Keynote and Featured Speakers

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KEYNOTE, FEATURED SPEAKERS AND WORKSHOP LEADERS


	Carl Bernstein is the Pulitizer Prize-winning author of All the President's Men and The Final Day (with Bob Woodward), His Holiness: John Paul II and the History of Our Time (with Marco Politi), Loyalties, a memoir about his parents during McCarthy-era Washington, and Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton. He has written for Vanity Fair, Time, USA Today, Rolling Stone, and The New Republic. He was a Washington bureau chief and correspondent for ABC News and most recently joined CNN as an analyst for the 2008 election season.

	Brenda Boccard is Academic Computing Officer at Florida Community College at Jacksonville where she is responsible for computer training in the Office of Organizational Learning Services. She is responsible for teaching both Blackboard and WebCT to FCCJ faculty who create online courses. She also teaches applications software and Web design courses to college staff. Boccard received her bachelor’s degree in East Asian studies and Japanese language from Florida State University, a master of science degree in administration from Central Michigan University, and a master’s degree in computer science from Nova University.

	Trever Brolliar joined Florida Community College at Jacksonville in March 2006 as the Multimedia Specialist for both Kent Campus and the Cecil Center. A graduate of FCCJ, Trever earned his AA degree here in 1997 before completing his BFA at the University of Florida in 2000. Faculty members and students alike come to Brolliar for technical assistance and training in media applications. He has gone far to help professors incorporate technology into their curriculum. He also produces videos for the school and takes photos for events. In addition to his duties at his own campus, Trever is involved in emerging technologies for the school. He is on the Educational Technologies committee as well as a Senior Developer for the school's SecondLife program at Deerwood Center.

	Jeanne Dexter began teaching at Florida State University Panama City in 2001. Prior to that, she taught for 14 years at a private Midwestern college. Over the years, she has taught a variety of courses including management, marketing, communications, composition, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Dexter's research interests cover student studying habits, cheating, nontraditional student motivation, and academically based service learning. Since coming to FSUPC, she has been named professor of the year five times and was the recipient of one of four university-wide advising awards in 2007. She will be directing the Faculty No-Talent Show for the Panama City campus to be held during NoleFest (homecoming).

	Jeremy D. Dunning is Professor of Geological Sciences, Structural Geology, and Geoinformatics at Indiana University. His research interests include rock physics and the uses of technology to enhance the teaching of mathematics and science. Dunning has developed a set of multimedia tools which are based on teaching and learning styles and can be easily re-purposed and reprogrammed using a minimum of new code to serve as templates in any content area. Dunning was a recipient of the Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Technology at the 17th International Conference on College Teaching and Learning and has published numerous papers on the use of multimedia and technology in higher education. Dunning received his doctorate from the University of North Carolina and also holds a masters degree from Rutgers University and a bachelor's degree from Colgate University.

	Jason Ford is a graphic designer/instructor at Kingwood College in Kingwood, Texas. He specializes in creative uses of technology in the classroom to address multiple learning styles which incorporate visual, auditory, and tactile methods of learning. He has won several national awards for his work in curriculum innovation, specialty marketing, and graphics design. Ford also oversees Kingwood College's Non-Profit Design-a-Thon and the It's a WRAP! Student Video and Animation Fest. Ford received his bachelor's degree in fine arts from Sam Houston State University and a certification in technology applications at Kingwood College.

	Bill Ganza is the Director of Professional Development for Florida Community College at Jacksonville, where he oversees the professional development of the College's 2000+ faculty and staff. Ganza has over 20 years of teaching experience including extensive knowledge of and experience teaching and developing online courses. Recent research interests include the development and effectiveness of faculty development programs designed for online and hybrid/blended teaching as well as the impact of technology on teaching. Ganza is an expert presenter who has been invited to present regionally and nationally on a number of education-related topics. Ganza, who currently is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at the University of North Florida, earned a masters of science in sociology from Illinois State University.

