AL$ Annual Conference 2021

Advancing Equity and Innovation through AL$

February 4-5, 2021 | Virtual Event

Conference Agenda

This year's AL$ Annual conference will be held virtually on Thursday, February 4th and Friday, February 5th from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. All session Zoom links will be available at 9:15 a.m. at the start of each conference day. All you need to do is click on a session title to view a drop-down with the session information including the Zoom link, facilitators, and bios. There will be concurrent breakout sessions throughout the conference where you will have the opportunity to choose the session you would like to attend. We encourage you to review the agenda and start thinking about what breakout sessions you would like to attend ahead of time.

DAY 1: February 4, 2021

  • 9:30– 9:45AM PT

    Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: 1#6az*se

    Facilitator: Erin Walker and Leslie Kennedy 

    Erin Walker, M.B.A. is the CSU AL$ Project Manager, supporting all 23 CSU campuses to grow their campus-specific AL$ outcomes. She is a marketing and business strategy consultant for the non-profit and higher education sector. She is based in the Atlanta, GA area and has 4 children. 

    Leslie Kennedy Ed.D. is the Senior Director of Academic Technology Services in Academic and Student Affairs at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor. Dr. Kennedy is responsible for the management, leadership, administration and oversight of the Academic Technology Services with the goal of infusing information technology into the teaching and learning processes, research, scholarship and creative activities, and a full range of student and academic services within the California State University.

  • 9:45 – 10:10AM PT

    Session 1: Case Study Breakouts

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: Z&PgR73r

      Facilitators: Anne Regan and Shelli Wynants

      Anne Regan, MA, AL$ Coordinator, Lecturer English Department | CSU SLO 

      Anne Regan is the Open Educational Resources Adoption Incentive Program (AB798) Grant Coordinator and Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) Coordinator with the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Anne has co-authored an OER text, Technical Communication, and published it on MERLOT and Libretexts. She uses her personal experience with OER and CC Licenses to help faculty adopt, curate, and create OER and Zero Cost Course Material (ZCCM). She is also a Lecturer in the English Department teaching Technical Writing for Engineers and Corporate Communication. She was awarded the College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Career Achievement in Teaching by a Lecturer 2020.

      Shelli Wynants, Ed.D., Director of Online Education and Training Faculty Support Services | Academic Affairs| CSUF

      Dr. Shelli Wynants is the director of Online Education and Training for California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). She has been a full-time faculty member since 1996, teaching in the College of Health and Human Development. She has her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, with her research focusing on Universal Design for Learning and online professional development for faculty to promote student success. She currently leads CSUF’s grants for Affordable Learning Solutions, AB 798 (OER), and Quality Matters.

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: *7$PmiPN

      Facilitators: Ben Compton, Robert Munck, and Sandy Ehrhorn

      Ben Compton is the Course Materials Manager at Aztec Shops, San Diego State. Ben has been an important member of the SDSU team that launched the first CSU Immediate Access program which has saved over ten million dollars for students. Currently, over 50,000 seats have participated in the program which is among the largest in the country.

      Robert Munck is the Textbook Department Manager at Matador Shops at Cal State Northridge. Robert developed and implemented a successful Immediate Access program with the store manager and has contributed important statistics on students’ preferences and outcomes. Robert is a member of the CSUN AL$ committee.

      Sandy Ehrhorn is the Auxiliary and Bookstore Liaison for Academic Technology Services Affordable Learning Solutions, California State University Office of the Chancellor. Sandy is a retired bookstore director having overseen bookstore and other commercial services on both CSU campuses and a community college campus during her career.

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: 1#6az*se

      Facilitators: Barbra Sperling, Erin Walker, Linda Woods, and Theresa Dykes

      Barbra Bied Sperling
      Manager of Web Projects Team for Academic Technology Services at the CSU Chancellors office. Barbra began working for the CSU System over 20 years ago, as the webmaster for the MERLOT project. She then managed the development and maintenance of the MERLOT website for 12 years, until the summer of last year. She now provides support for Affordable Learning Solutions web projects, as well as website development for departments within Academic and Student Affairs. 

      Erin Walker, M.B.A. is the CSU AL$ Project Manager, supporting all 23 CSU campuses to grow their campus-specific AL$ outcomes. She is a marketing and business strategy consultant for the non-profit and higher education sector. She is based in the Atlanta, GA area and has 4 children. 

      Linda Woods
      Instructional Designer in Instructional Technology Services Faculty Support at San Diego State University. She assists faculty with course content, pedagogical design, asynchronous lecture capture, and the use of Blackboard. Her recent projects include piloting Eesysoft software for potential inclusion in Blackboard and writing proposals for CSU Affordable Learning Solutions.

