Craig A. Agneberg
How long you’ve been at Bb: September 2006
Life before Blackboard: Prior to Blackboard I spent ten years teaching at post-secondary schools in Minnesota (Hibbing Community College & St. Cloud State University), North Dakota (University of North Dakota & Jamestown College) and Nebraska (University of Nebraska-Lincoln). In 1987 I moved to Cincinnati and entered industry as an Editor for a locally-based international textbook publisher. I spent twelve years in the business world working in interactive development of CD-ROMs and computer/Web-based training materials. I re-entered teaching in 1999 as Associate Professor in the Technology Department at Northern Kentucky University and as an Educational Technologist and Consulting Team Lead at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Education/Credentials: I graduated with my Bachelor's (1977) and Master's (1978) degrees from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. My doctoral degree (1985) is from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I am also a graduate of the Bb Certified Trainer Program.
Areas of Expertise: Online learning, effective course design, Bb Academic Suite of products.
Outside Interests: I speed walk ½ marathons which involves lots of training, preparation and commitment. I am married to Marita Sallee. She has four children and eight grandchildren. I have four stepsons from a previous marriage and they have six children. So a total of fourteen grandchildren to keep us busy.
Alberta M. Godwin
How long you’ve been at Bb: October 2007
Life before Blackboard: I came to Blackboard after spending seven years with Baltimore City Public School System. I served as a Technology Integration Analyst, where I supported teachers and administrative staff in their use of instructional technologies such as the Blackboard Learning System – Enterprise and Blackboard Content System. In addition, I was a librarian and a classroom teacher. Prior to starting my career in education, I served as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army, receiving a Memorandum of Commendation and an Honorable Discharge.
Education/Credentials: I hold a Master of Arts in Education, Instructional Systems Development from the University of Maryland Baltimore County campus, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bowie State University and an Advanced Professional Certificate (APC) in teaching.
Area of Expertise: My primary focus is delivery of the Blackboard Academic Suite training services.
Mel Johansson
How long you’ve been at Bb: October 2007
Life before Blackboard: I joined Blackboard with experience in teaching Spanish at the University and High School level, middle school at the Alabama Institute for Deaf & Blind, and as a systems analyst for Xerox Corp.
Education/Credentials: AB in Communication Studies from Oberlin College; MA in Education from University of Alabama at Birmingham; Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Instructional Design for Online Learning from Capella University.
Areas of expertise: Vista and CE and online pedagogy.
Outside Interests: I keep South American freshwater tropical fish, and collect old hymnals.
Jarl Jonas
How long you’ve been at Bb: 2005
Life before Blackboard: Before working with Blackboard, I taught secondary-level English, managed Living and Learning college residences, developed seminars, colloquia, and symposia for a national faculty development consortium based at NYU, and directed the online and corporate learning development for NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Education/Credentials: M.A. in Higher Education Administration, New York University, NY; B.A. in Secondary Language Arts Instruction, Pennsylvania State University, PA; Blackboard Certified Trainer; Certificate in Project Management, International Institute for Learning; Certificate in Online Course Creation and Facilitation, New York University; Certificate in Multimedia Design and Production, New York University; Certificate in Web/Internet Technologies, New York University.
Areas of Expertise: Determining the optimal change management solutions for implementing systems within the Blackboard Academic Suite™.
Outside Interests: In addition to reviewing relevant electronic newsletters and periodicals, I like to stay active in various associations and organizations (including ASTD, League for Innovation, Sloan-C, Toastmasters International) to remain current on educational technology, training and development, and presentation and facilitation trends and best practices. As well, I appreciate the opportunity to serve as a judge for the Brandon Hall Excellence in E-Learning Awards Program.
Pepijn Kalis
How long you’ve been at Bb: January 2008
Life before Blackboard: Before joining Blackboard I was a Trainer & New Media Policy Advisor for 9 years for the Dutch International Service (Radio Netherlands Worldwide). I am a specialist in training professionals in the field of new media and ICT. In the past years I have designed and implemented new media educational projects (eLearning) for training institutes and media organizations. During this period I have trained journalists, radio and television producers, trainers and non-profit organization members with a multicultural background in developing and newly emerging countries around the world in the use of New Media and ICT.
Education/Credentials: I hold a Bachelor of Communication degree in Digital Communication from the Hogeschool Utrecht, faculty of Communication and Journalism. I also have a certificate in Project Management for managing projects in developing and newly emerging countries.
