National Institute forMeet the NITLE Staff
NITLE is headquartered in Georgetown, Texas, on the campus of Southwestern University. Our staff is distributed across the country, checking in from Illinois, Michigan, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. From developing strategic partnerships that benefit member colleges to conducting research and developing events and programs, our work aims to help liberal arts institutions use technology strategically and collaboratively to advance teaching and learning. We welcome your inquiries and thoughts.
Staff: Joey King | Michael Nanfito | Bryan Alexander | Lisa Spiro | Arden Baxter | Grace Pang | Paul Henley | Rebecca Frost Davis | Fred Moody | Sean Johnson Andrews | Ruben Ruiz
Affiliated Fellows: Thomas A. Warger | Brent D. Glass | Fred Mednick | Eric Jansson
W. Joseph (Joey) King, Executive Director
phone: (512) 863-1295 | e-mail: jking@nitle.org | see full biography | back to staff list
Dr. King is our executive director as well as vice president for innovation at Southwestern University. He sets the vision and strategic direction for NITLE, working closely with our national advisory board. Previously, Dr. King was executive director of Connexions, a leading open education system with over 2 million unique visitors per month. He holds a Ph.D. in human-computer interaction (University of Washington) and a B.A. with honors in computer science and experimental psychology (Southwestern University).
Michael Nanfito, Associate Director
phone: (253) 318-8742 | e-mail: mnanfito@nitle.org | see full biography | back to staff list
Mr. Nanfito develops and directs NITLE’s organizational strategy, working in consultation with our executive director, national advisory board, and the NITLE member community. He has a deep background in networked information resources and technology-related entrepreneurial activity, ranging from the development of very large data-driven web environments to consulting for small academic libraries. A 2002 Frye Fellow, he previously served as director of instructional technology at the University of Puget Sound, and holds an MLIS and a B.A. with honors in history (San Jose State University).
Bryan Alexander, Senior Fellow
phone: (802) 388-7850 | e-mail: balexander@nitle.org | see full biography | back to staff list
Dr. Alexander researches, writes, and speaks about emerging trends in the integration of inquiry, pedagogy, and technology and their potential application to liberal arts contexts. His current research interests include emerging pedagogical forms enabled by mobile technologies, learning processes and outcomes associated with immersive environments (as in gaming and augmented reality), the digital humanities, and futuristic methodologies. A 2004 Frye Fellow, he holds a Ph.D. in English (University of Michigan). His book, The New Digital Storytelling: Creating Narratives with New Media, was published in April 2011 by Praeger.
Lisa Spiro, Director, NITLE Labs
phone: (832) 341-0380 | e-mail: lspiro@nitle.org | see full biography | back to staff list
Dr. Spiro works with the liberal arts community to explore emerging educational technologies and develop collaborative approaches to integrating learning, scholarship and technology. Her research interests include the digital humanities, user studies, open education, the transformation of libraries, and software evaluation. Previously, she directed the Digital Media Center at Rice University’s Fondren Library, where she oversaw the campus’ central multimedia lab, worked with instructors on integrating technology into the curriculum, and contributed to digital library projects. A 2003 Frye Fellow, Dr. Spiro holds a B.A. in English and history (magna cum laude) from Rice University and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Virginia.
Arden Baxter, Business Manager
phone: (512) 863-1338 | e-mail: abaxter@nitle.org | see full biography | back to staff list
Ms. Baxter manages NITLE’s business operations and finances. Previously, she has provided support for library projects and services at Southwestern University, provided financial services and investment consultation for the construction industry, and worked for an Austin-based lobbying firm during the Texas Legislative sessions. She has extensive experience in non-profit business operations, and holds both a B.F.A. with high honors (Texas State University-San Marcos) and an M.B.A. (University of St. Thomas).
Grace Pang, Director of Communications
phone: (734) 330-0467 | e-mail: gpang@nitle.org | see full biography | back to staff list
Ms. Pang directs NITLE’s public relations efforts, supporting its strategic advancement as a thought leader in the liberal arts college space. She oversees the development of publications and content, handles media relations, and maintains NITLE’s communications with its member network. Previously, she worked in community relations at SOS Community Services, a non-profit social services agency, and in program development at the Great Lakes Colleges Association. She holds an M.A. in English (University of Michigan) and B.A. in English and rhetoric (University of Illinois).
Paul Henley, Membership Director
phone: (512) 417-8480 | e-mail: phenley@nitle.org | see full biography | back to staff list
Dr. Henley’s work focuses on increasing membership and activity in the NITLE Network. Previously, he served as the teaching and learning specialist for the Texas affiliate of the National Education Association. While working there, he built membership through programs designed to assist teachers in their classroom. Dr. Henley has taught music at the K-12 level and the university level for 11 years, and his body of research on instrumental practice techniques has earned him national recognition. He holds a B.M. from the University of South Dakota, an M.A. in education from Chadron State College (Nebraska), and a Ph.D. in music education from the Louisiana State University.
