session presentations
Overcomplicated: A Choice, Design, or Accident?
ABSTRACT: Learning doesn’t become complicated on purpose, but it often ends up that way. As expectations around accessibility, inclusion, and technology grow, faculty are asked to do more, often without more time. We’ll start somewhere different, looking at how everyday design decisions shape whether learning actually feels clear, usable, and possible for students.
You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of the student experience and a few practical shifts that can make learning more usable, more human, and more likely to stick.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 9:00AM
ROOM #: Room 108
PRESENTER:
Dr. Kristin Austin
Director of I.D.E.As. (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access)
Rewriting the Code
DrKr2018@outlook.com
Dr. Austin serves as Vice-President of Culture & Social Impact at Rewriting the Code, a global not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering university students and early-career women in tech through collaborative learning, career development, and meaningful connection. Dr. Austin holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership & Administration, a Professional Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, a Master's degree in Counseling, and a Bachelor's degree (her favorite degree) in Social Work.
Accessible Course Readings from University Libraries
ABSTRACT: Learn two different ways to add accessible course readings in D2L - directly adding it yourself through permalinks to University Libraries' resources or by putting in a request through eReserves. We'll discuss best practices for linking to articles from the library databases and generating permalinks, as well as the variety of materials that can be put on eReserves.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 10:30AM
ROOM #: Room 106
PRESENTER:
Danielle Skaggs
Professor
University Libraries
West Chester University
dskaggs@wcupa.edu
Danielle Skaggs is UX Librarian at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She has an MSIS from the University of Texas at Austin and an MS in Instructional Technology from Bloomsburg University. She currently serves on WCU's Web Accessibility Task Force.
Ethical AI Design in Higher Education: Autonomy, Trust, and Cognitive Well-Being
ABSTRACT: This session explores ethical AI design in higher education through psychological frameworks, including Self-Determination Theory and Cognitive Load Theory. Participants will examine how explainability, autonomy support, and cognitive load calibration influence trust, competence, and ethical engagement, leaving with practical strategies for implementing human-centered AI in learning environments.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 10:30AM
ROOM #: Room 107
PRESENTER:
Jenn Williams
Manager of Learning Technology Services
Information Technology Services
PennWest
williams_j@pennwest.edu
Jennifer Butler Williams is Manager for Learning Technology Services at Pennsylvania Western University, where she leads academic technology strategy, LMS administration, and AI integration initiatives. A higher education leader and educator, she presents nationally on ethical AI adoption, instructional innovation, and learner-centered technology design. Jennifer is pursuing a PhD in Psychology, focusing on ethical AI and human-AI collaboration, with research grounded in psychological frameworks that support autonomy, competence, and meaningful engagement in digital learning environments.
Ignite Your H5P Potential: How FYE Built Inclusive & Accessible Course Presentations
ABSTRACT: Discover how Universal Design for Learning and H5P tools in D2L can transform your course content into engaging, accessible, and inclusive experiences. Learn practical strategies, view real results from FYE’s Fall 2025 content revision, and explore interactive activities that foster student success.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 10:30AM
ROOM #: Room 112
PRESENTERS:
Dr. Shannon Mrkich
Professor of English; Director of First Year Experience
WCU / First Year Experience
West Chester University
smrkich@wcupa.edu
Shannon Mrkich is a Professor of English and the Director of the First Year Experience (FYE) program at West Chester University, where she has spent 25 years championing student success. She is passionate about helping students thrive ‘“ especially through innovative online pedagogy. When she’s not in the classroom or solving academic puzzles, you’ll find her deep in the world of post-apocalyptic books, TV, and film.
Dr. Thomas Pantazes
Assistant Director of Reflective Practice and Scholarship
Teaching & Learning Center
West Chester University
tpantazes@wcupa.edu
Tom Pantazes is the Assistant Director of Reflective Practice and Scholarship with the Teaching & Learning Center at West Chester University who loves helping instructors integrate robust learning pedagogy. His research explores the intersections of digital content such as instructional video, extended reality, and simulations with pedagogical practices of higher education faculty. If he is not cheering on Philly sports teams, camping or building Legos, you can catch him as a cohost and executive producer of the ODLI on Air podcast.
Trauma-Informed Teaching: Using Technology to Build Safer, More Inclusive Classrooms
ABSTRACT: Teaching trauma-informed practice requires more than theory. It demands pedagogy that mirrors its values. This workshop explores how instructors can use accessible digital tools to design trauma-sensitive learning experiences. Participants will leave with practical, tech-enhanced strategies that center safety, equity, and student agency from the first day of class.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 10:30AM
ROOM #: Room 101B
PRESENTER:
Malika Hook Muhammad
Adjunct Faculty & EdD candidate, WCUPA; Senior Academic Advisor, George Washington
University
Graduate Social Work
West Chester University
mhookmuhammad@wcupa.edu
Malika Hook Muhammad is Adjunct MSW faculty at West Chester University's Graduate School of Social Work and a Senior Academic Advisor at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health. With over 15 years of experience in higher education administration, she specializes in trauma-informed pedagogy, anti-oppressive practice, and reproductive justice frameworks. She is currently pursuing an EdD in Higher Education Administration, with research focused on identity-conscious support services for underrepresented students.
