It is with great pleasure and excitement that I introduce and welcome both Holly Bielak and Mariann Hawken to DoIT's Instructional Technology & New Media (ITNM) group. Mariann and Holly join Tom Penniston as Instructional Technology Specialists in our office.

Holly (pictured at left) comes to us from Coppin State University where she served as an Instructional Technologist and Trainer and provided assistance and support to faculty, staff and students regarding the use of technology in the classroom and workplace. She also brings experience in the classroom as an adjunct instructor in Information Technology and Education as well as both Blackboard administration and training experience. Holly earned her Bachelor of Arts in American Studies here at UMBC, her Master of Education in Instructional Technology at the University of Maryland University College, and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy in Instructional Design for Online Learning at Capella University.

Mariann brings with her from Bowie State University over 14 years of experience working with both graduate and undergraduate faculty to effectively integrate technology into the curriculum and the classroom. She has supported traditional, hybrid, and fully online course design and development and has been selected as a Blackboard MVP by the company for her expertise, experience, and use of best practices with the learning management system. Mariann has also served as an adjunct instructor in English and Communications and has two master’s degrees from the University of Maryland University College: a Master of Education in Instructional Technology and a Master of Distance Education in Teaching & Training.

Please join me in welcoming both Holly and Mariann to the UMBC family.

Sincerely,

Sherri Braxton-Lieber

Director of Instructional Technology

UMBC Division of Information Technology (DoIT)