Felisha A. Herrera, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Postsecondary Education, Director, Research & Equity Scholarship Institute, San Diego State University
Felisha A. Herrera, PhD is the Director of the Research & Equity Scholarship Institute on Student Trajectories in Education (RES-ISTE). She is also an associate professor of Postsecondary Education and Community College Leadership and affiliated faculty in the Joint PhD Program at San Diego State University (SDSU). Prior to joining SDSU, she served as an assistant professor of Community College Leadership and affiliated faculty in Public Policy at Oregon State University from 2012-2015. Dr. Herrera completed her Ph.D. in Education (emphasis in Higher Education & Organizational Change) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she was a research analyst for the UCLA Higher Education Research Institute (HERI). She also earned a master’s degree from UCLA, master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of New Mexico (UNM) and an associate’s degree from UNM-Taos (branch community college). Her scholarship is enhanced by nearly two decades of experience as a higher education professional at two- and four-year institutions, several Minority-Serving Institutions/Hispanic-Serving Institutions, including faculty and professional positions in student affairs, institutional research, and administration. Her work is also informed by her own educational history as a community college graduate, low-income, first-generation college student, and mother scholar.
Dr. Herrera is a consummate scholar, who has published in top tier, peer-reviewed journals and has procured over $3.9 million in funding to support her research. She serves as the PI for several large-scale research projects, including two current NSF funded projects—ED-SYSTEMS (NSF DUE-1644990) & HSI-STEM (NSF DUE-1832528)—investigating the role of community colleges and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and as Co-PI for ADAPT: A Pedagogical Decision-Making Study (NSF HRD-1759947). To inform system-wide change, her research employs advanced statistical techniques to examine contextual factors—institutional (structure, process, and policy), geographic, demographic, political and economic contexts—that impact postsecondary outcomes for students of color. Her work encompasses several strands of scholarship including student mobility; community college pathways; underrepresented students in STEM; and a critical examination of policy issues related to diversity & equity in education.
Victoria C. Rodriguez-Operana, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Research & Equity Scholarship Institute, San Diego State University; and Lecturer, Human Developmental Sciences, University of California, San Diego
Victoria C. Rodriguez-Operana, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the Research and Equity Scholarship Institute on Student Trajectories in Education (RES-ISTE). Dr. Rodriguez-Operana co-leads RES-ISTE on two NSF-funded projects examining the role of community colleges and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the STEM pathways of underrepresented students of color: ED-SYSTEMS (NSF DUE-1644990) & HSI-STEM (NSF DUE-1832528). She also teaches courses in Human Developmental Sciences at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).
With more than a decade of research experience in education, psychology, and human development, and publications in the Journal of Early Adolescence, Journal of Adolescent Research, and Asian American Journal of Psychology, her research examines how social identities and relationships within proximal contexts (e.g., family, school) influence the developmental outcomes (e.g., academic, social, psychological) of students of color. Prior to joining RES-ISTE, Dr. Rodriguez-Operana was a member of UCLA’s Children’s Understanding of Economic and Social Inequality Lab and worked on several projects, including studies examining: persistence among community college students in CalWORKs, psychosocial benefits of racial/ethnic diversity in urban schools, children’s social identity development, and an elementary school dual-language immersion program. Her mixed-methods dissertation examined how family, peer, and school-based relationships shape the academic achievement and psychological adjustment of Filipina/x/o American adolescents, an understudied segment of the Asian American/ Pacific Islander population. Dr. Rodriguez-Operana’s research reflects her commitment to understanding how to best support the academic success and well-being of individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Dr. Rodriguez-Operana earned her B.A. in Psychology from UCSD, and completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Human Development and Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Victoria G. Black, PhD Director of PACE Mentoring, Texas State University
Victoria Black is the Director for PACE Mentoring at Texas State University. In her current position at Texas State, she provides leadership and support to a team of over 100 individuals who work with first-year students, first-year faculty development, and Title V grant management. She has shared her passion on mentoring in a 2018 TedX talk at Texas State University titled No One is Talking to the Mentees on how to prepare ourselves as we enter into developmental relationships. Her experiences with mentoring include several publications on mentorability, various state and national presentations, and providing mentoring consultation and training internationally at Technologico de Monterrey – Queretaro, Queretaro, MX. Her publications also include college access for first-generation students, first-year student success, higher education finance, and working mothers in student affairs. Originally from La Joya, TX, she received a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas San Antonio, a M.Ed. in Counseling and Guidance from Texas State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in Higher Education Leadership.
