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I have been at Saint Joseph’s University for over fifteen years. My expertise is Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Accessibility. I am also a Quality Matters (QM) peer reviewer. I earned a B.S. in Elementary Education with a concentration in the education of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and an M.S. in Instructional Technology, both from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.

When I am not designing courses, I love to take spontaneous trips around the world. To date, I have visited over 13 different countries. Although I love to travel, as a Philadelphia native, there is no place like home.

Chontel, what do you geek out about?

My passion for exploring the world and immersing myself in different cultures has shaped me into a true travel geek. Traveling is a transformational adventure that opens my mind to new perspectives and allows me to learn about, experience, and appreciate different cultures. I’m always eager to try new foods, learn about traditions, and connect with people.

Did you know?

This is my 15th year at SJU! I’m a passionate advocate for inclusive learning and working environments. I believe that every learner, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds, should have access to high-quality education that caters to their individual needs and supports their success. I enjoy working with faculty to enhance their course designs and promote a more inclusive learning environment by incorporating accessibility and universal design for learning (UDL) principles.

An interesting resource (article, news story, book, podcast, etc.) I recently discovered...

Over the summer, I listened to the audiobook The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint by Leanne Hughes. This 3-hour audiobook also included free helpful resources for workshop facilitators. Throughout the year, our team designs and facilitates workshops on a variety of topics, so we are always looking for ways to improve our planning process and facilitation.  

I bring my past experiences as an educator and disability service provider to the Academic Technology team as a Learner Experience Designer. I received a degree in Secondary Education (English) from Point Park University and spent six years teaching in a variety of public education settings, followed by a stint in a university disability services office. I thrive when coming up with creative solutions to problems, prioritizing accessibility, and drinking chai lattes. Outside of working to improve both faculty and student course experiences, you can find me doing a jigsaw puzzle, volunteering with community organizations, and Googling how to renovate my 100+ year-old house.

Cas, what do you geek out about?

The list of things I don’t geek out about is probably shorter! My love of puzzles probably tops the list, though. I like all kinds of puzzles - word, logic, number, geographic, and jigsaw puzzles too. As someone who can do a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle in a few hours, it can get to be an expensive hobby. I joined a local Facebook group to offset the cost - dozens of people trade, meet up, or even (peak geek, here) have get-togethers.  

Did you know?

My background in accessibility work frames all that I do. The disability community is historically underrepresented, especially in higher education. I operate from an accessibility mindset, incorporate elements of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and amplify disabled voices and perspectives in my work on the Academic Technology Team.

An interesting resource (article, news story, book, podcast, etc.) I recently discovered...

The most impactful book I read this summer was There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraquib. It’s a poignant, poetic novel that encouraged me to reflect on society and myself.     

I started as an educator, and have taught all ages, from 2 to 102! My first position in higher education was four years ago, but I’ve designed courses and learning in healthcare and the public sector for over a decade, and taught in the classroom even before that. I’m a Canvas Certified Educator, and focus on helping faculty leverage technology, pedagogy, and empathy to build courses that focus on the relationship between the learner and the content. I have a B.A. in Psychology, and an M.A. in Teaching with a focus on curriculum and design.

When I’m not partnering with faculty you can find me solving logic puzzles, volunteering with schools, or searching for the world’s best chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Alyssa, what do you geek out about?

It’s hard to pick just one! My hobby might just be trying new hobbies… I love learning new things and exploring different crafts. Lately, I’m on a quest to perfect the chocolate chip cookie, crochet a realistic octopus, and volunteer with schools to improve financial education in Pennsylvania. So far I can tell you that the state of the butter you use in your cookie will drastically change its appearance/texture, an acrylic yarn blend is the best medium for creating small sea life critters, and 2nd graders are way better at city planning than most professionals!

Did you know?

Designing courses centered around learners makes the course more intuitive for both students.. and faculty. If I’ve learned anything through my career, it’s that frustration with mediums or technology can drastically impact the amount of knowledge that is transferred or retained. I became a Canvas Certified Educator so I could help faculty maximize the resources the learning management system has to offer, to hone in course designs that keep the learners first and foremost in mind.

An interesting resource (article, news story, book, podcast, etc.) I recently discovered...

Ologies with Allie Ward - This podcast is a lighthearted and informative look at all of the "ologies" of science! If you like learning a little bit about everything, this is a great one-stop shop. Allie explores a different topic each week with experts from the fields. Topics range from Puffinology (Yes, Puffins!) to Heliology (Suns/Eclipse), to Coffeeology (Coffee).

I have extensive experience as an Instructional Designer/Technologist. I have a broad history of working with faculty, students, and administrators in professional adult, customized learning, as well as traditional undergraduate and graduate higher education. I earned my BA from Neumann University and have an M.Ed. in Learning Design and Technology from Penn State University.

Forming constructive relationships with instructors and subject matter experts to specialize in online learning and hybrid pedagogy with a focus on technology integration in the higher ed space for the benefit of students is my motivation. 

If you ever need a hand with anything technology-related or just want to vent and/or cheer about all things Philly sports, I am your guy.

Rob, what do you geek out about?

I’ve been kind of a bookworm since I was a young kid in grade school and took part in one of the first iterations of the “Book It!” Program. (My class was actually featured on an episode of 20/20 and local news. Asking me the year will make me feel old though) It is likely during a lunch break at the office you may see me with my head in a book. I like any and all genres from Sci-Fi novels to historical fiction to Harry Potter or A Song of Ice and Fire.

Did you know?

I have been working in fields related to publishing, digital content creation, learning management systems and academic technology integration for over 20 years at multiple higher education and professional institutions in the region. I still enjoy the ongoing process of learning new things and watching the landscape, specifically in higher ed. grow and evolve.

