Moderator: Pam K. Quinn, Provost, LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications, Dallas County Community College District, Texas.
Panel Presentation: Leadership
Panelists:
- Teresa Pittman is the Associate Vice President-Teaching & Learning at the College of the North Atlantic in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
- Karan Powell is the President (retired) of the American Public University System.
- Kevin Bell is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Digital Futures) at Western Sydney University in Australia.
- Elizabeth (Liz) Ciabocci is Vice Provost for Digital Learning at St John’s University. (virtually)
Pam k. Quinn, Provost DCCCD
Dr. Pam K. Quinn is the Provost of the LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications of the Dallas County Community College District in Texas. As CEO of the LeCroy Center since 1985, Dr. Quinn has become an internationally recognized leader in the field of distance education and learning technologies.
Karan Powell, President (Retired), APUS
Dr. Karan Powell is president (retired) of American Public University System. Between 2002 and 2017, Dr. Powell led university initiatives to advance its strategic goals of academic excellence, managed growth and institutional effectiveness, with a core focus on expanding its reputation and recognition as a premier quality provider of and partner in student success.Prior to becoming APUS president in July 2016, Dr. Powell served APUS as provost since 2011, leading university academics to ensure academic quality and online teaching effectiveness, student success, advocacy for the faculty, and the adoption and creation of innovative online instructional strategies and technology. She also served as interim chancellor in 2004, dean of the School of Business, Management and Graduate Studies in 2005, and academic dean from 2006 to 2011, advancing the academics department in areas of curriculum, programs, and faculty. Dr. Powell first joined the APUS Board of Trustees in 2002 while serving as chief learning officer for American Management Systems. Now, in retirement, she consults through her business, Powell & Associates, LLC, in areas of accreditation, digital learning leadership, executive and management development, and the transformation of higher education organizations and leaders.Prior to joining APUS, Dr. Powell served as an executive faculty instructor at Georgetown University School of Business and also served as director of professional development programs in the Georgetown University School of Continuing Education, where she designed and taught leadership classes for the U.S. Senate and Verizon, among other organizations. She has been an adjunct faculty member at University of Phoenix Online, George Mason University, and University of Maryland University College.
Dr. Powell holds a doctorate in education from George Mason University, with a specialization in organization development and organizational learning. She also holds a bachelor of science in business education from Western Illinois University and a master of divinity from Loyola University (Chicago), in addition to a certificate in advanced organization design from the University of Southern California. Dr. Powell also completed the HERS Institute: Advancing Women in Higher Education Administration, the Harvard Institute for Educational Management, and the University of California Berkeley Executive Leadership Academy.
Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Ciabocchi, Vice Provost, Digital Learning & Executive Director of Online Learning & Services St. John’s University
Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Ciabocchi currently serves as Vice Provost for Digital Learning and Executive Director of Online Learning & Services at St. John’s University. From 2002-2014, Ciabocchi served in the Office of Academic Affairs at Long Island University, most recently as Associate Vice President for Online Learning (2013-2014). She also served as Academic Dean, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, New York Campus (2001-2002), and as a faculty member and administrator at the New York College for Health Professions in Syosset, N.Y. (1993-2001). Ciabocchi holds an Ed.D. in Higher & Postsecondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, a D.C. from New York Chiropractic College, and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Scranton. She also holds an Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Teaching Certificate (Administrative Track) and completed the OLC Institute for Engaged Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) in 2010. She was elected a Fellow of the OLC in 2015.
In her current role at St. John’s, Ciabocchi leads the Office of the Provost’s academic initiatives in the development of digital learning strategies and programs of study offered in fully online and hybrid formats. In addition, she provides leadership in the use of technology associated with on-campus instruction, oversees the Office of Online Learning & Services, and serves as co-chair of the University Assessment Committee as well as other university-wide committees. An active member of the higher education professional community, Ciabocchi also serves as a site team evaluator for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (2013-present); a member of the Board of Directors of OLC (2016-2018), and institutional liaison to the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network of New York. She currently resides with her family in Long Island, New York. Her two children are her proudest accomplishment.
Teresa Pittman, Associate VP Teaching & Learning, College of the North Atlantic
Teresa Pittman is the Associate Vice President-Teaching & Learning at the College of the North Atlantic. In this capacity, she provides strategic leadership for teaching and learning initiatives with a focus on technology-enabled distance education. Theresa also has management oversight for the College’s Office of Distributed Learning (DL) which provides province-wide access to online College courses and programs for learners who may be constrained by barriers of location, time or circumstance. Previous to the AVP assignment, Theresa held the position of Dean of Distributed Learning, and Chair, DL and Educational Technologies. Theresa has also held the position Manager of Curriculum Standards with the Department of Education, Government of NL, the Manager of Institutional Research and Academic Planning, and Instructional Design Specialist with College of the North Atlantic. She has over 23 years experiences in the public and private sector, most of which has been in education and information technology areas.
Theresa is actively engaged in her local community and also the education technology professional community. Theresa serves on College of the North Atlantic’s Deans and Chairs Council, the ERP Steering Committee, the Academic Planning Steering Committee, the Risk Management Committee, the Community Corporate and International Advisory Committee, and formerly served on Academic Council and the Strategic Enrollment Management Committee.
Theresa has a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) degree, a Bachelor of Post-Secondary Education degree, and a Master of Education (Information Technology) from Memorial University. She has been awarded the title of Fellow of the School of Graduate Studies from Memorial University in recognition of outstanding academic achievement throughout a graduate program.
Kevin Bell, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Digital Futures) at Western Sydney University in Australia
Kevin Bell is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Digital Futures) at Western Sydney University in Australia.