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As an Associate Teaching Professor at ��Ʒ���˸������� University, Dr. Yosh guides undergraduate students in developing proficiency in business communications. In addition to her academic role, she serves as a business communications consultant, assisting organizations in enhancing internal and external messaging and providing coaching and training to strengthen interpersonal communication skills. Her professional experience includes collaborations with FORTUNE 500 companies and small businesses, contributing to the creation of website content, promotional materials, newsletters, fact sheets, white papers, and corporate value propositions that advance organizational effectiveness through clear and persuasive communication.

John David Yi, Ph.D., is Director of Learning and Teaching Transformation at ��Ʒ���˸������� University, where he supports faculty in designing inclusive, community-centered learning experiences across modalities. With nearly two decades of experience in teaching, faculty development, and academic leadership, his work focuses on humanizing pedagogy, digital learning, belonging, and emerging technologies in higher education. He earned his Ph.D. in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where his research explored community co-construction and belonging in first-year writing classrooms, particularly within blended and online learning environments. Shaped by his experiences as a first-generation college graduate and educator, alongside a research-practitioner stance, John is especially interested in how relationships, dialogue, and intentional course design foster belonging and engagement in digital learning environments. This work continues to inform his participation in the inaugural 2026 Google & GSV Higher Ed Leader Fellowship, a national community of higher education leaders exploring AI, innovation, and the future of human-centered learning. At Montclair, John helps cultivate a collaborative hub for teaching and learning that advances inclusive pedagogy, emerging technologies, faculty dialogue, and meaningful student engagement. He is equally committed to ensuring faculty voices remain central to conversations surrounding teaching and learning, and to helping create spaces where students and educators alike feel empowered to contribute to a shared intellectual community.

Barry Bachenheimer, Ed.D. has been an Adjunct Professor at ��Ʒ���˸������� University since 1998, and currently teaches in the  Educational Leadership Department Master’s Degree Program.   Dr. Bachenheimer also serves on the ��Ʒ���˸������� University AI Steering Committee. A retired Assistant Superintendent and Director of Curriculum with a 33-year career in K-12 education, he is a Google Certified Trainer and Innovator and owner of edRescue Solutions, LLC, an edTech and curriculum consulting company. His research interests include strategic instructional design, standards-based grading, and use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in both pedagogy and health care. Dr. Bachenheimer has recently worked on projects with Google, the FDNY, New York Medical College, Emergency Medical Services Magazine, and numerous K-12 and higher educational institutions across the tri-state area.  In addition to his educational work, Dr. Bachenheimer is also an Emergency Medical Technician and a volunteer firefighter.

Qian (Lora) is an Instructional Designer on the ITDS team at ��Ʒ���˸������� University. She partners with faculty across undergraduate and graduate programs to design engaging, accessible, and student-centered learning experiences across online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses. Her interests include enhancing student engagement through interactive course design and applying student-centered approaches that promote meaningful learning. She is committed to collaborating with faculty to create inclusive learning environments that support student success. She holds an M.A. in Public and Organizational Relations from ��Ʒ���˸������� University.

Dr. AJ Kelton is the Program Manager for Curriculum and Enrollment Management in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. He also teaches in the Classics & General Humanities Department. His teaching interests center on digital humanities, digital literacy, and the intersection of pedagogy with emerging technologies. A passionate advocate for innovative education, Dr. Kelton’s research explores collaborative learning, reflective teaching practices, neurodivergent pedagogy, and the use of games and virtual worlds in academia. He has presented widely across the U.S. and internationally on these topics. As the Founder and Board Member of the Virtual World Education Roundtable, Emerging Learning Design (ELD), and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Emerging Learning Design Journal, he fosters dialogue around the future of teaching and learning. Dr. Kelton holds a BA (English) and MA (Writing Studies) from ��Ʒ���˸������� University and a PhD (Educational Communication and Technology) from New York University.