An interesting resource (article, news story, book, podcast, etc.) I recently discovered...

Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage is a podcast I have recently come across. Hosted by Malcom Gladwell, every episode is a different, unique story of a medal of honor recipient. Most are around 25-30 minutes so great for quick listening on a walk or a car ride home. If you only catch one episode I recommend “How to Stop a School Shooting”. What a powerful first-person account.

I ♥️ design (and my husband and two kids). In 2003, I graduated from Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University), where I received a BS in Graphic Design Communications. Additionally, I hold an MS in Organization Development and Leadership (ODL) from Saint Joseph's University.

I have been working and collaborating with faculty, staff, and students at Saint Joseph's University for over fifteen years! As a Senior Learner Experience Designer, my talents, skills, and love for design and training are infused into the learning design process. I feel like I am living proof of “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Yes, I am a geek!

Through Saint Joseph's University, I have had four awesome experiences advising groups of students traveling all over the country doing week-long service trips building houses with Habitat for Humanity.

Karen, what do you geek out about?

I love to garden! It’s been a passion that’s developed over the years, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, gardening became a healthy outlet for me while many activities went dormant. When I moved into my house in 2016, the landscaping was growing wild - full of weeds, self-planted junk trees, and English ivy! Ugh, I never knew I had such a hatred for ivy until I had to pull it out of every inch of my backyard! Over the years, my Mom helped to transplant or divide plants from her own garden, and those of her friends. She shared her knowledge of location preferences and plant care. Then, when the shutdown created an environment where I was working from home, supporting my kids with homeschooling, and maintaining our home while my husband was working extremely long hours as an essential worker, gardening became a physical and mental escape to what started to feel like a cage. Thriving with a newfound sense of connection to plants, I started to vigorously seek knowledge in any form (countless Google searches, plant apps, gardening shows, plant, soil, and gardener documentaries, Zoom webinars…you name it!) Now, this thirst for knowledge continues to grow as I discover more about Native species, pollinator-friendly plants, and what plants & trees delight me! I am extremely grateful for the always-inspiring, Barnes Arboretum, a treasured space for me to experience all year round. Want to meet me there?

Did you know?

My undergraduate degree is in Graphic Design Communications, and my first role at Saint Joseph’s University back in 2008 was as a Digital Media Designer. I love to create visual learning experiences! Presentations, infographics/posters, and videos are just a few examples of visual communication that I develop or assist others in developing. After completing my master’s program in Organizational Development and Leadership, I started to collaborate closely with faculty to create workshops, where students could build foundational visual communication skills applicable to any major. While developing and facilitating student-centered workshops is a passion, I also love design challenges where I can push myself.

An interesting resource (article, news story, book, podcast, etc.) I recently discovered...

Up the Anti is a newer podcast series focused on critical equity and inclusion conversations with hosts Dr. Alex Iannucci (SJU Alum!!!) and Sydney Lobosco. Both hosts share personal stories, insights, and strategies in an effort to help build inclusive environments in the workplace. Each week the hosts and guests express sincerity, humor, and empathy as they dive deep into important conversations. My favorite episode so far is “What’s the ‘Right’ Approach for Driving Change and Championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” as the hosts shared a real-life experience where a training participant pushed back and how Alex and Sydney navigated that challenging (and relatable) situation.

I am an LMS administrator and an instructional technologist in the Technical Support Services area. I am passionate about supporting and implementing student-centered education, integrating technology in the classroom, and engaging students at all levels and from all backgrounds.

As an educational leader, I have led many successful and exciting projects, been on the leading edge of educational technology, and brought innovative professional development and academic technology systems to faculty members and students.

I attended Temple University for my undergraduate degree and received a Masters of Instructional Technology from Saint Joseph's University (‘96). 

I am an avid reader, runner, and gamer. I live in suburban Philadelphia with my wife and child.  

Andy, what do you geek out about?

Video games: I love the creativity and innovation that goes into video games. I also love the sense of accomplishment that comes from mastering a difficult game. Some of my favorite video games include The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Portal.

Sailing: I love the feeling of being out on the water, the challenge of sailing a boat, and the beauty of the ocean. I've been sailing since I was a kid.

Technology: I love learning about new technologies and how they work. I'm also fascinated by the potential that technology has to change the world. Some of my favorite technologies include artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and quantum computing.

Vinyl records: I love the sound of vinyl records, and I enjoy collecting them. I also love the history of vinyl records, and I find it fascinating to learn about the different ways that vinyl records have been used over the years.    

Did you know? 

I am the Manager of Academic Systems with over 25 years of experience at Saint Joseph's University. I started out delivering overhead projectors and TVs to classrooms, but I have since worked my way up to managing multiple academic systems, such as Canvas, Kaltura, Zoom, and Turnitin. I am passionate about using data to build analytics that can help improve decision-making and solve problems. I am also a strong advocate for using technology to enhance the learning experience for students.

I am excited to share my knowledge and expertise with others, and I am continually looking for new ways to improve the way we do things.

-Written with Google Bard AI…..

An interesting resource (article, news story, book, podcast, etc.) I recently discovered...

I couldn't pick just one favorite resource, so I went with two:

Book: Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. I'm a total sci-fi geek, and the Apple TV show (even though it's not exactly like the books) got me super into Asimov again. If you like space adventures and mind-bending stories, Foundation is a must-read.

Podcast: The New York Times' Hardfork. Keeping up with all the tech stuff – AI, legal battles, the whole shebang – can be a lot. But Kevin and Casey from Hardfork make it easy and even kinda fun. They talk about everything from Microsoft vs. Google to what the latest AI is doing. This podcast is awesome!"