From Adoption to Evaluation: Navigating Instructional Technology Ecosystems in Higher Education
ABSTRACT: The search for the 'perfect' instructional technology tool is an ongoing challenge. From discovery and purchasing to integration, adoption, and encouraging buy-in, institutions face difficult decisions and tight budgets. This session explores practical approaches to navigating these challenges while building a sustainable, effective technology ecosystem.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 11:30AM
ROOM #: Room 107
PRESENTER:
Dr. Colby Frantz
Director, Center for Design and Instruction
HACC Academic Affairs
Harrisburg Area Community College
crfrantz@hacc.edu
Dr. Colby Frantz is the Director of the Center for Design and Instruction at HACC, where he leads initiatives focused on instructional technology, online learning and course design, and faculty development. He specializes in improving processes, streamlining digital ecosystems, and enhancing teaching and learning experiences. Dr. Frantz works closely with faculty and leadership to implement practical, sustainable solutions that support student success and learning.
Empowerment vs. Oversight: Student Perspectives on Classroom GenAI Policies in Higher Education
ABSTRACT: This session presents findings from a qualitative study that explores university students’ experiences with classroom AI policies and their influence on academic self-efficacy, motivation, and engagement. Attendees will leave with actionable recommendations for developing transparent classroom GenAI policies that empower learners while upholding academic integrity.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 11:30AM
ROOM #: Room 112
PRESENTER:
Dr. Jessica Drass
Instructional Designer
Teaching and Learning Center
West Chester University
jdrass@wcupa.edu
Jessica is an Instructional Designer in the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) at West Chester University (WCU). She holds an M.S. in Instructional Technology from Bloomsburg University and is a doctoral candidate in the Ed.D. program at WCU. Jessica is deeply committed to helping faculty design inclusive learning experiences and seamlessly incorporate innovative technology into their instruction. Her dissertation research explores student perspectives on the implementation and impact of classroom AI policies.
Energizing Entrepreneurial Thinking for Faculty and Students Using AI Tools
ABSTRACT: Artificial intelligence is reshaping how ideas are generated, evaluated, and translated into impact. This session explores how faculty and students can use AI tools to energize entrepreneurial thinking, accelerate innovation cycles, and enhance teaching, research, and venture creation while maintaining critical judgment, ethical awareness, and human creativity.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 11:30AM
ROOM #: Room 106
PRESENTER:
Marc Duey
Professor, Innovation Fellow at WCU's Cottrell Center for Entrepreneurship
Marketing
West Chester University
mduey@wcupa.edu
Dr. Duey has over four decades of experience in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industries, and is the Managing Partner at Duce Management, LLC, a family office fund focused on digital health convergence. He has started or funded over two dozen companies and holds numerous patents. Dr. Duey sits on the Boards of Directors of 4 companies. He serves as the Innovation Fellow at the Cottrell Center for Entrepreneurship. He is a marketing professor at West Chester University.
Caleb McCartney
Senior, Student at West Chester University
Management
West Chester University
cm979946@wcupa.edu
Student. Management. Intern at Cerdwen Ventures, a Venture Capital Company. Veteran, served in Kenya.
Raise More Hands: Boosting Confident Classroom Participation with Game-Based Learning
ABSTRACT: Are your students usually reluctant to raise their hand during class discussions, or often do not participate in class? Do you teach asynchronously and often seek to engage your students? This session showcases how game-based learning (GBL) can transform the classroom into a low-anxiety, high-engagement space that promotes spontaneous engagement.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 11:30AM
ROOM #: Room 101B
PRESENTER:
Dr. Mahmoud Amer
Professor
Languages and Cultures
West Chester University
mamer@wcupa.edu
Dr. Mahmoud Amer is Professor and former Chair of the Department of Languages and Cultures at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. He has authored award-winning educational software programs and has led workshops on engaging, communicative pedagogy at national and international venues. His research explores how game-based learning supports learners and promotes engagement in the classroom. His most recent project is (https://gamehut.org/) an innovative game-based platform that promotes speaking and discussion in the classroom.
