Meet Our Team
The Center for Teaching and Scholarly Excellence staff has a wide range of experience and expertise in enhancing learning environments through pedagogical best practices and use of technology. Our staff collaborates with faculty throughout the University in applying research-based approaches to their instruction. We strive to give students unique and valuable learning experiences that will benefit them through their degree programs and beyond. Our team of educational developers and technology specialists aims to create a community of educators who engage in lifelong learning for themselves and their students.
For general inquiries, please email ctse@suffolk.edu. If you need instructional technology assistance, please email servicedesk@suffolk.edu.
Rachel Plews, Ed.D. (she/her), Director
Rachel joined the CTSE team in January 2024. As the Director of the Center for Teaching & Scholarly Excellence, she leads two dynamic teams: the Educational Development team, focused on advancing evidence-based teaching practices, and the Learning Innovation with Technology team, dedicated to integrating technologies into our educational initiatives. Her areas of expertise center around adult learning, teaching and learning with technology, and the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning.
Prior to joining Suffolk, Rachel was an Associate Director in the Center for Advancing Teaching & Learning Through Research at Northeastern University. She holds an Ed.D. from Teachers College at Columbia University and a M.Ed. in Teaching, Learning, & Technology from Lehigh University. Rachel graduated from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University and worked in hospitality sales and marketing before moving into higher education.
Maya Weilundemo Ott, Ed.D. (she/her), Associate Director, Educational Development
Maya joined the CTSE team in March 2020. Her role focuses on promoting research-based, inclusive teaching practices through programming, consultations, and collaborations with Suffolk’s teaching community. Her work includes facilitating workshops, organizing events such as the annual Symposium on Innovation in Teaching and Learning. Her interests include the science of learning, teaching practices that support equity and inclusion for diverse learners, and the role of technology in teaching and learning.
Prior to joining the CTSE, Maya served as an instructional designer, with a focus on developing online courses. In 2016, she earned her Ed.D. in Human Development and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her experience includes teaching and academic advising at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Ben Mojica, ALM (he/him), Associate Director
Ben joined the CTSE team in August 2021. In his role as Associate Director of Learning Innovation with Technology, he leads the efforts to support, maintain, and improve the learning management system and other academic technology tools that contribute to innovative teaching and learning at Suffolk University. He manages our team of academic technologists who provide support for faculty and student use of University-wide teaching and learning applications; communicates and works with vendors; continually builds technical expertise; engages in professional growth directly related to emerging technologies designed to foster student learning; and partners with stakeholders across the University.
Prior to joining the CTSE, Ben has demonstrated a strong interest of innovating learning with technology. Most notably, he integrated the use of Virtual Reality and 360° Video into the health sciences teaching curriculum at both UMass Medical School and American International College.
While at the Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, he implemented technologies into the medical curriculum such as real-time 3D imaging, haptic technology, simulations, learning management systems, and video production integration for both online and hybrid courses.
In 2016 Ben earned a Master of Liberal Arts degree in Information Technology with a concentration Digital Media and Instructional Design from Harvard University Extension School. He spends his free time filmmaking, model rocketry, and experimenting with new media technologies.
Erin Glennon (she/her), Manager of Operations
Erin serves as the Operations Manager on the CTSE team. In her role she works with faculty and staff to support their interest in educational development, academic technology and scholarship. She is responsible for the planning, communications and implementation of programs and events to advance the goals of the CTSE. She also works closely with the team to strategize internal procedures and processes.
Jan Kenney (she/her), Academic Instructional Technologist
Jan joined the CTSE team in September 2021. She provides support, workshops and one-on-one consultations with faculty on effectively using Suffolk University’s academic technologies for in person and online teaching. Jan also assists in evaluating and testing new technology and developing documentation for software used by the University.
Before joining Suffolk, Jan worked at Curry College as an Administrative and Technology Assistant supporting faculty in using instructional technology and served as the Director of the Menino Arts Center in Hyde Park. She has a BA in Art History from the University of Massachusetts at Boston.
Chris Vasques (he/him), LMS & Academic Services Administrator
Chris joined CTSE in late July 2022. As part of the Learning Innovation with Technology team, he contributes his experience in Instructional Design, Marketing, Customer Service, Media Production, and LMS Administration to help shape the student, faculty, and staff experience with academic enterprise software. By building relationships with vendors and university stakeholders, he pursues a passion for making shared governance and transparency a top priority.
Prior to joining CTSE, Chris worked as Senior Instructional Consultant and LMS Administrator at University of Colorado at Denver. Before CU, he was an Instructional Design Manager and Program Support Administrator at Maharishi International University where he received his undergraduate degree in Sustainable Community Development. Prior to the academic field, Chris worked in hotels and at a tech startup here in Boston as an Operations Service Lead.
Outside of work, Chris plays music and writes short-form fiction. He also enjoys hiking, meditation, and yoga.
Julianna Donaher (she/her), Instructional Designer
Julianna joined the CTSE in the spring of 2023. As an Instructional Designer, she focuses on assisting faculty in the building and maintaining engaging coursework. Julianna’s design philosophy is based on practical, and sustainable learning solutions that leverage the unique talent, time constraints, and passion of instructors. She specializes in learner-centered design, accessibility strategies, DEI-informed pedagogy, the experience of English-language learners in the classroom, trauma-informed teaching, technology application, and remote best practices for engagement.
Prior to joining the CTSE, Julianna worked in the education technology industry to define and improve the student experience for several online institutions. Additionally, she worked with immigrant and refugee English-language learners during their acclimation to the United States and its classrooms. Julianna holds a Master of Professional Studies in Learning Experience Design & Technology from Northeastern University. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, the theatre, and cooking.
Elizabeth Thompson (she/her), Teaching and Learning Specialist
Elizabeth is a Teaching and Learning Specialist at the CTSE and was an English professor for over a decade before joining Suffolk. Her special interests are teaching mindfulness and meditation to support faculty wellness and using contemplative pedagogy in the classroom to deepen student learning.
Adrienne Gauthier (she/her), Canvas Implementation Specialist
CJ Hapward (he/him), Graduate Fellow
CJ is a Graduate Fellow at the CTSE and currently a full-time student in the Sawyer Business School’s MBA program. Prior to Suffolk, CJ graduated from Colby College where he studied Psychology and Economics. He is also a member of the Men’s Ice Hockey Team at Suffolk.
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