Professional Profile
Use technology to increase access to education
Dedicated and experienced educator, leader, innovator, manager, instructional designer, and implementer; constantly seeking creative ways to make learning more engaging, accessible, and participatory for learners via online, blended and technology-enhanced environments. Earned doctorate in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in educational technology, studying factors associated with student departure from online graduate programs. Career goal is to change the face of education by developing resources and curriculum that create flexibility and inspire curiosity and higher-order thinking in all learners. Quick learner, analytical thinker, operations focused, and detail-oriented.
Awards
SLATE Star Award - 2015 SLATE Conference 13th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
President’s Award for Teamwork – 2016 Adler University President’s Awards, Chicago, IL
Experience
Bernard zell anshe emet day school, Chicago, IL
may 2021 - Present
assistant head of school, curriculum and instruction
Chief Academic Officer (CAO) overseeing curriculum, instruction, professional development, high-school counseling, student services, innovation, technology, diversity & inclusion, and co-curricular activities for a nursery through 8th grade independent Jewish Day School. In addition to primary responsibilities, leads the COVID-19 response including testing, vaccination clinics, mitigations, education, and policy & protocol development.
Adler University, Chicago, IL
February 2011 - May 2021
Interim Vice President, Finance & Operations, Nov 2020 - Present
Serves as the chief financial officer (CFO) and chief operations officer (COO) for the three-campus university. Overseeing and managing a $40 million+ budget with transparency and strategic initiatives. Partnering with the President, Board of Trustees, senior management, budget managers, and stakeholders to position and support initiatives. Seeking opportunities to streamline and improve the student experience, reduce operational expenses, and drive funding to support the institutional strategic plan.
Executive Dean, Online Campus, May 2018 - Nov 2020
Leader of technology and online learning initiatives for the institution. Serves as the chief academic officer (CAO) for the nine (9) online campus programs and faculty council, and the chief information officer (CIO) for the institution. Responsible for oversight of the operations and academics of the online campus, along with the university-wide functions provided by the departments of educational design and innovation (EDI) and information technology (IT).
Associate vice President, Educational Design and Innovation, January 2017 - May 2018
Director of Design and Delivery, Online Education, October 2013 - December 2016
Interim Director, Online Education, July 2013 - October 2013
Leader of educational technology and online learning initiatives for the institution. Responsible for oversight of operations of the online campus, curriculum development, course design and development, student success, faculty training and management, and implementation of the learning management system and corresponding technology. Managed a team of designers, developers, and support staff, along with a departmental budget. We grew the online presence of the institution from under 50 students to over 300 students and increasing the portfolio of courses from less than 25 to nearly 100. Developed curriculum at undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels, along with implementation of programs from concept to matriculation.
INstructional and Multimedia Consultant, February 2011 - July 2013
Managed the development and revisions of over 50 online graduate courses. Developed over 20 courses, with subject matter experts. Managed all course design contracts and payments. Aligned and reviewed curriculum at the program, course, and lesson level. Established standards for the course design process. Utilized universal design principles and interactive multimedia in course development. Created layout and design for learning management system (LMS). Designed support systems for students, faculty, and staff for the LMS and online resources. Served as LMS Administrator.
–
Barrington High School, Barrington, IL, Mathematics Teacher
2009 - 2011
Taught courses in Pre-Calculus, Algebra, and Geometry. Designed and developed all course collateral in web, print, and video. Created lessons, handouts, and tests. Ensured internal and external validation of the Mathematics curriculum. Used SMART Notebook, SMART Response, ExploreLearning Gizmos, and other online applications. Utilized hands-on and interactive teaching techniques and fully explored the use of technology in the classroom.
–
The Classical Academy, Flint, MI, Mathematics Teacher
2007 - 2009
Taught courses in Algebra, Pre-Algebra, Consumer Mathematics, and Journalism. Taught video production and a wide range of media applications. Trained as an International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme teacher and an IB Diploma Programme Coordinator. Managed School’s yearbook, newsletter, Student Council, National Honor Society, senior and junior classes, state testing, and Mathematics Department.
Education
University of Florida, Gainesville
Ed.D. CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Dissertation: Factors Associated with Student Departure from Entirely Online Master’s Degree Programs
Graduated August 2017
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, FLINT
M.A. EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION
Graduated August 2010
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR
B.S. EDUCATION, SECONDARY EDUCATION, MATHEMATICS AND PSYCHOLOGY
Graduated April 2007
Publications
Dennis, M., Halbert, J., DiMatteo-Gibson, D., Agada, C., & Fornero, C. (in press). Implementation of a faculty evaluation model. Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics.
Dennis, M., & Fornero, S. (2021). Best practices in online faculty management. In J. Hoffman, & P. Blessinger (Eds.). International perspectives on online instruction. Bingley, UK: Emerald Publishing Limited.
Fornero, S. (2017). Factors associated with student departure from entirely online master’s degree programs (Dissertation).
Bergeron, M., & Fornero, S. (2017). Centralized and decentralized approaches to managing online programs. In A. Pina, V. Walker, & B. Harris (Eds.). Leading and managing e-learning: What the e-learning leader needs to know. New York, NY: Springer.