Dr. Nora McCook is an Associate Professor of Writing at Bloomfield College of ��Ʒ���˸������� University where she coordinates the SCHOLAR community co-design certificate, Writing Intensive Program, and ePortfolios. She currently serves as the endowed Cyrus H. Holley Professor in Applied Ethics and facilitates on-campus programming connected to the College’s mission. Dr. McCook teaches first-year, professional and technical, and digital media writing courses. She also facilitates student-faculty-community engagement through Stories of Newark, an oral history project. Her scholarship focuses on ethical engagement in higher education with particular emphasis on examining how educators can mitigate ongoing and historical harms and create more inclusive learning praxis. Dr. McCook’s research explores the intersections of literacy studies, High Impact Practices, and community-based scholarship, with a strong commitment to collaborative research that centers student and community voices. Her work has appeared in special collections and journals such as Literacy in Composition Studies and Pedagogy. Dr. McCook is particularly passionate about mentoring undergraduate researchers and creating innovative approaches to writing and community engaged pedagogy that connect academic learning with real-world professional skills.

As Lead Instructional Designer, Danica brings two decades of instructional design, training, and professional development experience across higher education and corporate contexts. As an enthusiast for all aspects of the learning experience, she helps faculty express their course design goals with rigor, authenticity, and effectiveness. Currently pursuing and EdD at Northeastern, Danica also holds an MA in Instructional Technology and Media at Teachers College and an MA in Art History and Archaeology from the Institute of Fine Arts at NYU.

Education has been at the heart of Renee Sharif’s career from the start. With over a decade of experience as a teacher, youth mentor, and EdTech professional, she now serves as Partner Success Team Lead at FeedbackFruits, where she partners with instructors and institutions to make a real impact on student learning. Renee’s love for education is what continues to drive her work every day.

Dr. So Young (Soyoung) Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Science and Human Development at ��Ʒ���˸������� University, where she also serves as Associate Department Chair. She is a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) and the recipient of the 2025 Dawn Cassidy Certified Family Life Educator Special Recognition Award from the National Council on Family Relations. Dr. Lee was recently selected as a 2026 Korea Foundation Fellow for Field Research and as the 2026 recipient of the MSU Presidential Excellence Award in the International Pedagogy and Research category.

Lauren Swanson is a Customer Success Manager at Poll Everywhere, where she partners with colleges and universities to support interactive and collaborative learning experiences in the classroom. After previously working at Poll Everywhere and returning to the team, Lauren brings a strong passion for higher education and fostering inclusive participation.

Dan Petito is a Senior Account Executive at Poll Everywhere, where he’s spent the past eight years partnering with colleges and universities to create more engaging, interactive learning environments. Working closely with faculty and academic leaders, Dan helps institutions incorporate live polling and audience engagement tools into teaching and learning experiences to improve participation, feedback, and student connection in the classroom.

Sarah Sangregorio (she/they) has worked as the Instructional Designer for the Feliciano School of Business Instructional Support and Technology Office since 2018. Sarah is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Teacher Education and Teacher Development program at ��Ʒ���˸�������, focusing on faculty development and studying the systems and structures of higher education and how they affect teaching and learning. Sarah obtained their M.S. in Instructional Design in 2016 from Quinnipiac University and their M.A. in Theatre Production/Stage Management from Montclair in 2010. Immediately before their role at Montclair, they worked at Rutgers University as the Lead Instructional Designer/Educational Technologist for the School of Health Professions and as the Sakai LMS Support Help Desk Manager for the now-defunct Office of Instructional Research and Technology. They have worked for twenty years in instructional and information technology – mostly in higher education – and for over twenty years in theatre.

Dr. Milton A. Fuentes received his MA in psychology with a Latinx psychology focus from ��Ʒ���˸������� University and his doctorate in clinical psychology from Rutgers University. He completed a pre-doctoral fellowship in clinical and community psychology at Yale University and secured post-doctoral training in epidemiology at Columbia University. He is the 2012 President of the National Latinx Psychological Association and was recently awarded fellow status in the American Psychological Association for his outstanding contributions in the field of psychology. Dr. Fuentes is also the recipient of the 2023 Society for the Teaching of Psychology Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. Dr. Fuentes’ professional interests are in the areas of diversity science, program development, pedagogy, and motivational enhancement. He serves as a consultant to academic campuses, community-based agencies, and corporate clients, helping them center equity, diversity, and inclusion in their mission and strategic planning efforts. Dr. Fuentes is currently a Professor in the Psychology Department, Interim Chair of the Social Work and Child Advocacy department as well as Special Advisor to the Provost at ��Ʒ���˸������� University. He is also a licensed psychologist.

