LibreTexts OER Showcase and ED’s Open Textbook Pilot Grant Program

Josh Halpern

Outreach Team Chair, LibreTexts; Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, Howard University

@JoshHalpern5

Josh Halpern is professor of chemistry emeritus at Howard University. His scientific research was eclectic, including materials science, earth science, planetary science, chemistry, and physics. Josh was the founding director of the DC Space Grant Consortium, administered the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Faculty Fellowship Program, and directed an NSF-sponsored Partnership for Research and Education in Materials that brought together Johns Hopkins, Howard, Prince George’s Community College, and Gallaudet University. He joined the LibreTexts project in 2013 and continues to work with PGCC on a new coordinated engineering curriculum that uses LibreTexts, increasing OER adoption across their curriculum. As part of the LibreTexts project, Josh writes course materials and publishes about improving online educational resources. 

Tanya Spilovoy

Director, Open Policy, WCET Staff 2016 - 2022

Tanya was the director of open policy at WCET where she led the National Consortium of Open Educational Resources (NCOER) initiative, which focuses on the policy, practice, and implementation of Open Educational Resources in compact regions, states, systems, and higher education institutions. She and her team conducted research, shared best practices, and initiated efforts to ensure all students have equitable access to low-cost, openly licensed, high-quality learning materials. As director, she collaborated with the regional compacts (MHEC, WICHE, NEBHE, and SREB) to implement open educational resources in states and systems across the nation.

Tanya joined the team in 2016 and previously served as the director for distance education and state authorization for the North Dakota University System. Her continual commitment to the field is evidenced by her engagement in multiple capacities, from co-authoring two national reports to co-creating and teaching at the SPARC Open Educational Leadership Program. She was also presented the 2020 MHEC Outstanding Service Award.

In her spare time, Tanya can be found at the ice rinks cheering on her kids Dakota and Ruby as they play ice sports, although one can also spot her singing or acting in a local musical production.