      Theresa Dykes
      Fiscal and Operations Analyst for Academic Technology Services Department at the CSU Chancellor’s Office.
      Theresa began working for the Chancellor’s Office in 2014 where she supported SB 1052, SB 1053, and AB 798. 
      She also supported grants for the CA OER Committee, AB 798, and SkillsCommons (/TAACCCT).
      Currently, Theresa helps to support ATS contracts, budgets, Affordable Learning Solutions, SB 1359 (/ZCCM), 
      and Accessible Technology.

  • 10:10 – 10:20AM PT

    Facilitator: Kim Stelter

    Kimberly Stelter (She/Her/Hers) is the First Year Experience & Student Success Librarian at Humboldt State University. She has been a member of the HSU AL$ team since summer 2019. She is interested in getting students involved in creating OER, particularly by supporting student-faculty collaboration opportunities. 

  • 10:20 – 10:45AM PT

    Session 2: Case Study Breakouts

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: 1gfuzY#?

      Facilitators: Anne Regan and Shelli Wynants

      Anne Regan, MA, AL$ Coordinator, Lecturer English Department | CSU SLO 

      Anne Regan is the Open Educational Resources Adoption Incentive Program (AB798) Grant Coordinator and Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$) Coordinator with the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Anne has co-authored an OER text, Technical Communication, and published it on MERLOT and Libretexts. She uses her personal experience with OER and CC Licenses to help faculty adopt, curate, and create OER and Zero Cost Course Material (ZCCM). She is also a Lecturer in the English Department teaching Technical Writing for Engineers and Corporate Communication. She was awarded the College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Career Achievement in Teaching by a Lecturer 2020.

      Shelli Wynants, Ed.D., Director of Online Education and Training Faculty Support Services | Academic Affairs| CSUF

      Dr. Shelli Wynants is the director of Online Education and Training for California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). She has been a full-time faculty member since 1996, teaching in the College of Health and Human Development. She has her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, with her research focusing on Universal Design for Learning and online professional development for faculty to promote student success. She currently leads CSUF’s grants for Affordable Learning Solutions, AB 798 (OER), and Quality Matters.

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: *7$PmiPN

      Facilitators: Ben Compton, Robert Munck, and Sandy Ehrhorn

      Ben Compton is the Course Materials Manager at Aztec Shops, San Diego State. Ben has been an important member of the SDSU team that launched the first CSU Immediate Access program which has saved over ten million dollars for students. Currently, over 50,000 seats have participated in the program which is among the largest in the country.

      Robert Munck is the Textbook Department Manager at Matador Shops at Cal State Northridge. Robert developed and implemented a successful Immediate Access program with the store manager and has contributed important statistics on students’ preferences and outcomes. Robert is a member of the CSUN AL$ committee.

      Sandy Ehrhorn is the Auxiliary and Bookstore Liaison for Academic Technology Services Affordable Learning Solutions, California State University Office of the Chancellor. Sandy is a retired bookstore director having overseen bookstore and other commercial services on both CSU campuses and a community college campus during her career.

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: 1#6az*se

      Facilitators: Barbra Sperling, Erin Walker, Linda Woods, and Theresa Dykes

      Barbra Bied Sperling
      Manager of Web Projects Team for Academic Technology Services at the CSU Chancellors office. Barbra began working for the CSU System over 20 years ago, as the webmaster for the MERLOT project.  She then managed the development and maintenance of the MERLOT website for 12 years, until the summer of last year. She now provides support for Affordable Learning Solutions web projects, as well as website development for departments within Academic and Student Affairs. 

      Erin Walker, M.B.A. is the CSU AL$ Project Manager, supporting all 23 CSU campuses to grow their campus-specific AL$ outcomes. She is a marketing and business strategy consultant for the non-profit and higher education sector. She is based in the Atlanta, GA area and has 4 children. 

      Linda Woods
      Instructional Designer in Instructional Technology Services Faculty Support at San Diego State University. She assists faculty with course content, pedagogical design, asynchronous lecture capture, and the use of Blackboard. Her recent projects include piloting Eesysoft software for potential inclusion in Blackboard and writing proposals for CSU Affordable Learning Solutions.

      Theresa Dykes
      Fiscal and Operations Analyst for Academic Technology Services Department at the CSU Chancellor’s Office.
      Theresa began working for the Chancellor’s Office in 2014 where she supported SB 1052, SB 1053, and AB 798. 
      She also supported grants for the CA OER Committee, AB 798, and SkillsCommons (/TAACCCT).
      Currently, Theresa helps to support ATS contracts, budgets, Affordable Learning Solutions, SB 1359 (/ZCCM), 
      and Accessible Technology.

