2023 Summer Institute Presenters

Dr. Yanling Sun is the Associate Vice President of ITDS and provides leadership, management and administrative oversight for all aspects of ITDS’ operations. She has over 25 years of professional experience in the areas of course design and development across modalities, instructional technology support, and faculty development initiatives/programs in higher education. Dr. Sun joined Montclair State University in 2005. She holds a Ph. D. in Curriculum ad Instruction with a specialization in Instructional Technology from Ohio University.

Dr. Barry Bachenheimer has been an adjunct professor at Montclair State University since 1998 in the Teaching & Learning and Educational Leadership Departments. He currently teaches in the Educational Leadership Online Master’s Degree Program. He is a member of the Montclair State University Network for Educational Renewal Executive Board. Dr. Bachenheimer was the recipient of the prestigious Ercel Watson Award from the University in 2009 for his ongoing support of teacher education programs. He was an Engaged Teaching Fellow with the Office of Faculty Excellence in the 2018-19 Academic Year. He has presented several times at the Montclair State University Spring Teaching Symposium.

Jean Alvares is Professor of Classics and Humanities at Montclair State University. He has presented papers on a wide range of Humanities subjects. His publications center on the Greco-Roman novel and ancient narrative. He edited with S. N. Byrne, E. P. Cueva to Authors, Authority and Interpreters in the Ancient Novel: Essays in Honor of Gareth L. Schmeling. Groningen (2006), and in 2021 published Ideal Themes in the Greek and Roman Novel for Routledge. With his colleague Patricia Salzman he has published various articles on Classical myth in recent movies, including Classical Myth and in the New Millennium, Oxford University Press. (2017). He also has interests in Asian studies, with a focus on China.

Antonella Calarota-Ninman is the Spanish language coordinator and instructional specialist at the department of Spanish and Latino Studies department. She earned a B.A. in Spanish and Latin American Language and Literature at the University of Siena, Italy, a B.A. in Spanish language at the university of Granada, Spain. She completed her Ph.D at the University of Madrid (UNED) in Latin American literature. She teaches Spanish at all levels, as well as courses of Culture, Spanish for Heritage Speakers and Latin American Literature. She is part of the Latino Oral History project (HOLA – Historias Orlaes de los Latinos y Archivo digital) at Montclair State University, is a COIL fellow and founded and directs the Communicative Workshops program for Spanish for Beginner courses.

Christopher Boardman is currently a graduate assistant at Montclair State University who is currently working towards his MA in Industrial – Organizational Psychology. He is focused on the fields of human-computer interaction, technology, and using virtual reality.

Catherine Baird is the Online and Outreach Librarian at Sprague Library and the Liaison Librarian to the Departments of Counseling, Educational Leadership, Educational Foundations, and World Languages and Cultures. When not library-ing, she can be found spending time with her family, doing yoga, out for a walk or enjoying the great outdoors.

Jonathan Howell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses for aspiring language engineers, teachers, speech pathologists, dialect coaches and other language nerds. In his leisure time, Jonathan enjoys running, swimming and hanging out by the campfire with family and friends.

Dr. Milton A. Fuentes received his MA in psychology with a Latinx psychology focus from Montclair State 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 America Psychological Association for his outstanding contributions in the field of psychology. Dr. Fuentes’ research and clinical interests are in the areas of Latinx, multicultural, and family psychology; program development; pedagogy; and motivational enhancement.

Heather Hernandez Moss is a recent graduate of Montclair State University, earning her BA in Psychology with a minor in Visual Arts. On campus, she is an undergraduate teaching assistant for Psychology of Women and a research assistant of Dr. Milton Fuentes’ Clinical and Community Studies Laboratory. She is involved in all aspects of the research process and has co-facilitated workshops and roundtables. Heather interns at Dr. Miriam Adler’s psychotherapy and neurofeedback practice in Clifton, New Jersey where she oversees the neurofeedback treatment of patients and their progress. She also works as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens in Little Falls, New Jersey.