	Robert Greene holds a master of arts from Jacksonville University and is a Professor of Education at FCCJ. In addition to traditional classroom teaching, he also teaches online and enjoys incorporating technology into his courses to engage students and enhance student success. Robert has been involved in the SIRIUS development project and Project Renaissance SLS Training. He is very interested in developmental education and student success and retention. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his children and his two dogs and is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at the University of North Florida.

	Jim Habermas is a Professor of Computer Information Systems at Genesee Community College and an adjunct professor at SUNY Brockport. Prior to joining the Genesee faculty in 1984, Habermas taught at Schoolcraft Community College in Livonia, Michigan. At both Genesee Community College and SUNY Brockport, he has taught courses including Java, O.O.P. Concepts, Introduction to Multimedia, Computer Graphics, C++ Programming, and many Web development programs including Macromedia Flash, Dreamweaver, and Fireworks. Habermas has published one textbook on C++ and now focuses on Web design, programming, and Web advertising.

	Janice Hall, a Jacksonville native, has a bachelor of science from Edward Waters College and an master of science in computer science from Nova Southeastern University. She is an Instructional Program Manager for Business and Information Technology at FCCJ’s North Campus, has been a member of the FCCJ family for 17 years and has served as one of the college’s professional development trainers for twelve of those years. Wild cat collecting is her favorite hobby, and she has spent 25 years enhancing this collection!

	Belinda Hulin has contributed articles on food, dining, and entertainment to a wide range of newspapers, magazines, and online venues. In addition to Philadelphia Magazine articles and reviews, she also wrote a monthly food column for Applause, a publication of Philadelphia's public broadcast station. Hulin served five years as food editor of The Florida Times-Union, a 200,000-circulation daily in Jacksonville, Florida. During that time, she delved into North Florida's evolving fusion of southern and tropical cooking, winning several Association of Food Journalist awards in the process. She contributes pieces on cooking and food-based entertaining to Boca Raton Magazine, Water's Edge Magazine, and Mizner's Dream. She also updated Gayot's online restaurant guide for Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and the Florida Panhandle. Currently, Hulin is a full-time freelance writer based in Atlantic Beach, Florida. She writes about travel, lifestyle trends, healthcare and home design, in addition to her work on food and entertaining. She is also the former editor of Skirt! Magazine Jacksonville edition. When she's not writing, she's testing recipes. She lives in Atlantic Beach, Florida.

	Jeff Kissinger is the Director of Distance Learning and Emergent Development for the Military Education Institute at Florida Community College at Jacksonville. In his position he leads the instructional design and media development team to create innovative learning solutions for the college's diverse populations, which includes currently serving military students. Jeff has worked in many arenas of education and training including K-12, private industry, and higher education. Jeff’s passions are emergent instructional technologies, mobile learning pedagogy, open courseware, and increasing access to quality learning experiences through innovation and research.

	Henri Landwirth was born March 7, 1927 in pre-World War II Antwerp, Belgium. During the war, Landwirth was separated from his family and shuffled among five Nazi death and labor camps—Auschwitz, Matthausen, Gusen I , Gusen II, and Ostrowitz. Near the end of the war, he and four other prisoners were marched into the woods to be killed. At the last minute, a Nazi soldier decided to spare their lives and told them to run into the woods when they heard the shots he would fire over their heads.When WWII ended, Landwirth left his native Belgium and worked his way across the Atlantic Ocean on a freight ship. Landwirth served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict and afterwards used his GI Bill benefits to take courses in hotel management. He landed a position in a New York City hotel and took every opportunity to learn each job in the hotel industry. Landwirth moved to Florida in 1954 and soon managed the 99-room Starlight Motel in Cocoa Beach, near Cape Canaveral. Since his retirement in 1986, Landwirth has devoted himself to improving the lives of those in need.

