Staff

Michele Gribbins, Ed.D.

Director

Dr. Gribbins joined COLRS in 2012 after teaching for seven years as a faculty member for the Department of Management Information Systems at UIS. She became the Director of COLRS in 2019. As Director, she coordinates and supports the UIS Faculty Research Fellows Program and provides consultation, development training, and support to faculty to enhance their instruction in online and blended courses. Additionally, she designs, develops, and analyzes data reports related to online enrollments, admissions, and applications to guide COLRS when consulting and advising across campus. She has been on the project team for two Massive-Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offered by UIS

Carey Applegate, Ph.D.

Associate Director

Dr. Applegate joined COLRS in April 2023 after nearly two decades combined experience in instructional design, educational program/project management, and university-level teaching and research in English education. She offers support and training to faculty members and departments, provides consultation in the areas of innovative practices in online learning and emerging technologies, and leads the Digital Accessibility Remediation Team. In addition to her work with COLRS, Carey also serves as an affiliate faculty member at Bradley University’s English department, where she teaches online courses. 

Carrie Levin

eLearning Specialist

Carrie joined COLRS in July 2005.  She earned her B.F.A. degree in Theatre at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign and her Masters in Dance-Movement Therapy/Counseling at Columbia College Chicago.  She spent several years as a professional actress in Chicago and as a movement therapist/counselor in Madison, Wisconsin working with institutionalized older adults, developmentally disabled adults, teens, and children.  At COLRS, Carrie works with online faculty development, MOOC development, and support for COLRS research activities.  She has authored and co-authored proceedings papers and book chapters on a variety of topics related to online learning and has presented at numerous national and regional conferences. 

Emily Boles

eLearning Specialist

Emily joined COLRS in September 2006. At COLRS, Emily works to promote pedagogical and instructional design best practices for online, blended, and remote learning. She is a skilled LMS administrator on the Canvas, Moodle, and Blackboard platforms. Emily has been on the project team for three Massive Open Online Classes (MOOCs).

She served as Interim Director for the Illinois Online Network (2017-2018) and oversaw the transition of the program to UIS, as well the development and implementation of a new registration, CMS, and payment system, as well as a new badging platform. She also oversaw the development of a new ION certificate, Digital Accessibility for Educators.

Scott Moomaw

Multimedia Communications Specialist

Scott joined COLRS in 2021. Originally from Pennsylvania, he came to Springfield in 2014 via Boston and Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife, three kids, and the dog.

Scott holds a Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University and specializes in video production for web, broadcast, and social media. He has previously worked at the University of Virginia, producing video content promoting the school’s successful $3 billion capital campaign, and at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education where he worked closely with faculty in operating classroom recording technology for sharing lectures in a virtual environment.

Layne Morsch, Ph.D.

Interim Associate Provost, Online, Professional & Engaged Learning

Professor, Chemistry

Layne Morsch is a distinguished member of the faculty at the University of Illinois Springfield, where he serves as the Interim Associate Provost for Online, Professional, and Engaged Learning, as well as Professor of Chemistry in the College of Health, Science, and Technology. Since 2020, he has also directed the UIS Center for Faculty Excellence.

Vickie S. Cook, Ph.D.

Vice Chancellor for Enrollment & Retention Management

Research Professor, Education

Dr. Vickie Cook served as the Executive Director, COLRS from 2013-19. In 2019, she became the founding Executive Director of Online, Professional, and Engaged Learning (OPEL) and was named Associate Vice Chancellor for OPEL in 2021. OPEL was established to unite the efforts of COLRS, Continuing and Professional Education, the Office of Engaged Learning, and the Center of Faculty Excellence (formerly FDRO). Dr. Cook is also a Research Professor in the College of Education. Learn more about Dr. Cook on the OPEL website.

Ray Schroeder

Professor Emeritus and Founding Director

Ray is Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) and Senior Fellow at the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA). Each year, Schroeder publishes articles / book chapters and presents nationally on emerging topics in online and technology-enhanced learning. He is the 2010 inaugural recipient of the A. Frank Mayadas Online Leadership Award, 2011 recipient of the University of Illinois Distinguished Service Award, the United States Distance Learning Association Hall of Fame Award 2016, and the American Journal of Distance Education/University of Wisconsin Wedemeyer Excellence in Distance Education Award 2016.