Purdue Global Village is a virtual higher education conference designed and delivered by the Center for Teaching and Learning for faculty, administrators, staff, students, alumni, and partner organizations. The event's mission is to provide a forum for collaborative professional development to enhance student learning in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. The Center for Teaching and Learning at Purdue University Global has provided an annual professional development conference since 2007.

The Purdue Global Village 2024 Steering Committee

Dr. Tomicka Williams

Assistant Academic Department Chair, Public Safety, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Tomicka Williams has been a dedicated and passionate Educator and Public Administrator for more than 15 years. Currently, she serves as the Assistant Academic Department Chair of Public Safety. Her experience includes teaching, curriculum development, coaching, research, conference planning, and leadership. Prior to higher education, Dr. Williams worked in the public sector with Congress, Local Government, and Fortune 500 organizations. In these roles, Dr. Williams’ opportunities allowed her to work as a Congressional Aid, Human Resource Administrator, and Researcher. Dr. Williams has a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Homeland Security Coordination. Each educational journey and career opportunity provided Dr. Williams with the ability to excel in her passion for social change in building relationships and connecting communities through public service, education, and research. Outside of her professional work and passions, Dr. Williams spends her spare time volunteering and working with community organizations to help with hunger and homelessness.  

Jamie Thornton

Faculty, English and Rhetoric, School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies

Jamie Thornton graduated from the University of Texas with a B.A. in Political Science, and then continued to Texas Christian University, where she obtained her master’s degree in Education, and her Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition. She currently works for Purdue Global, where she continues to be a part of the educational community as a full-time professor in the English and Rhetoric department.

Gina Quesinberry

Assistant Dean of Operations, School of Health Sciences

Gina Quesinberry supports the academic department chairs, program chairs, and dean in the day-to-day operations of the School of Health Sciences, helping to ensure the school’s overall goals and missions are aligned with and supportive of the Purdue Global strategic missions and goals. She contributes to the overall success of the school through positive, collaborative relationships with peers and external departments, working synergistically on special projects with colleagues throughout Purdue Global, our vendor partners, and the extended Purdue University family. Committed to fostering academic excellence and student success, Quesinberry has been a member of the Center for Teaching and Learning Advisory Board, the Purdue Global Village Steering Committee, the Assessment Advisory Committee, the Virtual Reality Steering Committee, Chairperson for the Doctoral Education Benefit Committee. Additionally, Quesinberry was co-chair of the Purdue Global Awards Committee which was responsible for the development of the Purdue G.L.O.B.A.L. Distinction Awards.

After starting her career at the Janet P. Lewis Child Development Center in 1996, Quesinberry later joined Strayer University, Grand Canyon University, and Purdue Global as an adjunct faculty member and assistant chair. She has a diverse teaching portfolio and has experience working with individuals and families facing housing instability, people with disabilities, and adolescents receiving psychiatric care.

Laurie Millam

Academic Department Chair, School of Business and Information Technology

Laurie Millam has 18 years of experience in the education field, which includes teaching in the public school system and local community college before joining Purdue Global (formerly Kaplan University) in 2002. She serves as academic department chair in the First Term-Management Department in the School of Business and Information Technology. Prior to joining higher education, Millam worked in the business sector for 22 years, encompassing roles such as hourly employee, assistant manager, manager, and general manager, a position which she held for six years. She is currently a doctoral student at Grand Canyon University working on her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership. 

Dr. Shaun Jamison

Associate Dean of Academics, Purdue Global Law School

As Associate Dean of Academics at Purdue Global Law School, Dr. Shaun Jamison oversees faculty and academics. He conceived of and created the Future of Law Practice and Cybersecurity courses. He co-created the AI Law course as well.  Jamison's academic career has focused on skills development and emerging law practice and technology issues.  In addition to his law degree, Dr. Jamison has a Ph.D. in Education.

Dr. Peggy L. Hohensee

Mathematics Department Chair, School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies

Dr. Peggy L. Hohensee is the Mathematics Department Chair for Purdue Global (PG).  At G, Peggy leads a team of nearly 100 math instructors who teach classes ranging from introductory math to graduate statistics. Peggy has more than 25 years of experience in education including 20+ years in higher education in Louisiana, with Kaplan University, and with PG.  Peggy completed an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction and an M.S. in applied mathematics both from Nicholls State University. Peggy completed her Ph.D. in educational leadership and research at Louisiana State University.

Laurie Hansen

Employee Engagement Manager

Laurie Hansen has served in many roles with Purdue Global, and her current role is Employee Engagement Manager, and she works with the Communication and Graduation teams. Ms. Hansen thrives in environments fostering allyship, diversity, inclusion and belonging, health and wellness, and collaboration. Ms. Hansen looks forward to the future of working in the ever-changing landscape of online teaching and learning. 

Jessi Eaton

Manager of Student Life

Jessi Eaton has more than twenty years of experience in higher education, focused on student engagement and leadership development. She holds an MSEd from Capella University in Leadership for Higher Education. Her experience in student affairs includes student activities, communications, and management of both professional and student staff. She is currently the manager of student life at Purdue Global, where she leads the administration and development of engagement programs. Her professional interests include cross-generational communication and management, and the history of the student union field. She lives in northern Minnesota and enjoys volunteering and spending time with her family.  

Casey Brandt

Success Coach

Casey Brandt lives in South Carolina and has been at Purdue Global for one and a half years. He currently works as a Student Success Coach and he is eager to learn about ways he can use his position to support others and be an agent of change. He prioritizes relationship building by finding a way to connect with someone right away and then learning more about them to deepen that connection. Casey has a Master's Degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina and loves baking, playing video games, and spending time with his cat, Mako. 

Joni Boone

Senior Manager, New Faculty Experience

Joni Boone is the Senior Manager, New Faculty Experience, where she strives to welcome new faculty and prepare them for their transition to the online classroom at Purdue Global. She began her career at the university in 2006, teaching in the Composition Department and tutoring in the Writing Center, and she was a Faculty Developer at the Center for Teaching and Learning for ten years. Prior to her time at Purdue Global, she taught and tutored writing and literature and worked as a corporate trainer and technical writer. Joni enjoys gardening, books, baking, and yoga. 

Liz Fitzgerald

Director, Center for Teaching and Learning

Liz Fitzgerald lives in Iowa and has been with Purdue Global for 19 years. She currently serves as Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. Through her work, Liz strives to help faculty and staff increase efficiency and streamline tasks to help maximize their effectiveness in various roles. She enjoys using technology to make things easier and more meaningful. Before working with the CTL, she served as Manager of Campus Curriculum Operations in support of fifteen ground campus and learning center locations. Her research interests include positive psychology, innovative training and development techniques, and using technology to enhance participant engagement in virtual training environments. Liz holds an MBA, a Master of Science in Higher Education, and a graduate certificate in project management. Outside of work, Liz loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, reading, digital photography, and walking/hiking.

If you are interested in serving on the Purdue Global Village Steering Committee, please email pgvillage@purdueglobal.edu.