Any track (English or Spanish)

Applicant Title / Título: Director of Instructional Technology Center
Institution or System / Institución o Sistema: Laredo College
Preferred edition / Edición de preferencia: Any edition / Cualquier edición
Have taught an online course in the past three years / ¿Ha enseñado un curso en línea en los pasados tres años?: No
Have taken an online course in the past three years / ¿Ha tomado un curso en línea en los pasados tres años?: Yes
Have you been in charge of an instructional technology initiative / ¿Ha liderado alguna iniciativa de tecnología instruccional?: Yes
Have you been in charge of a distance education initiative / ¿Ha liderado alguna iniciativa de educación a distancia?: Yes
Years of experience in Higher Education / Años de experiencia en educación superior: 0-5 years
Gender / Género: Female
Age Range / Edad: 31 to 40
Are you Hispanic / ¿Es usted hispano?: Yes
Race Category / Raza: White
PART II: Education / Educación:
Highest Earned Degree / Grado más alto de educación obtenido: Master’s Degree
College/University / Colegio/Universidad: Texas A&M International University
Field/Major / Campo de estudio/Especialidad: Master of Science in Information Science
Other Degrees Earned / Otros grados obtenidos: Bachelor’s of Business Administration, Concentration in Management Information Systems
PART III: Experience / Experiencia:
Present Responsibilities / Resumen de responsabilidades:

As the Director of the Instructional Technology Center (ITC) at Laredo College, I lead strategic efforts to integrate technology in teaching, support faculty and student engagement, and oversee the adoption of innovative learning solutions. My responsibilities include managing a team dedicated to enhancing instructional effectiveness through digital tools, facilitating training sessions on platforms like Zoom Rooms and Harmonize Discussions, and promoting initiatives like student workshops to aid in bridging the digital gap. I also collaborate with the rest of my division on writing grant applications, such as the NTIA Digital Equity and SSAP 2.0 grants, to expand resources and accessibility for underserved student populations. Additionally, I collaborate with faculty to ensure our approach remains student-centered and adaptive to future educational demands. I work closely with cross-departmental partners, advocating for the ITC’s mission to ensure it remains a vital part of the college’s growth.

Academic and Professional Distinctions and Honors / Reconocimientos y premios académicos y profesionales:

In my career, I’ve earned recognition for my dedication to educational technology and innovation. Academically, I maintained a 4.0 GPA in my master’s program and am a member of Phi Kappa Phi. I am a founding member and Co-Chair of the Technology Advisory Council at Laredo College. Most recently, I received an Employee Recognition Certificate of Appreciation for my tech support in the Watermark initiative, and this year, I was awarded an Innovation Award for my role in supporting the launch of a faculty led podcast.

Civil and Community Activities / Actividades civiles y comunitarias:

I am deeply committed to supporting student engagement through my involvement in two student organizations at Laredo College. As the founder of the Multimedia Club, I created a space for students to use technology as a creative outlet and to build skills they can apply throughout their education and beyond. A key goal of the club is to produce content in both English and Spanish, as many of our students are native Spanish speakers from Nuevo Laredo. The club’s current president primarily uses Spanish, reinforcing our focus on inclusivity and bilingual outreach. Additionally, as an advisor for Phi Theta Kappa, I mentor students in leadership and scholarship, guiding them through projects that emphasize cultural heritage and service. Through these roles, I aim to foster an environment where students feel empowered and connected to their community.

Professional Goals / Metas profesionales:

My primary professional goal is to advance educational technology to bridge gaps in access, equity, and engagement for all students. I aim to continue developing inclusive, tech-driven initiatives that enhance learning experiences and prepare students for the workforce. I’m passionate about expanding support for bilingual and underserved student populations, fostering a learning environment that reflects our community’s diversity. Long-term, I aspire to pursue a PhD in Learning Sciences or Educational Technology, equipping me with research-backed strategies to better serve students and faculty. I also plan to contribute to regional and national conversations on instructional innovation, sharing insights from my work at Laredo College to support equity in higher education. My goal is to remain at the forefront of instructional technology, continuously improving access and success for all learners.

Please explain what you expect to gain by participating in the H-LTLA / Explique lo que espera adquirir al participar en la H-LTLA:

By participating in the H-LTLA, I aim to gain practical strategies for promoting digital equity and enhancing instructional practices. This experience would allow me to learn from experts, deepening my ability to address challenges in technology access, bilingual support, and student engagement. As an advisor to student clubs, I actively connect with students through tailored outreach and content, gaining firsthand insight into their needs and preferences. H-LTLA would equip me to further refine these efforts, applying new skills directly to our programs. I’m eager to collaborate with professionals who share my commitment to inclusive education and to bring back impactful practices that equip students with the digital literacy and resources they need to succeed.