	Adair Lara, a San Francisco Bay area native, attended the College of Marin. She enjoys an international reputation as an award-winning columnist (formerly with the San Francisco Chronicle), magazine writer, teacher, and author of five books. Her memoir Hold Me Close, Let Me Go was published by Random House. Visit her on her Website at www.adairlara.com/bio.html.

	Patricia Levine-Brown is a Professor of Communications at Florida Community College at Jacksonville and a certified trainer in Paideia and Cooperative Learning. She received her B.A. degree in liberal studies with a specialization in communications and her M.P.A. from the University of North Florida. Additionally, Levine-Brown completed her certification in both English and reading at Jacksonville University and course work through the Kellogg Institute at Appalachian State University to become a certified developmental educator. She has written more than 2,000 articles as a freelance author and is a frequent contributor to the features and community news sections of The Florida Times Union. Her books The Prentice-Hall Florida Exit Test Study Guide for Writing and The Prentice- Hall Florida Exit Test Study Guide for Reading currently are available through Prentice-Hall and major booksellers.

	Rena Palloff is a managing partner of Crossroads Consulting Group. She is also program director and faculty member in the Teaching in the Virtual Classroom Program at Fielding Graduate University. In addition, Palloff teaches in the Organizational Management and Development Program at Fielding and the School of Human Services at Capella University, mentors at Northcentral University in the School of Psychology, and facilitates professional development courses for John F. Kennedy University and the National Association of Social Workers. Palloff co-authored the 1999 Frandson Award-winning book Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace: Effective Strategies for the Online Classroom (Jossey-Bass, 1999), Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom (Jossey-Bass, 2001), The Virtual Student (Jossey-Bass, 2003), and Collaborating Online: Learning Together in Community (Jossey-Bass, 2005). The second edition of Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace, now titled Building Online Learning Communities, was released in July 2007. Palloff and her co-author, Keith Pratt, have been presenting this work across the United States and internationally since 1994 as well as consulting to academic institutions regarding the development of effective distance learning programs.

	Steve Piscitelli has more than two decades of direct classroom teaching experience. A nationally -recognized workshop developer and presenter, Piscitelli brings energy, original music, interaction, humor, and practicality to each workshop. He has been recognized for his effective teaching style with awards at the school, county, and international level. He is currently Professor of History, Education, and Student Success at Florida Community College at Jacksonville. Piscitelli also served as Chair of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning at FCCJ. Prentice Hall published his most recent book, Study Skills: Do I Really Need This Stuff? (2004). In addition, Piscitelli has recently completed his fourth book on student success. Piscitelli was awarded a bachelor’s degree by Jacksonville University and earned master’s degrees from the University of North Florida and the University of Florida.

	Keith Pratt is a managing partner of Crossroads Consulting Group. Pratt is also a program director and faculty member in the Teaching in the Virtual Classroom Program at Fielding Graduate University. In addition to his work with Fielding, Pratt is the lead faculty mentor for professional development at Northcentral University and teaches at Wayland Baptist University and Baker University. Pratt co-authored the 1999 Frandson Award-winning book Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace: Effective Strategies for the Online Classroom (Jossey-Bass, 1999), Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom (Jossey-Bass, 2001), The Virtual Student (Jossey-Bass, 2003), and Collaborating Online: Learning Together in Community (Jossey-Bass, 2005). The second edition of Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace, now titled Building Online Learning Communities, was released in July 2007. Pratt and his partner, Rena Palloff, have been presenting this work across the United States and internationally since 1994 as well as consulting to academic institutions regarding the development of effective distance learning programs.

