Anderson Center (RPI) People

	The Anderson Center Staff, Visiting Scholars, and Emeriti
about the center people projects papers colloquia sample courses laptop survey links visitor info announcements home best view in ie	staff visiting scholars emeriti Staff Brad Lister Director Brad Lister is the Director of the Center for Innovation in Undergraduate Education and Professor of Biology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. After completing his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University, he held an appointment as the William Smith Clark Professor of Zoology at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Prior to coming to Rensselaer, he taught in the departments of biology and mathematics and served as Director of Educational Computing and Director of Research and Development for Information Systems at Northeastern University. He has developed a number of innovative courses that emphasize a hands-on, learning-by-doing approach including Studio Statistics and Studio Ecology. He has also been involved in distance learning efforts for over ten years and has taught several courses on multimedia and interactive learning for the National Technological University. He has had considerable experience working with high school and middle school teachers on computer-based learning in mathematics, advanced placement courses, and several Star Schools projects. His current work at Rensselaer is focused on extending interactive learning models and creating virtual classrooms. next top Bruce Laplante Associate Director Bruce Laplante is Associate Director of the Anderson Center. He holds Rensselaer master's degrees in Technical Communication with Graphics Certificate and Management with a contrarian's concentration in Science and Technology Studies. Bruce works with Brad Lister evaluating technologies suitable for supporting Rensselaer's studio courses via the Web. He has produced and presented several workshop series that train faculty in those technologies. He also supervises video production, develops multimedia, gives guidance on authoring tools, develops Web-based courses, and serves as our network administrator. next previous top Liliana Ortiz-Bermudez Administrative Specialist Former teacher, Liliana Ortiz-Bermudez, comes to the Anderson Center from Cali, Colombia. She earned a B.A. in Public Accounting from the Universidad Libre de Colombia and, before emigrating to the US, obtained her CPA credential. In 2006, Liliana completed an M.S. in management and finance in Rensselaer's Lally School of Management & Technology. Her present responsibilities are the financial operations of the Anderson Center. She rates her organizing and directing Festival Latino of the Berkshires as as the most difficult problem she ever had to solve in an entrepreneurial sense. Liliana founded Festival Latino in 1995 and has produced it successfully every year since, and she has received awards for it, including the Rensselaer Volunteer Recognition Award for promoting awareness and appreciation of Latin culture throughout the region. Liliana taught the social sciences at San Juan Berchmans School in Cali from 1978 through 1987. She has also taught accounting at the Universidad Javeriana. next previous top
top staff emeriti	Visiting Scholars Maria Isabel Cabrera Cancino Anderson Center Visiting Scholar 2002-4 Lecturer in Computer Science Tec de Monterrey-Cuernavaca (ITESM) Monterrey, Mexico Maria Isabel Cabrera Cancino is a lecturer in computer science at Instituto Tecnolgico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Morelos Campus, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mxico. Her B. Sc. in Chemical Engineering is from the Universidad Autnoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM), Monterrey; and her M.Sc. in Intelligent Systems is from Brunel University in England. At ITESM, Marisa teaches courses in: Computer Information Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Systems Analysis and Design, Management and Information Systems, and Development of Internet Applications. Her research interests are: Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Generation and Evaluation of New Web- based Models (Learning Space, Blackboard, WebCT, Learning Village, etc.), Artificial Intelligence, and Information Systems Design. Before returning to the Anderson Center in summer 2002, Marisa had spent the summer of 2000 at RPI in hands-on video production work with the Anderson Center's Trinity television studio, developing skills she brought back to ITESM's own Academic Innovation Center. Marisa returned to ITESM in August 2004 next previous top Jacques Raynauld Professor of Economics École des Hautes Études Commerciales Montréal (Québec) next previous top Nick Eror Chairman of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Pittsburgh Nick Eror was here on sabbatical in '96-"97 from the University of Pittsburgh where he is Chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His degrees are in Metallurgy/Materials Science from Yale (B.S.,M.S.) and Northwestern (Ph.D.) and his current research focus is in high temperature superconductivity. He is the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) National Chautauqua Workshop Program for undergraduate faculty enhancement and is here at Rensselaer to explore the successful active learning studio, and distance learning courses developed at Rensselaer. He uses a personal desktop video conferencing system to keep in regular communication with his students and collegues at the University of Pittsburgh. He is the author of more than 100 published research papers and four patents. next previous top Zena Poulli International Visitor Zena was with us during the summer of '97 as an international visitor on a Fulbright scholarship from Cyprus. While traveling, her goals were to learn about studio teaching and multimedia education in use and development at universities in the USA. She received her BS in Physics from Manchester University in England. Her MS in Solid State Physics is from Cyprus University. Zena teaches Physics and Computer Science. next previous top Ming Shui Wang Professor of Education Southern University of Taiwan Professor Ming Shui Wang was a visiting professor during the '96-'97 academic year. She came to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to learn about the studio teaching methods and multimedia education then being utilized and developed here. next previous top
