Advisory Panel

Current Members of the Global Advisory Panel:

Dr. Milton Chen, Executive Director George Lucas Educational Foundation
Jason Chu – Chief Operating Officer, DigiPen (USA) Corporation
Randy Hinrichs – Director, Research Microsoft Corporation
Dr. Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld
Denyse Leslie
Jeffrey Munks – Executive Learning Officer, United States Navy
Dr. Ellen M. Nelson - CEO Decision Development Corporation
Dr. Barbara O’Connor, PhD – California State University Sacramento, Professor
Steve Coulter – Representing Power Users Policy and Consumer Advocacy
Dr. Jose Luis Rueda – Representing Agricultural & Economic R&D for Developing countries
Dr. Edward J. Salazar, U.S. Mission – NATO
Dr. Olman Segura-Bonilla – Representing International Economic Policy Research

Dr. Milton Chen – Executive Director, George Lucas Foundation
Dr. Milton Chen, Executive Director of The George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF) in northern California, has been a leading figure in educational media for over 20 years. In 1998, he brought new leadership to GLEF’s mission of using the media, especially the Internet, to tell the most inspiring stories of how interactive technologies are transforming teaching and learning in America’s public schools. Before joining GLEF, Dr. Chen was the founding director of the KQED Center for Education & Lifelong Learning (PBS) in San Francisco. For 10 years, he directed KQED’s educational programming and outreach services, including workshops, publications, and Web sites for schools, families, and the community. His career in public television spans program development, audience research, and community outreach for PBS’s most prominent children’s series, including Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and 3-2-1 Contact, productions of Sesame Workshop in New York, where he served as director of research from 1977 to 1980. From 1985 to 1987, he was an assistant professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, teaching and conducting research on educational technology. He is the author of more than 30 books, chapters, and articles.

Jason Chu – Chief Operating Officer, DigiPen (USA) Corporation
Mr. Chu is currently the Chief Operating Officer of DigiPen (USA) Corporation. He has been working with DigiPen for the past fifteen years. Mr. Chu was one of the engineers who developed and authored the world’s first curriculum for a Bachelor degree of science in Real Time Interactive Simulation (game programming) in 1996. In year 2000, Mr. Chu initiated cooperation between DigiPen Institute of Technology and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in the State of Washington to offer a first-of-its-kind program in the high school system. The program teaches mathematics, computer science and computer animation to high school students by applying the various topics into game productions. Students in the program have shown increased interests in mathematics and sciences, which prepared them to become better prepared for post-secondary studies. Mr. Chu is a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Federation of Private Career Schools and Colleges. This association is an advocate for private institutions that focus on career-specific education to the State legislature, policy makers and government.

Dr. Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld
Dirckinck-Holmfeld is an internationally known researcher and expert in the field of learning in virtual environments, human computer interaction, and ICT learning and didactics. She is currently a research professor on ICT and Learning at Aalborg University, Department of Communication in Denmark. She was awarded a Ph.D. from Roskilde University in computer-mediated communication and learning. She has served as Director of E-learning lab in New Jersey and the research project Virtual Learning and Learning Environment (ViLL). She was Director of the Postgraduate Research School on Human Centered Informatics, and the Master Programme on ICT and Learning, and has been project manager of several R&D projects concerning multimedia, computer conferencing and (distance) collaborative learning. Her main field of research is computer-supported (distance) collaborative learning (CSdCL), participatory design and implementation. She has authored and co-authored several books, and authored and co-authored more than 100 papers, articles and reports on ICT and learning. Her most recent book is entitled: Learning in Virtual Environments, Samfundslitteratur Press (2002)

Randy Hinrichs – Director, Research Microsoft Corporation
Randy directs the Learning Science and Technology research group in Microsoft Research. He is responsible for researching next generation learning environments, extending learning from K-12 through universities and into workforce lifelong learning. He has collaborated with MIT (iCampuses) for five years to enhance university education through information technology. He is co-PI with Henry Jenkins on the Games to Teach Project. He is building an international consortium, the Learning Federation, to drive significant funding in research and development for Learning Science and Technology. He also has appeared in many articles writing as an intranet strategist. Microsoft recruited Randy to help architect internal intranets for learning. He is a board member on the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, IEEE Learning Task Force, the International Network of Engineering Education and Research. His own research interests include: creating immersive simulation gaming environments for learning, advancing the field of Learning science and technology to transform learning, and human performance profiling in Internet environments. He was Sun Microsystems first Internet Education Manager. He has written two pioneering web based books: Web Page Design: A Different Multimedia (cognitive and interactivity design), and Intranets: What's the Bottom Line (creating learning organizations with Intranet technology). He is a frequent keynoter and Publisher of thought leadership in technology in education.

