Ann Armstrong, with more than 35 years of experience that spans business and education, is a seasoned leader, experienced in driving measurable organizational change through blended learning programs utilizing alternative and technology-enhanced formats. Today Ann is core faculty and doctoral mentor at Northcentral University in the School of Education. She is widely published in peer-reviewed journals and received the Academy of Human Resource Development cutting edge, top 10 papers award in 2009. In the spring of 2012 she was published in the Quarterly Review of Distance Education and the 2014 winter in Academy of Human Resource Development’s conference proceedings and the winter of 2017 in AECT’s conference proceedings. Ann is an expert in adult learning and leadership, project management, eLearning, and leveraging technology to provide cost-effective, scalable, and global solutions. She is a certified facilitator/coach for Dale Carnegie and a certified Quality Matters Peer Reviewer. Ann’s career includes roles as an executive director at Columbia University’s Teachers College where the Columbia Coaching Certification program was started under her leadership as well as the first online master’s degree in collaboration with the Center for Computing and Technology; an area practice executive for eBusiness and eLearning at IBM Global Services where her team designed and delivered the first global asynchronous learning program to 10,000 leaders; and a vice president of Ernst & Young’s eLearning Financial Services Practice where her team designed, delivered, and implemented large scale blended learning solutions for up to 210,000 global client employees including a CFO university, a Bank Wide Credit Certification, Six Sigma Certification, and Financial Advisor Specialist Certification Program for 13,000 financial advisors. Ann is a certified IBM consultant and a confirmed IBM principal. Ann received her doctoral degree in instructional technology and media specializing in adult learning and leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also holds a master of education from Teachers College, Columbia University; an MBA in Project Management from Capella University; a Master of Arts from Fairfield University in educational technology and media; and a Master of Arts in economics from University of Cincinnati.
Albert J. Gale has extensive experience in healthcare administration, serving as chief executive officer and multifacility manager of a number of acute general and psychiatric hospitals, physician practices, and outpatient programs. His global experience includes a three- year international assignment as CEO of a surgical hospital in Nalta, Bangladesh. Dr. Gale received his DBA at the University of Phoenix in August 2015 and earned a master of healthcare administration from Indiana University/Purdue in 1971. He has taught health care management, risk management, leadership,health care communication, strategic planning, and health care organization at other universities. He has mentored doctoral students through the dissertation process. He is a certified Dale Carnegie instructor with endorsements in leadership, communications, and building self-confidence. Dr. Gale’s research focuses on the impact of a multinational workforce on hospital operations. He has a number of publications and presentations on model validation and the role of culture in organizations. Dr. Gale is a member of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology.
Marianne C. Bickle is a professor and director of Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and director of Online Learning, College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, University of South Carolina–Columbia. Her research focuses on assisting nontradi- tional learners and accelerating online education programs. She has more than 20 years of experience teaching asynchronous online courses at large public higher education institutions.
Ryan Rucker is an instructor within the Department of Information Systems Technology at Midlands Technical College. He has been teaching face-to-face and online computer networking/programming courses at various public and private universities and colleges since June 2011. In addition, he has worked for more than 10 years in the information and educational technology fields. Dr. Rucker is a certified Master Reviewer by Quality Matters to review and assess the quality of online courses offered by higher education institutions. Ryan holds a EdD in curriculum/instruction from Valdosta State University, a MLIS from the University of South Carolina, a MEd in educational technology from The University of South Carolina Aiken, and a BS in technology support and training management from The University of South Carolina.
Hawazen Alharbi is a PhD candidate in educational technology at University of Calgary and a lecturer at the Educational Technology Department, King Abdulaziz University. She holds a master of science in instructional technology, Wilkes University. Hawazen research interests include MOOCs research, educational technology integration, faculty professional development and graduate supervision research.
Michele Jacobsen, PhD, is a professor and the associate dean, graduate programs, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. Michele’s current research projects include the design and evaluation of participatory learning environments that sponsor knowledge building and intellectual engagement, interdisciplinary approaches to peer mentoring for strong transitions to graduate school, and complex adaptive learning systems in high schools.
Berhane Teclehaimanot, PhD, is a professor of educational technology and program coordinator at the University of Toledo in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Berhane served for 14 years as a director of the Carver Teacher Education Center and taught over 29 years’ courses in educational technology, to strengthen the quality of graduate education through research and quality instruction at the graduate level. He has authored and coauthored over 65 research articles and has made over 90 presentations at the national, international and regional conferences on his research interests primarily on the integration of technology into the curriculum to enhance the teaching and learning process. In addition, he has provided over 62 faculty development/training workshops in various topics in the area of educational technology. Dr. Teclehaimanot’s research for the last 12 years also served as the basis for the federal and state grants totaling over $7 million. Dr. Teclehaimanot received the Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching and also Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Toledo, College of Education Alumni Affiliate and an outstanding Citizen Award from Council of the City of Toledo.
Jiyu You is director of digital education at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His research interests include learning environment design with technology and quality assurance of online courses.
Diana R. Franz, PhD, CPA, is the chair of and a professor in the accounting department in the College of Business and Innovation at The University of Toledo. Diana received her Ph.D. from Texas Tech University in Lubbock Texas where she received the College of Business Administration Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award. Prior to her PhD program, Diana worked as an auditor in public accounting and as a senior tax accountant for a bank holding company. Dr. Franz has presented at conferences in the United States and overseas and has published extensively in journals such as The Journal of Accountancy, CPA Journal, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Journal of Accounting, Auditing, and Finance, Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, among others.
Mingli Xiao earned her PhD from Ohio University. She is assistant director of instructional design and development at the University of Toledo. She also serves as a graduate faculty and teaches as an adjunct. Dr. Xiao’s research interests include online or blended course design and quality assurance, faculty development, computer assisted language learning, and second language acquisition. Dr. Xiao is a certified Quality Matters Master Reviewer and QM review Manager, APPQMR and IYOC facilitator. In addition to serving on the program committee for eLearn Conference since 2010, she also serves on the Horizon Editorial Board for Foreign Language EdTech Project and is a peer reviewer for several refereed journals.
Sue Ann Hochberg, JD, CCEP, RN, is a director of compliance and an adjunct instructor in the College of Law at the University of Toledo. Prior to working in compliance, she worked in online education. After moving to Toledo and prior to coming to the University of Toledo, Sue Ann worked as a temporary judicial clerk for the District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, was the president of the Center for Effective Government, and the commissioner of risk management for the City of Toledo. Sue Ann received a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Florida and graduated from the University of Miami School of Law, where she was a member of the law review.
