Over winter break, Dr. Andrew Pron was hired to help develop online learning and technology in the classroom.
Before Pron was hired by Cabrini he worked for a company called the educational information Resource Center and an instructional designer for K-12 schools.
“One of the goals is to increase our online presence as we develop hybrid and totally online programs for students at Cabrini,” Pron said.
Pron was hired by a search committee consisting of faculty and Dr. Jeffrey Gingerich, provost and vice president of academic affairs.
“He brings some great experience to the position. He has a doctorate in this area so he knows the field. He knows the best practices,” Gingerich said.
“When he came to campus people just really liked him and felt like he could be a really good fit here and his personality would fit well with the work of the faculty.”
When hiring anyone to work at Cabrini they look for the best person possible and the best fit for Cabrini, as well.
“In today’s world a big part of higher education is thinking about technology and we know that students are looking for other ways of learning and not just sitting in a classroom all the time listening to lectures,” Gingerich said.
Cabrini has never had an instructional designer before but with the advancement in technology in online classes and an online grading system, it adds additional support.
“It’s been something we’ve been saying we’ve needed for quite a while,” Gingerich said. “Faculty has been asking for the additional support with online courses and technology so it’s a new position. In many ways it’s a way for Dr. Pron to shape it to the way he wants it.”
Pron hopes to have a positive impact in terms of service learning and grow instructional technology.
“Being here for the short time I have so far has allowed me to see how welcoming it is,”Pron said. “It feels like a family and that was something I was looking for, that close knit group of people to work with and also the ability to take the instructional design program from the ground up and build it over time.”