Denyse Leslie
Denyse Leslie is the Executive Director of Higher Education and ICT Literacy Business Development, Educational Testing Service. She has the lead responsibility to provide business planning and development of ETS’s National Higher Education ICT Literacy Initiative, including shaping the strategic relationships ETS needs with stakeholders interested in the successful development of assessment and related services.

Jeffrey Munks – Executive Learning Officer, United States Navy
Jeff Munks currently serves as the Executive Learning Officer for the United States Navy responsible for training and professional development for senior executives. Jeffrey spent nearly 15 years as a police officer in the San Francisco Bay Area. While working for the San Jose Police Department, Mr. Munks began a volunteer telephone based interpretation service to help officers deal with the impact of more than 65,000 Vietnamese refugees who had moved into the city during the Boatlift years. In 1989, AT&T acquired Mr. Munks’ business and he joined the company as Director of Marketing and Sales, Product Management, and Strategic Planning. Over the next five years, Language Line grew more than 4,000%. Mr. Munks holds a B.A. in English Literature from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California and a M.A. in Instructional Technology from San Jose State University. He served on the Goals 2000 National Advisory Council for Standards in Foreign Language Instruction, K through 12. Mr. Munks served on the National Steering Committee for the first ever U.S. National Assessment of Education Progress in Foreign Languages, a project of the Congressionally mandated National Governing Board on Educational Progress. Mr. Munks then served as Chairman and CEO of Arista Knowledge Systems, leading an effort to deliver the first of the Next Generation e-learning Management Systems; software that supports Network Based Learning on any subject, in any language, for delivery to any learner, anywhere, anytime. In July of 2000, DigitalThink, Inc., a global leader in total e-learning solutions, acquired his company.

Dr. Ellen M. Nelson - CEO Decision Development Corporation
Ellen Nelson has had a long and distinguished career in K-12 and graduate education ranging from the classroom to serving as a Principal in district offices from New Jersey to California. Ellen has completed the coursework and was advanced to candidacy for her Ph.D. at Stanford University. She has consulted for the Oakland Unified School District, San Diego School District, Pasadena Unified School District, San Juan Unified School District, the California State Department of Education and other Agencies. In the course of her career with DDC, Ellen has managed the design and development of more than 80 educational software, video, and print products for DDC and other Publishers such as Silver Burdett & Ginn and Harcourt Brace Jovanovich as well as several award-winning titles to Decision Development Corporation product line. She is a leader in the development of educational materials that use the constructivist approach, make use of appropriate technology, are multidisciplinary, and are grounded in sound science, social science, and instructional strategies. Because of Ellen’s years of experience as an elementary, secondary, and university teacher, and as a public school administrator, coupled with her academic training and experience in private sector multimedia product development, she offers an interesting perspective to this panel.

Dr. Barbara O’Connor, PhD – California State University Sacramento, Professor
Dr. O’Connor is a tenured Professor of Communications & Media at California State University, Sacramento. She also directs the University’s Center for the Study of Politics and Media. In that role she is considered a subject matter expert in political campaign strategy, and is quoted frequently in news sources such as Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, CNN, regarding Presidential and Gubernatorial level campaigns. As Chair of both, the California Educational Technology Committee & the California Technology CEO Task Force she worked closely with government and industry leaders to develop the master plan for technology for the California. The report Connect, Compute and Compete is recognized in educational technology as groundbreaking on many of the access, cost, and implementation issues. Dr. O’Connor is also a founder and Former Chair of National Alliance for Public Technology, a national advocacy group focused on universal access and telecommunications reform – a key player in the national telecommunications reform policy signed by President Clinton in 1996. She has served on advisory initiatives for technology leaders, such as ATT, Pacific Bell, SBC Communications, and Verizon, and is considered an international spokesperson on educational technology, communications and media policy and issues. She is recently served as Chair of the Educational Testing Services Information and Communications Technology Literacy Advisory Panel.

Steve Coulter – Representing Power Usersblic Policy and Consumer Advocacy
Mr. Coulter’s career covers over 30 years as an elected official, journalist and businessman. He spent 20 years as Vice President of Pacific Bell responsible for technology, philanthropy, public and social policy issues. In that capacity, Steve managed a national staff responsible for state and federal stakeholder relations, corporate communications, and consumer advisory processes. He received numerous national awards for outstanding projects with minority organizations and leading consumer organizations. Before joining Pacific Bell, Steve served four terms as a State Assemblyman in Nevada. He is a former radio and TV journalist, university instructor, and small business owner and served in the U.S. Army. Steve retired from Pacific Bell in 2001, and continues to be active in helping San Francisco rebuild its public library system, having spent a dozen years as a Library Commissioner under three mayors. He now works as an independent consultant to philanthropic and consumer interest groups, and business on public strategy and funding.

