SUNY Online Teaching Ambassador 2021: Buffalo – Dianna Cichocki

Dianna Cichocki is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Management Science and Systems Department at the University at Buffalo. She teaches “Statistical Decisions in Management” in the School of Management’s Undergraduate Program, “Statistical Foundations in Analytics” in the Professional MBA program, and “Data Modeling” in the Executive MBA program. In addition to teaching, she has offered workshops/presentations at the local, state and national levels concerning incorporating technology into statistics and best practices in data visualization.

I am honored to have been appointed as one of UB’s 2021 SUNY Online Teaching Ambassadors. The prominence of online education has increased exponentially in the past year and educators have been catapulted into the online space. As we all reflect and continually improve, I encourage everyone to consider the balance between course quality and course engagement. While quality content is a critical component of an effective online course, establishing a welcoming atmosphere that encourages and motivates students is equally as important and should not be overlooked. The most successful online courses are those that engage students and create a sense of community. Effective online teaching is an art that develops over time and is not accomplished alone. I am blessed to work alongside an amazing team of educators who encourage one another to continually improve and ensure the best possible experience for our students.