Speakers-2026

As Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Julie Hartley-Moore oversees academic programs, planning, and assessment and university academic initiatives to support the highest quality teaching and to ensure student access to educational opportunities. Her portfolio includes leadership for the Office of Global Affairs, International Student and Scholar Services, and education abroad and for SUNY’s Digital Innovation and Academic Services, online educational initiatives, and the Office of Library and Information Services. Dr. Hartley-Moore previously served as Associate Commissioner and Chief Academic Officer for the Utah System of Higher Education, a campus director at Utah State University, and a Dean at Elgin Community College. She is an accomplished educator and researcher, having mentored over 150 student theses and has published on topics ranging from cultural tourism and sustainable development to higher education leadership and policy. Dr. Hartley-Moore earned her PhD in Applied Anthropology and Education from Columbia University, a Master of Arts in American Studies from Utah State University, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Anthropology and French from Brigham Young University.

Erin Maney is the Manager of Community Engagement & Communications. She was previously an Open SUNY senior instructional designer and, prior to that, came to the team from Monroe Community College where she served as an instructional designer. She has worked for community colleges and universities in Wisconsin and Florida before returning to upstate NY. Erin was formerly an English teacher for K-12 districts and continues to teach developmental writing courses and college orientation seminar as an adjunct instructor. After leaving the traditional classroom, she served in many roles supporting educators in K-12, at-risk youth facilities, technical and career high schools, community colleges, and universities. Much of her experience is focused on developing and facilitating training programs, finding new and engaging ways to communicate content, and developing meaningful learning opportunities for both faculty and students. Erin received her bachelor’s degree in Education from Keuka College and her master’s degree in Liberal Studies from Nazareth College. She is also a published author of a memoir and a children’s book.

Ed Venit is a Managing Director and education futurist with EAB. He has nearly twenty years of experience researching the megatrends that shape the future of postsecondary enrollment and student success. In his role, Ed provides executives with guidance on how recruitment, graduation, and career placement strategies will evolve over the next decade. He shares this research with thousands of college and university leaders each year through webinars, presentations, and one-on-one conversations. Ed holds a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from Duke University where he studied how division of labor evolved in marine invertebrates. He also got to teach a class about dinosaurs.

Zack is a lifelong Capital Region native who has called Troy, New York home for the past decade. He works full-time as a Client Relationship Manager and brings over 15 years of experience in service-oriented roles. In Fall 2025, Zack transferred to SUNY Plattsburgh from Southern New Hampshire University, where he studied Business Administration and discovered a strong interest in accounting. After welcoming his first child in March 2025, he was motivated to return to school full-time and enrolled in SUNY Plattsburgh’s Online Accounting program. Zack’s goals include completing his bachelor’s degree, pursuing a master’s in accounting, and sitting for the CPA exam. Outside of work and academics, he enjoys music, films, and gaming.

Cristina is a lifelong resident of Saratoga Springs, NY, and a 2022 SUNY Adirondack graduate with a degree in Humanities and Social Sciences. While earning her associate degree, she faced the challenge of a cancer diagnosis, but the flexibility of online learning allowed her to continue her education while focusing on her health and work. Cristina has spent the past three years in the medical field and is now completing her bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in Communications. She is on track to graduate in Spring 2026,proud of the strength and determination that carried her through her journey.

Jay is a SUNY Niagara online student currently pursuing a second degree in Human Services and a Certificate in Chemical Dependency Counseling. A Long Island native who grew up in Schenectady, Jay began his career as an Emergency Room Registrar at St. Clare’s Hospital before serving in the U.S. Navy from 1984 to 1988. After completing his service, he earned an associate degree in Business Administration from Monroe Community College and later worked for Time Warner Cable in Rochester. Jay’s long-term goal is to earn his bachelor’s degree and obtain CASAC-T certification to support individuals and communities impacted by addiction.

