Email: lynnb@uchicago.edu

Lynn joined the ATS team in January 2017 and became the Executive Director in June 2022. In her previous role as Director of Educational Technology Solutions, Lynn oversaw the transition from Blackboard to Canvas LMS. As Executive Director of ATS, she oversees all aspects of the unit, including the Learning Design team, AV Services & AV Engineering teams, Center for Digital Accessibility, and the technical team. She also is a part of the IT Services senior leadership team.

Lynn has been with IT Services since 2003, in various roles. Before joining ATS, Lynn held the role of Director of the Academic Information System (AIS) Project Management Office from July 2014 through December 2016. In this role, she led the implementation project to replace the former academic information system with PeopleSoft Campus Solutions. From 2003-2014, she was part of the Web Services team, where she served in many roles, ending as the Assistant Director prior to leading the AIS project. Lynn is also an alumna of the College, and graduated with an AB in Biological Sciences. She also earned a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Lynn is an avid knitter, so feel free to ask, “Did you make that?” if you see her wearing an interesting scarf/shawl/hat in the colder months.

Email: marlon@uchicago.edu

Marlon Aguilar has been at the University of Chicago since fall of 2009. He has a Bachelors in Individual Studies with a focus on Music Business from Western Illinois University and a Master Recording Program technical degree from The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Tempe, Arizona where he learned analog, digital, and sound design for film and gaming. Today, Marlon is focused on AV system design and classroom support for our growing media classroom footprint as our AV Technology Manager. Marlon oversees both our AV Services team and our AV Engineering teams, and he consults across campus on AV projects large and small. Outside of work, Marlon enjoys doing freelance music production, recording, and performing.

Email: akallo@uchicago.edu

Allison is passionate about supporting instructors and their use of technology in teaching. She began collaborating with faculty at the University of Chicago when she joined IT Services in 2007, after working at Centrax, a Chicago-based instructional design firm. From 2015 to 2020 she continued her work with faculty at Booth School of Business, where she established a small Instructional Design team. She returned to IT Services in March of 2020, right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, to take up the role of Learning Design Manager, overseeing the very talented and focused team. Allison holds a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. 

Pat joined UChicago as the Director of Digital Accessibility in January 2020. She has a BS in Computer Science from Loyola University in New Orleans and an MFA in Writing from Lindenwood University. Pat has been a software developer, small business owner, web content editor, and business analyst. She has spent many years advocating for people who are blind or visually impaired, serving as both a volunteer and as a board member of a nonprofit serving children with visual impairments. Pat is dedicated to digital inclusion, ensuring equal access to digital assets for everyone.

Email: wrentz@uchicago.edu

Bill has been with the University of Chicago since 2006 and currently leads a team of 6 full-time staff and several student workers, supporting approximately 180 Registrar classrooms on campus.  The AVS team provides a wide range of technology, classroom and event support, consultations and media production services for the University community.  Bill’s past experience includes years as an audio engineer, TV news producer and then corporate media work at Accenture.  Bill holds an English B.A. and a master’s degree in telecommunications from Indiana University.  He also has a landscape design certificate from the Chicago Botanic Garden, with additional interests in all things technical, writing, photography, music (piano, guitar, trombone, sort-of violin) and spending time with his family.

Email: ahmed10@uchicago.edu

Mohammad Ahmed joined the University of Chicago in May 2016. He earned a BA in History from UIC and an MS in Information Systems from Northwestern University. Prior to joining UChicago, he held positions as a technology trainer, adjunct lecturer, technology consultant, and technology manager for Northwestern University, Oakton Community College, and MCC Academy. Mohammad has trained faculty as well as students in Canvas LMS, School Logic LMS, computer networking fundamentals and operating systems. Since joining the ATS, Mohammad has worked with the ATS for Instructional Design projects.