	Marc Prensky is an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, educator, consultant, and game designer in the critical areas of education and learning. He is the author of Digital Game-Based Learning (McGraw-Hill, 2001), and Don’t Bother Me Mom–I’m Learning (Paragon House, 2006) and founder and CEO of Games2train, whose clients include IBM, Bank of America, Pfizer, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the LA and Florida Virtual Schools. Prensky is the creator of the sites www.gamesparentsteachers.com and www.socialimpactgames.com. Prensky has created over 50 software games for learning including the world's first fast-action videogame-based training tools. He has spoken to teachers, administrators, school boards, and departments and ministries of education throughout the United States and around the world. Prensky holds a master’s in teaching from Yale and an MBA from Harvard. He has taught at all levels, has been featured in The NY Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist, and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and the BBC. He was named as one of training’s top 10 “visionaries” by Training magazine and cited as a “guiding star of the new parenting movement” by Parental Intelligence Newsletter. His latest projects are games for learning financial literacy, chemistry, physics, and algebra. For Prensky’s writings, see www.marcprensky.com/writing. For Prensky’s games, see www.games2train.com.

	Claire Reetz holds a master of arts from the University of Florida and is Professor of Spanish at FCCJ. In addition to traditional classroom teaching, she also teaches both Spanish and Humanities courses online and enjoys learning new ways to incorporate technology into her courses to engage students and enhance student success. Reetz is currently involved in the SIRIUS development project, designing a new online humanities course about the culture of Spain. In her spare time, she enjoys interior design, traveling, and restoring her 1946 bungalow in historic Avondale.

	Phyllis Renninger has worked as a teacher, school and district-based K-12 administrator, education consultant, and Mayor of Orange Park, Florida. Renninger currently is Director of Resource Development for FCCJ. Her previous experience includes Clay County Schools Grant Development Coordinator, Duval County Schools Supervisor of External Funding, Learn & Serve project manager, Baker-Clay-Nassau Collaborative Partnership Coordinator, Clay County Shared Services Network Facilitator, and Clay-Baker-Nassau School Readiness Coalition board member. She has conducted many training sessions and workshops throughout Florida, Louisiana, Iowa, California, Oregon, Arizona, Illinois, Missouri, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. Renninger is an executive board member of three national organizations: the American Association of Grant Professionals (AAGP); the Grant Professional Certificate Institute (GPCI); and the AAGP Foundation, a 501(c)(3) affiliate for donor relations and grant professional scholarships. She has published widely concerning the grant profession and recently received her doctorate in higher education.

	Mike Reynolds has spent thirty-three years in astronomy and space sciences in the gamut of a high school and university instructor, planetarium and museum director, researcher, writer, and lecturer. He has received numerous recognition for his work, including the 1986 Florida State Teacher of the Year, NASA Teacher-in-Space National Finalist, and the G. Bruce Blair Medal. Reynolds has written a number of astronomy books and articles. He has led numerous astronomical expeditions worldwide, and has also served as an invited speaker internationally. Mike is Executive Director Emeritus of the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California and is currently Associate Dean of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and also teaches Astronomy at Florida Community College in Jacksonville, Florida.

	Flo Wolfe Sharp is a Senior Instructional Designer in the office of Creative Learning Services at Florida Community College at Jacksonville. Her primary responsibility is course design for the SIRIUS enterprise, FCCJ's initiative to develop highly creative and interactive instructional materials. She has a passion for online education that is fueled by her interests in educational technology and student engagement. Of special interest to her is accessibility for students with disabilities. Flo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Dayton, Ohio, and a Master of Science degree in Educational Technology from Nova Southeastern University, Florida. In her spare time, she enjoys designing web sites for non-profit organizations, dabbling in open source software, reading, and running.

	Carl Wahlstrom is Professor of Intermediate Studies and Sociology at Genesee Community College. He began teaching at Genesee in 1975. He has had the opportunity to work both with honor students and students at risk and for over 16 years has participated in inmate education at the college level. He has received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, the National Freshman Advocate Award, the 1998 New York Tech Prep School-To-Work Outstanding College Educator Award, and several other teaching awards. Wahlstrom is the co-author of five college textbooks on student success and over the last 12 years has trained over five hundred teachers, counselors, and staff to teach college success courses.