Michele is an Associate Professor at SUNY Empire and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She completed the NYSSC Coaching Academy and co-created and co-facilitates several SUNY coaching courses. She also provides executive coaching to the NYS Department of Labor. Her scholarly interests include coaching models, competency-based learning, and grief, loss, and resilience.

Loy is on partial reassignment as Project Manager for the SUNY Online Student Success Inventory (SOSSI) Redesign, leading a system-wide effort to identify at-risk online learners for proactive support. Drawing on interviews with SUNY students, the team is designing an assessment tool that reveals hidden barriers. At Genesee Community College, Loy deploys SOSSI as a triage and self-assessment tool, reaching learners before struggle becomes failure

Kristin Hall is a Senior Instructional Designer in the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) at Stony Brook University, where she has been part of the community since 2009. Her previous roles at Stony Brook include Lead Academic Advisor and Library Assessment Specialist. She holds a BS in Visual Arts (SUNY New Paltz), an MS in Academic Advising (Kansas State University), and a PhD in Curriculum, Instruction, and the Science of Learning (University at Buffalo), along with a graduate certificate in College Teaching. At CELT, Kristin leads a team of instructional designers overseeing online course development projects and advancing initiatives that promote quality course design and effective online teaching. She creates self-paced resource guides on a variety of teaching and learning topics and presents regularly on syllabus design, digital accessibility, AI in asynchronous courses, course alignment, cognitive load theory and working memory. She also serves on the CELT Symposium planning committee, the College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee, and the College of Business Curriculum Committee. In addition, Kristin is an adjunct faculty member in the Higher Education Administration program, where she teaches fully online asynchronous courses including Foundations of Online Education (which she designed and developed) and Student Development Theory.

Susan is the Manager of Online Student Support at SUNY Online, where she promotes evidence-informed practices and fosters collaboration across campuses. She leads SUNY Communities of Practice and contributes to SUNY’s Digital Transformation Project through multiple committee roles, helping campuses deliver equitable, accessible, and high-quality student experiences.

Sarah began working at SUNY Oswego in 2015 in the Division of Extended Learning and currently serves as an Academic Planning Coordinator for online programs, providing personalized student guidance and support. She also serves as the campus Testing Coordinator and oversees Prior Learning Assessment. Sarah holds degrees in Psychology and School Counseling and brings prior advising experience from SUNY Jamestown and SUNY Columbia-Greene.

Valerie Dent was appointed Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges at the State University of New York (SUNY) System Administration in July 2025. In this role, she is responsible for advancing SUNY policies and initiatives in support of the 30 community colleges across the system, working to strengthen access, equity, and student success. Valerie brings extensive leadership experience within SUNY, having previously served as Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Deputy for Student Success, Interim Chief Diversity Officer, and Deputy Chief Operating Officer. She also has a distinguished record of public service in New York State government, serving from 2013 to 2020 as First Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where she earned a degree in economics, and Columbia University School of Law, where she received her J.D.

Dr. Casey O’Brien serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Transformational Initiatives at SUNY System Administration. In his role, Dr. O’Brien provides senior leadership for the effective planning, implementation, expansion, and assessment of system-wide student success programs and transformational initiatives designed to improve the academic momentum, retention, and completion rates of SUNY students, with a focus on scaling evidence-based practice for under-served populations. Dr. O’Brien is responsible for leading the strategy and implementation of SUNY’s Academic Momentum Campaign, which aims to increase the retention and completion of all undergraduates. A component of his work also involves leading SUNY’s replication of the highly successful ASAP|ACE evidence-based completion program, which originated in the CUNY System and has now been replicated across seven states. Dr. O’Brien’s portfolio also includes the work of SUNY’s Office of Higher Education in Prison, which serves more than 1,000 incarcerated students across the state each year. Prior to his role with SUNY, Dr. O’Brien served in a variety of leadership roles at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, New York—most recently as their Dean of Academic Affairs and Interim Chief Academic Officer, overseeing the college’s six academic divisions and ensuring the delivery of high-quality curricula in an inclusive and student-centered learning environment. Dr. O’Brien is a student-focused educational leader, possessing a background in assessment, strategic planning, accreditation, instructional technology, and data-informed best practices. Dr. O’Brien holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Siena College, a Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology from the University at Albany, and a Doctor of Education degree in executive leadership from St. John Fisher University. He currently resides in Slingerlands, New York with his wife, Sarah, daughter, Charlotte, and Golden Retriever, Winnie.

