Speakers Biographical Information Page

Emily is an instructional designer at the University of Central Florida. As an instructional designer, she assists faculty with the design and development of online and blended courses. She also has 15 years of experience as an instructor in higher education. She is an advocate for Universal Design for Learning, open education, and accessibility in online learning. 

Dr. Martha Hubertz is an Associate Lecturer of Psychology at the University of Central Florida (UCF), where she has been revolutionizing the learning experience since 2018. With a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Florida Atlantic University, Dr. Hubertz brings a unique blend of academic expertise and innovative teaching methodologies to her classroom.

Pioneering Sustainable and High-Impact Education

Dr. Hubertz is at the forefront of integrating sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into higher education. As a UN Faculty Fellow for Open Educational Resources (OER) and SDGs, she has gained invaluable insights and resources to further infuse sustainability principles into her teaching and research. She views these not just as concepts, but as the new frontier of High-Impact Practices (HIPs). By weaving SDG awareness into her curriculum, Dr. Hubertz is transforming students into global citizens capable of tackling pressing world issues.

Her innovative approach combines active learning strategies, gamification techniques, and cutting-edge technology to create immersive educational experiences. Whether it's through interactive simulations, digital storytelling, or adaptive learning platforms, Dr. Hubertz ensures that her students are not just passive recipients of information, but active participants in their learning journey.

Leadership in Educational Technology

Dr. Hubertz's expertise in educational technology and innovation is widely recognized. She serves on the conference committee for eLmL 2023-current (The Sixteenth International Conference on Mobile, Hybrid, and On-line Learning), as well as on the Vital Source Acrobatiq Advisory Board, a testament to her leadership in advancing technology-enhanced learning. She is also on the Advisory Council of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) Open Pedagogy Fellow. 

These roles allow her to shape discussions and share insights on the latest trends in online and hybrid education, further solidifying her position at the intersection of psychology, technology, and innovative pedagogy.

Alisha Janowsky is the Director of the Psychology Undergraduate (BS) Program and Associate Chair for Instruction and Students. She earned her Ph.D. in social psychology from Florida Atlantic University in 2004 and joined UCF’s Psychology Department in 2006. 

In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Alisha is a Senior Lecturer who teaches courses such as general psychology, social psychology, and statistical methods. Her passion for teaching and dedication to her students have earned her several awards including the University Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, College of Sciences Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, Teaching Incentive Program Award, Chuck D. Dziuban Award for Excellence in Online Teaching, Housing and Residence Distinguished Faculty Award, and Student Accessibility Services Certificate of Recognition. She is currently serving as the Online Learning and Teaching Specialist for the Center of Distributed Learning.

Susan Jardaneh is an instructional designer and a former instructor at the University of Central Florida.  She is an advocate for quality online instruction, Open Education Resources, and the effective use of technology in online teaching and learning.  She is currently the is the Assistant Program Director for the University of Central Florida’s IDL6543 faculty development course for teaching online at UCF provided by the Center for Distributed Learning.

Renee Montgomery is a dedicated professional in higher education, currently serving as a Coordinator in Continuing Education at the University of Central Florida (UCF). She recently expanded her impact by joining the Higher Education Coaching Academy as a Trainer. 

Prior to her current role, Renee worked in UCF’s Online Connect Center as a Success Coach and later as a Success Coach Team Lead. Before transitioning to UCF, she gained valuable experience as an Enrollment Coach at an online higher education institution. 

With over seven years of experience in student coaching, Renee is passionate about empowering individuals to achieve their academic and professional goals. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music and a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance .

Amy Sugar is an associate instructional designer at the University of Central Florida and also serves as the Associate Program Director of Faculty Development for the Center for Distributed Learning. She holds an M.A. in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Central Florida and a B.A. in Music Education from Florida State University.

Amy’s prior professional experience includes leading the Instructional Design & Technology Team at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, teaching in an adjunct role at Rollins College, and teaching elementary music in Orange County Public Schools. Her areas of focus include faculty development, accessibility, and Universal Design for Learning.

