Board Alumni
We’re grateful for the many past Board members who have helped us become who we are today!
MEMBER (2019-2021)
Peter Arashiro is an instructional design practitioner with over 25 years of experience in the online learning field. Peter currently serves as a Learning Experience Designer for the Center for Academic Innovation at the University of Michigan, and previously served as the Executive Director of Instructional Product Development for Michigan Virtual. Over his career, Peter has designed and produced hundreds of online learning experiences across a variety of topics for students and teaching professionals in K-12 and higher education settings. His instructional design practice focuses on bringing together research from cognitive psychology, instructional design theory and the design of online learning environments to create effective, efficient and engaging online learning experiences. Peter received his Master of Science degree in Instructional & Performance Technology from Boise State University.
MEMBER (2019 - 2022)
With an M.Ed. in secondary Special Education and a Ph.D. in Urban Education, Mikela’s pedagogy centers around social justice and self-reflexivity, empowering students with the skill-set to recognize their own social location in their assumptions about their students’ (dis)abilities. Empathic listening and sharing of personal narratives are qualities that she believes to be paramount to effective and authentic (teacher) education. An Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of Redlands, Mikela sees her job as multifaceted; it is equally as important for her students to learn about best practices, special education policy, and universal design for learning, just as much as it is important for them to engage in self-reflexive practices, willing to remain alert to their own biases and privileges that inform their every day interactions with their students and colleagues. As a practitioner of Mindfulness Meditation, she incorporates Mindfulness theory and praxis in all of her classes, because she believes that when we are fully present with ourselves, we can be fully present for and with our students.
MEMBER (2020 - 2022)
Erika Bjorum, LCSW, runs her own private practice with a focus on trauma recovery, and serves as the clinical coordinator for the Kinsey Institute’s Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. Erika was an integral part of the research staff of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and her collaborative research work on Wabanaki perspectives on state child welfare practices was published in the Journal of Public Child Welfare. Erika has been a meditation practitioner since 2001, and teaches and facilitates meditation and mindfulness classes.
Chair (2021)
Member (2018-2020)
Dr. Cathy Cavanaugh is Principal Program Manager for Professional Development in the education products group at Microsoft. Previously she was Director of Teaching and Learning in Worldwide Education at Microsoft, working with education leaders and organizations around the world to transform learning and teaching. Cathy’s experience includes leading an education transformation initiative and launching a virtual school in Western Australia; higher education leadership and research in the Middle East during a national mobile learning program; and work as a professor and researcher in educational technology in US universities; as well as school teaching and leadership. She was a Fulbright Senior Scholar advancing e-learning in Nepal. She has developed successful and innovative online degree and professional development programs, and blended learning programs for K-12 students. She also directed professional development centers in the US and was a STEM classroom teacher in the US and Caribbean. Cathy’s research and her 150 publications focus on technology-empowered teaching and learning in virtual schools, online and blended learning, teacher development, and mobile learning. Her work has been recognized for its impact with international awards including a 2016 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Making IT Happen award. Cathy is a frequent speaker at education events and she has consulted on educational technology with national and state governments, universities, schools, and organizations. She serves as associate editor of the Journal of Online Learning Research. Her education includes a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, a Master of Education, and a Bachelor of Education.
TREASURER (2022)
MEMBER (2019 - 2021)
Dr. J.J. Lewis is the Superintendent & CEO for Compass Charter Schools (CCS), a system of three (3) charters serving over 2,000 scholars throughout the State of California. He holds a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University in History and Political Science. He also has a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown University and is a Certified Fundraising Executive. J.J. is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He serves on the Digital Learning Collaborative, Digital Learning Annual Conference Advisory Board, El Dorado County Charter SELPA CEO Executive and Selection Committees, and The Charter Schools Resource Journal Editorial Board. He also serves on the Central Michigan University National Alumni Association Board of Directors, is the President of the Central Michigan University Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center Alumni Board of Directors, and is the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity West Coast Domain Director. He previously served on the City of Howell Economic Development Council and George Mason University Department of Global and Community Health Advisory Committee. J.J. lives in Simi Valley with his three (3) cats: Armoni, Cali and Franny, and three (3) dogs Arya, Diego and Tiberius.
MEMBER (2020 - 2021)
Dr. Tonia Dousay is a K-20 educator and researcher, encompassing K-12, higher education, and continuing education. She is an Associate Professor of Learning Sciences and serves as Associate Dean of Assessment & Accreditation for the University of Idaho College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. As a teacher educator and Google Certified Innovator with 20 years of distance learning design and education project management experience, she designs and studies a variety of learning environments and activities with emergent and established technologies, focusing on instructional and multimedia design, creativity & collaboration, learner engagement, and distance learning. Her goal is to help others better design learning to empower learners of all ages, foster interdisciplinary understanding, and help learners take control of their own learning experiences. When she's not in the classroom or writing, she can be found in her homestead garden or wandering the trails of the many national forests around the Inland Northwest.