Judith Littlejohn serves as the Director of Online Learning at Genesee Community College, where she supports faculty in designing effective, accessible online courses and integrating new tools and strategies to enhance student learning. Her current work focuses on using student feedback to inform meaningful adjustments to online course design, helping instructors identify small, practical changes that improve clarity and engagement. She is also involved in campus efforts to prepare for upcoming Title II digital accessibility requirements and explores the role of AI as a supportive tool in course creation and faculty development. Judith participates in SUNY-wide conversations through FACT2, contributing to shared efforts to strengthen online teaching and learning across the system.

Brandi So, Ph.D. is the Director of Distance Learning at SUNY-Farmingdale State College, a majority-minority technology college that provides a range of professional undergraduate and graduate degrees in the technology, health sciences, engineering, and business fields. As a first-generation high school graduate, Brandi’s career has been shaped by a commitment to building best-in-class online educational experiences for all students, and especially students whose circumstances might otherwise prevent them from completing their college degree. With an incredible team of instructional designers, technologists, and student interns, Brandi and the Distance Learning team serve the students, faculty, and staff at FSC with training, technical support, and course design services. In addition to her career in educational technologies and distance learning, Brandi teaches literature at Farmingdale State College.

Allene Slating is the Senior Instructional Designer on the SUNY Online Teaching team. Prior to joining SUNY Online, Allene was at SUNY Delhi for 9 years in various roles supporting faculty and students on campus and online. She last served as their Instructional Designer and DLE Admin and continues to adjunct a hybrid course. Allene also received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service (2022-2023). Allene has a Master of Education degree in Education and Technology from the University at Buffalo, and is particularly interested in how media, information design, and communication impact learning. A lifelong learner, she seeks to improve her Spanish language skills, experiment with gluten-free vegetarian cooking, and challenge herself with dual-sport motorcycle riding.

Lin Lin joins SUNY Online as a Graduate Intern supporting both the online teaching and community and communications units of SUNY Online from the University at Albany graduate department of Communication where she is pursuing a doctoral degree. Lin has expressed entering higher education as a career goal, and has a solid background in education, online teaching, and instructional design. In addition to being a mom of two young boys, a PhD student, and our new intern, she also serves as an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Communication, where she teaches a variety of communication courses both online and in person. Her skills and expertise in the communication field and her enthusiastic interest leveraging technology for education, learning about OSCQR and online course reviews, and in assisting to support online teaching and community activities align perfectly with the goals of this internship and needs of our units

Viktorya Mirzoyan is an Impact Analyst at SUNY Online, where she leverages data analytics to support strategic decisions and enhance the online learning experience. With expertise in dashboard design, survey administration, and assessment, Viktorya plays a key role in supporting data-driven initiatives that benefit students, faculty, and campuses across the SUNY system. Viktorya’s higher education experience spans over 15 years in two countries in a variety of roles. Before joining SUNY Online, Viktorya coordinated professional development programs at SUNY’s Center for Professional Development (CPD), streamlining workflows and improving data integrity. Prior to SUNY, she worked in the Registrar’s Office at the American University of Armenia, focusing on scholarships and financial aid. She holds dual graduate degrees in International Relations from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School and Yerevan State University in Armenia. Viktorya brings a global perspective and a passion for higher education, continuous learning, and finding creative ways to connect data with real-world impact. Outside of work, she enjoys doing puzzles, travelling, and exploring new tastes.

