Cynthia Agyeman is an Instructional Designer who is dedicated to helping educators advance their teaching strategies and developing online courses. Cynthia is a big advocate of adopting best practices that take into account the diverse and unique learning needs of students. Prior to joining the Alt Lab, Cynthia worked with the Ohio Society of CPAs to design and build courses for CPAs and accounting professionals in public, private and not-for-profit organizations. Cynthia has worked in education as a teacher, facilitator and instructional designer. Cynthia holds a Ph.D. degree in Instructional Technology and a M.A in African Studies from the Ohio University. She has a BFA degree in Painting from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, West Africa. Her research centers on visual arts and new digital media with a special focus on the integration of emergent technologies and the aesthetic and design elements and principles to create new art forms.

Peyton has worked in online learning in higher education since 2014, including teaching and designing online courses, designing and facilitating faculty development courses and workshops for online teaching and course design, and leading teams of instructional designers and learning technologists to develop online courses and programs. Before that, he taught creative writing courses and composition courses in higher education and worked as a reporter. He has a PhD in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. His dissertation is titled “Exploring the Experiences of Faculty Learning to Teach Online: A Case Study,” and his research interests include student success, faculty development, and engagement in online courses. His fiction and nonfiction have been published in numerous venues, including The Paris Review and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and he is the author of the short story collection, The Fry Pans Aren’t Sufficing.

Carrie Cole is an Instructional Designer who serves faculty across disciplines in developing and promoting high-quality online educational experiences. After earning her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Bridgewater College, she served both corporate and non-profit organizations developing training and leadership experiences for professional adult learners. Upon earning her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia, she served faculty there in translating face-to-face courses into hybrid and online formats. Working with P-12 schools during the pandemic deepened her understanding of student needs. Carrie’s research interests focus on place-based experiential learning in online programs. A native Virginian since the Jamestowne Colony, Carrie enjoys visiting historic sites and cheering on her husband and children in their pursuits.

Andrew Hahn has built and edited courses across various fields of study. In design he takes a streamlined approach with easy-to-use technology elements in order to keep the learners focused on their materials. Prior to joining VCU Online, Andrew worked at Liberty University Online as a Course Editor and at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit as an Instructional Designer. He received his MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is the author of the poetry chapbook, God’s Boy (Sibling Rivalry Press, 2019), which poet Randall Mann called a “raw, fearless debut.” In the fall of 2019, Andrew was invited to be the writer-in-residence at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing, and playing the piano.

Smita Jain is an Instructional Designer with 4 years of experience in designing quality online learning experiences across various modalities. Her best moments are when she gets to brainstorm effective learning solutions that meet targeted educational needs. She holds a Master’s degree in Instructional Design from University of Wyoming and an Ed.D. from University of Memphis. Prior to VCU she worked at WVU. She enjoys continuous learning and tries to stays abreast of tools and topics related to Instructional Design. She loves spending time with her family, extended family, and friends. Learning Kathak, an Indian classical dance form, serves as her mode of relaxation.

Cairo Jones is an instructional designer who is passionate about helping educators bring creativity to their online courses. While implementing best practices into the course design, Cairo strives to support faculty as they develop their teaching strategies while also creating unique learning communities. Prior to joining the Alt Lab, Cairo worked with VCU’s Online MBA program to develop courses and assist professors with the design and delivery of course material. Cairo received his BA in History from Virginia State University and loves learning about Virginia’s rich past. Outside of work, Cairo loves to discover new restaurants, spend time with family and go on new adventures with his four-legged pal, Murphy.

Aisha McGriff is passionate about working with faculty to turn their visions for their online classes into a reality. A North Carolina native, she holds a BA in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a MA in Sociology from North Carolina Central University, and a MA and a PhD in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. Aisha began her academic career in Chattanooga, TN where she was a professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies before becoming an instructional designer. Prior to joining the ALT Lab, Aisha developed and taught face to face, hybrid, and online courses for Chattanooga State Community College, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and TN eCampus. Her research areas of interest include how to make instructional technologies more accessible, pedagogical techniques to engage diverse student populations, and how to reduce unintentional bias in the classroom. When not geeking out about instructional design, education, and the future of academia, Aisha can be found wandering around in nature, knitting socks, or daydreaming about new ways to play with fiber and textiles.

Rebecca Stooks is a Richmond native and, prior to joining ALT Lab, she taught English at a high school in Henrico County for 10 years. In that time, she taught a variety of different courses, but she is most proud of her involvement in helping to lay the groundwork for her school's dual enrollment program with a local community college. Her years as a public educator have made her a pro when it comes to practical teaching techniques, creative approaches to delivering content, and differentiating instruction to cater to all learning styles. Rebecca obtained both her bachelor's and master's in English from Longwood University, with focuses in education and writing. When she isn't working or trying to keep up with her active toddler, Rebecca loves writing speculative fiction (that's fancy talk for sci-fi and fantasy); she has even published a few short stories and she fancies the idea of one day publishing a novel.

Ginny Thompson enjoys supporting faculty with the creation of engaging digital learning environments. Prior to joining to Virginia Commonwealth University, she was an instructional designer for six years at St. Vincent’s College in Bridgeport, Connecticut, helping to launch several online programs, including an RN-BSN program. Ginny has experience evaluating the quality of online courses, holding a Quality Matters Peer Reviewer certification. She taught Educational Technology at Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore, Maryland for five years and has a masters degree in Education from the University of Michigan. A recent transplant to RVA, she enjoys hitting the Buttermilk Trail, riding her bike in the Fan and learning more about street photography.

Sydney Wilk is an Instructional Designer who enjoys working with faculty and staff to enhance the online learning experience. She strives to build a strong sense of classroom community online for students through engaging activities and resources within each course. Sydney received her MS in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology from the University at Albany as well as two BA’s in Communications and English. Prior to working at VCU Online, Sydney was an Instructional Designer within the SUNY college system in Upstate New York. When she is not focusing on instructional design or teaching online, Sydney enjoys spending time with her family and two basset hounds, Hank and Maeve. She also loves camping in the Adirondacks during the summer and enjoying some paddle boarding time.