Gloria P. Martinez-Ramos, PhD Professor of Sociology, Latina/o Studies Program Director, and Director of The Center for Diversity and Gender Studies, Texas State University
Dr. Gloria P. Martinez-Ramos is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and the inaugural Director of Latina/o Studies minor at Texas State University. Dr. Martinez-Ramos earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, a B.A. in Child Development from San Jose State University, and an A.A. from Hartnell College, Salinas, California. Gloria has over 15 years of teaching Sociology, such as, Race and Ethnic Relations, Medical Sociology, Social Stratification, Introduction to Sociology, Latinos and Immigration, Latina/os and Education, and Latina/o Studies courses at Texas State. She has published articles on Latinx college students’ retention and persistence. mentored over 30 undergraduate and graduate students, many who are working in community-based and advocacy research in health and education.
Sylvia T. Gonzales, M.Ed. Director of Developing HSI Programs Texas State University
Sylvia T. Gonzales is the HSI STEM Impact & MAESTROS Director, member of the Hispanic Policy Network, and US1100 faculty. Sylvia is the first in her family to go to college and is working on her Ed.D. in Positive Organizational Leadership from Abilene Christian University. Sylvia continues to ensure the undergraduate student experience is authentic as she has served as an advocate, mentor, and leader to underrepresented college students for 21 years. She has helped with the grassroots development of 6 federal grant programs in TX/NM, including Title III, V, and TRIO grants. She is also an active member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and Alliance for Hispanic Serving Institutional Educators and helped establish the Bobcat Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) certificate program and serves as co-chair on the First Gen Proud Working Group at Texas State University. Sylvia has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions, including Angelika Lester Wahl Diversity Award, HPN’s Latinx Star Award, a “Program to Watch” designation by Excelencia in Education, Bright Spots in Hispanic Education, and NASPA’s & Studer Foundation First-Gen Forward designation.
Dr. Carlos R. Morales Irizarry President, TCC Connect Campus Tarrant County College
Before becoming TCC Connect’ s President in 2013, Dr. Carlos Morales was the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Distance Education Programs at Ana G. Méndez University- Virtual Campus. As such, he provided leadership, vision and planning for the implementation of courses and programs for online delivery. Previously he was the Executive Director of Academic Technology at Lock Haven University responsible for the delivery of online courses, the incorporation of technology for teaching and learning, faculty development, the STEP program (a student laptop initiative) and also facilitated campus conversations on academic technology. Prior to Lock Haven University, Carlos was the Instructional Designer for the Center for Instructional and Technological Innovation (CITI) at New Jersey City University, responsible for instructional technology staff. Carlos has extensive online and classroom teaching experience in the areas of: Biology, Science Teaching and Instructional Technology. Dr. Morales also holds professional certifications as Distance Learning Administration Professional from Texas A&M University and Certified Online Instructor (COI) from Walden University. Morales graduated from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, with bachelors and master’s degrees in Biology and Science Education, and received his doctorate, with a dissertation on Constructivist Learning Environments in Online Course Design, from Capella University. He was a Frye fellow in 2009.
La doctora Alice J. Casanova ha laborado en sector de la educación superior por más de 15 años, en la academia y la administración de esta. Posee un doctorado en Filosofía de la Educación con especialidad en Docencia y un Certificado en Educación Superior de Harvard University. Coordina el nodo de investigación en Puerto Rico de la Red Internacional de Investigadores en Educación a Distancia en Línea y Abierta (REDIC), es investigadora invitada en la Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia en Costa Rica, imparte cursos en línea del nivel graduado y subgraduado. Colabora como especialista Desde 2016 es la Decana Institucional de Educación a Distancia en EDP University.
Dr. Marcos Torres Full professor, Distance Education Department Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus
Dr. Marcos Torres-Nazario teaches online and face-to-face courses of statistics and research, at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico (IAUPR) Ponce Campus. He received the degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from the Inter American University Metro Campus. Also completed a Post Master Certificate in Institutional Research from Florida State University. In 2013 completed a Master Degree in Research and Evaluation at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. During the Summer of 2015 completed the ELearning Expert Certificate from FATLA.
Prof. Mayra L. Mojica Butler Lecturer, Business Department Hostos Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY)
Mayra L. Mojica Butler is a Lecturer in the Business Department at Hostos Community College (CUNY). She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting with a minor in finance from The University of Puerto Rico and the Master Degree in accounting from The University of Phoenix.
She has several years of experience in the field of accounting. Her extensive experience includes various accounting positions as Accountant at the Department of Labor (DOL) and Human Resources at Puerto Rico and Intern at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC, as well as Community Education Assistant at Bronx – Lebanon Hospital Center. In 2010 participated in Postgraduate Professional Development Program – PPDP in The Washington Center Education in Washington, DC.