Michelle M. Truffin received her BA in Psychology with a concentration in Forensic Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MA in Educational Psychology from ��Ʒ���˸������� University, along with a Post‑BA Certification in Child Advocacy and Policy. Her professional interests include teaching, research, and mentorship in higher education, child advocacy, prevention and trauma‑informed practice, and community‑based social work and psychology.

Dr. Figen Suchanek

Dr. Figen Suchanek is a Teaching Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Bloomfield College of ��Ʒ���˸������� University, where she teaches a variety of chemistry courses, including General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry. Her teaching and research interests include chemistry education, prompt engineering and artificial intelligence in STEM learning, environmental chemistry, and the application of data science, deep learning, and machine learning to air quality and public health. Dr. Suchanek is committed to student-centered learning and actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in research projects presented at academic conferences. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes practical application, active learning, critical thinking, and making complex scientific concepts accessible and relevant to real-world challenges.

Dr. Daniel Jean serves as an Associate Provost at ��Ʒ���˸������� University. He has been featured in the LA Times, NJ.com, PBS NewsHour, Black Enterprise, Ebony Magazine, the Hechinger Report, Diversity in Action, USA Today, Iowa Public Radio, Miami WSRF 1580AM Radio and twice on the cover of Diverse Issues in Higher Education. He is the founder of PhinisheD/FinishEdD #WhoGotNext an online community for over 33,000 future doctors and has presented 700+ seminars/keynotes including for NASPA, ACPA, CSRDE, N-CORE, APLU, and NACADA, MIT, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Baruch College, The Fashion Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, University of South Florida, Western Kentucky University, Rutgers University, Meharry Medical College, and Clemson University. He has taught undergrad and grad courses in consulting, student development, transformative leadership and hip-hop culture. He is the chair and founder of three statewide college access/awareness conferences, and the Richard Wilson/Jason James Mentorship Program. His most recent play “Til Death Do Us Part?” ran Off-Off-Broadway in NYC to sold out shows. He is the author of three indie books and is accolades include citations from the NJ and NY legislature, multiple Educator of the Year Awards. Dr. Jean, is a proud EOF alumnus and has a goal to directly assist 1,000,000 future graduates and deliver 10,000 seminars/keynotes before retirement.

Dr. Susan Pope is a dance educator, scholar, author, and arts-based researcher whose work centers embodied pedagogy, Africanist aesthetics, portraiture methodology, and multimodal forms of representation. With more than 30 years of experience in dance education, she has made significant contributions to arts education in K–12, higher education, and community settings. Her teaching career includes positions with the Newark Board of Education and the New York City Department of Education, where she also directed the SUMA/Children’s Aid Society Dance Company. At ��Ʒ���˸������� University, Dr. Pope serves as adjunct professor, coordinator for the Dance Education BA program, and member of the Transformative Education Network (TEN) Field Team. She teaches courses including Dance for Children, Portraiture: An Embodied Way of Writing, Social Studies and the Arts, Arts and Creativity in Early Childhood, and Black Dance in America. Dr. Pope earned her doctorate in Dance Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her scholarship explores embodied learning through Indigenous and African diasporic perspectives, culturally relevant pedagogy, arts-based research, and dance as a site of storytelling, healing, and community engagement. She has presented her work nationally and internationally at conferences and panels including the Collegium for African Diasporic Dance (CADD), the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), and the Arnhold Institute panel, Moving Forward: Transforming Dance Education Through Research and Praxis. As a performer, Dr. Pope has danced with the Rod Rogers Dance Company and the Hudson City Repertory Dance Company.

