Academic Assessment Committee Members

Carrie Adams, George A. Smathers Libraries

“Academic assessment is integral in education; it measures and promotes effectiveness in instruction and learning. Assessment allows us to not only identify where we are but also determine future directions for continuous improvement.” - Carrie Adams

Carrie D. Adams joined the University of Florida in 2021 as Program Director and Associate University Librarian for Borland Library; which supports faculty, students, staff, and clinicians of UF Health Jacksonville. She holds master’s degrees in Library and Information Science as well as Instructional Design and Technology. Her research interests include the impact of instructional design in libraries and educational technology for improving consumer health literacy.

Joslyn Ahlgren, College of Health and Human Performance

"There is good evidence in support of the role of assessments in deep learning and in retention of knowledge.  Creating fair, equitable, usable mechanisms to capture student learning is pivotal to helping students get the most of their courses and their programs." -Dr. Josyln Ahlgren

Dr. Ahlgren joined the University of Florida’s College of Health & Human Performance as a Lecturer in August of 2009. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Kansas State University followed by her Doctorate from the Department of Physiological Sciences in UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine. As a student, Dr. Ahlgren studied the impacts of exercise on areas of the brain that control hemorrhagic shock. Now, as an Instructional Professor, Dr. Ahlgren spends the great majority of her time teaching rather than researching, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. And as the Undergraduate Coordinator in APK, she is heavily involved in curriculum development. 

Ferol Carytsas, College of the Arts

"Assessment plays a multi-faceted role by telling stories about courses, curricula, and programs. Designing effective tools catalyzes academic achievement. Quality assessments ask and answer the question 'why?'" - Ferol Carytsas

Ferol Carytsas is Assistant Director and Lecturer with the UF Center for Arts in Medicine. Ferol’s interest in curriculum design led her to co-develop the Undergraduate Certificate in Music in Medicine at UF. Her Music and Health course was runner-up winner for the UFIT Exceptional Course Development award.  In addition, she was one of the 2019 recipients of the UF Office of Teaching Excellence's Rising Star Award. In 2020, she was selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of UF's OER Learning Community for her upcoming OER textbook, The Impact of Music on Health. Inspired by similar programs, she established the UF Health Music Ensemble fostering community, team building and a peer-to-peer environment among UF Health faculty, staff, students, and alumni. 

Lori Dassa, College of Education

"Assessment is an ideal process that allows us to reflect upon what we do.  It also gives us the opportunity and concrete data to help develop how we can make “what we do” more effective. Assessment helps us understand the strengths and weaknesses of our learners, programs and institutions." - Lori Dassa

Dr. Lori Dassa is the Director of Clinical Experiences and Partnerships for the College of Education at the University of Florida.  She currently maintains collaborative relationships with partner schools and community agencies, acts as a representative for clinical opportunities, evaluates college data and develops/conducts Clinical Education and Supervision Training sessions. As a Clinical Faculty member, her research focuses on examining the past, present and future of teacher candidates, and her publications support these areas. The purpose is to ensure beginning teacher success in the classroom through solid teacher preparation training pipelining to teacher retention. 

Leandro Dias Teixeira, IFAS

Dr. Leandro Dias Teixeira has a PhD in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida. He has a master's degree in Biotechnology and Genomic sciences from the Universidade Catolica de Brasilia, and a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science from the Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Goias. Dr. Teixeira is currently an instructional associate professor at the University of Florida and academic advisor of microbiology students. Dr. Teixeira has 20 years of experience working as a University Lecturer, teaching microbiology, immunology and cytopathology to undergraduate student from the course of Biomedicine (Biomedical Science).

Ifigeneia Giannadaki, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

"I am excited to have been appointed to the Academic Assessment Committee. I am looking forward to working with the other committee members over the review of Academic Learning Compacts and Student Learning Outcomes in an extremely wide range of programs (undergraduate, graduate, professional and certificate academic programs) at the University of Florida." - Ifigeneia Giannadaki

Dr. Ifigeneia Giannadaki is Assistant Professor in Classics and serves as the Cassas Chair in Greek Studies at the University of Florida (Department of Classics and Center for Greek Studies). She was educated in Greece (University of Crete) and the UK (University College London) and has taught in several HE institutions in Greece and the UK before moving to the US. Her research interests lie in ancient Greek law, legal and socio-political history, rhetoric and politics. She is the author of A Commentary on Demosthenes, Against Androtion (2020, Oxford University Press) and co-editor of a collective volume on Use and Abuse of Law in the Athenian Courts (2018, Brill). Her published work ranges from Greek oratory and rhetoric to political and constitutional matters, ancient politics and democratic procedures. Her teaching spans Attic Oratory, Greek history, Demosthenes, Athenian democracy, Democracy in Theory and Action, Ancient Greek, and Modern Greek languages.