She is the adviser of the Accounting Club at Hostos Community College, and every semester she hosts workshops designed to expand knowledge about the field of accounting and the many career paths and opportunities available in the accounting profession.
Also worked as a volunteer for New York Cares, a nonprofit volunteer organization in New York City in the Tax Preparation Program. The purpose of the program is to help people and communities in need of tax preparation support during the tax season.
Dr. Floralba Arbelo Dean of Student Affairs, Associate Professor Carlos Albizu University, Miami Campus
Dr. Floralba Arbelo currently serves as the Dean of Student Affairs and as Associate Professor at Albizu University in Miami, Florida. Dr. Arbelo has held several positions in higher education including distance learning director, academic program director, research associate, curriculum specialist, and Title V Project Director in the United States, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Guatemala, Cuba, and in the Dominican Republic. Her research centers on Hispanic student success, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Hispanic student retention, and online teaching and learning. Her research has been published in the Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, Journal of Ethnographic and Qualitative Research, HETS Online Journal, International Journal of Doctoral Studies, and Journal of Teacher Action Research, among others. Dr. Arbelo has an earned Doctor of Education degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, a Master of Science from The New School for Public Engagement in NY, and a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. Her research has been presented at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators, The College Board, the Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference, and the National Association of Hispanic and Latino Studies. In 2016, Dr. Arbelo was the recipient of the Women that Transcend Award for Global Leadership in Education and Community Service from the New Jersey Hand Foundation and was awarded Senatorial Citation for her volunteerism, activism, and mentoring activities among young adults and youth. She is an alum of the inaugural class of the HACU Instituto de Liderazgo Fellowship.
The authors of this article were members of the Instructional Evaluation Committee at Hostos Community College for the 2017-2020 term. This committee informs the College Senate of best practices in student evaluation of teaching (SET) and presents potential revisions to the SET process and the instrument to governance. It also addresses the faculty peer-observation process and, in 2019, it approved the peer observation form created by the Peer Observation Improvement Network for Teaching Committee (POINT).
Sherese Mitchell, Ed.D., is Associate Professor in Education Department, served multiple terms as Chair of the Instructional Evaluation Committee, and is a member of the College-Wide Curriculum Committee.
Asrat Amnie, M.D., Ed.D., is Assistant Professor in Education Department; his publications focus on high-risk health behavior, including causes and consequences of stress, and strategies to cope with stress.
Jacqueline M. DiSanto, Ed.D., is Professor, Chair of Education Department, Coordinator of Teacher Education, and founding member of Peer Observations Improvement Network for Teaching.
Allison Franzese, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in Natural Sciences Department, and Adjunct Associate Research Scientist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, where she studies paleoclimate using geochemical tools.
Carlos Guevara, M.S., is Director of Office of Educational Technology, Co-Director of Center for Teaching and Learning, book author, altruist, and frequent speaker at national and international conferences, where he provides vision to promote organizational culture change and innovation to teaching and learning through technology.
Juno Morrow, M.F.A., is Assistant Professor of Game Design and Game Design Program Coordinator, serves on Educational Technology Leadership Council, and recently published her first book.
Silvia Reyes, M.S.W., is Director of Special Projects & Student Engagement; she is committed to student success, and her work has focused on designing and implementing a wide array of initiatives to improve students’ college experiences and academic attainment.
Maria Subert, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in Humanities; her research focuses include intercultural communication and institutional assessment including utilizing findings for continuous improvement.
Amber M. González, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Child and Adolescent Development Program, California State University Sacramento
Amber M. Gonzalez (Ph.D. UC Santa Barbara; she/ella) is an Associate Professor in the Child and Adolescent Development program at the California State University, Sacramento. Utilizing a multidisciplinary perspective including human development, educational psychology, as well as critical race theory she centers her research on examining Latinx academic aspirations and motivations through and across the P20 education pipeline. Her research examines the influence of social support networks and institutional structures on college student identity development and educational and career aspirations and motivations. In addition, she explores the ways in which students use these aspirations and motivations to ensure their success, manage failure, and persist. Dr. Gonzalez teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on motivation, quantitative research methods, and cross-cultural human development. Her scholarly work has been published in the Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, Journal of Educational Research, and College Student Journal.