Instructional Technology and Design Services (ITDS) is dedicated to advancing teaching and learning across the University through educational technology, instructional design, and faculty development. Our mission is to promote academic excellence by empowering faculty and supporting the University community to develop innovative, inclusive, and high-quality educational experiences that enhance student success.

Dr. Grace Cook is an Associate Professor of Mathematics and the Area Coordinator for Computational, Natural and Applied Sciences at Bloomfield College of ��Ʒ���˸������� University, where she has taught mathematics, computer science, business, and education courses since 2013. As the Area Coordinator, she developed the new Informatics major at Bloomfield and the introductory Informatics course. She holds a PhD in General Education from Walden University, a Bachelor’s degree in Pure and Applied Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Stevens Institute of Technology. She has consulted for the College Board and Educational Testing Service for several years and served as the Higher Education Co-Chair for the recently released AP Precalculus exam. Active in the Mathematical Association of America, she chairs the Committee on VITAL Faculty Concerns and serves on the New Jersey Section Executive Board. A 2014 NJ-Next Fellow, she received the NJ Section Teaching Award in 2022 and is the 2026 recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award for Bloomfield College.

Dawn Marie Hayes is Professor of Medieval History at ��Ʒ���˸������� University, where she has taught for over two decades and was recognized as a Teaching Fellow at the university’s Research Academy for University Learning. Her scholarly work encompasses medieval European history, digital humanities, and the innovative use of technology in the classroom, most visibly through The Norman Sicily Project, a NEH-funded digital preservation initiative she has led since 2015. A longtime advocate for student-centered pedagogy, Hayes has explored the intersection of popular culture and historical inquiry in her published work, including an article in The History Teacher on harnessing historiography and popular culture to engage students in the study of the Crusades. Her current focus on gamification — using escape rooms and videogames as immersive, experiential entry points into history — grows directly from that commitment, and from her belief that students learn most deeply when they feel seen, challenged, and genuinely connected to the content before them.

Chris Petrillo is an Instructional Designer within the Instructional Technology and Design Services (ITDS) group and MSU alumni (BS Biological Science). Responsibilities include collaboration with faculty to design pedagogically-sound courses for online programs, development of workshops for increasing engagement in courses using interactive and collaborative platforms, and researching innovative technologies and pedagogical applications to increase student engagement. Chris’ interest areas include multimedia projects (audio/video), student engagement methodologies, extended reality (XR, VR/AR), game-based learning, and gamification.

Melissa Adamo earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Rutgers University-Newark and her BA in Literature from Ramapo College of New Jersey. She currently teaches in the Department of Writing Studies and has previously taught composition, creative writing, literature, and pop culture courses as well as worked as a writing tutor at other New Jersey colleges. She has also worked as a Faculty Developer with the Office for Faculty Excellence here at Montclair. Her focus on engagement strategies in the classroom and meeting students where they are has been the subject of presentations and panels at Montclair, the New Jersey Writing Alliance Conference, and the Northeast Modern Language Association Convention.

Crystal Tejada-Breton is a higher education professional with a focus on employer relations, student engagement, and equity-centered career development. She currently serves as an Employer Relations Specialist at ��Ʒ���˸������� University, where she builds and maintains partnerships with employers to expand job, internship, and experiential learning opportunities for students. Crystal also supports the development of student employment initiatives that enhance on-campus job experiences as high-impact learning opportunities. Crystal is a double alumna of ��Ʒ���˸������� University, earning her BA in Sociology and MA in Social Research and Analysis.

Amanda Birnbaum is a Professor in the Department of Public Health, for which she was the inaugural chair. She earned a PhD in epidemiology from the University of Minnesota and an MPH from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, and has been a proud member of ��Ʒ���˸������� University faculty since 2005. She is passionate about teaching in the MPH and undergraduate public health programs, preparing future public health leaders whose diverse perspectives, lived experience, and passion for social justice will help lead us on a path towards health equity in NJ and beyond.