PART IV: Professional References / Referencias profesionales:
Professional Reference #1 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #1:

Dr. Elizabeth Rodriguez
Dean of Academic Innovation & Technology
Laredo College
(956) 721-5879
elizabeth.rodriguez@laredo.edu

Professional Reference #2 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #2:

Linda Ramirez
Business Management Department Chair; Center for Teaching Excellence and Learning Lead Faculty
Laredo College
(956) 721-5306
linda.ramirez@laredo.edu

Professional Reference #3 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #3:

Prakash Mansinghani
Social Sciences Department Chair; Center for Teaching Excellence and Learning Lead Faculty (OER Division)
(956) 794-4081
prakash.mansinghani@laredo.edu

Upload a letter from a president, chancellor, or administrator / Carta de recomendación:
See the recommendation letter
PART V: Initiative and Mentor / Iniciativa y mentor:
A letter describing a project that you will consider implementing at your campus or organization with the name of the Mentor of your preference. Your Mentor can be different from your references and should be a staff with experience in the area selected. / Una carta que describa un proyecto que considerará implementar en su campus u organización con el nombre del mentor de su preferencia:
See the Initiative letter
PART VI: Statement of Purpose / Declaración de Intención:
1. From your perspective, what are the top three issues facing higher education today? Why? (no more than 300 words) / Desde su perspectiva, ¿cuáles son los tres principales problemas que enfrenta la educación superior hoy día? ¿Por qué?:

From my perspective, one of the major issues facing higher education is the technology gap between students and faculty. Today’s students have grown up in a digital world, with technology deeply integrated into their lives, whereas many faculty members have had fewer tech milestones or less exposure to evolving tools. This difference can lead to friction in the learning environment, as faculty may not feel equipped to integrate technology in ways that resonate with students, while students may find traditional approaches less engaging.

A second issue is the increasingly short attention spans of students. With information constantly available and rapid digital interactions as the norm, students are accustomed to quick, high-impact content. This shift presents challenges in higher education, where complex concepts require sustained focus. Institutions must now innovate to maintain engagement without compromising the depth of learning.

Finally, there is a significant issue with email fatigue and overcommunication. Both students and faculty tend to skip over or skim emails, leading to missed information, miscommunications, and a lack of responsiveness. With many institutions relying on email for critical announcements, this can result in missed deadlines, misunderstandings, and missed engagement opportunities. Addressing communication channels and developing more streamlined, effective messaging are now essential for maintaining clear, accessible communication.

2. What are your own institution’s priorities and challenges with regard to leveraging instructional technology and distance education for the benefit of the entire organization? (no more than 300 words) / ¿Cuáles son las prioridades y los retos de su institución con respecto al aprovechamiento de la tecnología educativa y la educación a distancia en beneficio de toda la organización?:

One of Laredo College’s planned strategic goals is to “revolutionize communication and technology.” This vision prioritizes the creation of a state-of-the-art digital infrastructure that supports collaboration, learning, and community engagement. Our primary objective is to ensure that both on-campus and distance learners benefit from accessible, innovative educational experiences.

Challenges arise with overlapping responsibilities, where a lack of clear delineation between departmental initiatives and infrastructure goals can lead to redundancy and confusion. Another institutional challenge is promoting digital literacy and engagement across our diverse campus community. Another ongoing challenge is to streamline efforts through cross-departmental collaboration and targeted communication, ensuring all technology investments are cohesive and aligned with our strategic goals.

3. If have the influence to instill change at your Institution, was one thing you could change, what would that be; and what is the unique aspect of your institution you would like to keep? (no more than 300 words) / Si pudiera influir para lograr algún cambio en su institución, ¿cuál sería? y ¿cuál es el aspecto único de su institución que le gustaría mantener?

If I could instill change at my institution, I would improve the overall responsiveness and engagement of both faculty and students. Greater responsiveness would enhance communication and create a more collaborative, supportive environment, helping students stay connected and proactive in their educational journey. With more engaged and responsive interactions, we could address student needs more quickly and foster a learning community where everyone is actively involved and motivated.
The unique aspect I would preserve is the dedication, creativity, and heart that define our campus community. Our faculty, staff, and even students work together diligently to benefit student success, as seen in initiatives like the OER program. Faculty and staff continually strive to update instructional methods, while students show resilience and a genuine passion for learning. Many of our students cross the bridge from Mexico daily just to attend classes, bringing their creativity, expressiveness, and determination every day.
This shared commitment between us all creates an atmosphere of mutual respect and motivation, making Laredo College truly special. I would preserve this spirit of collaboration, determination, and care that fuels our institution.

