New Associate Vice President of Teaching & Learning Technologies Announced
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The 1950s through the 1970s saw the creation of the TV remote control, the first video game, the Apple computer and the founding of the World Wide Web – each of which contributed to a generation of students who are accustomed to having the world’s information at their fingertips.
To meet the ever-evolving technological needs of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s growing student population, Dr. Michelle Singh (Durán) was selected as the new associate vice president of Teaching & Learning Technologies in the Division of Information Technology (IT).
Singh is responsible for emphasizing the importance of distance education while recognizing opportunities for service excellence in the technology for administrative use, teaching and learning, and improving student success.
“Michelle has served on many boards, is active in the Texas A&M University System and is distinguished in the work she has done throughout the state,” said Ed Evans, senior associate vice president for Information and Technology and chief information officer. “Her expertise and unique background in computer science, counselor education, and higher education administration makes her a great asset to both my team and the University.”
According to Evans, the elevation of Singh’s position from a director to an associate vice president emphasizes the importance of engaging faculty and promoting student success though the breadth of services delivered by the Division of Information Technology and the Office of Distance Education and Learning Technologies. While distance education will still be an important function of Singh’s position, Evans hopes for increased partnership with faculty to explore using technology such as personal laptops and cell phones in the classroom to positively impact students’ learning experience.
“Digital innovation is occurring in a multitude of areas across the university from high profile pedagogical innovation to simple process optimizations at departmental levels,” shared Singh. “My focus will be to lead strategic efforts to align these practices and leverage teaching and learning technologies to impact student success.”
Singh earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the Island University in 2014 and says she is looking forward to being back at her Alma Mater.
“As a student, I first-hand witnessed the willingness of faculty to incorporate digital strategies into traditional practices that yielded high results,” she said. “It feels great to be back and I am excited to collaborate with our campus faculty to expand our digital research and practices.”
Singh, who has 18 years of experience in higher education, was most recently the Assistant Vice President for Teaching and Learning at Texas A&M University-Kingsville where she was instrumental in fostering a culture of innovative teaching and learning. She currently serves as Chairperson of the Board for the Texas Distance Learning Association, on the United States Distance Learning Association Board, is the Chair of the Texas A&M University System Council for Academic Technology and Innovative Education and is the Chair of the Learning Technology Advisory Committee for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.