Chris Hakala, PhD
Chris Hakala has over 25 years’ experience as a psychology professor and director of teaching centers. Over the years, his research has focused on reading comprehension, teaching and learning, effective faculty development and assessment. In addition, Chris has been invited to present at many conferences around the country as well as dozens of colleges and universities on topics ranging from reading narrative text to how to effectively manage large classes, or how to engage students in ways that maximize student learning, utilizing the science of learning. At Springfield College, Chris is the Director for the Center for Excellence on Teaching, Learning and Scholarship as well as a faculty member in the psychology department.

Ricardo Poza, M.Ed
Ricardo Poza has a B.M. from Berklee College of Music, and M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is currently a Ph.D candidate in Education (Math, Science and Learning Technologies) at Umass Amherst. He is a musician, educator, researcher, technologist, multimedia producer, and lecturer. His current area of research focuses on reducing the dearth of women in computer science by developing curriculums that foster participation by middle and high school girls in computer science and robotics. He is also interested in online learning effectiveness and the science of learning. He has over 17 years experience working in Higher Education including: faculty development, instructional design, training, and curriculum development. He currently works as Senior Instructional Technologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School Graduate School of Nursing, where he is also an instructor.

AJ Scognamiglio
I’m AJ. I’m an online instructional designer at Johnson and Wales School of Online Education in Providence, Rhode Island. Prior to JWU, I was an instructional designer at Becker College in Worcester, MA and an instructional technologist and designer for SUNY with my home campus being Cortland State. I have just begun working at Johnson and Wales and currently am shadowing course developments. At Becker, I was solely responsible for the development of online and hybrid courses, largely for the night school, or graduate and professional studies program, but worked with the traditional school as well.

Domenic Screnci, Ed.D.
Dr. Screnci is currently involved in workforce development for Information Services and Technology at Boston University. He is the former Senior Advisor for Digital Learning and Innovation and Executive Director for Educational Technology, Training and Outreach in Information Services and Technology at Boston University.  He served the university as an educational technologist, instructional systems designer and integrator, instructional designer and a producer of curriculum materials for traditional and new media-based educational projects. Dr. Screnci has a master's degree in educational media and technology and a doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching from Boston University. Domenic has 30+ years of experience in the field of educational technology and biocommunications.  

Dr. Screnci is also the co-founder and advisor for Boston University’s online Master of Science Health Communications Program and Certificate in Visual and Digital Health Communication. He has taught an instructional design course at Boston University’s School of Public Health call “Teaching Public Health” that is now made available in a book, Course Design for Public Health: A Competency-Based Approach. He is adjunct faculty at Boston University’s College of Communication teaching a Professional Presentation course, as well as at the University of Massachusetts/Boston in their master’s level Instructional Design Program offering a Visual Literacy and Information Design course. 

He is a member of the Association of Talent Development, Association for Educational Communication and Technology, International Society for Technology in Education, and the International Visual Literacy Association as well as some other academic and professional organizations.

Dr. Screnci is the former committee member and Chair of AVIXA’s (formerly InfoComm) Professional Education and Training Committee and currently on the Board of AVIXA’s Education Foundation.