Evaluation

Please provide your input for the following candidate application, using a scale from 1 to 3 (based on the rubric and metrics provided for each area):

Applicant name (for your reference): *

Title (for your reference): *

Track of interest (for your reference): *

Part I. Personal Information and Demographic Data

Part I. Personal Information and Demographic Data: Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: Have not taught or taken an online course, or have not been in charge of instructional technology or a distance education initiative, and have less than 5 years of experience in Higher Ed.); 2- (Good: Have taught or taken at least two online courses, or have been in charge of instructional technology or a distance education initiative, and have between 6 and 10 years of experience in Higher Ed.); 3- (Excellent: Have taught or taken two or more online courses, have been in charge of instructional technology or a distance education initiative, and have between 11 and 20 or more years of experience in Higher Ed.) *

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Part II. Education

Part II. Education: Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1- (Poor: Bachelor’s degree or less than a bachelor’s degree in any academic Field); 2- (Good: Bachelor’s degree in Education with a major related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed., or a master’s degree in Education); 3- (Excellent: Master or courses towards a doctor degree, or a doctor’s degrees in Education related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed.) *

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Part III. Experience:

Present Responsibilities, distinctions, and activities: 1- (Poor: Not present responsibilities related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed., and doesn't have distinctions or activities related to the fields); 2- (Good: Present responsibilities related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed., and mentioned distinctions or activities related to the fields); 3- (Excellent: Present responsibilities related to management or supervision of Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. initiatives, and mentioned the distinctions or activities related to the fields). *

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Professional Goals: Professional Goals: 1 – (Poor: Goals described are not related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Initiatives); 2 – (Good: Goals described are related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Initiatives); 3 – (Excellent: Goals described are innovative and related to the management or supervision of Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Initiatives). *

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Please explain what you expect to gain by participating in the H-LTLA: Please explain what you expect to gain by participating in the H-LTLA: 1 – (Poor: Candidate’s expectations are not aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies); 2 – (Good: Candidate’s expectations are in some way aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies); 3 – (Excellent: Candidate’s expectations are significantly aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies) *

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Part IV. Professional References

Part IV. Professional References: Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: Provided are one or two references and are not related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Faculty or Administrators, and the nomination letter is pending); 2 – (Good: Provided two references and are related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Faculty or Administrators, and included the nomination letter or provided the evidence that is in process); 3 – (Excellent: Provided more than two references and are related to Learning Technologies or Distance Ed. Administrators, and included the nomination letter) *

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Part V. Initiative and Mentor

Part V. Initiative and Mentor: Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: The candidate’s initiative is unclear or not aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies, and the mentor does not seem to have experience in the proposed initiative area.); 2 – (Good: The candidate’s initiative is clear and somehow aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies, and the mentor seems to have some experience in the proposed initiative area.); 3 – (Excellent: The candidate’s initiative is clear and very aligned with the H-LTLA curriculum and competencies, and the mentor seems to have a lot of experience in the proposed initiative area) *

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Part VI. Statement of Purpose:

1. From your perspective, what are the top three issues facing higher education today? Why? Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: The issues and explanations are not clear or pertinent to the education reality today); 2 – (Good: The issues and explanations are somehow clear or pertinent to the education reality today); 3 – (Excellent: The issues and explanations are very clear and pertinent to the education reality today) *

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2. What are your own institution’s priorities and challenges with regard to leveraging instructional technology and distance education for the benefit of the entire organization? Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: The priorities and challenges described are not directly related to leveraging instructional technology and distance education); 2 – (Good: The priorities and challenges described are somehow related to leveraging instructional technology and distance education); 3 – (Excellent: The priorities and challenges described are directly related to leveraging instructional technology and distance education.) *

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3. If have the influence to instill change at your Institution, was one thing you could change, what would that be; and what is the unique aspect of your institution you would like to keep? Please provide your input using a scale from 1 to 3 with the following metrics: 1 – (Poor: Only mention one aspect, and is not directly related to a thing that he/she could change or keep at his/her Institution); 2 – (Good: Mention one or two aspects, and are somehow related to a thing that he/she could change or keep at his/her Institution); 3 – (Excellent: Mention both aspects and are related to a thing that he/she could change and keep at his/her Institution.) *

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Name of the Evaluation Board Member *

Evaluation Board Member Comments about the Applicant: Please write your recommendations or additional feedback

Please select the best category that applies to this candidate based on the following criteria

Please select the best category that applies to this candidate based on the following criteria: 1-Beginner: Obtained mostly 1 point in Personal Information and Demographic Data; Education; Present Responsibilities distinctions, and activities; and Initiative and Mentor; but the rest of the categories could score 1, 2 or 3); 2- Intermediate: Obtained mostly 2 points in Personal Information and Demographic Data; Education; Present Responsibilities distinctions, and activities; and Initiative and Mentor; but the rest of the categories could score 1, 2 or 3); 3- Advanced: Obtained mostly 3 points in Personal Information and Demographic Data; Education; Present Responsibilities distinctions, and activities; and Initiative and Mentor; but the rest of the categories could score 1, 2 or 3) *

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