Adam Fein
Vice President for Digital Strategy and Innovation
Dr. Adam D. Fein has served as Vice President for Digital Strategy and Innovation since November 2018. As the head of UNT’s online and digital strategies, he leads the charge to identify new directions and opportunities to improve the academic quality, reach and performance of the university in the online and global education markets. His research is focused on the examination of the cognitive theory of multimedia learning and the effects of disruptive innovation theory in higher education. Prior to joining UNT, Dr. Fein served the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for 17 years in numerous roles with online and innovative education. He was responsible for shaping campus strategy and providing campus-wide support for innovations in classroom and online settings. In his previous roles, he was responsible for overseeing the instructional design, instructional development, instructional media resources, and online academic and student affairs teams. Prior to his time in higher education at two of the world’s largest universities, he served as a training and development consultant at Pepsi/Gatorade Inc. and at the Quaker Oats Company. In addition, Dr. Fein has published book chapters and numerous professional papers.
Tania Heap
Director of Learning Research and Accessibility, DSI CLEAR
Dr. Tania Heap is the Director of Learning Research and Accessibility based in the Center for Learning Experimentation, Application, and Research (CLEAR) at the University of North Texas (UNT). She has been involved in online and technology-enhanced learning initiatives in different capacities for over 15 years. Her background is in practice-based research in learning technology, design and methods in social-behavioral-educational research with human participants, digital accessibility and ADA compliance testing, faculty development, and instructional design for high-enrollment online classes and MOOCs.
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Ruthanne “Rudi” Thompson
Assistant Vice President, Digital Strategy and Innovation and Associate Professor of Biology
Dr. Rudi Thompson is a UNT Distinguished Teaching Professor, faculty member in the department of Biological Sciences, Assistant Vice President in the Division of Digital Strategy and Innovation, and Executive Director of the Center for Learning Experimentation, Application, and Research (CLEAR) at UNT. She has been in the teaching realm for more than 30 years, with experience teaching learners from PreK through Grey. Her research focuses on the space and/or the barriers between teaching and learning in science.
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Audon Archibald
Data Analyst, DSI
Dr. Audon Archibald completed a Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of North Texas. His research interests include an emphasis on the role popular media plays into the development of attitudes and behaviors. He currently assists the Learning Research Team in the Division of Digital Strategy and Innovation (DSI) as a full-time data analyst aiding in the development and evaluation of research projects centering around the role of technology in education.
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Madasen Briggs
Graduate Research Assistant/Data Analyst Intern, DSI
Madasen Briggs is a Data Analyst Intern and a second-year PhD student in Behavioral Sciences at UNT. More on Madasen soon!
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Cassie Aaron
Graduate Research Assistant/Data Analyst Intern, DSI
Cassie Aaron is a Data Analyst Intern and a third-year Ph.D. Student in Educational Psychology with a emphasis in Research, Measurement, and Statistics. She has worked in varying levels and areas of education including student affairs, academic affairs, and K-12 education. Broadly, her research focus on what influences and contexts support students’ success in postsecondary education. Specifically, she is interested in how high-impact practices facilitate learning for college students.
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Andy Quintana
Undergraduate Research Assistant/Data Analyst Intern, DSI
Hello, my name is Andy, I am an undergraduate psychology student with a minor in history at the University of North Texas. I plan to pursue grad school with the plan of enrolling in a clinical psychology program. Research is an aspect in my life that I plan to learn more about as well as take my current knowledge into newer and different fields of study like educational research. I often take time to learn and talk about social sciences like geography, history, philosophy, and especially psychology, with an emphasis on behavioral psychology, I can talk for hours about how fascinating human behavior is.
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Ellie Liss
Undergraduate Research Assistant/Data Analyst Intern, DSI
Ellie Liss is an undergraduate research assistant and data analyst intern for DSI. She is a junior in the UNT Psychology program as well as a Studio Art minor. While this is her first time working on a research project, she is interested in socio-behavioral effects on educational establishments and advancements. Following the completion of her undergraduate degree, she plans to pursue admission to a master's program in Art Therapy.