OPWL Faculty and Staff

Seung Youn (Yonnie) Chyung, Ed.D.

Professor and Associate Chair

Call: (208) 426-3091
Email: ychyung@boisestate.edu

Chyung’s ScholarWorks
Workplace-Oriented Research Central Lab

Educational Background:

• Ed.D. in Educational and Instructional Technology, Texas Tech University
• M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, Southern Illinois University
• B.A. in Education, Ewha Womans University

Professional Experience:

Chyung has expertise in conducting research and evaluation studies in the learning and performance improvement context as well as evidence-based survey design. She is an author of three textbooks, including 10-Step Evaluation for Training and Performance Improvement published by SAGE and Foundations of Instructional and Performance Technology published by HRD Press. She has published more than 70 papers in professional and academic research journals and refereed conference proceedings, focusing on program evaluation, survey design, e-learning strategies as well as STEM education. Through her consulting, she helps organizations conduct program evaluations, design survey questionnaires and analyze quantitative organizational data.

Lisa Giacumo, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Call: (208) 426-1377
Email: lisagiacumo@boisestate.edu

Giacumo’s ScholarWorks
Marginalized and Cross-Cultural Research and Design Learning Tech Group

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Educational Technology, Arizona State University
• M.S. in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology, SUNY University at Albany
• B.A. in French Studies, SUNY University at Albany

Professional Experience:

Giacumo has worked internationally as an instructional designer, trainer and manager for businesses, universities, nonprofits and NGOs. Her passion has grown to focus on strategic innovations in learning and development as well as improving organizational systems. Currently, she consults for mid-sized to large businesses and nonprofits across the globe to improve learning and development functions, strategy and organizational performance. Her research interests focus on the use of instructional design and digital tools for marginalized populations, global workplace learning, e-learning and performance improvement.

Rafael Leonardo da Silva, Ph.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor

Call: (208) 426-3330
Email: rafaeldasilva@boisestate.edu

da Silva’s ScholarWorks
Interactive Learning Design Lab

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Learning, Design, and Technology, University of Georgia
• M.Ed. in Learning, Design, and Technology, University of Georgia
• B.A. in English as a Second Language and English Language Literatures, State University of Londrina, Brazil

Professional Experience:

da Silva has experience teaching and developing innovative educational practices in a variety of instructional contexts. He has used his expertise and passion for instructional design to create engaging governmental training materials as well as creative English as a Second Language tools and approaches, such as interactive training modules and educational games. His research has been featured in TechTrends and the International Journal of Designs for Learning. These publications led him to receive the Robert M. Gagné Award for Graduate Student Research in Instructional Design in 2020. His research interests include game-based learning, project-based learning and game-based moral development.

Anthony Marker, Ph.D., LEED AP

Professor and Chair

Call: (208) 426-1015
Email: anthonymarker@boisestate.edu

Wisdom Implementation Lab

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University
• B.A. in East Asian Studies, Indiana University

Professional Experience:

Marker spent several years as a freelance consultant in the greater Boston area before moving into academia. He has served in several roles including principal technical writer, instructional designer and developer, project manager and principal consultant. The projects he has worked on have included work in the telecommunication, financial, pharmaceutical and government arenas. His research interests include identifying those current critical research gaps facing the field of human performance technology, examining organizational change issues that involve systemic cultural change and the capacity to develop wisdom and to act with greater wisdom in the workplace.

Seth-Aaron Martinez, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Call: (208) 426-5118
Email: sethamartinez@boisestate.edu

Learning Strategy Lab

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology (minor: Organizational Behavior, Kelley School of Business), Indiana University, Bloomington
• M.S. in Instructional Psychology & Technology (emphasis: Research and Evaluation), Brigham Young University
• B.S. in Health Science, Brigham Young University – Idaho

Professional Experience:

Martinez has dedicated his professional life to learning experience design, program management and strategic direction. In higher education, he has designed courses for MBA and Executive Ed courses at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In industry, he built a global, multi-year machine learning training program for engineers at Adobe. At Facebook, he used learning science research to set forth the strategy for the training of 40,000 reviewers that moderate Instagram and Facebook content worldwide. His scholarship centers on the learning designs, instructional strategies and uses of technology that succeed most effectively at improving individual, team and organizational performance.

Jelena Pokimica, Ph.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor

Call: (208) 426-4583
Email: jelenapokimica@boisestate.edu

Pokimica’s ScholarWorks

Educational Background:

• Ph.D., Human Resource Development – Strategic Partnerships, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Dual master (MPA, MA), The University of Akron
• B.A., International Relations and French, Kent State University

Professional Experience:

Pokimica has considerable experience in teaching organization development, instructional design, facilitation skills, principles of human resource education and research methods. She has been studying research collaboration in strategic international university partnerships across disciplines, as well as administrative/executive collaboration in such contexts, using collective case study designs. Pokimica is past managing editor of Human Resource Development International Journal. She is multilingual and has had ample international and multicultural experiences from Serbia, France, Denmark and Hong Kong. She has been a recipient of the Donna Riechmann HRD Award, Outstanding Woman-Scholar Award and is a KSU Honors College Alumna.

