Staff Bios

Lorne Oke, Executive Director,
Center for Learning and Innovation

Role: 

• First executive director of the Center starting in summer 2010.
• Coordinating the mission, vision and initiatives of the Center.

Experience:

• Assistant Vice President, Information Technology, Indiana Wesleyan University
• Chief Information Officer, Bethel College
• 18 years teaching in higher education. Subjects taught include instructional strategies, instructional technology, learning theory, and math education

Education:

• Ed.D., Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University, Bloomington
• M.S., Secondary Education: Computer emphasis, Indiana University, South Bend
• B.A., Secondary Education: Math and Physical Education, Bethel College
   

Erick Hilbert, Director of Instructional Design

Role:

• Five years as an instructional designer.
• Specializes in the capabilities and developments of technology, software, and LMS.

Experience: 

• Project Manager, Instructional Designer, Course Writer, LMS Administration, Sevenstar Academy
• Helpdesk Manager/Online Learning Coordinator, Anderson University
• Media Center Manager, Wilmington College
• Teaching online and onsite for Indiana Wesleyan University
• Conference Presentations:
• Textbook and Resource Selection, School of Business and Leadership Curriculum Development Workshop, 2009
• Curriculum Mapping, Midwest Scholars Conference, 2008
• Learner Engagement for Online Courses, School of Business and Leadership Curriculum Development Workshop, 2008
• CDL101: Online Course Writing Basics, Midwest Scholars Conference, 2007

Education: 

• A.B.D., Ph.D., Education, Curriculum, and Instruction, Northcentral University
• M.S. Education and Educational Technology: Online Learning emphasis, Boise State University
• B.A. Communication: Broadcast Productions emphasis, minor Christian Ministries, Anderson University

David Leitzel, Instructional Designer

Role:

• Seven years as an instructional designer.
• Specializes in faith integration in course development.

Experience: 

• Director of the Alliance for International Christian Business Education (AICBE), Indiana Wesleyan University
• Faculty recruiter, online programs, Indiana Wesleyan University
• 27 years of pastoral, district, and denominational Christian Education experience
• Taught online and onsite for Indiana Wesleyan University
• Conference Presentations:
  • Best Practices in Instructional Design for Online Programs, ICI Technology Summit, 2006
  • Why You Need Instructional Designers, IHETS, 2004
  • Online Faculty & Course Development at Indiana Wesleyan University, No Educator Left Behind, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2006
  • Integrating Faith in Curriculum, Curriculum Writer’s Workshop, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2007
  • Project Teams: A Student’s Perspective, CAPS Faculty Development Training, Marion, Indiana, 2008
  • Faculty Development, Midwest Scholars Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2006
   

Education: 

• B.S., Christian Ministries, Indiana Wesleyan University

Kim Mierau, Instructional Designer

Role:

• Four years as an instructional designer.
• Specializes in editing.

Experience: 

• Instructional Design Intern, Indiana Wesleyan University, 2004-2006
• Taught online facilitator training
• Conference Presentations:
• CDL101: Course Writing Basics, Midwest Scholars Conference, 2007
• IWU Course Development Model, ICI Instructional Technology Summit, 2006

Education: 

• B.A., English and Writing, Indiana Wesleyan University

Michael Gough, Instructional Designer

Role:

• Five years of experience in instructional technology and instructional design.
• Specializes in enhancing teaching and learning through the use of technology.

Experience: 

• Instructional Technologist and Coordinator of Student Technology Support, DePauw University
• Academic Technologist, Tri-State University (Now Trine)
• Conference Presentations:
• Etexts and the Future of Textbooks, Indiana Online Users Group, 2011
• Experiential Learning of Student Staff, Educause Midwest Regional Conference, 2011
• Moodle & Merrill: Best Practices in Open Source LMS’s – Central Indiana American Society for Training & Development (CIASTD) Crossroads Regional Conference, 2010
• Behind the Scenes of Moodle, Goshen Midwest Moodle Moot, 2009
• Tablet PCs In and Outside the Classroom: What Difference Do They Make, National Institute for Technology and Liberal Education (NITLE) Special Topics, Online Event Series, 2009

Education: 

• M.S.Ed., Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University, Bloomington
• B.A. Biology, minors in Economics and Chemistry, DePauw University

 

Amanda Fletcher, Associate Instructional Designer

Role:

• Associate Instructional Designer.
• Specializes in editing.

