MEET THE
SPEAKERS
Bonni Stachowiak
Dean, Teaching and Learning, Vanguard University of Southern California
Bonni Stachowiak is dean of teaching and learning and professor of business and management at Vanguard University of Southern California. She hosts Teaching in Higher Ed, a weekly podcast on the art and science of teaching with over five million downloads. Bonni holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and speaks widely on teaching, curiosity, digital pedagogy, and leadership. She often joins her husband, Dave, on the Coaching for Leaders podcast. They’re raising two endlessly curious kids.
KEYNOTE
Teaching Presence in a Time of Isolation
The most transformative variable in learning is not the content, but the learners' experience. Faculty presence (how we show up, connect, and engage with students and colleagues) can be transformative for students. Drawing from conversations with hundreds of educators and scholars on the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, this keynote will explore how faculty can cultivate teaching presence, experiment with new practices, and build authentic connections in digital spaces. Instead of focusing on the “what” of content delivery, we’ll lean into the “how” of human-centered teaching and connection.
Nichole Barta
Acting Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Associate Professor, Kinesiology & Sport Management, Gonzaga University
Dr. Barta joined Gonzaga in 2016 as a faculty member in the School of Education. She served as the Kinesiology Program Director and on various committees related to teacher certification, the University Core, and RPT processes. In 2022, she was appointed Director of the Center for Teaching and Advising, where she led university-wide efforts to support faculty development in teaching and advising effectiveness. She also served as a Co-PI on an NSF ADVANCE Partnership project aimed at aligning faculty advancement with institutional mission values and promoting equity in promotion practices. Dr. Barta has taught high school and college students, K-12 teachers, and higher education faculty in her 22 years in the education profession. She is the co-author of Designing and Teaching Fitness Education Courses and has co- authored book chapters on curriculum development and evaluation, and quality instruction.
Dr. Barta received her Ed.D. in Doctoral Studies in Education and Program Administration Certificate from Seattle Pacific University. She also obtained an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Teaching and Learning from Seattle Pacific University and B.A.s in Physical Education and Spanish Education with an endorsement in Health education from Whitworth University.
Heather Murray
Instructor, University of North Georgia
Dr. Heather Murray has taught literature and composition at colleges and universities in Georgia and Pennsylvania for more than two decades, and she has been working full-time as an English Instructor for eCore since 2021. She has given more than two dozen conference presentations on such diverse topics as teaching composition to Dual Enrollment high school students, Shakespeare and pedagogy, and evenge in early modern drama. In addition, she has published biographical essays on early modern women writers and essays on Shakespeare.
Jennifer Randall
Professor of English, Dalton State College
Dr. Jennifer Randall is always up for a chai tea and a conversation, so feel free to contact her. She is a Professor of English at Dalton State College in Dalton, GA and is serving her second and final term as Faculty Senate President. She has been teaching at the college level since 2007. When she is not teaching or grading or serving on committees, you can find her taking care of her four kids, ages 4 to 11, or planning and participating in campus and social events. She has recently begun implementing emotional intelligence and mental health discussions and activities within her classes to help her students thrive, and she believes collaboration and active listening can overcome many of the barriers college campuses experience.
Matthew Collins
Assistant Professor, Political Science, Albany State University
Dr. Matthew Collins is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Albany State University. Serving as a University Fellow at the Center for Faculty Excellence, he leads initiatives to integrate artificial intelligence into instructional design. With a doctorate from Virginia Tech, Dr. Collins has over 20 years of experience across academia, public administration, and emergency management, including faculty roles at Florida State College at Jacksonville and the University of Central Florida. His research primarily explores the influence of artificial intelligence on public policy, electoral strategies, civic literacy, and education. His forthcoming publications address AI ethics and the utilization of podcasting in academic pedagogy. Dr. Collins regularly presents at conferences, including the Georgia Political Science Association and the Southern Political Science Association. Additionally, he mentors students employing innovative pedagogical tools, including academic podcasts and videocasts.
Christine James
Professor of Philosophy, Valdosta State University
Christine A. James is the Fuller E Callaway Chair and Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University. Before joining the faculty at Valdosta State University, she was an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Kent State University and Allegheny College. Her specialization is Philosophy of Science, she has published a variety of articles and book chapters in scholarly journals including The Journal for Philosophical Practice, The International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, The Journal of Consciousness Studies, Biosemiotics, the Journal for Human Rights, and the DeGruyter Yearbook for the Philosophy of Humor. Her Logic textbook, Principles of Logic and Reasoning: Including LSAT, GRE, and Writing Skills, was published by Kendall Hunt in 2015. She also created a new logic book with expanded reading examples by invitation from Cognella in 2022 titled Principles of Logic and Argumentation: Selected Readings and Legal Examples. She grew up in Chicago.
Nathan Crissman
University of North Georgia
Nathan Crissman is an adjunct instructor in the University System of Georgia. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, humility, and human-machine communication, with an emphasis on how students and educators can cultivate discernment and ethical engagement in digital contexts. He has taught communication, writing, and digital literacy at multiple institutions and works with faculty and students to develop responsible, reflective approaches to AI in academic environments.
Rebeca Peacock
Clinical Assistant Professor & Instructional Designer, University of West Georgia
Dr. Peacock is an accomplished academic librarian, instructional designer, and educator who has served in multiple higher education settings, including Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and Boise State University. She specializes in designing and delivering high-impact online learning experiences, integrating emerging technologies, and cultivating inclusive teaching practices. Driven by a commitment to student success, Dr. Peacock has published on topics such as online learning, information literacy, digital accessibility, AI in instructional design, and competency-based models for academic librarians, ultimately shaping more transformative learning experiences for diverse communities.
Joshua Kies
Assistant Professor, Georgia Southern University
Joshua M. Kies is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who serves as an Assistant Professor of Nursing and RN-BSN program director at Georgia Southern University, where he has been teaching since 2016. His academic focus encompasses nursing leadership, cultural competence, and HIV/AIDS care in rural Southern Georgia, while his clinical practice includes serving as an Infectious Disease Nurse Practitioner and PrEP/PEP provider for the Georgia Department of Public Health across multiple districts in Southeast Georgia. Dr. Kies brings extensive clinical experience from various healthcare settings including surgical services and critical care, and has demonstrated a strong commitment to improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations through his research, community education initiatives, and volunteer work. He has published and presented widely on topics including HIV prevention and treatment, nursing education innovation, and healthcare equity, while maintaining active involvement in numerous professional organizations and university service committees. His work bridges clinical practice, education, and community health advocacy, with particular emphasis on addressing health disparities and improving care delivery in underserved communities.
Elizabeth Snyder
Associate Professor, Georgia Southern University
Elizabeth Snyder, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Georgia Southern University within the Waters College of Health Professions. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Alabama, a Master of Science in Nursing from Clemson University, and dual bachelor’s degrees in nursing and psychology from East Tennessee State University. Dr. Snyder brings over 25 years of academic and clinical experience, having previously served in leadership roles at Anderson University in South Carolina, South
University in Georgia, and most recently as the Interim Associate Chair for Nursing at Georgia Southern University for the 2024-2025 academic year. She currently practices part time as a palliative care and hospice nurse practitioner. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in student-centered and active-learning approaches, with the goal of facilitating the progression from novice to expert in the field of nursing. Her scholarly interests are varied and include nursing professionalism, telehealth education, mental health access, and hospice/palliative care. She is active member of Sigma Theta Tau International, the American Nurses Association, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties and the Georgia Association for Nursing Education.
