PART I: Personal Information and Demographic Data / Información personal y datos demográficos
Applicant Full Name / Nombre completo:
Alena Rodick
Applicant Title / Título:
Director of Learning Design and Solutions
Institution or System / Institución o Sistema:
Empire State University, SUNY
Address for Official Correspondence / Dirección oficial donde recibe su correspondencia:
1 Union Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
E-mail / Correo electrónico:
alena.rodick@sunyempire.edu
Mobile Phone / Número de celular:
518-461-6821
Work Phone / Número del trabajo:
518-587-2100
Track of interest / Área de interés:
English track
Which platform do you prefer the Academy to be offered on? / ¿En qué plataforma prefiere que se ofrezca la Academia?
Zoom
Languages / Idiomas:
English
Have teach an online course in the past three years / ¿Ha enseñado un curso en línea en los pasados tres años?:
Yes
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:
11-15 years
Gender / Género:
Female
Age Range / Edad:
31 to 40
Are you Hispanic / ¿Es usted hispano?:
No
Race Category / Raza:
White
PART II: Education / Educación
Highest Earned Degree / Grado más alto de educación obtenido:
MS in Information Design and Technology
College/University / Colegio/Universidad:
SUNY POLY
Field/Major / Campo de estudio/Especialidad:
Instructional Design; Data Analytics
Other Degrees Earned / Otros grados obtenidos:
MS in Data Analytics, SNHU
PART III: Experience / Experiencia:
Present Responsibilities (up to 150 words) / Resumen de responsabilidades (máximo de 150 palabras) *
Support the Executive Director in developing a strategic vision for the office. Oversee instructional design, technology, accessibility, and personnel. Lead innovative instructional design projects aligned with current best practices, research, and standards.
Lead the introduction of forward-looking instructional design projects and initiatives while ensuring they align with online course design best practices, research findings, and regulatory standards. Ensure our office follows robust quality assurance processes in online course design work and projects, including quality checks, peer reviews, and usability testing. Maintain and enhance relationships with various departments across the university to support Empire Online’s overarching goals. Create pathways for integrating learning analytics into instructional design, with the goal of improving online course revision processes through evidence-based approaches. Provide opportunities for the team to receive comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training and work together to integrate DEI principles into online course design and training processes.
Academic and Professional Distinctions and Honors (up tp 150 words) / Reconocimientos y premios académicos y profesionales (máximo de 150 palabras)
Lumen Circles Certificate Recipients; Lumen Circles: Belonging and Inclusive Teaching Fundamentals Fellowship; 2017 OLC Effective Practice Award, Facilitating Student Success Via Emergency Accessibility; Grow with Google Challenge Scholarship
Civil and Community Activities (up to 150 words) / Actividades civiles y comunitarias (máximo de 150 palabras)
[296]
Professional Goals (up to 150 words) / Metas profesionales (máximo de 150 palabras):
Ensure the ongoing enhancement of online course design to address the diverse needs of our students. Maintain a focus on data-informed instructional design, utilizing metrics such as completion rates and equity gaps to inform our strategies. Explore and implement innovative strategies leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in education.
Please explain what you expect to gain by participating in the H-LTLA (up to 150 words) / Explique lo que espera adquirir al participar en la H-LTLA (máximo de 150 palabras):
As a participant in the HETS Learning Technologies Leadership Academy (H-LTLA), I am looking forward to exploring new teaching technologies and pedagogies as well as enhancing my leadership skills, which are vital for my professional growth within my university. Furthermore, SUNY Empire is launching a bachelor’s degree program in business that will provide instruction and student support in Spanish. I’m looking forward to exploring and understanding the challenges and opportunities Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) encounter and be better prepared to serve the students in our online programs.
PART IV: Professional References / Referencias profesionales:
Professional Reference #1 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #1 (incluya nombre, título, institución, número de teléfono, y correo electrónico):
Christine Paige
Executive Director of Empire Online
Office of Academic Affairs
Christine.Paige@sunyempire.edu
(518) 587-2100
Professional Reference #2 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #2 (incluya nombre, título, institución, número de teléfono, y correo electrónico)
Robert Sanders, Ed.D.