Dr. David H. Luciano Associate Professor, University of Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus
Dr. Luciano work as a full-time Assistant Professor at the University of Puerto Rico-Cayey campus. Born in New York and then moved to Puerto Rico, and his hometown is Adjuntas. He has worked as a teacher-professor for almost thirty years now. Among his interests have always been to help English majors in their quest to become language experts as well as pedagogy students (elementary and secondary level) who want to become English teachers. Here in Puerto Rico English is taught as a second language (ESL), it is also a compulsory subject in schools from the elementary level. Luciano has worked as a teacher in all levels from the elementary to higher education. In addition, he has conducted research with middle, high school and college level ESL students. He is interested in conducting research with technological tools that can be used to bridge the gap between teaching and learning. Abut himself: I am a lifelong learner, and my biggest goal is to instill in my students the need for learning languages. My motto is: Learning is Fun, and It is A Lifelong Journey!
Dr. Neal Malik Assistant Professor, California State University, San Bernardino
Dr. Neal Malik is an Assistant Professor, researcher, and podcaster. He has taught at Minority-Serving and Hispanic Serving Institutions for 13 years. In addition to receiving numerous pedagogy certifications, he been featured as a nutrition and wellness expert on CBS local radio in Los Angeles, CA, USA as well as a number of online and print publications including eHow.com and Men’s Fitness Magazine. Dr. Malik has also published peer-reviewed scientific literature on diet and its effects on appetitive hormones, type 2 diabetes, blood lipids, and body weight. In December 2020, he will be presenting on how Motivational Syllabi may improve student engagement in an online environment at the ITLC Lilly Conference. http://www.oldpodcast.com
Contact information: Address: 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA Email: neal.malik@csusb.edu Phone: 1 + (909) 537-4588
Mechanical Engineering Department Head
Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo Campus
Dr. Morales has been an engineering professor at Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo Campus (former Universidad del Turabo) since 1995. He has also held several administrative posts, including ABET Coordinator for the School of Engineering. In this job post he coordinated the efforts that resulted in the first ABET accreditations of all the existing bachelor programs in engineering, including the creation and implementation of an outcomes assessment program that engages 100% of the faculty. Dr. Morales has been the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department since 2003. He co-authored the proposal to establish a Master’s program in Mechanical Engineering with specializations in Renewable Energy, and in Aerospace Engineering. The main objective of this first engineering master’s program at Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo was to transition from a teaching program to a teaching-and-research program. Dr. Morales won a $4.34 million grant from the US Department of Education which fund a faculty development program that has the potential to transform the manner in which engineering education is taught. Dr. Morales has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University; an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, MA; and a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Prior to joining Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Dr. Morales worked seven years in industry, including five years with the General Electric Company in Niskayuna, NY (KAPL) where he worked in the mechanical design of a new-concept steam generator.
Full Professor
Inter American University of Puerto Rico
Ponce Campus
Dr. Bernardette Feliciano-Quiñones is a full professor at Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus. She teaches online courses at different levels. Her areas of expertise include mathematics, distance learning, assessment, program evaluation, and curriculum development. Doctor Feliciano-Quiñones earned a doctoral degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, a Master of Science in Mathematics from Salem State College and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching of Mathematics from Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
For more than two decades she has been working with the topic of assessment, offering several workshops and conferences. She has been involved in departmental and campus assessment. For the last seven years, Doctor Feliciano Quiñones has been the coordinator of Strengthening Mathematics Learning Project (FAMA) at UIPR-Ponce Campus. She has also been mentoring doctoral candidates in the Doctorate in Education in Leadership and Instruction in Online Education (EdD).
Dr. Bernardette Feliciano-Quiñones Full Professor
Inter American University of Puerto Rico
Ponce Campus
Dr. Bernardette Feliciano-Quiñones is a full professor at Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus. She teaches online courses at different levels. Her areas of expertise include mathematics, distance learning, assessment, program evaluation, and curriculum development. Doctor Feliciano-Quiñones earned a doctoral degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, a Master of Science in Mathematics from Salem State College and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching of Mathematics from Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
For more than two decades she has been working with the topic of assessment, offering several workshops and conferences. She has been involved in departmental and campus assessment. For the last seven years, Doctor Feliciano Quiñones has been the coordinator of Strengthening Mathematics Learning Project (FAMA) at UIPR-Ponce Campus. She has also been mentoring doctoral candidates in the Doctorate in Education in Leadership and Instruction in Online Education (EdD).
