Dr. Ronald Styron, Jr.
 
Educational Background:
B.M.Ed. Loyola University M.M. University of Miami Ed.D. University of New Orleans
 
Research and/or Professional Experience:
Dr. Ronald A. Styron, Jr. is currently Quality Enhancement Plan Director at the University of South Alabama. Dr. Styron has received numerous awards including Principal of the Year and Educator of Distinction. Dr. Styron is a fellow for the Greater New Orleans School Leadership Center and served 6 six years as a regional facilitator for the Louisiana Principal Internship Programs. He has administered several grants throughout his career and a has a proven record of publications and presentations including 35 articles in professional journals and 62 presentations at professional conferences. He has also received over $2,900,000 in grant awards.

Dr. Jennifer Styron

Educational Background:
The University of Southern Mississippi (2013) PhD Instructional Technology and Design Minor in Educational Research The University of Southern Mississippi (2007) MEd Counseling and Personnel Services (College Student Personnel) Northwestern State University (2003) BS Hospitality Management & Tourism Minor Housing & Interiors.

Research and/or Professional Experience:
Dr. Styron is an Instructor in the College of Nursing at the University of South Alabama and has five years experience in training faculty and K-12 administrators to effectively utilize and integrate technologies into daily practice. Dr. Styron has also worked with The University of Southern Mississippi’s Instructional Leadership Center, where she helped develop and provide trainings on various educational uses of technology and assisted faculty in the design and development of distance education courses.Her previous experiences with distance education include monitoring and revamping Distance Education programming; coordinating marketing projects for online learning; guiding administrators and faculty in the design and development of distance education courses. Dr. Styron’s previous research focuses on technology adoption and distance education including the diffusion of online tools in Web-based courses; Web-based assessments; factors impacting administrators’ decision making regarding the adoption or expansion of distance education; connecting technology and student achievement; and technology integration specific to school leadership.

This study includes findings from a university-wide instructional improvement project conducted across multiple disciplines in undergraduate and graduate courses. The project was constructed around a common pedagogy, Michaelsen’s Team-Based Learning [1]. The purpose of the project was to improve several outcomes based on the constructs of critical thinking, collaboration, engagement and persistence. Data indicated a positive impact on each of these outcomes with a number of statistically significant findings.  
 
[1] Michaelsen, L. K., Knight, A. B., & Fink, L. D. (2004). Team-Based Learning: A transformative use of small groups in college teaching. Sterling, VA: Stylus.