  • 10:45 – 10:55AM PT

    Bio Break

  • 10:55 – 11:25AM PT

    Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: 1#6az*se

    Facilitators: Leslie Kennedy, Maria Fieth, and Sandy Ehrhorn

    Leslie Kennedy Ed.D. is the Senior Director of Academic Technology Services in Academic and Student Affairs at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor. Dr. Kennedy is responsible for the management, leadership, administration and oversight of the Academic Technology Services with the goal of infusing information technology into the teaching and learning processes, research, scholarship and creative activities, and a full range of student and academic services within the California State University.

    Maria Fieth oversees partnership development for California State University’s MERLOT and SkillsCommons projects. Over the last 30 years, Maria has worked with businesses and PK-20 educators providing guidance for refining and sustaining healthy learning and working environments and building partnerships and community among stakeholders.

    Sandy Ehrhorn is the Auxiliary and Bookstore Liaison for Academic Technology Services Affordable Learning Solutions, California State University Office of the Chancellor. Sandy is a retired bookstore director having overseen bookstore and other commercial services on both CSU campuses and a community college campus during her career.

  • 11:25 – 11:40AM PT

    Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: 1#6az*se

    Panelists: Adriana Poo, Beth Shook, and Bibiana Diaz

    Adriana Poo is the Health Sciences Librarian at San Jose State University (SJSU) and serves as Co-coordinator of the Affordable Learning $olutions initiative at SJSU. The initiative has been at SJSU since 2012 and has contributed to students saving over $1.4 million. Adriana earned a Master’s in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University and has worked for the University for over 15 years.

    Beth Shook has been a full-time lecturer at Chico State since 2004. Dr. Shook has been active in programs prioritizing diversity (including the Diversity Academy and the Hispanic Serving Institution FLC), and co-coordinates the Chico Affordable Learning Solutions (CALS$) program. She has also written an Open Access Biological Anthropology lab book and is lead editor of the upcoming Open Access textbook: Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology.

    Bibiana Diaz serves as the Executive Director of the Faculty Center for Excellence at California State University, San Bernardino. She is also an Associate Professor of Spanish and the former CSUSB Affordable Learning Solutions Coordinator. She has created a scholarship for students, including undocumented students, and worked with faculty campus-wide to help students save money on book costs. During this pandemic, she has been helping fellow faculty members as the university shifted to virtual instruction because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was part of the CAL Online Teaching Committee as well and this past June, Díaz won the 2019-20 CSUSB Outstanding Faculty Advisor award.

  • 11:40 – 12:00PM PT

    Community Collab Breakouts

DAY 2: February 5, 2021

  • 9:30– 9:45AM PT

    Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: X2pM6j$j

    Facilitator: Erin Walker and Leslie Kennedy 

    A welcome from Alison Wrynn, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs, Innovation, and Faculty Development in the division of Academic and Students Affairs, CSU Chancellor’s Office. Dr. Wrynn oversees systemwide program development, academic policies, health care programs, faculty development, the pre-doc and doctoral incentive programs, and finally academic technology services. Learn more about the Academic Programs, Innovations & Faculty Development (APIFD) departmentThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab.

    Erin Walker, M.B.A. is the CSU AL$ Project Manager, supporting all 23 CSU campuses to grow their campus-specific AL$ outcomes. She is a marketing and business strategy consultant for the non-profit and higher education sector. She is based in the Atlanta, GA area and has 4 children. 

    Leslie Kennedy Ed.D. is the Senior Director of Academic Technology Services in Academic and Student Affairs at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor. Dr. Kennedy is responsible for the management, leadership, administration and oversight of the Academic Technology Services with the goal of infusing information technology into the teaching and learning processes, research, scholarship and creative activities, and a full range of student and academic services within the California State University.

  • 9:45 – 10:10AM PT

    Session 1: Case Study Breakouts

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: X2pM6j$j

      Facilitator: Sandra Bozarth

      Sandra Bozarth currently serves as Interim Dean of University Libraries and previously served as coordinator of Reference Services, Instructional Technology, Affordable Learning Solutions and Textbook Affordability at California State University, Bakersfield. She earned a Master’s in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University and has worked in law, jail, talking book for the blind and disabled, public and academic libraries. Mrs. Bozarth provides library research and instruction services for Social Sciences and has presented at conferences, webinars, authored scholarly articles and received funding for textbook affordability initiatives totaling over $250,000.