Dr. Jose Luis Rueda – Representing Agricultural & Economic R&D for Developing countries
Dr. Jose Luis Rueda is an independent consultant with expertise in sustainable research development. He played a leading role in the organization and implementation of the Consortium for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Andean Region (CONDESAN), involving a broad range of international, regional and national organizations and stakeholder groups, of the Andean countries. The Interamerican Development Bank, Swiss Development Corporation, and the World Bank, among other agencies, support CONDESAN. He recently served in Cameroon, Africa as an executive advisor to USAID and the International Cocoa industry on sustainable crop development and use of technology to improve agricultural resources in developing countries. Dr. Rueda developed and advises many multi-national investments in the South American region that involve funding from Canada, The Netherlands, Swiss Development Cooperation, Spain, Germany, The World Bank, and others. Before leading the CONDESAN project, Dr. Rueda was Assistant to the Deputy Director General for Research at the International Potato Center, Lima, Peru – a USAID and World Bank funded project. He served as Market Consultant for Latin America for the Hopkins Agricultural Chemical Company and Technical Consultant for Binnie & Partner, London, and U.K. for market development in Peru and other Andean countries. Dr. Rueda was a W.K. Kellogg’s Foundation Fellow and received a Master’s Degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Ph.D. from the University of Redding, U.K. He has published numerous books and articles on sustainable resource development. He is multilingual in Spanish, English, French and Italian.

Dr. Edward J. Salazar, U.S. Mission - NATO
Edward J. Salazar, Deputy Political Advisor at the U.S. Mission to NATO, has been a career diplomat since 1981 and an active proponent of integrative language policies and technologies in education and the workplace nearly as long. During a career that thus far has allowed him to combine the best from academia with the rich experience of diplomacy, He served on the Board of Advisers for the National Language Resource Center, continues to serve on the Board of the prestigious Monterey Institute of International Studies. He began his career in the Foreign Service with a tour in Mexico, where, as an Embassy science officer, he worked to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the area of environmental protection. He quickly returned to his Soviet area specialty in Washington, where, during 1984-89, he served as a Soviet foreign policy analyst and then on the "Soviet Desk" promoting exchanges and cooperation during the heyday of the Gorbachev era. It was during this time that Salazar received a special commendation from the Secretary of State for his skillful representation of U.S. policy interests at numerous public speaking events across the country. Dr. Salazar was posted to Moscow during 1989-92, where as a political officer, he prepared dispatches on his frequent meetings with key political leaders championing democracy. His reports on the 1991 coup attempt, in particular, led to Salazar's first Superior Honor Award. Returning to Washington in 1992, Salazar was selected as a Pearson Fellow and posted to the personal staff of Sen. Paul Simon, where he played a critical role in Sen. Simon's decision to call for saving the Defense Language Institute from the defense budget cutters. In 1993 Dr. Salazar returned to State to take over the "Ukraine Desk”, where he managed a portfolio and an office that both tripled in size during his three-year posting. Salazar was involved in virtually every aspect of delicate negotiations on sensitive arms control, security, and non-proliferation issues with Ukraine. Honored with a prestigious Rusk Fellowship in 1996, Salazar, assigned to the U.S. Mission to NATO since 2000, is a key player in creating and implementing landmark agreements with Moscow to build new mechanisms of trust and cooperation between Russia and the Allies. Salazar is fluent in Russian, Spanish and French and continues to actively promote responsible language and education policies.

Dr. Olman Segura-Bonilla – Representing International Economic Policy Research
Dr. Segura- Bonilla is Director of the Research Program in the International Center for Economic Policies for Sustainable Development (CINPE in Spanish), Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Aalborg University, Denmark, and a Master of Science in Economics of Latin America, from University of London, England. Additionally, he holds a Bachelor with double major in Economics and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, U.S.A. Olman teaches in the Master Program in Economic Policies for Central America and the Caribbean at the University Nacional. He is a member of the International Society for Ecological Economics, and has authored several books and articles in Spanish and English. His most recent publications abroad are: “The Political Dimension of Implementing Environmental Reform: Lessons From Costa Rica” and “Getting Down to Earth”, edited by Robert Costanza, Olman Segura y Juan Martínez-Alier (Island Press, 1996), and “Sustainable Systems of Innovation: the forest sector in Central America” (Aalborg University, 2000). Olman is an international expert in Ecological Economics, Innovation and Technological Change. Since early 1990, he has worked as consultant for private business and to national governments in the Central American region.

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