The Speakers

Tami Dewes earned a Bachelor's degree in Home Economics/Early Childhood Education from South Dakota State University and  Elementary Education from Dakota State University. She has experience as a Program Director at Youth & Family Services for Girls, Inc., as well as 23 years in K-12 education.  Her roles at the Rapid City Catholic School System included  Child Development Director, K – 8th classroom teacher, Data Base Manager/Technology Coordinator, faculty trainer and accreditation. For the past 9 years, Tami has taught in the General Education Department at WDTC, conducts faculty training and is an Assessment Coordinator. Tami, along with fellow Assessment Coordinator Justin, have presented on Assessment of Student Learning at various conferences throughout the United States for the past 8 years. Key components of the robust assessment process developed by Assessment Coordinators at WDTC include significant faculty support and training, and manageable assessment processes  - these are important!

Dr. Joe Levy

Dr. Joseph D. Levy, serves as the Associate Vice Provost of Accreditation and Quality Improvement at Excelsior University. Joe earned a BA in English from Baldwin-Wallace College, an MS in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University, and his Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from National Louis University. Joe is a member of the Student Affairs Assessment Leaders (SAAL) Board of Directors, co-creator and instructor for the Applying and Leading Assessment in Student Affairs open course, and endorsed speaker for the National Institute of Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA). Author, presenter, trainer, and consultant, Joe enjoys leveraging his academic and student affairs experience from multiple institutional types to talk assessment, quality assurance, and institutional betterment.

Dr. Michelle Newhart is an Instructional Designer at Mt. San Antonio College. She supports faculty development in teaching, technology, and course design, with a focus on accessibility and distance learning. She has taught sociology and research methods as an adjunct at several institutions including University of Colorado-Boulder, Cal Poly Humboldt, University of La Verne, and her own college, Mt. San Antonio.  With over two decades of experience in higher education and content development, she has worked in instructional support, educator training, and content development.

Dr. Felicia Ramírez started her higher education journey at a community college, earning her AA. She holds a B.A. & M.A. in Communication Studies and an Ed.D in Adult Education. She has served as Communication Faculty at Paradise Valley Community College since 2005. As an award-winning instructor, she specializes in rhetorical strategies and effective speaking habits co-authoring two communication textbooks. Felicia is an assessment scholar and practitioner who has led assessment efforts at PVCC since 2012. She serves on the Advisory Team for Maricopa Assessment Committee (MAC), is a Southwest Regional Rep for National Assessment Week (NAW), Chair of the Assess Arizona Regional Conference, and volunteers for the Grand Challenges in Assessment Project. Over the years, Felicia has been highly involved in the college’s HLC accreditation activities and creating meaningful faculty development opportunities. In 2022, Dr. Ramírez completed the AAC&U Institute on ePortfolios and led PVCC’s efforts to infuse ePortfolios in academic programs and courses. She organizes a student ePortfolio competition, collaborates with faculty to foster integrative learning through ePortfolios, and helps students tell their learning stories. 

Dr. Carolyn Sandoval serves as the Senior Director of Instruction and Pedagogy at the Teaching and Learning Commons. She has worked in higher education for over 25 years and has extensive experience in teaching and in developing and leading programs aimed at faculty and student success. Prior to her appointment at UCSD in 2018, Dr. Sandoval worked in the Dean of Faculties unit at a large research institution where she provided individual and departmental consulting on a variety of topics, including curriculum redesign, inclusive and equitable teaching practices, and peer review of teaching. She also designed and facilitated programs to prepare new faculty for their teaching role, and workshops including course design, active and collaborative learning, engaging students in online courses, and other topics related to teaching excellence.

Dr. Sandoval worked several years in the areas of outreach and retention for Chicanx/Latinx students at the University of New Mexico and the University California, Riverside. She has years of experience as a researcher, lecturer and consultant. She has taught graduate and undergraduate level courses in learning theories, qualitative research methods, and social justice education, both online and face-to-face. She has provided educational consulting at various colleges and universities across the country and internationally. Her research interests include transformative learning, adult learning and development, women and mass incarceration, and social justice.

Dr. Sandoval received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, a Master of Science degree in Adult Education from Texas A&M University, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University.

Dr. Charles Van Liew is a professor of psychology at Glendale Community College specializing in Research Methods, Statistics, and Health with a Ph.D. from Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions in addition to other graduate degrees in Psychology and Applied Statistics. He believes in lifelong learning and is working toward earning a bachelor’s in accounting that will allow him to become test to become a Certified Public Accountant. He also is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he served as a Legal Chief for a large battalion.

Presently, a dedicated educator and published researcher, Charles has long championed service, equity, and inquiry in his professional and personal endeavors. He believes in constantly striving and pesonal growth and aims to inspire others to become the best versions of themselves—whatever that may be for them. He has authored or contributed to over 60 peer-reviewed publications and presentations, is actively involved in Psi Beta and the Honors Program at his college, and frequently collaborates with students to explore the relevance of psychological science in real-world contexts.

Now bringing his vision and values into the entrepreneurial space, Charles is co-founding an AireServ franchise alongside his father in the Glendale/Peoria area. Their partnership draws on a deep familial bond and a shared history of business insight and technical expertise. His father brings decades of hands-on knowledge in business, management, and the HVAC and refrigeration systems, while Charles contributes operational planning, strategic oversight, and a background in data analytics honed through years of academic and service-based roles. Both Charles and his father share a love of quantitative reasoning and have experience and training in finance and accounting.

Charles lives in Arizona with his wife of 18 years, Allison, and their young sons, Justus (9) and Ryker (7). Allison is a high school educator—teaching physics and physical sciences—and also works in administration as the technology coordinator for her campus. Charles and his family enjoy traveling, exploring, and learning together. Whether in the classroom, at home, or now through this new business venture, Charles remains deeply committed to developing purposeful systems that uplift individuals, families, and communities alike.