Rebecca Frost Davis, Program Officer for the Humanities
phone: (512) 863-1734 | e-mail: rdavis@nitle.org | see full biography | back to staff list
Dr. Davis develops programs and conducts research about the digital humanities, digital scholarship, and the integration of inquiry, pedagogy, and technology for teaching and learning across the humanities. She also writes and consults in these areas, drawing on a deep background in helping faculty and staff at liberal arts colleges explore these areas via a variety of workshops and seminars. She has particular expertise in intercampus teaching and virtual collaboration. She holds a Ph. D. and M.A. in classical studies from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. (summa cum laude) in classical studies and Russian from Vanderbilt University.
Fred Moody, Program Officer for Libraries and Scholarly Communications
phone: (206) 801-0352 | e-mail: fmoody@nitle.org | see full biography | back to staff list
Mr. Moody’s work focuses on libraries and scholarly communications, including writing and conducting research on topics pertinent to liberal arts colleges. Previously, he served as editor-in-chief of Rice University Press, a digital academic publishing experiment operated at Rice University in 2007-10. His experience in the publishing industry spans nearly 35 years and includes editing, book production, writing, reporting, and research. He holds an M.L.I.S. from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in English from Fairhaven College.
Sean Johnson Andrews, Program Officer
phone: (703) 597-6948 | e-mail: sandrews@nitle.org | see full biography | back to staff list
Dr. Andrews’ focus at NITLE is on the future of libraries and scholarly communications and the development of NITLE consulting program’s futures and scenario modeling practice area. An ACLS Public Fellow, he is currently on leave from Columbia College Chicago, where he has served as assistant professor of cultural studies in the College’s internationally recognized Cultural Studies program. He has researched and written on the concept of immaterial labor and supporting cultural production in the digital age and a variety of other topics. Dr. Andrews holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies and M.A. in Literature with an emphasis in Cultural Studies, both from George Mason University, and a B.A. in Communications from Southwestern University.
Ruben Ruiz, Technologist
phone: (512) 863-1622 | e-mail: rruiz@nitle.org | see full biography | back to staff list
Mr. Ruiz researches emerging technologies with potential for application to teaching and learning in liberal arts environments. Recently, his research has focused on agile methods in mobile development, cloud resources, and new media pedagogy, with a specific focus on smartphones. Previously, he worked for a variety of technology companies, including Apple, HP, and AMD, and for Colorado College, where he supported the college’s technology initiatives. He holds a B.A. in biology (University of Colorado).
Thomas A. Warger, Affiliated Fellow
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Thomas A. Warger has held leadership roles in IT management in higher education for more than twenty years and is now a major contributor to NITLE’s consulting practice. Dr. Warger has served as CIO at Bryn Mawr College, IT projects coordinator at Five Colleges, Inc., and interim CIO at five other colleges. Two of those posts including library interim directorship. He has consulted at numerous colleges and universities and been lead author of the Edutech Report newsletter for eight years. His experience includes: IT strategic plans and accreditation self-studies, ERP selection and implementation, IT staff development and re-organization, digital assets management, audio-video services modernization, instructional technology development, budgeting, project management, grant writing, regulatory compliance projects, IT governance committees, web and public relations development, learning management system selection and implementation, and construction and renovation projects for IT and instructional facilities.
Brent D. Glass, Affiliated Fellow
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Brent D. Glass is director emeritus of the Smithsonian’s National Museum for American History. Before joining the Smithsonian, Dr. Glass served from 1987-2002 as executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, managing the largest and most comprehensive state history program in the country, with 25 historical sites and museums, State Archives, State Museum, the State Historic Preservation Office, public history programs, and historical publications. Dr. Glass is an active member of and consultant to the diplomatic, cultural, and academic communities. He is also a member of the Flight 93 Memorial Advisory Commission and of the State Department’s U.S.-Russia Bilateral Commission Working Group of Education and Culture. He is a frequent speaker or participant in U.S. State Department public and cultural diplomacy programs and serves as a consultant and adviser to several cultural organizations including The Presidio in San Francisco and the DeVos Institute at The Kennedy Center in Washington. He is also a trustee of Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Fred Mednick, Affiliated Fellow
Fred Mednick founded Teachers Without Borders in 2000 after discovering a huge gap in global teacher professional development and recognizing the power of teachers as key catalysts for social change. Today, TWB has members in 202 countries and has worked in some of the most challenging places of the world, convening teachers from regions in conflict, establishing child-friendly spaces following natural disasters, and creating communities of teachers where none have existed before. Dr. Mednick has led several open source educational resources and tools, with particular focus on connecting global communities of teachers to content, resources, tools, and each other. He has spoken at Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, and TED Talks; lectured on Human Rights and Education at the University of Washington; and been a delegate to the Global Creative Leadership Summit for four consecutive years.
Eric Jansson, Affiliated Fellow
For the past 15 years, Mr. Jansson’s career has focused developing rich, educational experiences over networks. He has been a researcher, software developer, technology consultant, and builder of organizational relationships, working at educational software start-ups, higher education consortia, and a research institute. As an affiliated fellow, his goal is to transform education by combining leading research on how people learn with new digital technologies in the context of sound policy and business relationships. He currently works as a private-sector advocate for educational technology at federal and state levels.