Ryan Wetzel
Chair, Digital Storytelling Track
Manager, Creative Learning Initiatives, Teaching and Learning with Technology, Penn State University
Ryan has worked at Penn State since 2007 in the Media Commons, a service supporting all Penn State faculty, students, and staff in the use and creation of digital media in the classroom, and now serves as the manager of Creative Learning Initiatives in the Teaching and Learning with Technology group. In this role he oversees the Media Commons, Maker Commons, and Immersive Experiences Lab, all of which includes operating 25 multimedia labs at 21 Penn State campuses and leading a staff of multimedia specialists in providing curriculum support for the use of multimedia and making technologies, and implementing new innovative solutions like the One Button Studio, on-demand 3D printing, and rapid prototyping in the Invention Studio. Ryan has concentrated on using digital storytelling and new media literacy as crucial components of the 21st century classroom. Ryan has a BA in Digital Video and Media Production from Juniata College and is completing a masters in Media Studies at Penn State’s College of Communications.
Chris Gamrat, M.Ed.
Chair, Digital Badges Track
Ph.D. Candidate, School of Education, Penn State University
Chris earned a M.Ed. in Instructional Systems from Penn State and is currently ABD for his doctorate in Learning, Design, and Technology from Penn State. His research interest focuses on the use of digital badges to support setting and pursuing professional learning goals. Chris is an instructional designer College of Information Sciences and Technology. He is currently the lead instructional designer for the College’s World Campus Masters of Processional Studies programs and the undergraduate Design and Development option. Chris was also the Principal Investigator for the COIL Lifelong Learning Landscape project, an initiative to develop a digital badging platform at Penn State. Before working for the College of IST, Chris worked for the NASA Aerospace Education Services Project based in Penn State’s College of Education where he worked to help support teacher professional development in STEM subjects across the country.
Peggy Fisher
Chair, Online Education Track
Staff Instructor, LinkedIn
Twitter: @pegfisher145
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin/in/peggyfisher145
Peggy Fisher is currently working as a technology content instructor for Lynda.com at LinkedIn at Microsoft. In this role, she works closely with the content manager to identify relevant and timely technology topics, mostly related to Java development, C++ programming, and Arduino technology.
Prior to this role, Peggy was an Instructor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State University. There she taught Java programming, Introduction to Database Management, Discrete Mathematics, and currently she teaches an online Statistics course part-time. She was a also a high school computer science teacher where she encouraged young women to take her programming and web design courses.
Peggy has always been a huge advocate for Women in Technology. She has conducted numerous summer workshops to encourage girls to try programming and robotics. She was also a coach for a FIRST Robotics team for several years.
Michael Collins
Chair, Digital Publishing Track
Assistant Professor of Art, School of Visual Arts, Penn State University
Michael Collins joined the Penn State School of Visual Arts in 2012 where he teaches 3D animation, digital design, and digital fabrication. His research interests in open-source technology and sustainable design unite around online education, where he works to identify and solve contemporary issues facing online teaching and learning. Long-term project collaborations include the ELMS Learning Network project and the OERSchema project. Collins has previously worked on projects for the NFL, BMW Guggenheim Lab in NYC, and as freelance product designer. He has attended, presented at, and helped organize a variety of international design, technology, and education conferences and has been a long-time SIGGRAPH volunteer.