Michelle Truffin received her BA in Psychology with a Forensic Psychology concentration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She has earned her MA in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Child/Adolescent Clinical Psychology from Montclair State University and a Post BA Certification in Child Advocacy and Policy. Michelle’s areas of interest are the prevention of child sexual abuse, child advocacy and policy, and the teaching of psychology and child advocacy.

Dr. AJ Kelton is the Director of the Digital Media CoLab in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State University in New Jersey. He is involved in collaborative learning, reflective teaching, academic and emerging technology, digital humanities, social media, games, and virtual worlds for education and has presented on many topics both in the U.S. and internationally. He is the Founder and a current Board Member of Emerging Learning Design (ELD) and Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Emerging Learning Design Journal. Dr. Kelton interest areas include the impact of group formation and composition on learning, affordances of virtual worlds in education, and the impact of digital media skills on learning acquisition and career development.

Dr. Christopher Parker has taught for organizations such as the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. He holds a MFA in Poetry from Columbia University (‘81) and an EdD. in Pedagogy and Philosophy from Montclair State University (‘15). In May 2018, the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State recognized Dr. Parker with an Excellence in Teaching award for creative and engaging ways to educate students. Also in May 2018, the Montclair State University Adjunct Teachers Union credited Dr. Parker with an Outstanding Service Award for improving educational quality and concern for students.

Dr. Lesley Sylvan is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Montclair State University. She completed a Master’s degree in educational policy and management as well as a Doctorate degree in human development and education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Broadly, Dr. Sylvan’s scholarly interests center on the intersection between the field of education and the field of speech-language pathology. Related to higher education, Dr. Sylvan’s scholarly work encompasses issues related to the training and preparation of SLPs in higher educational settings.

Christopher Boardman is currently a graduate assistant at Montclair State University who is currently working towards his MA in Industrial – Organizational Psychology. He is focused on the fields of human-computer interaction, technology, and using virtual reality.

William Colucci was employed in the new field of personal computer and networking support in the 1980’s, and played roles of technician, network administrator and IT Manager, as well as independent consultant until 2007, when he took a full time job teaching information systems at Montclair State University. He has taught as an adjunct on the Masters level in Communication, teaching the history of mass media and research methods at William Patterson, and courses in communication, sociology and information systems at a plethora of other colleges in New Jersey as well. He has also carried out research mostly in teaching and learning, looking at hybrid teaching, student motivation, deep and surface student approaches to learning as well as critical theory approaches to management theory.

Elizabeth Rich
Acting Executive Director
Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Feliciano School of Business

The Ignite Entrepreneurs @ MSU program consists of self-spaced learning fully accessible through on-demand, virtual content, combined with expert and faculty guidance, community events in hybrid settings, and opportunity to pitch for seed funding.

Valeria Aloe is first in her family to graduate from college and enter professional spaces in the US and in her native Argentina. She is the creator of the mindset transformation and behavior change movement, Rising Together. Valeria is a speaker, entrepreneurship coach, and award-winning author of the book Uncolonized Latinas: Transforming Our Mindsets And Rising Together. Valeria has worked for more than 20 years in brand management, business development, and finance in leading companies across 7 countries, including Procter & Gamble, Citibank, Reckitt Benckiser and PriceWaterhouse Coopers. Her work has earned her several awards, including “Top 50 Women in Business in New Jersey in 2020” and “5th most influential Hispanic in New Jersey in 2021”.

George Elian teaches Introductory, Advanced and Graduate Communication Studies courses at Montclair State University. His original professional background is in marketing and training. His current areas of specialty include business communication skills, public speaking anxiety management, effective speechwriting, and achieving delivery proficiency. In addition to MSU, he is a 15 year former faculty member of NYU’s School of Professional Studies. His students over the past twenty years at both universities have included members of the public relations, advertising, corporate, financial, legal and diplomatic community. He also serves as an independent public speaking consultant.

Sherry Schulz is an Instructional Designer on the ITDS team with over 20 years of experience in higher education as a Mathematics professor. She is passionate about assisting faculty in designing courses that would provide a quality learning environment and experience for students. Sherry holds a M.A. in Teaching Mathematics from University of Florida, and a M.S. in Applied Statistics from Colorado State University.