David Vincenti, PMP, is an adjunct professor of business, project manager, engineer, poet and accordionist. Before joining ��Ʒ���˸������� University, David held corporate positions in Research and Development, Quality, Manufacturing, Marketing, IT, and Business Process Management with a focus on commercializing medical technologies including specimen collection devices, diabetes management systems, and many of the common disposable devices you see in doctor’s offices and hospital rooms every day. A long-time member of the Project Management Institute, he has presented at PMI symposia and learning events topics including communication, career development, team behaviors, and risk management. In his more than 30 years in the medical technology industry, David led projects to commercialize products including In his post-corporate years (don’t say retirement!) David has taught Business Communications and project management for ��Ʒ���˸������� University, and project management for Stevens Institute of Technology and Harvard Catalyst. He holds degrees in Materials Engineering and Technology Management from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Adam Mayer serves as the Director of Career and Academic Programming for the Discovery Program at ��Ʒ���˸������� University. He holds an M.A. in Counseling from ��Ʒ���˸������� University, a B.A. in Psychology from Stockton University, and Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) certification through the National Career Development Association. Guided by a commitment to student success and expanding access to opportunity, Adam’s ongoing priorities include advancing personalized career exploration, strengthening workforce readiness, and empowering students through intentional engagement strategies. A Certified Professional Resume Writer with 25+ years of experience, he provides effective, results-driven career services to both on- and off-campus constituents.

Albert P. Antomattei is an Academic Program Coordinator for the Discovery Program at ��Ʒ���˸������� University. He coordinates academic and professional development programming initiatives for pre-major, non-traditional, and honors students. Albert believes in the transformative power of a high-quality education, and that by intentionally harnessing advanced technology for academic and career planning, students can learn and explore opportunities like never before. Albert earned his B.A. at Columbia University and his M.B.A. at ��Ʒ���˸������� University.

Pavlo Lushyn, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations at ��Ʒ���˸������� University. His scholarly and pedagogical work focuses on educational psychology, psychological facilitation, post-traumatic growth, and learning in times of radical social and technological change. He is the developer of Eco-Centered Psychological Facilitation, an approach that understands learning and development as self-organizing processes within complex human and technological environments. At Montclair, he explores generative AI as a mirror for reflection, dialogue, and cognitive diversity, with particular attention to student co-facilitation, belonging, and humanizing learning in the age of artificial intelligence.

Abigail Hunte is a Senior Technology Trainer with over 15 years of experience providing technical training to adult learners in Corporate and Higher Education environments. She enjoys being part of the ITDS team and helping to serve the greater ��Ʒ���˸������� community.

Daniel Stratthaus is the Manager of Instructional Technology Support of the ITDS team. Dan has 20 years of experience in Information Technology which includes roles as Systems Engineer, Team Lead and previous experience with systems administration, data migrations, various data integrations, development and technology training. Daniel has been with Montclair for 10+ years holding various positions. He is currently the primary administrator of Canvas, all of its integrations, as well as the other systems that the ITDS group manage.

Necole Jadick (she/her) has been an educator for 25 years with 12 years in educational  leadership. She holds a PhD in in Teacher Education and Teacher Development and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from ��Ʒ���˸������� University, a Master of Arts in Individualized Study from New York University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Virginia. Dr. Jadick’s work involves creating and fostering equitable learning spaces that center care and belonging. Her scholarly work is grounded in a feminist autoethnographic stance, and she considers spirituality as an integral facet of knowledge. She serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning and in the Gender and Women’s Studies program.

Dr. Laurie Summer is an anti-ableist speech language therapist. With over thirty years of experience in a variety of settings, including both adult and pediatric medical contexts and private practice. For the past twenty years Dr. Summer has focused on serving pre-K-12 learners in public school settings. Her passion for inclusion and equity guided her to doctoral work, and her dissertation examined how elementary and middle school educators in a feminist-facilitated PLC constructed inclusive understandings and practices. Presently, Dr. Summer is Program Director, Chair, and Assistant Professor at LIU Brooklyn University’s Communication Science and Disorders Graduate Program. She continues to pursue research and learning opportunities related to intersectional, care-centered, and inclusive practice.