Melissa Mellon, University Writing Program

Dr. Melissa Mellon is an assistant instructional professor at the University Writing Program, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Morgan Rich, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Morgan Rich is the Assistant Director of the Center for European Studies at the University of Florida. She holds a Ph.D. in Historical Musicology from the University of Florida (2016), M.M. in Musicology from Bowling Green State University (2008), and a B.S. in Music History and Literature from Indiana State University. She is also a Research Ambassador for DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, German Academic Exchange Service).

Parker Rossignol, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Student)

I am a senior pursuing a double major in Economics and Political Science, with a minor in Mass Communication (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences). When I graduate, I hope to work in government/public relations. I am also currently serving as the Academic Affairs Executive Secretary within Student Government, so I am looking forward to my deep dive into all things curriculum this school year.

Matthew Ryan, College of Medicine

"Academic Assessment is vital to the continued growth and improvement of educational programs.  Assessment helps ensure students are learning what they need to learn as outlined in the curriculum and provides important feedback to help programs refocus as needed to target key areas effectively through curricular changes and teaching methods." - Matthew Ryan   

Matthew Ryan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Ryan, who hails from New York, received his Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Florida and his medical degree from Indiana University. In between the two, he was Associate Professor of Chemistry at Purdue University Northwest. Dr. Ryan currently serves on the UF Curriculum Committee and UF COM Program Evaluation Committee. He joined the faculty at UF in 2008 and his educational interests are in curriculum development and assessment, medical student and residency mentoring and training and innovation in medical education.

Judi Schack-Dugre, College of Public Health and Health Professions

“Ongoing academic assessment is vital to any educational endeavor to identify if the learner is learning what is intended. One measure of assessment is developing clear expectations so the learner understands what they are to learn by engaging in the learning activities and the outcome can be objectified. Once analyzed, assessment results are a means of support for programs and students to optimize learning and student success.” - Judi Schack-Dugre

Judi Schack-Dugre is the Director of Clinical Education for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. She has an extensive background in university service. Her professional experience includes being a clinician, a business owner/administrator, academic administrator, and educator. She has developed two online degree programs at the master’s and Doctoral level and brought them through regional accreditation. She holds a bachelor’s and Doctorate degree in physical therapy, Masters’ degree in business administration (Executive curriculum) and doctorate degree in education. She is a Distinguished Scholar Fellow with the National Academies of Practice. Her research includes topics in online education and clinical education.

Richard Scholtz, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

Dr. Richard V. Scholtz, III is a Senior Lecturer in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department. Richard has taught a wide variety of lecture and laboratory engineering courses at the upper-division and graduate level. His teaching responsibilities are split between the Biological Engineering (BE) and Agricultural Operations Management (AOM) programs, teaching 8 courses annually.

Michelle Tillander, College of the Arts

“Arts assessment for me suggests that appropriate ways of prioritizing assessment purposes include student arts learning, a balance of art activities, reflection, and dialogue. What dynamically impacts my approach to assessment and use of assessment in arts learning are a consideration of skill sets (physical, cognitive, and social), the curriculum, the oftentimes spontaneous responses in the art room, and school culture that harnesses creativity and diversity, as well as a critical understanding of how knowledge is constructed— that is how we come to know.” Michelle Tillander 

Michelle Tillander is an Associate Professor in the School of Art and Art History and an affiliate faculty in the Center for Arts and Medicine. She earned her MFA from Old Dominion/Norfolk University and her PhD from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Tillander is an artist/art educator specializing in engaging art education, technology, and culture as integrated processes and approaches to expand art educational technology practice. Conceptualizing, creating and implementing are her passions as exemplified with the creation of the online UF MA in Art Education in 2009. Dr. Tillander worked with Pinellas County Schools five-year DOE grant Elevate A. R. T. S. (Arts Relationships Technology Steam, 2014). Current research projects include Visual Knowledge Building: Art Instruction to Develop Analytic and Critical Thinking in a Veterinary Medical Curriculum. She has several upcoming chapters “Explorations for Decolonizing the Curriculum in Regard to Technology (2023)” and “Running the Numbers: Rich and Dense Everydayness Stories with Data (2024).”