Dr. Victoria Brown is current President of Florida Distance Learning Association and is a Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Florida Atlantic University after serving as the Assistant Provost for the Center for eLearning for six years. In her role as Assistant Provost, she oversaw the development of online degrees, course development, faculty professional development, online student support, and provided online student experience. For her instructional design work in the non-for-profit sector, she received the Meritorious Service Medal from the Southeast Region Commander of the Civil Air Patrol. She has also received the Distance Educator of the Year for Higher Education by the Florida Distance Learning Association, Effective Practice Award for student support from the Online Learning Consortium, and the Best-in-Track Award for her research work in online student support services from the Online Learning Consortium. Her research work resulted in the co-development of the Online Student Support Scorecard available through the Online Learning Consortium. As a faculty member, she uses the latest technology to design online student experiences to provide them with the skills and experience they need post-graduation in both the undergraduate and graduate programs.  She continues to explore how to use emerging technology (robotics, computational thinking, and gaming) to design engaging learner experiences. 

Dr. Jillian Powers is an Associate Professor of Instructional Technology at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) for the College of Education in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction. Dr. Powers teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in instructional technology and design. Her research focuses on teachers’ adoption and integration of technology, preparing pre-service teachers to integrate technology and STEM education, and has been published in journals such as Educational Technology Research and Development, Computers in the Schools, and the Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Dr. Powers has also presented at numerous conferences and serves on the editorial review board of Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education. In 2019, she was selected to be an FAU Woman Leader in STEM, and in 2022, she was the recipient of the FAU College of Education Researcher of the Year award at the Associate Professor level. 

Faith is an Instructional Technology Specialist at the University of Central Florida’s Faculty Multimedia Center (FMC), where she leads the design and development of training materials to support faculty in creating impactful content. Currently pursuing an MA in Instructional Design & Technology at UCF and IAAP’s CPACC certification for web accessibility, Faith combines her technical expertise and background in video production to craft innovative and inclusive e-learning strategies. 

David received his Bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and his Master’s degree from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, both schools providing a traditional brick-and-mortar educational program. He earned his doctorate degree from Capella University and is now a proud Capella instructor and Yorkville instructor. David is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri, a state-approved licensure supervisor in Missouri, a Nationally Certified counselor, a certified telemental health provider, and has been in private practice for 23 years. David enjoys presenting relevant information at various locations around the country as well as writing journal articles that highlight many important topics of academia today. He believes that distance learning can unquestionably be as beneficial and rewarding as brick-and-mortar educational programs; establishing a “connection” with learners in such an online venue is crucial to their ongoing interest and retention and contributes to ultimate success. 

Rebecca received her undergraduate Bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho, a traditional land-based institution.  From there she earned a Master’s degree from the University of Phoenix and her Doctorate degree from Capella University, both online educational institutions. 

Currently, Rebecca conducts a professional Life Coaching business and is an adjunct instructor for Grand Canyon University Online.  Her work allows her many connections with college students and faculty from a large number of universities. She is passionate about the importance of distance learning and works toward helping others get the most out of their online learning experience.

Dr. Marull is the Coordinator of the Online Spanish Program. Motivated by her research in Second Language Acquisition, she adopts an innovative approach that incorporates virtual exchanges to facilitate student conversations with native speakers. Dr. Marull’s work has been recognized with awards such as the University of Florida “Online Educator of the Year” (2023), the "1st place Distance Education Best Practice Award" by the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, and “International Educator of the Year” by University of Florida College of Arts and Sciences.

Eunice Luyegu is an accomplished instructional designer at Nova Southeastern University. She holds a PhD in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of South Alabama. As both an educator and practitioner of instructional design, Eunice brings a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience to her work. With a strong passion for AI and learning technologies, she is dedicated to advancing educational practices through innovative design and technology integration.

He’s the author of the #1 Amazon Hot New Book Release, Engaging Virtual Meetings.  He’s been meeting virtually for over 38 years.  He has produced over 4,000 virtual meetings including an EIGHT language meeting and the only 100% LIVE virtual conference in the training industry. He’s 1 of only 400 Certified Speaking Professionals designated by the National Speakers Association.  Let’s WELCOME your speaker, John Chen!