Teaching Responsible AI Use with a HUMAN Edge
ABSTRACT: Generative AI is already embedded in student workflows. This session introduces a structured approach for teaching responsible AI use at the start of the semester, helping students collaborate with AI tools while maintaining accountability, academic integrity, and high-quality work.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 12:30PM
ROOM #: 1st Floor Video Wall
PRESENTER:
Dr. Andreas Welsch
Adjunct Instructor
College of Business & Public Management / Management Department
West Chester University
awelsch@wcupa.edu
Andreas Welsch is a recognized AI leader, speaker, and advisor with more than two decades of global experience, including senior leadership roles at SAP. As the founder of Intelligence Briefing and best-selling author of The HUMAN Agentic AI Edge and the AI Leadership Handbook, he helps leaders turn AI into business value. An adjunct professor and published thought leader, Andreas provides practical frameworks that enable responsible human’“AI collaboration and prepare students for the AI-enabled workplace.
D2L Spotlight: Exploring New Content Experience
ABSTRACT: The New Content Experience in D2L provides an intuitive way to create lessons aligned to standards, outcomes, and expectations.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 1:00PM
ROOM #: 1st Floor Video Wall
PRESENTER:
John Nimick
Channel Technical Account Director, D2L
Talel Wahabi
Senior Technical Account Manager, D2L
Accessibility Features in Canva, an Online Graphic Design Tool
ABSTRACT: This presentation introduces Canva’s built‑in accessibility features and best practices for creating more inclusive visual content. The session will highlight how Canva can support WCAG‑informed design decisions while emphasizing user responsibility in creating content that is perceivable, readable, and usable for all audiences. We will explore tools and design strategies that support accessibility, including color contrast guidance, accessible fonts, alt text for images, page structure considerations, and exporting accessible PDFs and presentations.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 1:45PM
ROOM #: Room 101B
PRESENTER:
Bonnie Young, M.Ed, CFD
Technology Training & Development Coordinator
Information Services & Technology
West Chester University
byoung@wcupa.edu
Bonnie M. Young is the Technology Training & Development Coordinator in the EdTech and User Services department at West Chester University. In this role, she supports faculty and staff by designing and delivering technology training that enhances teaching, learning, and operational effectiveness. Her work focuses on educational technologies, user support, and professional development initiatives that promote effective and accessible use of digital tools.
AI, Academic Integrity, and Alternative Grading
ABSTRACT: Generative AI tools make it easier for students to cheat on assignments and harder for instructors to detect and prove academic integrity violations. Alternative grading systems offer frameworks for assessment that invite us to shift our thinking away from punitive enforcement models toward responsibility and transparency in academic work.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 1:45PM
ROOM #: Room 112
PRESENTER:
Dr. Dan Forbes
Assistant Professor
Philosophy
West Chester University
dforbes@wcupa.edu
Dr. Dan Forbes is an Assistant Professor in the Philosophy Department at West Chester University. His research specialization is in early modern philosophy and metaphysics, and he regularly teaches courses in introductory ethics. He also has experience teaching active learning strategies and a passion for creative pedagogy.
Teaching and Learning Academic Integrity: Cultivating Trust, Skill, and Knowledge Building
ABSTRACT: Presenters showcase a new Academic Integrity Tutorial featuring exercises on academic dishonesty, citation, plagiarism, copyright, guidelines for working with integrity, and real life scenarios. Designed to advance curricular equity, the tutorial evolves beyond traditional practices of teaching academic integrity from a punitive lens to foster character development and community trust.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 1:45PM
ROOM #: Room 107
PRESENTER:
Megan Donnelly
Information Literacy Librarian, Assistant Professor
University Libraries
West Chester University
mdonnelly@wcupa.edu
Megan Donnelly is the Information Literacy Librarian, Assistant Professor at the West Chester University Libraries. In this role her focus is teaching information literacy and strategic planning for the University Libraries’ instruction program. Megan has had a decade-long career in academic libraries grounded in teaching, learning, equity, and research. She is a current student in WCU’s Doctor of Education program and her research focuses on integrating information literacy across the curricula.
Dr. Jessica Drass
Instructional Designer
jdrass@wcupa.edu
West Chester University
Jessica is an Instructional Designer in the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) at West Chester University (WCU). She holds an M.S. in Instructional Technology from Bloomsburg University and is a doctoral candidate in the Ed.D. program at WCU. Jessica is deeply committed to helping faculty design inclusive learning experiences and seamlessly incorporate innovative technology into their instruction. Her dissertation research explores student perspectives on the implementation and impact of classroom AI policies.
Why Vulnerability Matters: In Inclusion, Accessibility and Ethics
ABSTRACT: This discussion session explores student learning and support from multiple contexts by centering informal cross-disciplinary conversations between faculty and staff. Our discussion invites participants to explore building spaces of vulnerability and inclusivity. This discussion fosters participants’ mapping of their own constellations, extending inclusive practices to new higher education campus stakeholders.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 1:45PM
ROOM #: Room 106
PRESENTER:
Dr. A Nicole Pfannenstiel
Associate Professor
English & World Languages
Millersville University
ambernicole.pfannenstiel@millersville.edu
Dr. A Nicole Pfannenstiel is an Associate Professor of Digital Writing at Millersville University. She is a scholar of digital rhetoric studying digital writing, videogames, play and literacy development, and composition theory and transfer theory.