Dr. Brenda Lee Morales
Universidad Ana G. Méndez | Keiser University
Dr. Brenda Lee Morales holds a Bachelor’s Degree in General Elementary Education from Universidad del Turabo in Puerto Rico. A few years later he completed a Master’s degree in Educational Administration at the same institution. In 2016, he completed a PhD in Educational Leadership at Keiser University where he had already earned a Specialist in Education degree. Finally, in the academic aspect, Dr. Morales holds a Post- Doctorate in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Walden University. She is currently doing another Post-Doctorate at Walden University in the Human Resources area. In terms of work and professional career, she has 27 years of experience working in the field of education in several positions as a teacher, Curriculum Specialist, Director of Federal Educational Proposals, Academic Dean, among others. He has worked at all levels of the education system in Puerto Rico, from Head Start to High School and at the university level. Eleven years ago she began as Director of Federal Proposals and Professor of University Institutions, and currently serves as Title V Graduate Project Director at Universidad Ana G. Méndez – Gurabo Campus in Puerto Rico. She is also working as a graduate professor in the Educational Graduate Program Master and PhD Degree at Keiser University.
Dr. Angiemarie Rivera holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in Liberal Arts, a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Administration and Educational Supervision from Dowling College, a Doctorate in Education with a Concentration in Curriculum and Instruction at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, and a Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Adults from the University of Berne.
Dr. Rivera has worked as an elementary education leader in a private educational institution in Puerto Rico. She has also served as a professor at the undergraduate and graduate level at the University of Puerto Rico, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Universidad del Este (Ana G. Méndez), National University College Online in the Master’s Program in Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership. She is also working as a graduate professor in the Educational Graduate Program Master and Doctorate Degree at Keiser University.
Javier Herrera
Student Candidate
Master of Science in Educational Leadership
Keiser University
Javier Herrera holds a Certification of Systemic Team Coaching Diploma from Logos Christian University in 2017. In the same year he completed a Certified Trainer of the Logos International Leadership Program, and a Certification in Educational Leadership at the same institution. In 2018, he completed a Bachelor Theological Studies, Leadership & Organization at the same university, and Leadership Certificate from Training Institute of Precept International Ministry in 2019. He is currently attending a MS Student in Leadership Education of Keiser University. In terms of work and professional career he has 35 years of experience in educational science studies in the areas of biology, coaching, theology, and leadership, at different levels of adult education, as a teacher in high school, college, and several spiritual growth groups. He has comprehensive work experience in research, training, and evaluation of leadership development and community development programs in Colombia. Javier Herrera’s vision is to work for the integral development of students as builders of a better society.
Dr. Toni Ann Hernen
Assistant Professor
Bronx Community College
Department of Education & Academic Literacy
Dr. Hernen is currently an Assistant Professor at Bronx Community College in the Department of Education and Academic Literacy. She has spent her tenure at Bronx Community College designing a hybrid developmental reading course and working with students on academic probation. Most recently, Dr. Hernen created a mentoring course for aspiring educators to work with students placed on academic probation. Dr. Hernen is also a student teacher supervisor and seminar instructor where she works with New York City’s future teachers. Prior to her work at Bronx Community College, Dr. Hernen was an Early College Academy Instructor at York College in New York City. Here she assisted high school seniors in preparing them for the college transition. Aside from her instructional work, Dr. Hernen is the author of many research journals focusing on English Language Learners, hybrid reading, first-generation college students and the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Dr. Michael Shriner
Full Professor
School of Education
Northcentral University
Dr. Michael Shriner is currently a full professor in the School of Education at Northcentral University. Prior to working at Northcentral University, Dr. Shriner was a study director at Westat in Rockville, Maryland, where he worked on the National Children’s Study, which was administered by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and on the national evaluation of the developmental disabilities programs administered under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000. Dr. Shriner has served as a program evaluator and statistical consultant for various grants administered by the U.S. Department of Education. He is an author of numerous research articles and a coauthor of the textbooks Supporting Children’s Socialization: A Developmental Approach, Essential of Lifespan Development: A Topical Approach, and Lifespan 360: Christian Perspectives on Human Development.
Bárbara Flores Caballero, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor
Education Department and Academic Literacy
Bronx Community College, New York
I am Assistant Professor at the Bronx Community College in New York, researcher, author, International writer, member of the doctoral dissertation committee, International speaker, Podcaster, Youtuber, collaborator in television media. Specialist in Educational Leadership and Emotional Intelligence. I have dedicated my professional career to educating children, teenagers and adults in Puerto Rico, North Carolina and New York.
I have 15 years of experience in the field of Education. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Mathematics, a Master in Business Administration in Human Resources and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. I have been part of Speaker and writer in places like Spain, Mexico, Chile, US and Puerto Rico. In addition, I have participated as an expert in Research with Cuba and as a judge in the content validation process in Puerto Rico and in the television media in North Carolina and New York. I have also worked in volunteer and community work in Puerto Rico, North Carolina and New York.