Associate Provost for Faculty and Academic Excellence
Professor of Education
Robert.Sanders@sunyempire.edu
(518) 580-4862, ext. 2449
Professional Reference #3 (Include name, title, institution, phone, and email) / Referencia profesional #3 (incluya nombre, título, institución, número de teléfono, y correo electrónico)
Nathan E. Gonyea, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Nathan.Gonyea@sunyempire.edu
(518) 587-2100, ext. 2263
Upload a letter from a president, chancellor, or administrator stating the nominee’s qualifications for the program, leadership strengths, and development opportunities. NOTE: If at the moment of sending the application you don’t have a signed nomination letter, please upload a document with the evidence that it is being processed (for example: a print screen of an email requesting the letter) along with the contact information of the person in charge of completing it. (Accepted format: pdf) / Someta una carta de un presidente, decano o administrador que indique las cualificaciones del candidato para el programa, sus fortalezas de liderazgo y oportunidades de desarrollo. NOTA: Si al momento de enviar la solicitud no tiene una carta de nominación firmada, por favor suba un documento con la constancia de que se está tramitando (por ejemplo: una pantalla impresa de un correo electrónico solicitando la carta) junto con la información de contacto de la persona encargada de completarlo. (Formato aceptado: PDF)
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. The Mentor information will be submitted with the signature to confirm the availability to guide the implementation of your campus initiative. NOTE: If at the moment of sending the application you don’t have the signature of your Mentor on the project letter, please upload a document with the evidence (for example: a print screen of an email requesting the signature of your Mentor) that it is being processed along with the contact information of the Mentor. (Accepted format: pdf)* / Una carta que describa un proyecto que considerará implementar en su campus u organización con el nombre del mentor de su preferencia. Su mentor puede ser diferente a sus referencias y debe ser una persona con experiencia en el área seleccionada. La información del mentor se enviará con la firma para confirmar la disponibilidad para guiar la implementación de su iniciativa. NOTA: Si al momento de enviar la solicitud no tiene la firma de su mentor en la carta del proyecto, por favor cargue un documento con la evidencia (por ejemplo: una pantalla impresa de un correo electrónico solicitando la firma de su mentor) que se está procesando junto con la información de contacto del mentor (Formato aceptado: PDF)
PART VI: Statement of Purpose (no more than 300 words each question) Statement of Purpose (no more than 300 words each question) / Declaración de Intención (máximo de 300 palabras para cada pregunta)
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? (máximo de 300 palabras)
Some of the issues that are frequently brought up at the Chronicle of Higher Ed and in our own internal discussions are declining public support in terms of finances and sentiment, the so-called “demographic cliff”, student debt, and the ability to hire and retain employees. From the point of view of online learning, some of the issues include the emergence of artificial intelligence and other transformative technologies, wide variation in student preparedness, and the ability to support students considering these challenges. With AI, the primary challenge is the uncertainty about its impact. While we recognize the potential benefits, there is still much we do not fully understand. At the same time, we understand that it is going to be important to prepare students for this evolving technological landscape. Student preparedness is another issue that AI can possibly help us resolve one day. But in the meantime, we need to keep looking for ways to address the variety of students’ needs and provide appropriate supports.
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? (máximo de 300 palabras)
One of the priorities (and at the same time challenges )is the ability to have consistency in the quality of our online offerings. Maintaining a consistent level of quality across our online programs is extremely important in ensuring student success and satisfaction. However, achieving this consistency in quality across the entire institution is challenging, as different schools and departments have evolved differently, each with its own culture and procedures. Another priority would be ability to innovate in our educational approaches so we can stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of our students.
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? (máximo de 300 palabras)
One aspect that I would change is our institutional fear of change, a common trait in public organizations. This fear can sometimes become detrimental to our organization and its mission. However, a positive aspect I would maintain is our relatively flat relationship structure across the university. Despite being a public institution with the org structures and regular reporting lines, we maintain healthy relationships among employees, leadership, and departments and have open communication.
Director of Learning Design and Solutions