MEMBER (2019 - 2021)
Nicol R. Howard, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at the University of Redlands. She has served as co-chair for ISTE’s Digital Equity Network, chair of the American Education Research Association’s Technology, Instruction, Cognition, and Learning SIG, and co-chair for the California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE) Technology SIG. Her research foci are STEM and computer science education experiences for Black girls, technology integration in K-16 classrooms, and teacher education. Her writing has appeared in ISTE’s publications, the Corwin Connected Educators Series, and various educational journals. She is also co-founder and co-editor for the Journal of Computer Science Integration.
MEMBER (2018-2019, 2022)
TREASURER (2020-2021)
Wendy Drexler has been a champion for effective integration of technology for learner empowerment for over 20 years. As assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, she led the Digital Age Learning and Educational Technology MS Degree program. Prior to that, Wendy served as Chief Innovation Officer for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and continues to serve as ISTE faculty. As Director of Online Development at Brown University, she led the design and production of Brown’s first online courses. As a post doc at the University of Florida, she managed the research portion of the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) federal Title II grant across 23 school districts in Florida. Before earning a Ph.D and Ed.S in educational technology, Wendy managed eLearning design teams at IBM and AT&T. She has taught in elementary, middle, and high school in both public and Independent school settings. She developed the first blended learning courses for Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg. Her research interests include student construction of personal learning environments, balancing teacher control with student autonomy, and advancing the processes that support networked learning. She continues to serve on the Boards of a number of educational nonprofit organizations.
MEMBER (2020 - 2022)
Dr. Tia C. Madkins is an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on supporting teachers to design inclusive STEAM + computing classrooms and engage equity-focused pedagogies with minoritized students, especially Black girls. Dr. Madkins taught PK-8 students in Southern and Northern California prior to earning a Ph.D. in education at UC Berkeley. She is a STEMinist who loves fashion, traveling, paper crafts, reading, and being an auntie and godmother.
MEMBER (2019 - 2022)
Dr. Allison Powell is Director of the Digital Learning Collaborative and Program Chair of the Digital Learning Annual Conference, both in her role with the Evergreen Education Group. The Digital Learning Collaborative is a membership group dedicated to exploring, producing, and disseminating data, information, news, and best practices in digital learning. She is the former Senior Learning Strategist for BloomBoard where she assisted states and districts in re-thinking professional development and licensing. Allison is the former Vice President for New Learning Models of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), now the Aurora Institute, which provides expertise and leadership in K-12 Blended, Online, and Competency-based Learning. Allison taught in face-to-face, online, and blended K-8 environments. She helped build the Clark County School District’s Virtual High School and an online professional development program for the Nevada school district. She has served as a board member for several organizations and universities. She completed her doctorate from Pepperdine University in educational technology.
MEMBER (2019 - 2022)
Meredith Roe is an Education Industry Architect, as part of Microsoft's WorldWide Education team. Prior to this, she created and led the Virtual School Network (ViSN) for Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA), and led digital transformation projects for Canberra Goulburn Catholic Education. An experienced educator and leader at system level and in remote and metropolitan schools, Meredith understands how technology can help schools address a wide range of contemporary challenges. She is a keen advocate for using technology to enable equitable access to quality education, particularly in regional, remote or rural areas. Meredith understands the importance of building relationships and connections for successful online delivery and has designed teacher training for the successful delivery of quality online courses. Her leadership in online learning has been recognized both locally (Excellence in Educational Leadership Award, from the Australian Council for Educational Leadership) and internationally (Online and Blended Learning Award, ISTE and K-12 Innovation in Online Learning, USDLA). Outside of work, Meredith enjoys pilates, the beach, cooking, and travelling.
MEMBER (2021 - 2022)
Boston Uncornered Executive Director Francisco “Tito” SantosSilva, 36, has worked for more than a decade supporting young people from underserved communities to help them reach their greatest potential. He has a deep commitment to the Core Influencer population Boston Uncornered serves and understands them to be the key to ending systemic generational urban poverty and gang violence. Prior to Boston Uncornered, SantosSilva was Director of Engagement for UTEC, where he was responsible for developing training for staff, consulting other GVP organizations through the training center and helping front line staff and staff of color develop on their professional journey to becoming organizational leaders. He has also worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Youth Services where he supported incarcerated young adults in their efforts to transition back into the community, as well as for Eliot Community Social Services, where he identified safe and secure placements for children and families. SantosSilva earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a Master of Arts in Community Social Psychology, from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Raised in Brockton, Massachusetts, his educational and professional journey was almost derailed by street violence that took the life of a close friend, but with the right support he was able to get back on track as he is now helping other young people to do the same.