Preparing for Fall: How Higher Education Administrators Are Planning for a New Normal

Mordecai Ian Brownlee

WCET Executive Council, President, Community College of Aurora

@ItsDrMordecaiLinkedIn Profile

Dr. Mordecai I. Brownlee is an inclusive educator who proudly serves as the sixth president of the Community College of Aurora. Within the first two years of his presidency, President Brownlee has already brought about significant change and improved the student success agenda at the Community College of Aurora. These successes include CCA embarking upon its first capital project in 24 years, record-breaking capital and scholarship fundraising, hiring CCA’s largest and most diverse faculty ranks in the college’s history, and improved student completions by more than 20%. 

Dr. Mordecai publishes frequently, including serving as a columnist for EdSurge. He also teaches at Lamar University and the University of Charleston. In 2023, Dr. Mordecai was named 40 Under 40 by the prestigious Denver Business Journal and Community Leader of the Year by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce recipient. Recently, Dr. Mordecai was featured as a “champion” of the U.S. Department of Education Unlocking Career Success Initiative. 

Thomas Cavanagh

Vice Provost for Digital Learning, University of Central Florida

cavanagh@ucf.edu

@tbcavanaghlinkedin.com/in/thomas-cavanagh

Thomas Cavanagh is vice provost for digital learning at the University of Central Florida. In this role, he oversees the distance learning strategy, policies, and practices of one of the nation’s largest universities. A national leader in digital education and academic innovation, he has been recognized with numerous awards from organizations such as the Online Learning Consortium, the United States Distance Learning Association, the IMS Global Learning Consortium, and WCET. He is active in the higher education community and serves on several national boards. He is also an award-winning author of several mystery novels.

Pat James

@ONE Course Facilitator, California Community Colleges Virtual Campus & Online Education Initiative

Pat James was the initial executive director of the California Community Colleges Online Education Initiative (OEI). Currently, Pat is a project consultant for the OEI and for Pat James Consulting, an Online Network of Educators (@ONE) facilitator for CVC, an instructor at Evergreen Valley College, and a part-time consultant for Instructure. She is a creative, experienced online educator in the areas of program planning, course design, implementation, professional development, budget development, and program management. She is the recipient of multiple grant awards and holds awards for her leadership work from OLC Leadership, Pearson Excellence in Academic Leadership, Mt. San Jacinto College, and the California Community Colleges.

Jeff Borden

Chief Academic Officer, D2L

Jeff Borden is currently the chief academic officer at D2L, a professor of communication and education, a Davis scholar in residence with the Akilah Institute, and a speaker/consultant/leader across higher education. A passionate teaching and learning expert and a lifelong advocate for effective eLearning, Jeff works to generate and communicate the best possible ideas, strategies, and philosophies to transform learning at scale. Through award-winning “learning ecosystem” creation, brain-based education strategies, large-scale alternate reality games for education, and other creative endeavors, Jeff has implemented effective learning techniques for thousands.