Our Dedicated Team of Experts
Leadership
Elaine Reeder, a Ph.D. in Learning Technologies, is a dynamic leader dedicated to cultivating innovative, student-centered learning experiences. She shapes policies and leads transformative initiatives, focusing on empowering underrepresented groups. Her collaborative style and talent for conveying complex ideas with clarity fosters meaningful partnerships across departments.
Tim Luckritz Marquis loves creating innovative learning experiences for students, especially learning spaces outside the classroom–from teaching students how to be independent learners, to online learning, to experiential learning, and everything in between and beyond. He also teaches in the Religious Studies program at VCU. He has a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Yale and has worked in higher education for almost 20 years.
Aisha McGriff enjoys helping people turn their dream learning experiences into a reality. She holds a PhD in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. Before becoming an instructional designer, Dr. McGriff was a professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies and has developed and taught courses in all modalities. Her research areas of interest include accessibility and inclusive pedagogies.
Molly Ransone is passionate about making educational media that amuses and inspires students to learn voraciously. In her role as the Associate Director of Media Production, she produces high quality media content for classes in all modalities. Prior to coming to VCU, Molly was the Creative Services Coordinator at San Francisco State University, where she earned her master’s degree in Broadcast & Electronic Communication Arts.
Operations and Administration
Becky Aycock has served VCU for more than 28 years beginning in continuing education in the School of Education before the office merged with Continuing Studies and was placed under the Office of the Provost as the Office of Continuing and Professional Education in 2014. LEDstudio merged with Continuing and Professional Education in 2021, so she is now the human resource professional and operations manager for the larger unit.
Ashley Fredericks has served VCU for more than 13 years beginning as a student worker in the School of Education. In 2014, The Center for Professional Growth merged with Continuing Studies to become the Office of Continuing and Professional Education where she first served as a program assistant prior to becoming the office's operations coordinator. LEDstudio merged with Continuing and Professional Education in 2021, so her role expanded to support operations for the larger unit.
Nancy Lowe has over 28 years of service to the VCU community. Beginning her VCU career in the School of Education, she moved into continuing education in 2004. She supports the Executive Director of Continuing and Professional Education and serves as building manager along with other office management functions supporting both Continuing and Professional Education and LEDstudio. Her role within the office expanded to include student advising for non credit prospective students.
Michael Rawls serves as Budget Director for LEDstudio, VCU Continuing and Professional Education, and VCU Libraries. He ensures that leaders get the financial information needed to support decision making and that employees receive the business support they need to perform their jobs. He has been in higher education finance since 2006. He has a PhD in Public Policy and Administration and a B.S. in Business Administration.
I provide fiscal support and manage data. 15 years with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) prepared me for this role. My love of helping students to be successful started in the Office of Institutional Advancement. Transitioning to the Public Relations Office allowed me to connect with students, faculty and staff on a different level.
Roxanne Winfield is a Project Coordinator with a passion for making processes and virtual workspaces more efficient. She enjoys untangling all of the administrative knots that can get in the way so that her team can focus on the actual work rather than the work it takes to get to the work. Roxanne received her Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University at Buffalo with a focus on data and archival management.
Instructional Design
Cairo Jones is an Instructional Design Lead passionate about helping educators infuse creativity into online courses. With a focus on technology and best practices in course design, Cairo supports faculty in developing innovative teaching strategies and learning communities. Outside of work, Cairo is a Disney enthusiast who loves discovering new restaurants and exploring different historical cities.
Cynthia Agyeman is an Instructional Designer committed to enhancing teaching strategies and creating engaging online courses. A strong advocate for inclusive learning, she has experience designing courses for CPAs and professionals across various sectors. With a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology, an M.A. in African Studies, and a BFA in Painting, her research explores the fusion of visual arts, technology, and design to shape new digital art forms.
Carrie Cole has over 20 years experience as an Instructional Designer. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration, minor in Communications from Bridgewater College, and M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, Instructional Technology from the University of Virginia. She prioritizes student and faculty needs, and specializes in experiential learning. Her other interests include all things home and garden, camping, and road trips.