top staff visiting scholars	Emeriti Tamara Cupples ICME Manager 1997-2000 Tamara Cupples managed the International Center for Multimedia Education, which worked closely with the Anderson Center to develop and demonstrate new approaches to education. She participated in planning a variety of activities involving multimedia education including Anderson Center faculty workshops. Tamara was responsible for the publication of the Anderson Center brochure and the creation and maintenance of web sites, as well as working with visiting administrators and faculty. Tamara holds Master's degrees from Rensselaer in Communication and Rhetoric (with graphic design certificate) and in Management. She has strong interests in interactive learning, graphic design and creative and technical writing that made her the ideal person for her previous job of Faculty Liaison with the Open Courseware project at MIT. She is now Associate Director of Alumni Communications in the Sloan School of MIT. next previous top Elaine Eng Video Consultant 2001-2 Massachusetts born and raised Elaine Eng is a Rensselaer undergrad who expects to receive her degree in December 2002. She is a dual major in Electronic Media, Arts and Communication (EMAC) and Psychology with minor in Computer Science. Elaine's interest in audio/video production, together with the EMAC major's usual interest in graphic design, drew her to work in the Anderson Center where those strengths aid her work as our resident video shootist and producer. Apart from Troy, Boston is her favorite city because of its terrific seafood. next previous top Rohazlee Hashim Media Consultant Rohazlee Hashim is a 2006 graduate in Information Technology with concentration in Management Information Systems (MIS). Born in Japan but raised in Brazil and Malaysia, he came to RPI just to pursue a bachelors degree. He will most probably go back to Malaysia soon, unless a good offer comes his way here in the States. Ro was active in school with Intramural sports, membership in RPI Ambulance, and leading Kappa Nu Kappa Chapter of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity. next previous top Jason Hylan Lead Developer of Dynamic Systems Instructional Material 1995-1998 As a graduate student in Mechanical Engineering, Jason received his Bachelor's degree in May 1996 and his Master's of Engineering in December 1997. Aside from participating in Dynamic Systems Instructional Software development for the Anderson Center, Jason's work experience includes internships at both the Deleware River Port Authority in Camden, NJ and AC Delco Systems in Rochester, NY. Jason spent two summers at the Delaware River Port Authority maintaining heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and plumbing systems. During his tenure at AC Delco Systems, Jason aided in the analysis and redesign of a central port fuel injection system. In addition to his engineering experience, Jason is the Co-Director of the Leadership Development Center, a week-long camp sponsored by the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania. While at Rensselaer, Jason served as President and Vice President for the Rensselaer Space Society. He was the chairperson of the School of Engineering's Student Advisory Board, belongs to ASME, has received the Rensselaer Founder's Award, and played hockey in the intramural hockey program at RPI. Jason is now enjoying life as an engineer for J.L. Souser in York, Pennsylvania. next previous top Jude Kaiser Systems Administrator 1997-1999 Jude Kaiser was joint Systems Administrator for the Anderson Center and Rensselaer's Department of Continuing & Distance Education. He was involved with distance learning, the development of support systems, and information technology. In May 2002, Jude completed the Rensselaer MBA with a specialization in Management and Information Systems. He finished a Rensselaer MS in Information Technology in summer 2002. next previous top Kelly 'IRQ' Knowles Technical Consultant 1997-1998 next previous top Michael Malak Physics post-doc Mike developed a Web-based Studio course for Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism). Much of this can be previewed at the Project Links site. He left the Anderson Center and RPI for his Illinois home in summer 2001. next previous top Jeff Marx Physics Instructor 1994-98 Jeff was an Anderson Center mainstay through the summer of '98 when he completed his doctorate. While at the CIUE he taught Physics and worked on his thesis - Creation of a Diagnostic Exam for Introductory, Undergraduate Electricity and Magnetism. Jeff is now assistant professor of physics at McDaniel College in Maryland. During Jeff's ten-year undergraduate and graduate career at Rensselaer, when not in the Anderson Center, he could typically be found working out in the gym or tracking down the latest spring bird arrivals. He was also a member of Ecologic where he helped plan the construction of a greenhouse and led nature walks, or did whatever else could be done in the great outdoors. His newest interest is biking. next previous top Rakesh Monga Research Assistant 2001-2 Rakesh hails from the city of Pune in Maharshtra, India. A major industrial city of 4 million people located about 100 miles to the south east of Mumbai (Bombay). He has a BE in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pune and a few months of work experience at Tata Engineering, Pune (automobile company). Rakesh will graduate with a ME in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the DSES department at RPI in Dec 2002. He currently works at