Contact information: Email: Barbara.flores-caba@bcc.cuny.edu Phone: 910-372-2491 Blog: www.barbaraflores.info LinkedIn: Dr. Barbara Flores-Caballero Podcast: Transforming Knowledge Instagram|Facebook|Twitter: @barbarafloresei
Carlos Crespo Santiago
Executive Director
COBIMET inc.
Carlos Crespo Santiago is the Executive Director for COBIMET, inc. and has more than 20 years work experience in higher education institutions in both public and private sector, pharmaceutical industry and government. Has experience in project management, personnel management and budget administration.
Dr. Marcos Torres
Full professor
Distance Education Department
Inter-American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Campus
Dr. Marcos Torres-Nazario teaches online and face-to-face courses of statistics and research, at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico (IAUPR) Ponce Campus. He received the degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from the Inter American University Metro Campus. Also completed a Post Master Certificate in Institutional Research from Florida State University. In 2013 completed a Master Degree in Research and Evaluation at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. During the Summer of 2015 completed the ELearning Expert Certificate from FATLA.
Contact information:
Dr. Marcos Torres
Full professor, Distance Education Department
Inter-American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce Campus
Email: mtorres@ponce.inter.edu Phone: (787) 284-1912 X-2049
Fax: (787) 841-0103
Dr. Omayra Caraballo Pagán
Assistant Vice President
Distance Education
InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico
Dr. Omayra Caraballo Pagán is an Assistant Vice President of Distance Education at the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico, a nonprofit higher education institution, and has a high recognition for its distance academic offering.
Doctor Caraballo has had an outstanding career in professional service. She has two master’s degrees, one in Human Resources and one in Information Systems, and a doctoral degree in Education in Instructional Technology and Distance Education.
During the last decade, she served as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, in charge of the distance education management of the Ponce Campus. There she had under his direction two academic departments, one postgraduate and one graduated, with 30 full-time and over 80 part-time teachers and a team of fifteen other collaborators, including curricular, content, production, and technical support for various specialized functions. This transdisciplinary team has articulated the design of over 350 online courses and served annually to a student population of over 3,500 students taking courses in distance mode in that academic unit.
Among his most outstanding achievements is the design and development of an Associate Deanship of Academic Affairs, the Center for Innovation and Creativity in Education, the integration of a team for the online students’ services and the development of a Center of Clinical Simulation Scenarios in the Department of Health Sciences and the Project of Academic Enrichment for the Online Faculty. Through this project, continuous training of the faculty in the aspects associated with distance education has been achieved, namely the acquisition of technological, research, pedagogical, social, and academic leadership skills.
Doctor Caraballo has been characterized by promoting a critical, adaptive, and entrepreneurial leadership model for academic management, as well as promoting the quality, effectiveness, and integrity of distance education nationally and internationally. Several of its innovative initiatives and projects have won recognition from external organizations.
Due to her administrative experience in the field of distance education, her services have been requested to participate as an evaluator in licensing and program authorization of private universities in Puerto Rico. In addition, she has given lectures and workshops in various areas of knowledge: companies, computers, distance education, academic and administrative management, national and international.
Juan C. Morales Brignac, Ph.D., P.E.
Mechanical Engineering Department Head
Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo Campus
Dr. Morales has been an engineering professor at Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo Campus (former Universidad del Turabo) since 1995. He has also held several administrative posts, including ABET Coordinator for the School of Engineering. In this job post he coordinated the efforts that resulted in the first ABET accreditations of all the existing bachelor programs in engineering, including the creation and implementation of an outcomes assessment program that engages 100% of the faculty. Dr. Morales has been the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department since 2003. He co-authored the proposal to establish a Master’s program in Mechanical Engineering with specializations in Renewable Energy, and in Aerospace Engineering. The main objective of this first engineering master’s program at Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo was to transition from a teaching program to a teaching-and-research program. Dr. Morales won a $4.34 million grant from the US Department of Education which fund a faculty development program that has the potential to transform the manner in which engineering education is taught. Dr. Morales has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University; an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, MA; and a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Prior to joining Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Dr. Morales worked seven years in industry, including five years with the General Electric Company in Niskayuna, NY (KAPL) where he worked in the mechanical design of a new-concept steam generator.
Rob McAlear
Assistant Professor
Queensborough Community College English Department
Rob McAlear teaches courses in writing and literature at Queensborough Community College. His pedagogical research is focused on empowering students to understand the work of the English classroom as an extension of the rhetorical and analytic skills they already use in their daily lives.
