Amanda Izenstark
Amanda Izenstark is a Professor and Reference & Instructional Design Librarian at the University of Rhode Island (URI). Since earning her Master of Library and Information Studies from URI in 2001, she has been dedicated to teaching information literacy through both sessions and credit-bearing courses. Her research interests encompass information literacy, educational technology, and academic librarianship. Amanda has been recognized for her contributions to the field, receiving the Rhode Island Library Association’s Outstanding Librarian award in 2016. She is also a co-founder of the Library Writing Cooperative, an initiative aimed at supporting librarians in research and writing endeavors. 

Stephanie Keep
Stephanie Keep is the Project Director at BiteScis, where she leads the creation of engaging, research-based lesson plans to bring cutting-edge science into classrooms. With over 15 years of experience in educational content development, curriculum design, and science communication, Stephanie has collaborated with organizations like BioInteractive, NOVA, and NCSE to produce high-quality resources for educators. She holds a master’s degree in evolutionary biology from Harvard University and is passionate about enhancing science literacy through innovative and accessible educational materials.

Ben Leveillee

Ben Leveillee has worked in the field of educational technology for over twenty years, currently serving as the Training Manager for the ITS department at the University of Rhode Island. His professional experience includes designing and delivering educational content for K-12, higher ed, and within the private sector, including instructional design roles at Pearson Education and Zoom. In his professional work, Ben is most interested in improving how we communicate information, using a human-centered approach to learning.


Alex Magidow
Alex Magidow is a Senior Learning Experience Designer at Braze, where he creates innovative educational programs and training materials to enhance user engagement and learning outcomes. With a background in higher education as a former Associate Professor at the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Magidow brings expertise in curriculum design, pedagogy, and digital tools for learning. His work blends his academic rigor with practical design, ensuring impactful learning experiences tailored to diverse audiences.

Lauren Totino
Lauren Totino is a Learning Engineer at MIT Open Learning’s Residential Education team, where she collaborates with faculty to design, develop, and enhance digital learning experiences, emphasizing the integration of research-based teaching practices and educational technologies. Lauren’s work focuses on applying learning sciences and human-centered design methodologies to create effective and engaging educational environments. She has contributed to initiatives like the Learning Engineering Evidence and Decision (LEED) tracker, a framework aimed at enhancing transparency and continual improvement in learning experience design.