Email: dengyue@uchicago.edu

Yue Deng (they/them) is a PhD candidate in paleobiology, studying biotic interactions between two closely related clam groups over 400 million years of history. They have served as an instructional teaching assistant for evolution since their sophomore year of college, as well as for geology, ecology, and ancient Greek for shorter periods. Committed to enhancing the learning experience for undergrads university-wide, Yue hopes to ignite more conversations on educational technology through their position as an Instructional Technology Assistant.

Email: michaelhernandez@uchicago.edu

Michael joined ATS as an Academic Technology Analyst in May 2022. He brings a diverse background of experience in education, nonprofit, and corporate work. He has been a magazine writer, a tutor, a college instructor, a community college caseload manager, and more. As a former instructor of Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse at DePaul University and a program manager at the scholarship program One Million Degrees, Michael has spent much of his career seeking new ways to support student learning and success, often with the help of technology. Michael received his B.A. in English Education from Dominican University and his M.A. in English from DePaul University.

Email: trkeith@uchicago.edu

Thomas Keith earned his B.A. (Classics) from the University of Texas at Austin, and his M.A. and Ph.D. (Classics) from the University of Chicago. A former lecturer at Loyola University Chicago, he joined Academic Technology Solutions as a Digital Pedagogy Fellow in 2017, and began his current position in 2020. He has broad experience in designing and delivering workshops and working closely with faculty on issues pertaining to technology and pedagogy. His professional interests include academic integrity, collaborative work in the classroom, and artificial intelligence.

Dale S. Mertes has been at the University of Chicago since May of 2001.  He has a B.F.A in Media Arts and Animation from the Illinois Institute of Art.  Dale has worked closely with countless faculty and students on a vast variety of visualization projects.  His artistic and technical experience in 2D graphics, 3D animation, illustration, GIS, A/V, and publication have enhanced faculty research and educational materials. Dale’s ability to quickly learn and adapt creatively has allowed him to work with many different departments on campus in every division. Dale has also worked with faculty and doctors at the University of Chicago Hospitals creating 3D visualizations and medical illustrations for use in the classroom, patient education, and publication.  In addition to creating visualizations, Dale has taught illustration, graphic design, 2D animation, 3D animation, and instructional design at several colleges including the University of Chicago.

Email: joeolivier@uchicago.edu

Joe Olivier enjoys collaborating with faculty, staff, and students to develop resources and support for teaching with technology. Prior to joining ATS, he worked as a Senior Instructional Designer at DePaul University, where he developed and facilitated faculty development programs on the foundations of teaching and learning, flexible course design, and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). He has taught undergraduate first-year writing, field studies, and career development courses at DePaul. Joe received his master’s in English from DePaul and bachelor’s in Sociology from Loyola University New Orleans. Originally from Louisiana, Joe prefers fried shrimp po’ boys to Italian beef sandwiches.

Email: cwalker25@uchicago.edu

Cheryl Walker is an Instructional Designer who joined the University of Chicago in April 2016. Cheryl has over fifteen years of experience working with various learning management systems in many facets of higher education.  Cheryl received her Bachelors in Communications from Alabama A&M University and attained her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Olivet Nazarene University.  Prior to joining UChicago, she was an instructional designer for Council of Residential Specialists (CRS), Wiley Education Services, and Bankers Life.

Email: pdunn@uchicago.edu

Pat Dunn works as a Senior Project Manager for the Academic Technology Solutions group. He collaborates as a team member to design and manage audio-visual projects. These projects keep the university’s classroom teaching platforms refreshed with systems that are professionally installed with a discerning eye for emerging digital pedagogical function and unobtrusive aesthetics.

Pat has worked in numerous roles at the university since May of 1991.  Pat’s background encompasses a wide range of facilities-oriented technical skills and management experience. This experience includes new installations and ongoing maintenance in the fields of architecture, carpentry, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and plumbing.