Andrew Hahn prioritizes collaboration and building lasting relationships through his work. In design, he prefers a streamlined approach with easy-to-use educational technology that keeps learners focused on their materials while creating a transformative learning experience. Andrew earned his MFA in creative writing and is always working on a writing project. He enjoys playing piano and dining at Richmond’s various restaurants.
Patty Hendricks is passionate about student engagement, in other words increasing students' interest, motivation, and active participation in online learning. She has a diverse instructional design career working for higher ed and business. She loves collaborating with faculty to match learner needs with effective instructional solutions.
Smita Jain is an Instructional Designer with 4 years of experience in designing quality online learning experiences across various modalities. Her best moments are when she gets to brainstorm effective learning solutions that meet targeted educational needs. She holds an Ed.D. from University of Memphis. Prior to VCU she worked at WVU. She enjoys continuous learning and tries to stay abreast of tools and topics related to Instructional Design.
Rebecca has been an instructional designer with VCU since 2019. Prior to that, she taught high school English for 10 years, including dual enrollment courses. Rebecca obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s in English from Longwood University, with focuses in education and creative writing.
Ginny Thompson helps faculty create engaging digital learning at VCU. Originally from Connecticut, she holds a BA in English from Trinity College and an MA in Education from the University of Michigan. Ginny began her academic career teaching Educational Technology in Baltimore, Maryland before transitioning to instructional design, where she blends teaching and tech expertise.
Sydney Wilk is an Instructional Designer who enjoys working with faculty and staff to enhance the online learning experience. She strives to build a strong sense of classroom community online for students through engaging activities and resources within each course. Sydney received her MS in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology from the University at Albany as well as two BA’s in Communications and English.
Media Production
Melanie Felix is a Kinetic Imaging alumna with a passion for motion design, cultivating creative spaces, and putting the tools for visual expression into the hands of everyone. She was previously a student assistant in The Workshop at VCU and a digital media lab specialist & instructor at the Varina Library. Melanie is excited to make an impact on learning at VCU through educational media.
Erin Christoph is a graphic designer living in Richmond, VA. In addition to graphic design, she works in illustration, printed media, motion graphics, and occasionally makes comics. After getting her start as a student worker for VCU Online, she is eager to continue creating quality educational content as part of LEDstudio.
Alex DeBord is an aspiring filmmaker and motion graphics artist with a passion for storytelling and visual effects. He aims to create more immersed digital environments that allow creativity and expressions to become commonplace in any learning environment. After being a freelance video editor and videographer for some years, Alex is now excited to make an impact on educational media that benefits both the faculty and the students involved in it.
Alora Grogan is a video editor and motion designer. After obtaining her Bachelor’s in computer programming and studio art, she became a library media specialist and then a closed captioning professional. Her varied career has led her to develop a deep commitment to making information accessible to all. Alora thrives in learning environments and is dedicated to enhancing the student experience through her creative and fun approach to video editing and motion graphics.
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Amber Hooke is a video editor and animator from Richmond, VA who loves visual storytelling and animation. She is a graduate from VCU with a BFA in Kinetic Imaging, and is excited to be back at VCU working with the media team to create quality educational content. Amber loves listening to podcasts and playing videos games, and she can often be found walking her dog or doodling in one of RVA’s many coffee shops.
Web Development
Kate is a skilled professional in web applications, specializing in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JQuery, and APIs, which she uses to create efficient web-based tools and workflows. Her growing expertise in AI is fueling innovative digital solutions at VCU. Known for her problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and experience collaborating with diverse groups, Kate consistently delivers impactful results.
Matt enjoys focusing on his two favorite things in his Web Development and Design work at LEDstudio: Technology and Simplicity. With a background in communications, design, and coding, he builds accessible, user-friendly tech. As a VCU alum, he’s excited to share his skills with his alma mater. When not in pixels and code, he enjoys running, often toward or away from real and imaginary things.
Rochelle is a web developer skilled on custom theme and plugin development, digital marketing strategy, and custom application design. She is a proud advocate for projects and opportunities that positively impact and promote technology in underrepresented communities.