants. She has served over thirty-five years in executive level positions in higher education including senior program officer in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, system senior vice chancellor, university senior vice president and interim president, and senior fellow with Civitas Learning. Her ongoing focus is to inspire leaders to improve student success and transform institutions for the future. Baer presents and publishes on educational transformation, partnerships, shared leadership, and workshops on building capacity in analytics, including An Analytics Handbook.

	Kris Baranovic Instructional Designer Southeast Missouri State University Kris Baranovic works as an instructional design specialist at Southeast Missouri State University. Baranovic teaches composition online and fancies himself a critical constructivist.

	Marianne Boeke Senior Associate NC-SARA Marianne Boeke joined NC-SARA in 2018 as the associate director for policy research and state support. Prior to joining NC-SARA, she served as a senior associate at the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS). Boeke has worked on a variety of long and short-term projects including ones associated with the Aspen Institute, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Lumina Foundation for Education, National Science Foundation (NSF), Strada Education Network, WICHE, and WCET State Authorization Network (SAN). Boeke has also held administrative positions at The American University, the University of Denver, and the Western Governors University (WGU). Her work in state authorization began in 2011 when she co-created the SHEEO survey on state authorization. She has presented at numerous regional and national conferences and co-wrote several white papers on state authorization topics including: “State Authorization and Military Students” and “State Authorization and Non-Credit Courses and Programs.”

	Niki Bray Director of Academic Innovation & Student Success University of Memphis Niki Bray currently serves as the director of academic innovation & student success for the School of Health Studies at the University of Memphis. Passionate about students and determined to see every student succeed; Bray enjoys conducting workshops and giving talks on how to increase student engagement, improve learning through the use of simple technology tools and easy-to-implement active learning strategies which can be used in every modality (online, face-to-face, and blended), as well as the development and effective implementation of adaptive learning.

	Stephanie Brink Dean of Online Programs Central Methodist University Stephanie Brink graduated from Central Methodist University with her BSN in 2005. She then went on to St. Louis University to earn her MSN in Nursing Education in 2010. Brink began teaching online for Central Methodist University in 2008 while working full time and pursuing her MSN. Once her MSN was completed, she took over the RN to BSN and MSN programs at Central as the nursing program coordinator for the College of Graduate and Extended Studies. In 2011, as the RN to BSN and MSN programs moved completely online, Brink was promoted to assistant dean of online programs at Central Methodist University. Today, she holds the titles of assistant dean of online programs and nursing program coordinator for the RN to BSN program. In January 2018, she began a Doctoral degree in Health Professions Education online through Logan University, and plans to graduate in April 2020.

	Victoria Brown Faculty Florida Atlantic University Victoria Brown is currently pursuing her research interest as faculty in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Florida Atlantic University after serving as the assistant provost for the Center for eLearning, where she oversaw the development of online degrees, course development, faculty professional development, online student support, and provided an online student experience. Brown has served on numerous boards including the Florida Distance Learning Association and she was the past chair of the Online Student Support for the 2025 Strategic Plan for Online Education in Florida. Through her research work, she co-developed the Online Student Support Scorecard available through the Online Learning Consortium.

	Cheryl Carroll Manager of Academic and Distance Ed. Compliance University of Virginia Cheryl Carroll works for the Provost's Office at the University of Virginia managing academic compliance and ensuring new and changing programs at the University meet state, Federal, and institutional requirements/approvals as well as state authorization/distance education compliance. In 2015, she finished her M.Ed. in Higher Education at the Curry School of Education. She completed her undergraduate degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in Business as well as a graduate certificate in Program Evaluation at Georgetown University and a graduate certificate in Project Management from James Madison University. She is currently finishing a graduate certificate in Public Administration at the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at UVA.

	Kevin Corcoran Executive Director, Digital Learning Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Kevin Corcoran is the executive director of digital learning for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System. Corcoran is responsible for the development and support of system-wide strategies for the effective use of digital learning tools and content that focuses on quality standards and practices, student engagement, accessibility and affordability. Corcoran co-founded the Northeast OER Summit and the Open CSCU Library Network. He currently chairs a CSCU system-wide Open Education Resources council as well as the WCET eLearning Consortia group. He received his B.A. in English from the University of Connecticut and his M.B.A. with a specialization in technology management from Walden University.

	Preston Davis Director, Academic Technology Northern Virginia Community College Wm. Preston Davis is the director of academic technology at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and is responsible for educational technology and digital learning innovations. Davis oversees the instructional technology faculty development and training program, online testing and tutoring services, library technical services, video services, and open educational resources. Preston holds BS and MA degrees from Old Dominion University, and Doctorate from The George Washington University. He has 20 years professional experience in higher education serving as associate professor, program manager, dean, director and consultant. During his spare time he enjoys paddleboarding and kayaking, barbequing and homebrewing, live music, and traveling with his wife and daughters.