Dr. Sherese A. Mitchell
Associate Professor
Hostos Community College, Bronx, New York
Sherese A. Mitchell has served as an Assistant Professor at Hostos Community College for 12 years. She holds an Educational Doctorate in Instructional Leadership with a focus in Learning Styles. Prior to working in academics, she spent 20 years in the field working with children in various settings and leadership roles. Dr. Mitchell has brought that experience to her current instructional position to future educators enrolled in methods courses at Hostos. In those courses, she constantly invites student- and colleague- feedback to revise course organization and content to meet the varied learning needs of all students. She is passionate about student accountability and classroom management and provides staff development on such. Dr. Mitchell is a strong advocate of student accountability and serves as a chair of the Student Disciplinary and Instructional Evaluation committees at Hostos. She is an Executive board member of NACCTEP (National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs) and the Children’s center at Hostos. Additionally, she provides voluntary services of staff development in educational settings and is the Academic Director at a summer camp. Beyond learning-style and note-taking research, Dr. Mitchell has presented many papers at National, local and regional conferences.
Contact information: Sherese A. Mitchell
Associate Professor
500 Grand Concourse (Room A107) Email: smitchell@hostos.cuny.edu Phone: 718-518-4413
Assistant Professor
Queensborough Community College English Department
Rob McAlear teaches courses in writing and literature at Queensborough Community College. His pedagogical research is focused on empowering students to understand the work of the English classroom as an extension of the rhetorical and analytic skills they already use in their daily lives.
Student Candidate
Master of Science in Educational Leadership
Keiser University
Javier Herrera holds a Certification of Systemic Team Coaching Diploma from Logos Christian University in 2017. In the same year he completed a Certified Trainer of the Logos International Leadership Program, and a Certification in Educational Leadership at the same institution. In 2018, he completed a Bachelor Theological Studies, Leadership & Organization at the same university, and Leadership Certificate from Training Institute of Precept International Ministry in 2019. He is currently attending a MS Student in Leadership Education of Keiser University. In terms of work and professional career he has 35 years of experience in educational science studies in the areas of biology, coaching, theology, and leadership, at different levels of adult education, as a teacher in high school, college, and several spiritual growth groups. He has comprehensive work experience in research, training, and evaluation of leadership development and community development programs in Colombia. Javier Herrera’s vision is to work for the integral development of students as builders of a better society.
Assistant Professor
Education Department and Academic Literacy
Bronx Community College, New York
I am Assistant Professor at the Bronx Community College in New York, researcher, author, International writer, member of the doctoral dissertation committee, International speaker, Podcaster, Youtuber, collaborator in television media. Specialist in Educational Leadership and Emotional Intelligence. I have dedicated my professional career to educating children, teenagers and adults in Puerto Rico, North Carolina and New York.
I have 15 years of experience in the field of Education. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Mathematics, a Master in Business Administration in Human Resources and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. I have been part of Speaker and writer in places like Spain, Mexico, Chile, US and Puerto Rico. In addition, I have participated as an expert in Research with Cuba and as a judge in the content validation process in Puerto Rico and in the television media in North Carolina and New York. I have also worked in volunteer and community work in Puerto Rico, North Carolina and New York.
Contact information: Email: Barbara.flores-caba@bcc.cuny.edu Phone: 910-372-2491 Blog: www.barbaraflores.info LinkedIn: Dr. Barbara Flores-Caballero Podcast: Transforming Knowledge Instagram|Facebook|Twitter: @barbarafloresei
Carlos Crespo Santiago is the Executive Director for COBIMET, inc. and has more than 20 years work experience in higher education institutions in both public and private sector, pharmaceutical industry and government. Has experience in project management, personnel management and budget administration.
Assistant Vice President
Distance Education
InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico
Dr. Omayra Caraballo Pagán is an Assistant Vice President of Distance Education at the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico, a nonprofit higher education institution, and has a high recognition for its distance academic offering.
Doctor Caraballo has had an outstanding career in professional service. She has two master’s degrees, one in Human Resources and one in Information Systems, and a doctoral degree in Education in Instructional Technology and Distance Education.
During the last decade, she served as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, in charge of the distance education management of the Ponce Campus. There she had under his direction two academic departments, one postgraduate and one graduated, with 30 full-time and over 80 part-time teachers and a team of fifteen other collaborators, including curricular, content, production, and technical support for various specialized functions. This transdisciplinary team has articulated the design of over 350 online courses and served annually to a student population of over 3,500 students taking courses in distance mode in that academic unit.
Among his most outstanding achievements is the design and development of an Associate Deanship of Academic Affairs, the Center for Innovation and Creativity in Education, the integration of a team for the online students’ services and the development of a Center of Clinical Simulation Scenarios in the Department of Health Sciences and the Project of Academic Enrichment for the Online Faculty. Through this project, continuous training of the faculty in the aspects associated with distance education has been achieved, namely the acquisition of technological, research, pedagogical, social, and academic leadership skills.