MEMBERSHIPS
University Professional and Continuing Education (UPCEA) – Member
American Conference of Academic Deans (ACAD) – Member
National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) - Member
Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) – Member
Online Learning Consortium (OLC) – Member
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) – Annual Conference Advisory Committee Member
Quality Matters - Member
Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars - Member
Interactive Communications and Simulations at The University of Michigan - Senior Fellow
Supporting Learning and Technology in Education (SLATE) – Past Board Member
Presentations
Dennis, M., DiMatteo-Gibson, D., & Fornero, S. (2020, November 9-20). Virtual dissertation chair training [Education Session]. Online Learning Consortium. Orlando, FL.
Dennis, M., Fornero, S., Snelling, J., Thom, S., Surles, J., & McPheters, E. (2020, March). Implementation and evaluation of a course-embedded faculty advising model. OLC Innovate 2020. 2020 Online Learning Consortium Innovate Conference, Chicago, IL.
Bergeron, M., Fornero, S. (2017, October). Overseeing the design and delivery of online programs: Centralized and decentralized approaches. E-Learn. 2017 E-Learn World Conference on E-Learning. Vancouver, British Columbia.
Sukowski, M., Fornero, S., Fernandez, M., Click, A. (2015, October). Assessing online course design. SLATE. 2015 SLATE Conference 13th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
Sukowski, M., Fornero, S., Reinle, M., Hayibor, J. (2015, October). Online student panel. SLATE. 2015 SLATE Conference 13th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
Sukowski, M., Fornero, S., Busceni, P., Wareck, L. (2015, October). Assessing online teaching. SLATE. 2015 SLATE Conference 13th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
Sukowski, M., Fornero, S., Callery, J., Underwood, J. (2015, October). Assessing online learning. SLATE. 2015 SLATE Conference 13th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
Gutierrez, W., Fornero, S., Tye, D. (2015, October). Internal partnerships: Combining resources to develop a multimedia team. SLATE. 2015 SLATE Conference 13th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
Johnston, R., Fornero, S., Ellasante, E. (2015, October). Redesigning an online course to engage students, include authentic assessment, and improve the overall design process. OLC. 2015 OLC 21st Annual Online Learning Consortium International Conference, Lake Buena Vista, FL.
Fornero, S., Collins, P. (2014, October). Supporting online programming through an integrated technology approach. OLC. 2014 OLC 20th Annual Online Learning Consortium International Conference, Lake Buena Vista, FL.
Fornero, S., Collins, P., Gutierrez, W. (2014, October). Empowering students and faculty through multimedia. OLC. 2014 OLC 20th Annual Online Learning Consortium International Conference, Lake Buena Vista, FL.
Fornero, S., Collins, P. (2014, October). Supporting online programming through an integrated technology approach. SLATE. 2014 SLATE Conference 12th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
Fornero, S., Collins, P., Gutierrez, W. (2014, October). Empowering students and faculty through multimedia. SLATE. 2014 SLATE Conference 12th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
Fornero, S., Murray, L., Pope, J. (2014, October). An engaged approach to online student orientation. SLATE. 2014 SLATE Conference 12th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
Fornero, S., Troiani, J. (2014, October). Teaching old dogs new tricks: Working with faculty in the online academic environment. SLATE. 2014 SLATE Conference 12th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
Fornero, S., Carter, L. (2014, April). Course quality and moodle: Exploring best practices. Campus Technologies Webinar.
Fornero, S., Priola-Surowiec, V. (2013, November). Best practices to manage online and blended programs in graduate school: The Adler School's journey. SLOAN-C, 19th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning, Lake Buena Vista, FL.
Fornero, S., Gutierrez, W. (2013, November). Why 92% of new online students found the interactive online student orientation useful?. SLOAN-C, 19th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning, Lake Buena Vista, FL.
Fornero, S., Carter, L. (2013, November). Increasing learner engagement via video and other LMS tools. SLOAN-C, 19th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning, Lake Buena Vista, FL.
Fornero, S., Carter, L. (2013, October). Increasing learner engagement via video and other LMS tools. SLATE, 2013 SLATE Conference 11th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
Fornero, S., Fleming, C. (2013, October). Creating a Moodle template based on QM standards. Quality Matters, The 5th Annual QM Conference on Quality Assurance in Online Learning, Nashville, TN.
Fornero, S., Fleming, C. (2013, July). Preparing, supporting, and monitoring online instructors. Moodle Moot, Baltimore Moodle Moot, Baltimore, MD.
Fornero, S., Fleming, C. (2013, July). Design a course the Adler Online way. Moodle Moot, Baltimore Moodle Moot, Baltimore, MD.
Fornero, S., Fleming, C. (2013, July). Creating a Moodle template based on Quality Matters standards. Moodle Moot, Baltimore Moodle Moot, Baltimore, MD.
Fornero, S., Carter, L., Gooder, G. (2013, May). Increasing depth and retention in the asynchronous classroom using video. Kaltura, Kaltura Webinar Series.
Fornero, S. (2012, December). Simplifying the use of video in Moodle via Kaltura. Kaltura, 2012 Kaltura Video in Education Conference, New York, NY.
Fornero, S., Gutierrez, W., Mirza, Z. (2012, October). Online student orientation. SLATE, 2012 SLATE Conference 10th Annual SLATE Conference, Naperville, IL.
Fornero, S., Collins, P., Mirza, Z. (2011, November). Training and support for online and blended instructors. SLOAN-C, 17th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning, Lake Buena Vista, FL.
Mirza, Z., Janossy, J., Fornero, S. (2011, July). From Blackboard to Moodle. Moodle Moot, West Coast Moodle Moot US, Sonoma, CA.