EKU Online - eCasts

Our guests on this week’s eCast are math professors Pat Coen and Mark Grogan along with instructional designer Mary Henson. They are co-recipients of the 2020 International Blackboard award for Teaching and Learning.  Join us as we learn of their efforts in turning around a math course from a 70% DFW rate to a 70% pass rate – an incredible accomplishment for a STEM discipline like math. They speak of the changes, technologically, pedagogically, and in its design that helped them achieve such results.  Please join us for a fascinating discussion

On this week’s eCast we sit down with Michael Hartman, adjunct professor in the Department of Computer Science, specializing in the area of game design. Mr. Hartman has over four decades of experience in game design, founded two studios and has published multiple titles throughout his career. An expert in game theory, gamification and e-Commerce, Michael gives us an overview of the exploding field of game design which has become a 125 billion dollar a year industry and also breaks down the Master’s in Computer Science at EKU along with the various concentrations and certificate options in this exciting field. Join us for a fascinating discussion!

As March is Social Work Month, on this week’s eCast we sit down with Dr. Caroline Reid of EKU’s Social Work Program. Dr. Reid shares how EKU is preparing the next generation of social workers in the face of many challenging issues including addictions, mental health problems, and the rampant opioid crisis.  Please join us for a timely and fascinating discussion about these and other relevant topics.

On this week’s eCast episode, we sit down with Dr. Siwei Gao, the Thomas and Rebecca Coffey Professor of Insurance Studies and Debbie Ellis, program coordinator of the RMI program. Known for excellence in teaching, Dr. Gao speaks to us on topics ranging from the RMI program to ways to mitigate insurance fraud, while Debbie shares with us the many outstanding opportunities available for students in the program.  Join us for an engaging look inside this exciting field.

On this week’s eCast episode, please join us as we speak with Dr. Michelle Gremp, Associate Professor in the College of Education. Serving in the roles of Coordinator of the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program and Special Education Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Gremp discusses a wide range of topics from her passion for teaching online to the somewhat negative cultural response of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.  Please join us for an engaging look at this unique and interesting discipline.

This week’s eCast episode features a conversation with Dr. Jennifer Fairchild, Professor of Communication at Eastern Kentucky University. Dr. Fairchild teaches both on campus and online and is also the program coordinator. Join us as we drill down into the versatility of a degree or certificate from the program, the effects of Covid-19 on how we communicate and the continuing research of Dr. Fairchild involving women’s narrative reconstruction post-miscarriage and the social support offered to women post-miscarriage.

On this week’s eCast episode, please join us as we speak with Dr. Beth Polin, Associate Professor in the Department of Management | Marketing & International Business in the College of Business and Technology. Known to be an outstanding instructor, Dr. Polin discusses a wide range of topics including teaching online creatively to the economic impact the pandemic has had on the United States. Please join us for an engaging look at the discipline of management.

On this week’s eCast episode, we sit down with Dr. Ryan Baggett, the Interim Dean of the EKU Graduate School and Professor in the Homeland Security program. Known for excellence in teaching both on-campus and online, Dr. Baggett discusses a wide range of topics from the various degrees offered from one of the leading and largest Homeland Security programs in the country to the recent events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Join us for a fascinating look inside this exciting field.

To kick off Season 2 of EKU Online's eCast series, we sit down with Professor Joshua Reichert from the Fire Protection & Safety Technology Engineering Program. Known for effective online student engagement, Professor Reichert expands upon the different degree programs within the highly regarded Fire and Safety Program at EKU and shares insight on strategies for connecting with students.

Please join us this week as we speak with Dr. Stephen Sumithran, associate professor in the department of biological sciences and online coordinator for the Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees in General Studies. Known for his exceptional online teaching and long time work with e-Campus, Dr. Sumithran is also an avid adventurer and touches on his research in India, annual safari trips and his passion for nature.