Ria Roy, Ph.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor

Call: (208) 426-4664
Email: riaroy@boisestate.edu

Roy’s ScholarWorks

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology (Minor: Strategy, Kelley School of Business), Indiana University, Bloomington
• M.S. in Human Factors in Information Design, Bentley University, Waltham
• M.S. in Education (Training and Development), Worcester State College, Worcester
• M.B.A. in Management Information Systems, Bentley University, Waltham
• B.Com in Commerce and Accounting, University of Mumbai, India

Professional Experience:

Roy’s experiences have primarily been in areas of organization strategy, facilitating setting up strategic business units, commercial analytics and decision support, new product planning, project management, new business development, knowledge management systems, market research and services consulting primarily in industries such as IT/ITES and pharmaceuticals. Her research interests lie in development of the field of human performance technology/ performance improvement, organization design, innovation and the study of customer centricity as a performance enabler.

Donald Winiecki, Ed.D., Ph.D.

Professor

Call: (208) 426-1899
Email: dwiniecki@boisestate.edu

Winiecki’s ScholarWorks

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Sociology, Central Queensland University
• Ed.D. in Educational and Instructional Technology, Texas Tech University
• M.S. in Technology Education, State University of New York, College at Oswego
• B.S. in Industrial Arts and Technology Education, State University of New York, College at Oswego

Professional Experience:

Winiecki began as a drafter and technical and commercial illustrator and switched to designing computer-based and conventional training and technical documentation for corporate and military clients in the 1980s. His work is now oriented to the use of social scientific methods in instructional technology and performance improvement with a focus on critical needs assessments. He is also the proprietor of Handid Braille Services, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Handid Braille Services provides braille transcriptions and tactile graphics to make any content accessible to tactile readers. Handid also offers consulting to facilitate creation, preparation and production of media for visually-impaired readers.

Kevin Hanegan, M.S.

Adjunct Graduate Faculty

Email: kevinhanegan@boisestate.edu

Educational Background:

• M.S. in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning, Boise State University
• B.S. in Computer Science, Villanova University
• B.S. in Mathematics, Villanova University

Professional Experience:

Hanegan has more than 20 years of experience working in the data and analytics industry and is currently the chief learning officer at Qlik, a software company that provides real-time data integration and analytics solutions. His focus is on the intersection of data and analytics with organizational learning and psychology. Hanegan has authored multiple books and articles on the topics of web design, data-informed decision-making and data analysis. His latest book, Turning Data into Wisdom (2020), presents a six-phase, 12-step process to help those at all levels of an organization use their knowledge, skills and experience to make data-informed decisions.

Cara North, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate

Adjunct Graduate Faculty

Email: caranorth@boisestate.edu

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. Candidate in Learning Technologies, The Ohio State University
• M.A. in Workforce Development, The Ohio State University
• B.A. in Broadcast Journalism, University of Kentucky

Professional Experience:

North started as an accidental learning and development professional when she was promoted in a role where she trained quality procedures for new hires in a telecommunications company. Since her first role, she has worked in corporate, higher education and consulting settings with organizations such as Amazon, The Ohio State University, Silfex and Circulo Health. She is the owner of The Learning Camel, a learning and development consulting agency, and she facilitates online courses for the Association for Talent and Development (ATD). She also shares her experiences on her YouTube channel, Unfiltered ID.

Glen Scott, M.S.

Adjunct Graduate Faculty

glenscott2@boisestate.edu

Educational Background

• M.S. in Instructional and Performance Technology, Boise State University
• Graduate Certificate in Human Performance Technology, Boise State University
• B.A. in Economics and Social Science, Boise State University

Professional Experience

Scott has been a member of the graduate adjunct faculty in the Department of Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning since 2013. He has held a wide variety of positions in the private sector, including positions in human resources, training, operations management, industrial engineering and the management of special projects. He has served as the chief HR executive in two organizations and is currently focused on helping small to medium sized organizations develop the human side of the organization during times of growth. This includes a strong focus on developing an organizational culture that supports high performance and aligns with clearly defined core values.

Jennifer Shamsy, M.S.

