THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE

John Richardson, Director
Hurst 206-N
(202) 885-2346
jrich@american.edu

Dr. John Richardson is a Professor in the School of International Service 's, International Development Division. He became the Teaching Center 's second Director in January 2002, succeeding Professor Jack Child. He is also American University 's only faculty member to live on campus full-time in a residence hall (Anderson Hall). He has served American University as a faculty member and administrator since 1975.

Dr. Richardson received his AB Degree from Dartmouth College and Ph.D. degree from the University of Minnesota. His academic background, which includes work in history, political science, economics, anthropology, and applied computer science, is consistent with American University 's primary commitment to "interdisciplinary inquiry that transcends traditional boundaries between academic disciplines and administrative units." Before coming to American University , Dr. Richardson held faculty appointments in political science and systems engineering at Case Western Reserve University and directed the School of Engineering 's Donald P. Echman Computing Laboratory. He was a pioneer in the field of global modeling, under the auspices of the Club of Rome, and a leader in the global modeling clearinghouse activities of the Vienna-based International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. In 1982, he was named by an international committee of the Society for Computer Simulation as "one of the twenty most effective decision makers in the world."

At American University , Dr. Richardson served as Director of the Center for Technology and Administration (a multidisciplinary degree-granting program in management, applied computer science and policy analysis) before joining the School of International Service . He founded and directed the Quantitative Teaching and Research Laboratory (now known as the Social Science Computing Laboratory). In SIS, he served as Director of Doctoral Studies and has taught courses in international development, international relations theory, quantitative research methods and applied systems analysis. He represents SIS in the Faculty Senate and also served as a member of the Senate Committee on Faculty Relations for many years.

Dr. Richardson's research and teaching interests are closely interlinked and have emphasized making complex technologies and public policy issues accessible to wide audiences. Books on which he collaborated, emphasizing this theme, include Groping in the Dark: The First Decade of Global Modeling, Breakthrough: New Global Thinking, Making it Happen: A Positive Guide to the Future and Ending Hunger: An Idea Whose Time Has Come. The Ending Hunger Briefing, on which he also collaborated, was delivered to more than 400,000 individuals and used as an in-service training module on international development issues in a number of secondary school systems. His most recent books are Democratization in South Asia: The First Fifty Years (1999 - co-edited with S. Samarasinghe) and Paradise Poisoned: Learning About Conflict, Terrorism and Development from Sri Lanka 's Civil Wars (2005). Dr. Richardson's courses in international development and applied systems analysis seek to make cutting edge research accessible to AU students, to link students with ongoing research activities and to show how research can be practically applied to important public policy issues.

Beth Scudder, Associate Director for Management and Budget
Hurst 206-D
(202) 885-2305
scudder@american.edu

Beth Scudder is the Assistant Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence. She previously worked as a Graduate Fellow with CTE's Teaching & Learning Resources, teaching courses on software, helping with Blackboard, and organizing the Ann Ferren Teaching Conference. Beth spent the majority of her childhood living abroad, returning to the U.S. to receive her BA from Macalester College in English and Communication Studies. She has worked in publishing as a publicist, and also in software as a technical writer and editor. Beth will complete her MA in International Communication at the School of International Service in the summer of 2006; her major research interests center on the intersection of culture and technology, with an emphasis on training. She enjoys cooking international cuisine, traveling (usually to see her globally-dispersed family), sewing, singing, yoga, dance, reading, and time with her loved ones.

Jim Lee, Associate Director
Hurst 203
(202) 885-2285
jlee@american.edu

Jim Lee is the Associate Director for Technical Support and Training for the Center for Teaching Excellence and a faculty member in the School of International Service. As a faculty member, he was one of the first at AU to use the Web as part of teaching. Since then, he has created two online journals "Trade Environment Database" (TED) and the “Inventory of Conflict and Environment” (ICE), and a distance- learning project, the Global Classroom. While he has an abiding interest in the use of new technology, he firmly believes ideas must lead the way. With that in mind, his most recent book is Exploring the Gaps: the Vital Links Between Trade, Environment and Culture. Under a faculty exchange grant, he is a part-time staff member at the US Environmental Protection Agency, working on policy and its relation to international environmental data and statistics. An avid gardener, he is interested in cultivation and how things grow.

Assen Assenov, Manager, Advanced Statistical Network (SSRL, SPA Lab, Math/Stat Lab)
Hurst 203
(202) 885-3861
assenov@american.edu

Before coming to AU, Assen Assenov taught for 14 years as tenure track, assistant professor of economics in his native Bulgaria. His experience as a professor included teaching and student advising, departmental and university service, and scholarly research. He has methodological expertise in quantitative data analysis, with special emphasis on applied pooled panel data analysis and time-series analysis. He is familiar with several statistical software packages, including SAS, SPSS, Systat, EViews, GAUSS, Limdep & RATS, and other tools for statistical analysis and database management.

As manager of the CTE Social Science Research Laboratory, Assen spends time teaching graduate and undergraduate students in quantitative methods, training students, faculty, and staff in the use of statistical applications, holding training sessions, and offering one-on-one software consultation.

