Emily Faulconer is an assistant professor and faculty research associate for the College of Arts and Sciences—Worldwide Campus, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She earned a PhD in environmental engineering sciences from the University of Florida in 2012. Dr. Faulconer interests are within the scholarship of teaching and learning, primarily in undergraduate research and online education. Safety is also an area of interest, and she serves as the chair of the Academic Safety Committee for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is also actively involved in national level service through the National Science Teaching Association as an online advisor and as an advisory board member for their Journal of College Science Teaching.
Megan Gooding is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Educational Technology at Boise State University. Her research explores the way people use digital technologies to teach and learn. Most recently, she has focused on whether the fake news phenomenon of 2016 influenced faculty to incorporate social networking tools or media literacy into their pedagogical practices.
Amy Gruss is an assistant professor of environmental engineering within the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Kennesaw State University. Formerly, she worked as an environmental engineer for CDM Smith. She earned a PhD in environmental engineering Sciences from the University of Florida in 2013.
Jennifer A. Kepka is a faculty member at Lane Community College in developmental education and an instructional designer. She is a doctoral student at Boise State University, where her research explores the process for and impact of large-scale adoptions of commercial software in education.
Patrick R. Lowenthal is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Technology at Boise State University. He specializes in designing and developing online learning environments. His research focuses on how people communicate using emerging technologies—with a specific focus on issues of presence, identity, and community—in online learning environments.
Dana Shreaves in an instructional designer at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. She provides instructional support for faculty and leads the university's training programs for online, blended, and technology-enhanced teaching.
Michael Simonson is a professor at Nova Southeastern University in the Instructional Technology and Distance Education program. He has an affiliated appointment with NSU’s Patel College of Health Care Sciences. He earned his PhD from the University of Iowa in instructional systems. He was named Professor of the Year for the Fischler School of Education at Nova Southeastern University for 2011-12. In 2016 he has named to the Hall of Fame of the U.S. Distance Learning Association. Simonson has authored four major textbooks dealing with distance education, instructional technology, instructional computing, and instructional media. His two most recent books received first place book awards from the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. Mike has over 200 scholarly publications, and in excess of 250 professional presentations dealing with distance education and instructional technology. He is a successful grant writer having secured millions of dollars in external funding. Dr. Simonson is founding editor of the Quarterly Review of Distance Education, Distance Learning Journal, and Proceedings of Selected Research and Development Papers presented at the annual conventions of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. Dr. Simonson was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps with the rank of captain.
Kerry Volansky holds a doctorate of education degree from the University of Findlay with an emphasis in online teaching and learning. She served as an associate professor at the University of Findlay (2001-18) and is the current program director for the hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Hanover College, a new program in development. Her research interests include online teaching and learning; specifically, the exploration of how to teach “hands-on” skills in an online environment. Dr. Volansky has lectured on numerous topics on a national and local level as an invited speaker and an industry expert.