Amnah Khan is an Education Resources Coordinator at Kialo Edu, specializing in leveraging technology to enhance online and hybrid learning environments. She works with educators and instructional designers to create impactful resources that promote critical thinking, collaboration, and inclusivity in virtual and classroom discussions. Through her work with Kialo Edu, a free digital argument-mapping platform, Amnah helps educators transform their teaching practices by fostering deeper comprehension, equitable participation, and civil discourse. . 

Victoria Brenes is based in France and is a second-year doctoral student in Instructional Technology & Distance Education at Nova Southeastern University. She has presented and published her research both in the US and abroad. Her interests are artificial intelligence, computer science, and interdisciplinary education, especially coding integration into the curriculum. In addition to her research, she has worked as a web developer and computer science instructor.

Stephanie Nelson is a doctoral student in Reading Education at Nova Southeastern University. She has 13 years of teaching experience and loves teaching. She currently works as a 6th-grade English teacher in Virginia. She has taught both at the middle school and high school levels.

Dr. Hui Fang Huang "Angie" Su is a professor and researcher specializing in mathematics education, STEM, and support for special needs populations. She created the K-12 mathematics program Project MIND—Math Is Not Difficult, which is widely implemented across classrooms in the UUS and has received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching from the National Science Foundation.

A globally recognized figure in education, Dr. Su served as the keynote speaker at the University of Cambridge in 2023 and a keynote at Oxford University in 2024. In 2023, Guinness World Records recognized her pioneering contributions to mathematics education, further highlighting her global impact. 

In addition to her teaching and program development, Dr. Su has authored numerous publications, served on academic committees, and has been involved in multiple grants focused on improving STEM education. Her work includes developing specialized curriculum interventions for diverse learners, particularly those with autism and other special needs, and advocating for inclusive mathematics instruction at all educational levels. 

Dr. Su's dedication to the field matches her leadership roles, including serving as the current President of the Florida Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (FAMTE) and former President of the Florida Distance Learning Association (FDLA). She continues to inspire educators and students worldwide through her innovative approaches and passion for making mathematics accessible and engaging for all learners.

Marti Snyder, Ph.D., PMP, SPHR, CHSE, serves as the Director of Faculty Professional Development at Nova Southeastern University's Learning and Educational Center and is a professor in the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. She holds editorial board positions with The Qualitative Report and Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education journals. Additionally, she serves on the executive committee and board of directors for the Society for Experiential Education. Dr. Snyder’s research focuses on the intersection of learning technology, design, and information systems, with her recent work focusing the application of generative AI in qualitative research and ethical and responsible use for teaching, learning, and research in higher education. 

Dr. Watson-Huggins currently serves as the Instructional Technologist for a private not for profit school located in South Florida and substitute teacher with the Broward County School Board. Professionally, Dr. Watson-Huggins is also a licensed real estate agent, registered surety agent/ bail bondsman, notary public and Private Investigator in the State of Florida. 

Dr. Watson-Huggins completed her Doctor of Education Degree at Nova Southeastern University in the Abraham Fischler College of Education. Her area of expertise is in Instructional Technology and Distance Education with special emphasis on gamification and learning technology in the classroom. Dr. Watson’s research paper is entitled “An Experimental Study on the Effects of a Gamified Software Intervention in Mathematics Achievement Among Sixth Grade Students.”

Dr. Watson-Huggins has tremendous experience in research and online learning systems. Dr. Huggins is a member of several Honor societies including Phi Kappa Pi, Kappa Delta Pi, and Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honors Society.

Dr. Watson-Huggins is a Past President of the Fischler College of Education (FCE) Student Government Association at Nova Southeastern University and Vice President of the FCE Omega Theta Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi and current serve as an Associate Counselor. Dr. Watson has also published in several journals and currently serves as a reviewer for the Kappa Delta Pi Record and New Teacher Advocate Journals.