Email: canvas@uchicago.edu

LaQuanda started her tenure with the University of Chicago in 2012.  She has over 17 years in IT related fields.  She received her B.S. degree in Technology Management with a minor in Computer Information Systems at Herzing University in Madison, WI.  Prior to being hired at the University of Chicago she worked for various companies as a Help Desk or Desktop Support technician.  She started out as a temporary employee on the Service Desk and was hired permanently in 2013 to support the LMS as an Academic Support Analyst.  In 2016 she became the Learning Technologies Application Administrator.  Her primary role is providing daily support as well as keeping the ongoing operations of the Learning Technology Applications stable.  She is persistent at solving pesky integration problems and patient when listening to vexing problems.  If you have ever called the University Canvas Support line or emailed canvas@uchicago.edu you have probably been helped by LaQuanda.

Email: guslacy@uchicago.edu

As the applications and computing specialist for classrooms, he is responsible for the technical needs of students, staff, and faculty. Since starting his tenure here  in 1995, he has managed diverse spaces from a simple 12 seat computer lab to six labs with over 180 computers, to being tech support lead for the department of Medicine in the hospital. In addition to overseeing the newly transitioned vLAB service to the remote app service, Gus manages two physical labs. He is one of the principal administrators for the campus video management system, Panopto. After work hours you will find him most times in a rehearsal or performing as he is a part time musician and singer. 

Email: iokonma@uchicago.edu

For more than two decades, Ifeanyi Okonma has served the University of Chicago through its central IT organization. Starting as a summer job in high school, through college, and now, he has contributed to the availability, deployment, management, and education of available technologies and solutions on campus. He is currently the digital media administration expert in the team, and also shares administrative duties of the campus video management platform. Additionally,he has extensive experience in computer networking, AV technology support, networked video, and some desktop and server support.  When not on the clock, Ifeanyi enjoys spending time with his family and friends, working out, playing soccer, watching documentaries, and rooting for his favorite sports teams.

Email: nikita@uchicago.edu

Nikita Campbell has been at The University of Chicago in the AVS department as a Multimedia Specialist since March of 2001. Her main responsibilities include assisting faculty, staff and students with technology in the classroom, as well as handling all AVS finances and assisting with managing the AVS office. She attended Chicago State University where she studied Sociology. When she’s not working, she enjoys traveling and exercising.

Email: mclark1@uchicago.edu

Mark has been at UChicago since 2018. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Film and Television Productions at Columbia College Chicago. He began his training as an Audio Visual Conference Technician while employed at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago. He furthered his skills while working in the Biological Science Department at the University of Chicago Medical Center as an Audio Visual Tech. Today Mark focuses on multimedia services and classroom support. When not working, he enjoys freelancing as a videographer for broadcast productions.

Email: finniganclair@uchicago.edu

Email: poulos@uchicago.edu

Email: saludr@uchicago.edu

Email: jauses@uchicago.edu

Jack joined the Center for Digital Accessibility as an Accessible Web Technology Specialist in January, 2020. Prior to the CDA, he spent 14 years in the ITS Web Services group where he was a Webby Award-winning lead front-end developer supporting colleagues across campus on a host of web projects. In addition to digital accessibility and universal design principles, his professional interests include web performance, development standards, and reducing technical friction for users.

Email: emly@uchicago.edu

Emily joined the CDA in January 2020 after 31 years at the University, 28 in IT Services. She pursued her interest in digital accessibility over time in various roles, including Manager of Computing Clusters and Classrooms, Director of Learning Environments, and Acting Director of IT Communications. In addition to the CPACC, Emily holds ATACP (Assistive Technology Applications Certificate Program) certification from CSUN (California State University, Northridge).

Email: kapica@uchicago.edu

Thalia joined the Center for Digital Accessibility as Senior Accessible Web Technology Specialist in January 2020, after 8 years in College IT working as lead web developer, web designer, and co-manager of the College Editorial Team. With a passion for good design and usability, Thalia is especially interested in the inclusive nature of digital accessibility. In addition to the CPACC, Thalia holds a certificate in Essentials of Project Management from the University of Chicago Graham School.