the CIUE as a graduate assistant for the GE grant for developing working models of experiments in Thermodynamics, Fluids and Heat Transfer. An avid automotive enthusiast, Rakesh hopes to make a career in a related field, which engages his skills, learnt at Pune and Rensselaer. next previous top Stefanie Noble Video Consultant 2000-2001 next previous top Gina Rophael Media Consultant Born and raised in Egypt, this Arabic-fluent 2006 graduate earned a BS in electrical engineering. Gina has entrepreneurial ambitions as do so many of her Rensselaer colleagues. The future may hold a Rophael Digital Electronics based somewhere in NYC. When not hard at work Gina likes to dance, cook, and play Frisbee. She also admits to singing, but only in private to prevent annoyance. next previous top Jerome Richter Technical Consultant 1998-2000 next previous top Anand Sastry Systems Administrator 2000 - 2001 Anand comes from Bombay. He earned a BS in Computer Engineering from nearby Pune University. These days he's a master's student in Computer Science at RPI and about to graduate. After graduation Anand plans to remain in the USA as a network security consultant and resident of New York City. next previous top Rees Shad Video Consultant 2001 Born and raised in NYC, Rees has lived not too far from campus in a small conservative dairy community for the last 20 years teaching children to use big nasty words and running a recording company called Sweetfish. His two-year stint at RPI ended with an MS in Technical Communication ('02) and he now resides in New York City where he is working toward an MFA in Technology and Design. next previous top Georgi Shablovsky Course Developer Georgi G. Shablovsky is Course Coordinator of Introduction to Biology (BIOL 1010), a next-generation studio course developed in the Anderson Center in close collaboration with faculty from the Rensselaer Biology Department where he previously supported Bioinformatics. While resident in his native St. Petersburg, Georgi received an M.D. from the Pavlov Medical Institute and was a resident in Oncology-Hematology at the Petrov Research Institute. After emigration to the New World, he earned the M.Sc. in Molecular Biology/Experimental Medicine at McGill. Georgi is a capable e-commerce programmer of databases for the web. He has done photography for the Lonely Planet Guide to Russia, as well as its travel guides to Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Montreal, and New York. His photographs have also been published in the New York Times and in many other U.S. newspapers through the National Geographic News Service. next previous top Beth Sweeney Administrative Assistant 1997-2001 As administrative assistant, Beth Sweeney handled CIUE purchasing and budget oversight. Institute purchasing agents knew her by name. Beth got us what we wanted, no matter what. Her experience with budgets helped in her scrutiny of our spending. She was our detective in the mysterious and erroneous charges department. Beth is a graduate of Amsterdam High School and attended Siena College. She remains active in her church, teaching Sunday school and working on the Board of Christian Education. Her hobbies are sewing, crafting, and ceramics. She plans to complete her BS in Business Administration. next previous top Pamela Jean Théroux Research Assistant Professor Assistant Director of Research & Assessment Pamela Théroux was Research Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of Research & Assessment in the Anderson Center for Innovation in Undergraduate Education (CIUE) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 2003 through 2006. Dr. Théroux holds a Ph.D. with Distinction from Columbia University in Sociology & Education. As a sociologist, she studies the associations between teaching and learning within the context of formal and informal educational environments. Focusing on the social ecology of learning and cognitive processes broadly defined, she is interested in the concept of teaching-learning across domains, learning as a social process, and the importance of connections among educating networks. As an applied research methodologist she is concerned with research design, development, analysis and data interpretation particularly as it relates to student learning assessment and, subsequently, educational policy. She has taught graduate and undergraduate classes at Columbia University, Barnard College, and Teachers College along with presenting research at national conferences and giving workshops and seminars in local communities. She has been the recipient of fellowships, honors, and awards including grants from the National Science Foundation, the American Educational Research Association, the Spencer Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education as well as a teaching recognition award from Columbia University's Klingenstein Institute. Dr. Théroux is now assistant professor in the department of Educational Administration and Policy Studies at SUNY Albany. She also retains faculty appointment at RPI as a visiting assistant professor in the School of Engineering. next previous top Austin Yang Video Consultant A dual major in Computer Science and EMAC (Electronic Media Arts & Communication), this ambitious Rensselaer grad left us on his graduation in May 2004. He recently began a career with McDonnell-Douglas in Washington, D.C. Austin, who is from a small town in Connecticut, took only reluctantly to Troy's nineteenth century, industrial boomtown ambience. During his (no longer to be found) free time, he likes to hang out with friends, play video games, and best of all, sleep. previous top
top best view in ie	The Lois J. & Harlan E. Anderson Center for Innovation in Undergraduate Education Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute CIUE 3119 CII 110 8th Street Troy, NY 12180-3590 518.276.4831 518.276.4852 (fax) http://ciue.rpi.edu

The Anderson Center Staff, Visiting Scholars, and Emeriti

Staff

The Anderson Center
Staff, Visiting Scholars, and Emeriti