Ultimate Medical Academy Announces March 2017 K-20 Education Summit Outstanding Educational Expert Presenters and Sponsors

March 2, 2017, Tampa, Fla. – Ultimate Medical Academy, a nonprofit higher educational institution, today announced the outstanding lineup of educational experts scheduled to present at its upcoming inaugural K-20 Education Summit (#UMAK20). Sponsored by WUSF Public Media and others, the K-20 Summit will be held in Tampa on March 23-25, 2017.

“We’re excited to feature a lineup of outstanding education experts who are leading a national, if not global, conversation on innovation in online and blended learning environments,” said Julene Robinson, UMA vice provost of Programs and Academic Affairs. “Our goal for the K-20 Summit is to bring together educators and educational leaders, particularly those committed to the success of students facing barriers, to share best practices and success stories.”

Exploring the theme, “all means ALL,” the K-20 Summit will examine how to optimize learning models that engage, retain and prepare students for and through post-secondary graduation and workforce career planning.

Featuring a three-track series – Leadership; Curriculum and Instruction; and Student Support Services – the K-20 Summit will give attendees the opportunity to participate in presentation, roundtable and panel of expert sessions. All sessions aim to contribute to a best practices dialogue on educational access, persistence and advocacy.

 

Leadership presenters include:

 

• Micaela Alpers, president, Higher Education Division at Career TEAM, LLC in San Diego, California, discussing “Bridging the Gap: The Changing Focus of Higher Education and Employability of Graduates.”

• Richard Finger, director, Graduate Studies and Success Initiative at Lehman College CUNY in New York City, discussing “The Need to Re-Envision Academic Advising? If you got the will, we have the way: Strategic Advising Analysis in 10 Intentional Steps.”

• Amelia Van Name Larson, vice president of Innovations and School Supports, and Chris Christoff, executive director of Academic Design at American Reading Company in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, discussing “Getting Better Building Schools: Building Schools We Want for our Children.”

• Dr. Belinda Miles, president of SUNY Westchester Community College in Valhalla, New York, discussing “Toward an Inclusive Excellence: Transforming Institutions or Next Generation Learning.”

• Carrie Morris, associate dean of Online Programs, and Victoria Paterek, associate director of Academic Affairs at Ultimate Medical Academy, discussing “The Key to Unlocking Online Student Outreach.”

• Dr. Joe Pace, chairman of the board, Global Education at The Pacific Institute Education Initiative in Seattle, Washington, discussing “Mental Technology: How the Mind Works and Affects Student Success.”

• Dr. Lynn Priddy, provost and chief academic officer at National American University in Rapid City, South Dakota, discussing “The Urgency of Seeing: Turning the Light on Higher Education.”

• Jay Vaughan, partner at Cooley LLP in Palo Alto, California, discussing the “Regulation of Innovation: New Triad of Expectations for Innovative Postsecondary Education.”

Curriculum and Instruction presenters include:

• Paula Bigatel, instructional designer, instructor at Penn State World Campus in University Park, Pennsylvania, discussing “Promoting Engagement and Retention of Underserved Undergraduate Students Using Experimental Learning Approaches.”

• Scott James, data scientist at Hobsons in Raleigh, North Carolina, discussing “The Impact of Online Course Taking on Student Retention.”

• Michelle Kight, M. Ed., CTE, Career & Technical Education Specialist at the Prince William County Schools in Virginia, and Chris Etesse, CEO of Scriyb LLC in Washington, D.C. discussing “How can educators easily implement the ‘streaming classroom’.”

• Dr. Robert Ogilvie, professor emeritus, The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina and visiting professor and professor Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, discussing “How an Online Histology Course at the University of South Carolina has Served the Underserved for 17 Semesters.”

• Dr. Patrice Torcivia Prusko, MBA, SUNY fellow and expert instructional designer at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, discussing “Virtual Study Abroad: Meaningful Cultural Experiences for All.”

• Dr. Nancy Van Erp, program director/adjunct faculty at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN, discussing “Culturally Responsive Online Learning.”

 

Student Support Services presenters to date include:

 

• Dr. Elisabeth Barnett, senior research associate at Teacher’s College, Columbia University in New York City, discussing “Innovative Practices for Non-Traditionally Underserved Students: The Ultimate Medical Academy Online Model.”

• Dr. John M. Beckem II, associate professor of Business Management and Economics, at SUNY Empire State College in Saratoga Springs, New York, discussing “Overcoming Student Barriers: Transformative Learning in Online Courses Through Course Design, Student Engagement, and Content Delivery.”

• Bryan Contreras, executive director KIPP Houston Public Schools’ KIPP Through College in Houston, discussing “Kipp Through College: A Developmental Approach to College and Career Readiness.”

• Lisa McClure, senior director of Academic Operations at K-12, Inc. in Herndon, Virginia, discussing “Meeting the Diverse Needs of K-12 Online Students and their Families.”

• Chris Montagino, vice president of Strategic Enrollment Management at Excelsior College in Albany, New York, discussing “Assessment of Prior Learning: Empowering and Engaging Non-Traditional Students.”

• Owen Robertson, academic facilitator, and Dr. Rebecca Sarlo, dean of Institutional Effectiveness, at Ultimate Medical Academy in Tampa, discussing “Implementing Targeted Prevention and Intervention Services to Improve Post-Secondary At-Risk Student Outcomes.”

The K-20 Summit will be held on March 23, 2017 at UMA, 3101 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., on March 24, 2017 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Dr., and on March 25, 2017 in conjunction with the UMA Spring Commencement at the USF Sun Dome.

More information can be found at the K-20 Summit website. It is being sponsored by WUSF Public Media and co-sponsored by Pearson, Bookmasters, McGraw-Hill and Elsevier who are also sponsoring the UMA Spring Commencement.