Faculty Spotlight
Drexel's Master of Science in Learning Technologies is taught by distinguished faculty members who possess many years of experience both in the classroom and in the field.
Dave Ramage, Ph.D.
Dave is the Coordinator of Technology Staff Development at Souderton Area School District. He coordinates the integration of technology resources with curriculum, and designs ongoing learning experiences for teachers in grades K-12. Dr. Ramage has a B.S. in Music Education from Lebanon Valley College, a M.Ed. in Computers in Education from DeSales University and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership Development and Learning Technologies from Drexel University. Dave has presented at regional conferences, school districts, and reviewed proposals for the annual conferences of the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) and the National Staff Development Council (NSDC). He is a grant reviewer for the Pennsylvania Department of Education in their Classrooms For the Future initiative. Dave also does graduate-level adjunct teaching for DeSales University, Drexel University, and California University of Pennsylvania – including a fully online course. He has completed certification as a Palm Educational Training Coordinator (PETC), and a Blackboard Instructor. He is a Pennsylvania Keystone Integrator, and a national finalist in the 2005 Technology Leader of the Year contest sponsored by Technology and Learning magazine. He is a writing member of Broadcast Music International (BMI). Dr. Ramage’s professional passion is helping the use of technology in students’ learning to be as relevant as the use of technology in their lives.
Jacqueline P. Candido
Jacqueline Candido is an MIT Research Affiliate who leads the educational programs for the Lean Aerospace Initiative, including EdNet and the LAI Lean Academy® Program. Ms. Candido spent more than sixteen years with Hewlett Packard Company (1983-1999) in various positions such as systems engineer, technical consultant, learning technology specialist and education program manager. Jackie has managed complex global programs including instructional design and delivery in the US, Europe and Asia. She has created educational curriculum for industry, government and academic settings, using a variety of technology including online distance education. Ms. Candido has extensive experience facilitating dozens of courses on a variety of topics. In addition to many consulting projects, Jackie also worked for Gartner as a Director of Sales Training Programs and at Millersville University as Assistant Director of Distance Learning. Ms. Candido is a Ph.D. candidate at Drexel University in Philadelphia, in the program of Educational Leadership and Learning Technology. Her expertise is in the areas of instructional design with active learning as well as distance learning. Jackie also holds a BS degree in Information Systems and an MS degree in Education, both from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
Stephanie S. Gradwell, Ph.D.
Dr. Gradwell holds a BS from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, PA), a MS from Bloomsburg University (Bloomsburg, PA), and a PhD from the School of Education (Drexel University). She has been deeply involved in Business Education, as a Project Manager and teaching Project Management Processes and Computer Applications. In recent years, she has not been far from her roots in Instructional Design and Multimedia Development and the improvement of building skills in this area. Dr. Gradwell has worked as an adjunct instructor for the School of Education at Drexel University since 1999 and at DeVry University in the Business Department since October 2004. She began working as a consultant and simulation developer for Humentum Corporation in March 2007. Dr. Gradwell worked as a Senior Project Manager for eight years at a management training and consulting firm in Philadelphia. Dr. Gradwell has experience in both the public and private sectors managing, designing, developing, implementing and evaluating technology-focused projects to improve and enhance on-the-job performance. Her project management work was conducted with top, middle, and first line management, as well as front line employees.
Fran Cornelius, Ph.D.
Dr. Fran Cornelius is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan with a master’s degree in Community Health Nursing. She received her doctorate from Drexel University in Educational Leadership and Instructional Technologies. Her area of research involves student learning, development of clinical decision making skills and clinical competency utilizing handheld computers (PDAs). Other research interests include: Faculty development in integration and application of instructional technology for classroom innovations; Virtual learning environments for DL and web-enhanced, hybrid courses; and Information seeking behaviors among students and professionals in healthcare. Dr. Cornelius has taught online since 1998 and has used learning technologies extensively to enhance courses. She has designed courses which develop learner technology competencies using synchronous virtual learning environments such as Centra and Horizon Wimba to conduct "hands-on" lab experiences. She serves as the faculty mentor within the College of Nursing and Health Professions, providing training for faculty and staff on a variety of learning technologies. In addition, she is responsible for leading a team of informatics faculty and librarians in the process of integrating informatics technology; including the PDA, throughout the graduate and undergraduate curriculum. Dr. Cornelius is the Coordinator of Informatics Projects within Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions and is currently supervising a number of innovative projects to support student learning in a variety of settings including the online and mobile environment as well as the traditional classroom.
Megan Fritz, Ph.D.
Megan Fritz began her career in education as a third and fourth grade teacher in Quakertown Community School District. After earning her Master of Education in Computers in Education and Instructional Technology Specialist Certificate, she worked as the Staff Development Facilitator for Technology in Council Rock School District. Megan worked with teachers to integrate technology into the curriculum. She facilitated both face to face and online technology-based workshops for the teachers. She also worked closely with the teachers in the classroom to use technology as a tool to enhance the teaching and learning process. Megan’s work in the classroom motivated her to find ways to give students constant meaningful access to technology. Therefore, her doctoral research focused on the use of handheld computers to facilitate collaborative learning in a first grade classroom. After completing her doctorate, she began teaching at Rosemont College in both the Curriculum and Instruction and Technology in Education Programs. She taught both campus and online classes at Rosemont and supervised student teachers. Currently, Megan is an adjunct instructor at both Drexel University and Penn State Great Valley. At Drexel, she teaches the online Field Placement Seminar for the School of Education. At Penn State Great Valley, she teaches the following courses: Introduction to Educational Systems Design, Computers as Tools in the Classroom, and Internet in the Classroom. Megan also worked closely with Kristen Kozloski and Elizabeth Haslam to present at the SITE conference in 2007. Their presentation was entitled: Systems Oriented Leadership: Views from the Principal, First Grade Teacher, and Instructional Technology Specialist. Megan’s paper was published in the SITE 2007 Conference Proceedings entitled: The Teacher’s Leadership Role in Facilitating One-to-One Computing in an Elementary Classroom.
Dr. Rose diBenedetto
Dr. Rose diBenedetto is the Director of Educational Technology at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA and an Adjunct Professor at Drexel University’s School of Education. She has provided Technology Professional Development at Shipley for teachers of grades Pre-K through 12, implemented a school-wide database system, oversees a Kindergarten through Grade Ten student technology curriculum focusing on Online Awareness/ Safety and 21st Century Skills, and is developing a blended online program and professional development. Her work at Drexel has focused on online courses in Educational Technology Leadership. Dr. diBenedetto’s educational philosophy centers on the value of constructivist learning principles, shared collaborative leadership strategies, systems thinking and a commitment to positive development of the whole child.
Kristen Kozloski, Ph.D.
Kristen Kozloski, Ph.D. is an educator with 15 years of experience in teaching, technology integration and staff development and educational leadership. She began her career as an elementary teacher in the School District of Springfield Township and now currently holds the position of Technology Integration Director in the Perkiomen Valley School District. Her research focus is on technology integration methods, strategies and staff development for administrators and being an educational technology leader in a system.