Carl Kuzmich
How long you’ve been at Bb: 1999
Life before Blackboard: Prior to joining Blackboard, I’ve held positions with California State University, Long Beach as an Information Technology Consultant; a System Analyst and Senior Curriculum Specialist for the University of Pittsburgh
Education/Credentials: M.Ed. in Instructional Design & Technology with the collateral area focused in Telecommunications from the University of Pittsburgh; BS in Computer Information Systems from Robert Morris College with a minor in Business Administration; AD in Computer Science from Pennsylvania State University; AD in Art and Letters from Pennsylvania State University.
Jane Maurer
How long you’ve been at Bb: September 2006
Life before Blackboard: Previous to coming to Blackboard as a trainer, I spent 5 years as the "all things Blackboard" person training, supporting, and administering the Blackboard system at Colorado Mountain College, a 2 year school with 10 campuses spread across 10,000 square miles of the Colorado High Country. Before Colorado Mountain College, I spent 9 1/2 years working computer support (hardware and software) and as gopher/webmistress for the Colorado State University Libraries. I was also webmistress for two other departments at CSU.
Education/Credentials: BA from Colorado State University in Literature (primarily British), with one minor in History (again primarily British) and another in Inter-disciplinary Religious studies. Her dual MA, also from CSU, combines concentrations in Historic Preservation and Archival Sciences; Blackboard Certified Trainer.
Outside Interests: and my other life I do consulting in these two fields. I have also been consulting archivist at the Colorado Chautauqua Association (CCA) in Boulder, Colorado since late 1999.
Tammy Newman
How long you’ve been at Bb: 2006
Life before Bb: Instructional design for Corporate Training and for a University
Education/Credentials: BA, Certificate in Adult Education
Areas of expertise: Instructional design, curriculum development
Outside interests: Went on a 6 week mission trip to the Philippines to assist in the development of 8 modules to be used in the public school system, teaching values
Deirdre Shuel
How long you’ve been at Bb: September 2006
Life before Blackboard: Before I came to Blackboard I was part owner of a Web Design/Development company. I did the layout and HTML/CSS coding for the websites. My partner did Database development and coded custom Administration modules for our clients.
Education/Credentials: BA Specialized Honours Mathematics; MSc Mathematics; College Diploma in Programming; Courses in Web Design/Development; Certified Microsoft Visual Basic 5 Developer
Areas of Expertise: Design/Layout
Julie A. Steckel
How long you’ve been at Bb: 2005
Life before Blackboard: Before joining Blackboard, I was the Instructional Technologist for Mount St. Mary’s University, responsible for supporting and training faculty members. Prior to Mount St. Mary’s, I had a 15-year consulting career focused on systems implementations for trade and professional associations.
Education/Credentials: My undergraduate degree is in Information Systems, my Master’s degree is in Education with an emphasis on Instructional Technology and I am still working on my Doctorate in Education Technology (maybe I’ll finish sometime in this lifetime?). I also hold various Microsoft certifications and am a Blackboard Certified Trainer.
Areas of Expertise: Distance Education, Course Design and Development, and Adult Education.
Connie Weber
How long you’ve been at Bb: 2005
Life before Blackboard: I began using Blackboard as an English instructor at Guilford Technical Community College (near Greensboro, NC) in 1999. The next year, I was asked to coordinate the Distance Learning program for the college, taking the online program from 40 online classes per semester to more than 700 online/hybrid/web-supplemented classes per semester. I managed our faculty and student Blackboard training programs, support services, documentation development, and troubleshooting for 10,000 students and 250 instructors. In addition, I worked with several other colleges in North Carolina to help them develop their online program.
Areas of Expertise: I'm passionate about the ways that online learning has transformed teaching.
Outside Interests: When not traveling for Blackboard, I’m reading a travel book, watching a travel show, or on the road for personal travel. You got it: I love the adventure of visiting new places and meeting new people.
Kim Zartman
How long you’ve been at Bb: 2000
Life before Blackboard: Before coming to Blackboard, I was an instructional technologist for St. Petersburg College in Florida. During my three years at the college, I co-managed most aspects of our initial CE implementation, from installation to administration, course development, and faculty training. Before joining the college, I owned a computer training business and worked with numerous corporate and educational clients, providing both training and content/course development services. I also have over ten years of teaching experience, from pre-K to community college.
Education/Credentials: B.S. in journalism, M.Ed. in early childhood education, post-graduate work in instructional design and educational technology - University of Florida, Gainesville.
Areas of expertise: Instructional design, elearning strategies, course development, program management.
Outside interests: I’m working on several volunteer projects that combine my knowledge of distance learning with my interest in parent education. In addition to encouraging and preparing my children’s new elementary school to use Blackboard, I’m developing a family-focused, non-profit online class titled Team M.O.M. (Managing our Money).