Dr. Leonora Foels
Professor
School of Social Work
Millersville University
Leonora.Foels@millersville.edu
Dr. Leonora Foels is a Professor at Millersville University. A licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Foels has a wealth of experience in school social work, working with individuals, families and communities. She teaches in the BASW, MSW, and DSW programs and joins colleagues in her interest in Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
Miranda Sweetman
Help Desk Lead
Information Technology
Millersville University
Miranda.Sweetman@millersville.edu
Miranda Sweetman is a Help Desk Lead with over six years of technical experience supporting private and public colleges and universities within Information Technology. Her work centers on inclusive, human’‘centered support practices that strengthen and empower campus technology services.
Authoring Alternative Text for Complex Images
ABSTRACT: This session will cover strategies for writing text descriptions for complex images such as maps, diagrams, graphs, flowcharts, and infographics.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 2:45PM
ROOM #: Room 112
PRESENTER:
Connor Goyne
Associate Instructional Designer
Teaching and Learning Center
West Chester University
cgoyne@wcupa.edu
Connor Goyne is an Associate Instructional Designer with West Chester University’s Teaching & Learning Center. In this role, he partners with faculty to design online courses and integrate best practices in teaching, and alongside experts from West Chester’s Office of Educational Accessibility and the Dub-C Autism Program, he works to provide faculty with tools and support that will enable them to create inclusive and accessible learning experiences.
Making the Web Accessible ... the EASY Way!
ABSTRACT: WCAG 2.1AA, success criteria failures, POUR Principles … WHAT!?!? Website accessibility seems impossible, but what if it were simple? Reframe the way you think about digital accessibility and create accessible web content the easy way!
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 2:45PM
ROOM #: Room 106
PRESENTER:
Dan Swift
Director of Web Communications
University Communications & Marketing
West Chester University
dswift@wcupa.edu
Remember when the internet was referred to as the "Information Superhighway"? This guy does. Creating content on the platform "GeoCities", Dan Swift had no idea he would be on a pathway to a global community. With over 25 years of experience, professional roles include designer, developer, and leader. Dan has been an advocate for digital accessibility for over 10 years aiding organizations such as the Neurodiversity Employment Network and Cities of Inclusion. Dan currently serves as the Director of Web Communications at West Chester University.
On a personal note, Dan has an unquenchable thirst for curiosity, creativity, and reclaiming time through process improvement and automation.
Technology That Matters: What Instructors Really Need in Today’s Classrooms.
ABSTRACT: What type of technology is needed in a space for instruction, to foster student engagement, and provide an inclusive learning environment? A presentation of our audiovisual standards and how they were established. Where are the gaps between design intent, actual usage, and a more ideal teaching space for all instructors?
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 2:45PM
ROOM #: Room 101B
PRESENTER:
Yuki Yamamoto
AudioVisual Technology Manager
Information Services & Technology
West Chester University
nyamamoto@wcupa.edu
Nobuyuki Yamamoto (Yuki) is the Audiovisual Technology Manager at West Chester University where he has led the planning, design, and implementation of audiovisual instructional technology across new construction and renovation projects. With over two decades of experience in AV and IT at WCU, he focuses on developing practical, sustainable learning-space standards. He is also the founder and current lead of the Mid-Atlantic Higher Ed AV and Classroom Technology Alliance, a regional higher-ed AV collaboration network.
Dan Matrone
Digital Media Technical Support Manager
Information Services & Technology
West Chester University
dmatrone@wcupa.edu
Whitewater Teaching: Designing Authentic Online Learning in the Age of AI
ABSTRACT: Teaching online in the age of AI resembles whitewater rafting: the current is fast and there is no waiting it out. This session shares strategies for designing courses that create space for AI while centering the learning it cannot replace, grounded in the presenter's course redesigns and evidence-based ACUE practices.
PRESENTATION DATE: Thursday, May 14, 2026
LOCATION: West Chester University, Science and Engineering Center Commons (SECC)
PRESENTATION TIME: 2:45PM
ROOM #: Room 107
PRESENTER:
Dr. Ola Kopacz
Department of Communication and Media
West Chester University
mkopacz@wcupa.edu
Ola Kopacz is a Professor in the Department of Communication and Media at West Chester University, Her current work focuses on AI-literate course design, integrating evidence-based teaching practices from her ACUE Effective Online Teaching Practices certification into undergraduate and graduate courses. She teaches courses in media technologies, content strategy, research methods, and public speaking. Her research on new media and community has appeared in journals including New Media & Society and Human Communication Research.