JoAnna Brosnan is an Associate for University Planning and Analysis in the Office of Institutional Research & Data Analytics at SUNY System Administration. Like many others in the field, JoAnna fell into Institutional Research (IR) “on accident” in 2014 in a shared-services position at two campuses and has enjoyed a sense of helping others in varying capacities through the broad and ever-expanding nature of IR work since. JoAnna spent more than 8 years working at campuses within the SUNY system, with 5 years’ experience as Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, before joining the System Administration office in 2022. For over a decade, she has enjoyed creating and collaboratively contributing to opportunities to share knowledge and skills related to “all things data”, ranging from Excel for Beginners workshops to FERPA and Data Governance policy development, implementation, and training, to conference sessions and larger scale system-wide sessions for varying audiences. She served on the AIRPO (Association for Institutional Research and Planning Officers) conference planning committee and represented the Technology Sector for multiple terms on the executive committee. JoAnna has an AAS in Social Sciences and a BS in Applied Psychology (Industrial/Organizational track) from SUNY Cobleskill, and an MA in Higher Education Administration from SUNY Stony Brook. In her free time, JoAnna is a volunteer firefighter, enjoys traveling both domestically and internationally, spending time with her dogs (Duck and Goose), and gaming.

Dr. Gazi’s higher education experience spans over 29 years in four countries. Prior to her arrival at Duke in 2022, Dr. Gazi oversaw learning design, production, continuous improvement, compliance, technology infrastructure, and support for online credit-bearing and professional development courses and programs at Georgia Tech Professional Education. Earlier in her career, Dr. Gazi led distance education initiatives at Texas A&M University’s Dwight Look College of Engineering, oversaw distributed learning and instructional technology at Texas A&M-Central Texas, and served as an information technology consultant at Texas A&M University at Qatar. She served on the Academic Advisory Council for Quality Matters©, is an elected council member and First Vice President of the International Association for Engineering Continuing Education (IACEE), and an at-Large Board Member of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA). Dr. Gazi earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University, and an M.A. in Educational Sciences and a B.S. in Teaching Chemistry, both from Bogazici University in Turkey.

Dr. Marina Aminy is an Associate Vice Chancellor at Foothill-De Anza Community College District and the Executive Director of the California Virtual Campus, a state-wide initiative to help California Community College students accelerate completion of their educational goals through access to high-quality online courses, digital technologies, and course sharing. She holds a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, and has over 30 years of experience in higher education, including leadership and teaching at the community college, undergraduate and graduate levels.

Van Davis joined WCET in 2021 as chief strategy officer, and in 2025, he became WCET’s executive director and WICHE’s vice president for digital learning. Davis oversees all strategic and operational responsibilities of WCET’s membership, the State Authorization Network (SAN) that assists institutions with interstate compliance, and Every Learner Everywhere, which advocates for successful academic outcomes for all postsecondary education students through advances in digital learning. Van has over 25 years of experience in higher education as a faculty member, academic administrator, state policy maker, and edtech leader. He holds a Master’s and PhD in 20th Century US history with an emphasis in civil rights from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor’s in history from Southwestern University. Prior to joining WCET and WICHE, Davis served as principal at Foghlam Consulting, associate vice president at Blackboard Inc., director of innovation at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and a faculty member and academic administrator at several public and private universities with historically underrepresented student populations. Van lives outside of Austin, Texas, and will relocate to WICHE headquarters in Boulder, CO, later this summer with his beloved wife, Lisa, and two cats. When not working, Van collects Lego models and dreams of the day he can complete his western US camping trip.

Andrea Reyes Elizondo is a researcher at the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University. Her work has focused on research integrity, citizen science, and open science. At CWTS, she co-coordinates the focal area ‘Evaluation and Culture’ which is concerned with the development of responsible research assessment practices and on fostering healthy research cultures. She is also a self-funded PhD candidate on book and reading history at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS). Her doctoral research focuses on the reconstruction of reading possibilities in New Spain (colonial Mexico) during the eighteenth century.