Adjunct Graduate Faculty / Instructional Technologist

jennifershamsy@boisestate.edu

Educational Background:

• M.S. in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning, Boise State University
• Workplace Instructional Design Graduate Certificate, Boise State University
• Masters of Aeronautical Science – Human Factors degree, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• B.S. in Aviation Technology, Purdue University

Professional Experience:

Shamsy is a commercial airline pilot by day and instructional designer, researcher and writer by night. Over the last twelve years, she has combined her love of aviation and passion for instructional design through course design, development, implementation and evaluation as well as instruction of hundreds of future aviation professionals at several higher education institutions. Through collaboration with Chyung and other researchers, she has participated in several program evaluations for non-profit organizations and more recently researching and writing about evidence-based survey design.

Chris Slater, Ed.D.

Adjunct Graduate Faculty

Email: chrisslater@boisestate.edu

Educational Background:

• Ed.D. in Adult Education and Staff Development, Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA
• M.S. in Instructional & Performance Technology, Boise State University
• B.A. in Social Science with a major in Psychology and minor in Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman

Professional Experience:

In addition to adjunct professor duties, Slater works full-time as the director of flight standards and training development at Cirrus Aircraft in Knoxville, Tennessee. His research focuses on the testing and integration of adult cognitive curiosity to enhance workplace learning and performance. He has presented his research at national and international conferences, including the annual meetings of the International Society for Performance Improvement, American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, International Self-Directed Learning Symposium and the Coast Guard Human Performance Technology Workshop.

Dawn M. Snyder, Ph.D., C.P.T., Prosci CCMP

Adjunct Graduate Faculty

Email: dawnsnyder428@boisestate.edu

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University
• M.S. in Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University
• B.A. in English Language and Literature, Butler University

Professional Experience:

Snyder is the founder of Dawn Snyder Associates, a learning and performance firm that provides consulting on learning strategies, curriculum architecture, performance assessment and evaluation. She has also been an instructor at Indiana University, where she taught courses in learning skills and critical reading; The Ohio State University, where she taught occupational analysis, performance analysis and corporate instructional design; and Franklin University, where she has taught instructional design leadership, coaching and consulting, organizational learning and knowledge management, evaluation and principles of human performance technology.

Linda Urban, M.S.

Adjunct Graduate Faculty

Email: lindaurban@boisestate.edu

Educational Background:

• Doctoral student in the School of Leadership Studies, Fielding Graduate University
• M.A. in Organizational Development and Change, Fielding Graduate University
• M.S. in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL), Boise State
• B.A in English, University of California at Berkeley

Professional Experience:

Urban worked as a technical communication consultant for many years. Working as an independent consultant, she designed, developed and delivered many types of performance support, including documentation, online help systems, instructor-led training (face-to-face and virtual) and self-paced asynchronous training. She also worked as a usability specialist on product development teams and conducted usability evaluation of software and documentation. During her time as a consultant she also served as an instructor at the University of California Berkeley Extension, where she taught courses in technical communication, usability testing, information architecture and developing online help.

Matt D.M. Watson, Ph.D.

Adjunct Graduate Faculty, OPWL Industry Mentoring Program Coordinator/Mentor

Email: matthewwatson493@boisestate.edu

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change from Pepperdine University
• M.S. in Learning Technologies from Pepperdine University
• B.A. in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University

Professional Experience:

Matt is the principal of 9m, an innovation consulting firm based in Boise, Idaho. He began his career in the US Air Force as a forward air controller, serving in the invasion of Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division. He worked with the Bechtel Corporation as an organizational development project manager and training director, with Hewlett-Packard as a business strategy project manager and director of talent development, and with My Career Maps as their COO. He is also the former chairman of the board for the Community Veterans Justice Project.

Jo Ann Fenner, M.S.

Student Success Advisor, Senior

Call: (208) 426-2489

Email: jfenner@boisestate.edu

Fenner was part of the team that developed and offered the first online course offered in the instructional and performance technology program, now known as Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning. The department has grown from one full-time faculty member to eight full-time faculty and three support staff. The program has well over 1,300 alumni and 175 students enrolled each academic year.

Contact Jo Ann if you have questions about:

• The student community and networking opportunities
• Job opportunities and job postings
• How to register or withdraw
• How to request a refund
• Planning your program matriculation (i.e., course offerings each semester)
• General academic advising questions

Kori Anna Smith, M.B.A.

Department Manager

Call: (208) 426-1312

Email: kasmith@boisestate.edu

Smith brings more than 10 years of experience working in higher education. She began working at Boise State in 2014 in the Registrar’s Office. In 2016, she moved to the College of Engineering as an academic advisor. She grew up in Belgium prior to moving to Idaho where she earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology from the University of Idaho. She has also earned her MBA. Outside of work, you can find Smith hiking and camping with her family, baking or traveling. She has visited 19 countries with many more on her travel wish list.

David Cox, Ph.D.

Linda Huglin, Ph.D.

Don Stepich, Ph.D.

Vicki Stieha, Ph.D.

Steve Villachica, Ph.D.

Process Management Lab