Experience:

• Enrollment Counselor, National Online Marketing Team, Indiana Wesleyan University
• Financial Services Representative, Indiana Wesleyan University
• Grassroots Advocacy Specialist, Polaris Project for Combating Human Trafficking, Washington, D.C.

Education: 

• B.A., Intercultural and Community Leadership, Southern Wesleyan University
• M.B.A., Indiana Wesleyan University

Cathy Church, Associate Instructional Designer

Role:

• Associate Instructional Designer.
• Specializes in editing and cross department communication.

Experience:

• School of Business & Leadership Program Support Specialist, Indiana Wesleyan University
• Center for Distributed Learning Program Support Assistant/Student Issues, Indiana Wesleyan University
• Membership Representative, Membership Website Editor/Writer, National FFA Organization
• Director of Christian Education and Youth, First Presbyterian Church, Coldwater, Michigan

Education: 

• B.A., Religion with a concentration in Christian Education, Taylor University

 

Melanie Wachs, Faculty Enrichment Coordinator/Trainer

Role:

• Seven years as an Instructional Designer.
• Specializes in training.

Experience:

• Training Manager for New Horizons, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Professional Development Specialist  for First Consulting Group, Long Beach, California
• Conference Presentations:
  • Learner Engagement for Online Courses, Curriculum Development Workshop, Indiana Wesleyan University, 2008
  • CDL101: Course Design, No Educator Left Behind Conference, Indiana Wesleyan University, 2007
  • Best Practices in Instructional Design for Online Courses, ICI Instructional Technology Summit, Indiana Wesleyan University, 2006
  • Instructional Designers: Why You Need Them, IHETS Conference, Purdue University, 2004
   

Education: 

• (In process) Ph.D., Education Technology and E-Learning, Northcentral University
• Certified, Web-based Instructional Design, California State University
• M.A., Organizational and Professional Communication Development, Ball State University
• B.A., Telecommunications Sales and Management, Minor: Marketing, Ball State University

 

Stephen Anthony, Faculty Enrichment Instructional Developer

Role:

• Instructional Development Associate.
• Developing multi-media instructional materials for faculty enrichment.

Experience:

• Adjunct Faculty, Indiana Wesleyan University: School of Educational Leadership
• Coordinator of Faculty Recruitment, Indiana Wesleyan University
• Director and Adult Instructor, The Learn More Center
• Social Studies Teacher, Lakeview Christian School

Education: 

• M.S.Ed., Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University, Bloomington
• B.A., History, Political Science and Secondary Social Studies Education, Indiana Wesleyan University

 

Eric Kelliher, Faculty Enrichment Instructional Developer

Role:

• Four years as a technology trainer.
• Specializes in training and the development of training guides.

Experience:

• Technology Integration Specialist for Huntington County Community Schools
• Training Coordinator for LaSalle Bank
• Five-and-a-half years of secondary teaching experience
• Training Seminars
• School Fusion – Creating a Web Page of Your Own, Huntington County Community Schools Corporation (HCCSC) Summer Training Series, 2011
• Intel Teach to the Future, HCCSC, 2008-2011
• Moodle 101 – Using Moodle as a Website, HCCSC, 2009-2011
• Moodle 201 – Using Moodle as an Interactive Tool, HCCSC, 2009-2011
• Tech Tools & Tips, HCCSC, 2010

Education: 

• M.A., Curriculum and Educational Technology, Ball State University
• B.S., Secondary Education: English and Physical Education, Central Michigan University

Christopher Devers, Director of Research

Role:

• Research focused on the processes and environments in which technology promotes learning.

Experience: 

• Professor at the University of San Diego, taught courses on cognition and technology
• Teaching assistant at both the University of Illinois and Purdue University
• Research assistant at Illinois
• Professor at Purdue, taught courses in computer technology, mechanical engineering technology, and computer integrated manufacturing technology
• Professor at University of Illinois, taught undergraduate education courses in technology, and worked on the largest U.S. study involving Latino school administrators that explored the challenges they faced in their first three years as administrators
• Worked in the digital library research lab and explored Web site usability and metadata search portals

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• M.S., Purdue University
• B.S., Purdue University