Date: March 9, 2007
Contact: Eric Matanyi
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-4044
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: e-matanyi@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, Illinois, March 9, 2007 - Governors State University (GSU) announced the hiring of Eric Wignall, as the Coordinator of the Center for Online Teaching and Learning (COTL). Wignall will lead the university’s distance education strategy and operations, which includes instructional design and program development.
Wignall, of Hobart, Indiana, comes to Governors State with more than 20 years of leadership in instructional technology and distance education planning. Previously, he served as Director of Purdue Calumet University’s Office of Instructional Technology and Educational Media where he was responsible for developing educational technology plans, the university’s Educational Media Lab, and related faculty development. He also helped launch a university-wide faculty development program in distance education planning and design.
As the Coordinator of COTL, Wignall will head Governors State’s online instructional design services and help expand the university’s distance education offerings.
“Eric will help us move to the next level of implementation in our online program delivery strategy. He and his team will help the faculty design student friendly, high-quality online programs. We are excited to have him here to continue the work of the Center”, said John Stoll, Dean of Governors State University’s School of Interdisciplinary Learning.
“I am excited to work for a growing and vital university that provides such a positive impact throughout the Midwest. We have an opportunity to craft a diverse set of courses and programs that can reach learners through the Internet, cable television, and podcasts almost anywhere in the world,” said Wignall.
Wignall received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University, a master’s degree from the University of Essex in Colchester, UK, and is working to complete his PhD at Purdue University. He has published and presented on distance education, media design, and assessment in the U.S., England, and South Africa.
Governors State University, located in University Park, Illinois, offers 47 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees. Its mission is to educate traditionally underserved populations and cultivate strong community partnerships. GSU is tailored to the needs of working adults and offers conveniently scheduled courses, the lowest public tuition in Illinois, and financial aid for part and full-time students. The university currently has an enrollment of approximately 6,000 students.