Ashlee Martellacci is the Student and Volunteer Program Coordinator for the Global Center on Human Trafficking, as well as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy for Montclair State University. She has a Master’s in Child Advocacy and Policy with a concentration in Public Child Welfare and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Montclair State University. She also holds a paralegal certificate from Montclair State University. Professor Martellacci is a former Investigator for the New Jersey Public Defender’s Office: Office of Law Guardian Division. Her research interests revolve around: human trafficking, professional wellness for child welfare and higher education professionals, and the importance of self-care for college students.

Christie DeCarolis is currently a Customer Success Manager at Hypothesis. Prior to joining Hypothesis, she spent many years as an instructional designer in higher ed. She also teaches online as a university lecturer, and began using Hypothesis in her own courses in 2019. Her success using Hypothesis in her own courses and passion for authentic student engagement led her to join the Hypothesis team in 2022. Christie holds a master’s degree in instructional technology and is always looking for new ways to grow her pedagogical practices.

Meghan Robison is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Montclair State University. With specializations in political philosophy and feminist philosophy, her research focuses on the intersection between concepts of embodiment, agency and authority in early modern political thought. She has published articles in Scienza e Politica, Arendt Studies and Hypatia and is a contributor to The Edinburgh Critical History of Early Modern and Enlightenment Philosophy (forthcoming 2023, EUP). She is currently completing a monograph entitled, Hobbes’ Body Politics: from moving limbs to making persons in the Leviathan (EUP). During the 2022-23 academic year she was a Visiting Scientist at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa.

Nicole Baldassarre is a passionate EdTech leader with a focus on nurturing digital connections and authentic relationships in the virtual space. She currently leads campus partnership efforts at InSpace, a company dedicated to humanize online learning experiences through meaningful collaboration and community. In her free time (what even is that?) she enjoys creating charcuterie boards and snuggling her fluffy orange cat, Ziggy, typically against his will.

Dr. AJ Kelton is the Director of the Digital Media CoLab in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Montclair State University in New Jersey. He is involved in collaborative learning, reflective teaching, academic and emerging technology, digital humanities, social media, games, and virtual worlds for education and has presented on many topics both in the U.S. and internationally. He is the Founder and a current Board Member of Emerging Learning Design (ELD) and Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Emerging Learning Design Journal. Dr. Kelton interest areas include the impact of group formation and composition on learning, affordances of virtual worlds in education, and the impact of digital media skills on learning acquisition and career development.

John Soboslai is an Assistant Professor in the department of Religion. He received his PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016, when he began teaching at Montclair State. His scholarship centers around religion and violence, particularly cultures of self-sacrifice in various traditions. His first solo-authored book, Constructing Religious Martyrdom is currently under contract with Cambridge University Press. In 2022, he served as the Project Director for the Seeing What Takes Place NEH Digital Humanities Advancement grant, exploring the use of immersive media and extended reality in teaching about religious practices.

Antoinette Pole is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Law at Montclair State University. Her research focuses on food and politics; information technology and politics; and state politics. She has published three books, and numerous peer reviewed journal articles exploring theoretical questions related to political participation and community.

Michelle Muldowney-Stevens is the Manager of Customer Success at Cidi Labs. She holds a Master’s degree in Learning Technologies & Instructional Design from Utah State University with Certificates in Museum Studies, Natural Resources & Environmental Education. Michelle has extensive experience in military and higher education and is interested in the design of student centered learning approaches and interactive environments in education.

Gina Policastro is an Instructional Designer with ITDS and a Montclair State Alumnus (BA English Education). She is passionate about building community in online environments and providing instruction on blended learning engagement strategies. Gina holds an MI in Library and Information Science from Rutgers University.

Joe Yankus is an Instructional Designer on the ITDS team with about 10 years of experience in higher education. He collaborates with faculty to design courses for undergraduate and graduate programs, and enjoys ideating and facilitating various faculty development initiatives. Joe has a B.A. in Communication Studies & Sociology and a M.A. in Instructional Design & Technology, both from Seton Hall University. He is also a part-time faculty member at Rutgers University, where he teaches an undergraduate Public Speaking course.