Presenter(s)
Melissa Bahle
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN, USA
Professor Melissa Bahle (she/her) is a full-time faculty member in the English & Rhetoric Department at Purdue University Global. She holds an M. Ed in English Language Learning from Western Governors University. In addition to her teaching career, she is a published poet and the Poetry Editor of The Gauge Literary Journal. Committed to community service, Mrs. Bahle founded Project Empathy, an initiative that provides food and clothing to the homeless through Blessing Boxes and seasonal donation drives. Her diverse skill set spans instructional technology, editorial work, and community engagement, reflecting her unwavering commitment to education, creativity, and social impact.
Dr. Kelvin Beckett
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN, USA
Dr. Beckett has taught in schools and universities in the United States and Canada. He has BA and MA degrees from the University of British Columbia and a PhD from the University of London. Dr. Beckett’s areas of expertise include philosophy of education and teaching and learning online. His publications include articles on Richard Peters, Paulo Freire and John Dewey and the community of inquiry model of online discussions.
Dr. Dora Finamore
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN, USA
Their most recent publication is 'Fixed And Growth Mindset In Education And How Grit Helps Students Persist In The Face Of Adversity." Her research interests are motivation and learning, multicultural belonging, mindset, positive psychology, and resilience. Her publications include the relationship between learning and motivation, positive psychology, emotional intelligence, mindset and resilience. Dr. Finamore has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on multicultural psychology, academic strategies, gender studies and positive psychology.
Dr. Jason Jackson
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN, USA
Dr. Christine O’Neal
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN, USA
Stephen Velky
Purdue Global
West Lafayette, Indiana , USA
Stephen (they/them) is an experienced instructional and multimedia designer who creates inclusive, engaging learning experiences for adult learners. Their work focuses on accessibility, clarity, and real-world application, developing content that delivers immediate value and helps learners apply what they’ve learned immediately. Stephen has led innovations in adaptive and AI-enhanced learning and is the creator of QueerEd. This training series helps allies to become more informed and supportive of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. They are committed to building learning that supports growth, belonging, and real change.
Dr. Josef Vice
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN, USA
Dr. Josef Vice (he/him) is a professor of English and rhetoric at Purdue Global and the Faculty Advisor for the PG Pride Student Alliance. His publications include articles and book chapters on W.H. Auden, rhetoric and composition, online learning pedagogy, and Southern culture. He is also the co-editor of the forthcoming book to be published by McFarland: Shifting Gender Identities in Popular Culture: Essays on Representation Since 2010.