Jason Diebler, Manager, New Media Center
Hurst 204-D
(202) 885-2797
jdiebler@american.edu

Jason Diebler has worked for the New Media Center since 2004. He is an alumnus of American University, where he received his MFA in Film & Electronic Media from the School of Communication in 2006. In 2003, he received his BA with dual emphases in Film and Broadcast Communication from the School of Communication at Elon University.

Jason has worked for organizations such as National Geographic Television and Brainbox Productions, before joining the Center for Teaching Excellence. His accomplishments in film and video include various film festival awards for his work as an editor, director, writer, and videographer.

We encourage all faculty and students to stop by the New Media Center.

John Doolittle, Associate Director
Hurst 11
(202) 885-2065
doolittle@american.edu

John Doolittle is an associate professor in the School of Communication at American University where he teaches courses in broadcast journalism including news production and the history of radio and television news. He has been on the faculties of the Indiana University School of Journalism and Stanford University 's Department of Communication. He has a Ph.D. in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin , an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Georgia , and a B.S. in Speech from Northwestern University.

Before he began an academic career, Professor Doolittle worked as a producer, reporter and news anchor for several broadcast stations and networks including the WRC-AM, Washington , the Voice of America, Washington , WBBM Radio, Chicago , WSB Radio, Atlanta , and WNDU-TV, South Bend . He continues to work as a consulting producer and voice-over specialist. Recent projects include his co-producing of a television program on alternative medicine titled, “Healing” which was broadcast on several public television stations.

He recently completed a book tracing network radio's longest-running daily program, Don McNeill and His Breakfast Club which was released last year by University of Notre Dame Press . In the book, Doolittle chronicles how the program became an early morning ritual for millions of Americans as they began their days during the Depression, World War II and turbulent sixties. A CD accompanies the book containing highlights from the Breakfast Club's 35 and a half years on the air.

Jim McCabe, Manager, Web Courseware
Hurst 11-A
(202) 885-2553
jmccabe@american.edu

Jim’s experience in faculty development began with organizing events for adjunct instructors in the City University of New York in the 1980’s. He also led the first “train the trainer” sessions for community school district trainers in Project Smart, the New York City Board of Education’s roll out of classroom computers in the late 1990’s. At American University, Jim has worked on publications such as “Make the Mail Deliverable,” a guide to address standards in Datatel and a new faculty guide to Blackboard.

His academic background includes a BA in economics from Case-Western Reserve University, an MA in education from Teachers College, Columbia University and additional graduate work in applied linguistics, teaching reading, and the politics of education at Wayne State University, and at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Jim recently published The Wasted Years: American Youth, Race, and the Literacy Gap.

Kelly Nolin, Manager, Training, Performance Management & Assessment and the Faculty Corner
Hurst 11-B
(202) 885-6077
nolin@american.edu

Kelly Nolin brings with her eight years of administrative experience including program development and coordination. Kelly’s interest in distance learning, adult studies, and character development led her to pursue a doctoral degree in higher education, which she completed in the spring of 2002 at the University of Denver. She has done research regarding the use of the humanities in the character education of undergraduate students and is very interested in teaching methods that can be used in this endeavor. Kelly’s academic background also includes a BA in literature and philosophy from the University of Redlands and an MA in literature from Old Dominion University.

Bob Brownlee, Associate Director
Anderson Lower Level
(202) 885-2298
bbrownlee@american.edu

Bob Brownlee is the Associate Director of Audio & Video Systems & Services Group and has worked in this group since 1981 in various capacities. Bob has been a long time advocate of enhancing classroom and event technology. His outside interests include, naturally, music and video. Currently he is embarking upon a lengthy quest to digitize his 4,000+ LP collection. Should he ever succeed, he'll need a terabyte iPod to hold it all. Bob is a graduate of Haverford College with a BA in Music as well as an alumnus of AU's Audio Technology program.

Ron Carlton, Assistant Director
Anderson Lower Level
(202) 885-2297
rcarlto@american.edu

Ron Carlton, the Assistant Director Audio & Video Systems & Services Group, began his service at American University in 1978 as the supervisor of the Audio Visual Department before the emergence of VHS video and desktop computers. Before he began his career at AU, Ron was a medical photographer and audio-visual specialist at Washington Adventist Hospital . He received photography training at Rochester Institute of Technology and the Eastman School of Photography.

Eric Gordon, Assistant Director
Anderson Lower Level, B-43
(202) 885-2297
egordon@american.edu

Eric Gordon, the Assistant Director Audio & Video Systems & Services, began working for the group in 1986 while pursuing a degree in Audio Technology. In 1993, he completed a BS in Audio Technology with a minor in Anthropology. Eric continually explores music and technology though teaching courses in the Audio Technology Program, being a DJ and producing music in his spare time. As a new member of CTE, Eric assists both faculty and staff with classroom and event technology as well as doing Audio for special events including Staff Appreciation Day. Eric also enjoys cooking and the study of food and culture.