Doctor Caraballo has been characterized by promoting a critical, adaptive, and entrepreneurial leadership model for academic management, as well as promoting the quality, effectiveness, and integrity of distance education nationally and internationally. Several of its innovative initiatives and projects have won recognition from external organizations.
Due to her administrative experience in the field of distance education, her services have been requested to participate as an evaluator in licensing and program authorization of private universities in Puerto Rico. In addition, she has given lectures and workshops in various areas of knowledge: companies, computers, distance education, academic and administrative management, national and international.
Full Professor
School of Education
Northcentral University
Dr. Michael Shriner is currently a full professor in the School of Education at Northcentral University. Prior to working at Northcentral University, Dr. Shriner was a study director at Westat in Rockville, Maryland, where he worked on the National Children’s Study, which was administered by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and on the national evaluation of the developmental disabilities programs administered under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000. Dr. Shriner has served as a program evaluator and statistical consultant for various grants administered by the U.S. Department of Education. He is an author of numerous research articles and a coauthor of the textbooks Supporting Children’s Socialization: A Developmental Approach, Essential of Lifespan Development: A Topical Approach, and Lifespan 360: Christian Perspectives on Human Development.
Assistant Professor
Bronx Community College
Department of Education & Academic Literacy
Dr. Hernen is currently an Assistant Professor at Bronx Community College in the Department of Education and Academic Literacy. She has spent her tenure at Bronx Community College designing a hybrid developmental reading course and working with students on academic probation. Most recently, Dr. Hernen created a mentoring course for aspiring educators to work with students placed on academic probation. Dr. Hernen is also a student teacher supervisor and seminar instructor where she works with New York City’s future teachers. Prior to her work at Bronx Community College, Dr. Hernen was an Early College Academy Instructor at York College in New York City. Here she assisted high school seniors in preparing them for the college transition. Aside from her instructional work, Dr. Hernen is the author of many research journals focusing on English Language Learners, hybrid reading, first-generation college students and the impact of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Ronette A. Shaw, MSN, FNP, R.N. (First Author) Assistant Professor
Nursing Program, Allied Health Department
Hostos Community College of the City University of New York
Ronette Shaw is an Assistant Professor at Hostos Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY). As a member of the Allied Health department she is a faculty in the nursing department and appointed liaison to the Office of Educational Technology. Educational background includes an MSN from the College of New Rochelle where she also obtained her current license as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Currently she is teaching in the licensed practical nursing (LPN) program at Hostos Community College and enjoys introducing variations to learning into the classroom setting and capture the interest of learners. As a member of Educational Technology, the opportunity to include new and innovative technology in the classroom has been infused into her teaching instruction to meet the needs of the diverse student population as they prepare to enter into professional practice.
Assistant Professor of English
Queensborough Community College
City University of New York
Robin R. Ford (Ph.D. New York University) is an Assistant Professor of English at Queensborough Community College, City University of New York. A queer, black, woman, whose scholarship is both academic and personal, her focuses include the use of graphic genre works to teach critical literacy, intersectionality of race, gender and sexuality, social justice, and critical interrogation of the spaces we occupy. She has presented scholarship on race and space, popular culture, and the creation of identity through literacy at AERA, PAMLA and CCCC conferences. She has been published in Salon.com, the Kenyon Review, The Conversant, and appeared on NPR’s “On Point, with Tom Ashbrook.” Her work can be found on www.robinrford.wordpress.com.
Associate Professor, Department of English
Queensborough Community College-CUNY
Beth Counihan is an Associate Professor and the Co-Deputy Chair of the Department of English at Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York. While in an administrative position at Lehman College, she worked on the HETS Virtual Plaza FIPSE grant. She has been teaching at Queensborough since Fall 2001 and her interests include High Impact Practices, reading theory and pedagogy, and nature across the curriculum. Her work has been published in English Education, Community College Humanities Review and the collection What is College Reading?
Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Bronx Community College of the City University of New York
Wolf holds a PhD in Developmental Biology from the University of Chicago. In my more than 10 years of teaching at the community college level, I have instructed numerous sections of Anatomy and Physiology, as well as Microbiology, for Allied Health majors. I also have extensive experience conducting pedagogical research, including studies on the use of active learning in the classroom, the use of the flipped model, on effective methods for teaching evolution in a General Biology classroom, and on framing a General Biology course using the threshold concepts model.
Contact information: Email:Alexander.Wolf@bcc.cuny.edu Address: Bronx Community College of the City University of New York
2155 University Avenue, Bronx, New York, 10453
Dr. Toni Ann Hernen