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: 8AKK#n!w

      Facilitator: Monica Munoz 

      Monica Munoz is a Senior eLearning Specialist who has worked within the CSU system for the past seven years. Currently, she works for the Office of the Online Campus at Cal State East Bay where she supports faculty with implementing quality online standards. Her passion lies in reducing the cost of instructional materials for students and continuously improving equity in online courses to increase student success.

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: #a$%+gs7

      Facilitator: Jayati Chaudhuri

      Jayati Chaudhuri, User Services Librarian, has an MLIS from the University of Rhode Island and a Master’s degree in Geography from University of Calcutta, India. Jayati started her career at University of Tennessee Libraries as a Minority Resident Librarian
      and later she worked at the University of Northern Colorado for 6 years as a science librarian. Currently, she is a tenured librarian at California State University, Los Angeles. Jayati contributes articles to Indian newspapers at her leisure time. She also translated library pages in different languages to make use of her multilingual skill.

  • 10:10 – 10:20AM PT

    Facilitator: Kim Stelter

    Kimberly Stelter (She/Her/Hers) is the First Year Experience & Student Success Librarian at Humboldt State University. She has been a member of the HSU AL$ team since summer 2019. She is interested in getting students involved in creating OER, particularly by supporting student-faculty collaboration opportunities. 

  • 10:20 – 10:45AM PT

    Session 2: Case Study Breakouts

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: X2pM6j$j

      Facilitator: Sandra Bozarth

      Sandra Bozarth currently serves as Interim Dean of University Libraries and previously served as coordinator of Reference Services, Instructional Technology, Affordable Learning Solutions and Textbook Affordability at California State University, Bakersfield. She earned a Master’s in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University and has worked in law, jail, talking book for the blind and disabled, public and academic libraries. Mrs. Bozarth provides library research and instruction services for Social Sciences and has presented at conferences, webinars, authored scholarly articles and received funding for textbook affordability initiatives totaling over $250,000.

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: 8AKK#n!w

      Facilitator: Monica Munoz 

      Monica Munoz is a Senior eLearning Specialist who has worked within the CSU system for the past seven years. Currently, she works for the Office of the Online Campus at Cal State East Bay where she supports faculty with implementing quality online standards. Her passion lies in reducing the cost of instructional materials for students and continuously improving equity in online courses to increase student success.

    • Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: #a$%+gs7

      Facilitator: Jayati Chaudhuri

      Jayati Chaudhuri, User Services Librarian, has an MLIS from the University of Rhode Island and a Master’s degree in Geography from University of Calcutta, India. Jayati started her career at University of Tennessee Libraries as a Minority Resident Librarian
      and later she worked at the University of Northern Colorado for 6 years as a science librarian. Currently, she is a tenured librarian at California State University, Los Angeles. Jayati contributes articles to Indian newspapers at her leisure time. She also translated library pages in different languages to make use of her multilingual skill.

  • 10:45 – 10:55AM PT

    Bio Break

  • 10:55 – 11:25AM PT

    Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: X2pM6j$j

    Facilitators: Erin Walker and Leslie Kennedy

    Erin Walker, M.B.A. is the CSU AL$ Project Manager, supporting all 23 CSU campuses to grow their campus-specific AL$ outcomes. She is a marketing and business strategy consultant for the non-profit and higher education sector. She is based in the Atlanta, GA area and has 4 children. 

    Leslie Kennedy Ed.D. is the Senior Director of Academic Technology Services in Academic and Student Affairs at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor. Dr. Kennedy is responsible for the management, leadership, administration and oversight of the Academic Technology Services with the goal of infusing information technology into the teaching and learning processes, research, scholarship and creative activities, and a full range of student and academic services within the California State University.

  • 11:25 – 12:00PM PT

    Session RecordingThis link will take you to an external website in a new tab., Passcode: X2pM6j$j

    Facilitators: Erin Walker and Leslie Kennedy

    Erin Walker, M.B.A. is the CSU AL$ Project Manager, supporting all 23 CSU campuses to grow their campus-specific AL$ outcomes. She is a marketing and business strategy consultant for the non-profit and higher education sector. She is based in the Atlanta, GA area and has 4 children. 

    Leslie Kennedy Ed.D. is the Senior Director of Academic Technology Services in Academic and Student Affairs at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor. Dr. Kennedy is responsible for the management, leadership, administration and oversight of the Academic Technology Services with the goal of infusing information technology into the teaching and learning processes, research, scholarship and creative activities, and a full range of student and academic services within the California State University.

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