| ACET Staff |
ACET is joined by three new staff members - July 2009 |
Roberta Ambrosino, EdD
Educational Development Specialist
4.042.5
210-567-0934
Roberta earned her doctorate in Educational Technology at Pepperdine University and an MS in Curriculum Design/Instructional Technology from the State University of New York at Albany. She taught for 10 years in a full range of settings like junior high remedial reading, 4th grade classroom, and adult software courses. She went crazy and moved to California in 1996 to take a job at The Art Institute of Los Angeles. With newly found skills in adult education, she went back to public education to blend her skills as faculty development director and instructional technology specialist at California State University, Dominguez Hills. There she guided the Center to support faculty in their research and scholarly activities. At the Health Science Center she initiates and supports programs that assist faculty in the advancement of excellence in teaching and learning. She joined the ACET staff in 2007.
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Rachel Cox
Administrative Assistant
4.042
210-567-0981
Rachel Cox is the Administrative Assistant with ACET. She provides varied administrative support to the department’s business and educational activities. Rachel monitors daily activities and coordinates various routine academic activities including workshop/seminar logistics. Rachel is working toward a Bachelors Degree in Teaching at the University of Phoenix Online. She has been a member of the HSC staff for 16 years.
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Raymond A. Howard, MBA
Evaluation Specialist
4.042.4
210-567-2813
Raymond A. Howard, MBA, is an Evaluation Specialist and supports the Academic Center for Excellence in Teaching with academic organizational systems development, strategic planning, program design, research projects, grant writing and technical assistance and training. Ray has a background in public health practice with an emphasis on the elimination of health disparities. He has worked extensively in community-based disease prevention and health promotion programs. Ray has more than 25 years of health care management, organizational development and collaboration experience. He has served on corporate boards, civic and government committees focused on improving health, economic and social support systems for children and families. Ray earned his Masters of Business Administration degree from Andrews University School of Management and Finance.
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John Littlefield, PhD
ACET Director
4.042.3
210-567-2283
John Littlefield has been a consultant in health professions education for 34 years starting with Texas Tech University School of Medicine. At UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, John has been an Evaluation Specialist (1975-80), Director of Educational Research and Development (1981-2000), Director of Academic Informatics Services (2001-2007), and most recently (2005-present) Director of the Academic Center for Excellence in Teaching (ACET). ACET's mission is to provide campus-wide leadership, direction, and resources to advance excellence in teaching. John's research has focused on teaching and evaluating student performance in clinical settings. He has published or presented 105 peer reviewed articles, book chapters and presentations. He has been a consultant and conducted faculty development workshops at numerous universities and professional societies throughout the U.S. John received a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Doris Owens,
Evaluation Specialist
4.042.6
210-567-2539
Doris Owens has over fifteen years experience in training, development, and evaluation in both academic and business settings. She comes to UTHSCSA from St. Philips College in San Antonio where she was the Director of Distance Education. Prior to that, she was at Midwestern University, training faculty on the integration of technology and the pedagogy of online teaching and learning. Before her transition to higher education, she held positions in both business and government providing expertise in instructional design, organizational development, systems design, training, and evaluation. She has traveled extensively including eight years of work in England. Doris earned her MS in Instructional and Performance Technology from Boise State University and an MA in Distance Education from University of Phoenix. She is a doctoral candidate in Training and Performance Improvement, researching the efficacy of faculty development in higher education.
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Jennifer L. Peel, PhD
Dir. of Education, Office of GME
Associate Professor, Anesthesiology
MED 2.238A
210-567-4440
Dr. Peel is the Director of Education in the Office of Graduate Medical Education and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA.) Jennifer has over 19 years of experience in academic medicine and corporate environments. She has authored numerous articles and has delivered hundreds of invited lectures, seminars and workshops. Jennifer completed her BA in Psychology at Southwestern University and her PhD in Experimental Psychology at Texas Christian University with an emphasis in human cognition and educational psychology. She has spent many years designing, delivering and evaluating faculty, resident and student training and development at three medical schools (The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio). Jennifer has also served as an educational and training consultant to numerous groups including The University of Hong Kong Medical School, the U.S. Army, Dell, Martin Marietta Materials and Budco. After a diversion to the corporate world in 2001 as a training and development professional, Jennifer returned to academic medicine in 2005 to focus on resident education, faculty development and program accreditation oversight at the UTHSCSA.
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Bret Simon, PhD
Educational Development Specialist
4.042.6
210-567-2284
Bret Simon began his career in faculty development at Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he worked for several years with faculty from allied health professions developing their research competencies and promoting scholarship. Having lived in the Midwest for 38 years, Bret never imagined he would live on an island, but in 2007 he moved to Galveston to work for the University of Texas Medical Branch in the Office of Educational Development. Regrettably, hurricane Ike struck just one year later devastating both the University and the island. His work at UTMB was cut short, but with little interruption he was soon continuing his faculty development and health care professions research here at the Health Science Center. Bret’s academic credentials include bachelor’s degrees in Zoology and Psychology, a master’s in Educational Psychology, and a PhD in Community Health Education. Eclectic by nature, he looks forward eagerly to working with faculty from each of the schools and departments. General research interests include patient education and counseling, patient-provider communications, and the role of the medical humanities in health professions education.
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Debra Stark, DrPH
Evaluation Specialist
4.042.2
210-567-2296
Dr. Debra L. Stark is an Evaluation Specialist and served as an evaluator for 12 years at the University of Pittsburgh where she earned her doctorate in Public Health. In addition to her public health background, Debbie has over 20 years of professional experience in both hospital and community health care settings. As the ACET Evaluation Specialist, she supports the Academic Center for Excellence in Teaching by providing assistance with program development, research projects, and evaluation to faculty and staff. She also participates in the professional development workshops and courses.
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James W. Tysinger PhD
Vice-Chair for Education and Faculty Development
Professor,
Family & Community Medicine
MED 610L
210-567-3043
James Tysinger, PhD, is the Deputy Chair for Faculty Development in the Department of Family and Community medicine at UT Health Science Center at San Antonio and has an part-time appointment as an Educational Development Specialistwith ACET. James completed his BS in Science Education at N.C. State University, his MA in Human Services at St. Mary’s University (San Antonio), and his PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin. He has over 30 years of experience in academic medicine and health sciences instruction. He has been involved in faculty and student development activities in four medical school. He enjoys helping students apply for employment or advanced training and has written the book, Résumés and Personal Statements for Health Professions.
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Margaret Ytuarte, BBA
Academic Coordinator – Testing & Evaluation Center
4.042.1
210-567-2292
Margie is the Testing Center Coordinator for the Academic Center for Excellence in Teaching. Margie hasa background experience within an institutional environment with a focus to a customer service based organization. Margie earned her Bachelor degree in business administration from the University of the Incarnate Word. She is currently pursuing a Master degree in management from the University of the Incarnate Word and projects to acquire her degree in May, 2010. Additional academic interests are in human behavior and organizational development. Margie has been a member of the Health Science Center staff for 10 years.