Dr. Michelle Pacansky-Brock

Dr. Michelle Pacansky-Brock is a noted leader in higher education with expertise in online teaching, course design, and professional development and advocate for access to higher education. Michelle’s work has helped college professors, instructional designers, and institutional leaders across the nation and beyond understand how to craft relevant, humanized online learning experiences that support the diverse needs of college students. Michelle's earliest memory of technology is from the 1980s when her dad pointed to his huge computer screen and said, "See that? That's a message from my co-worker." The simple notion that a computer could connect two people across distance formed her earliest thoughts about technology. Over the decades, Michelle's work has consistently examined the intersection of relationships, technology, and learning, emphasizing the vital role that emotions play in one's ability to achieve their full potential. In addition to holding positions in teaching and faculty development, she is an author, award-winning teacher, and has led two grants totaling $2 million that advanced a model of humanized online teaching across California public higher education. Currently, Michelle is leading statewide professional development efforts in support of AI literacy in California's community colleges.

Learn more about Michelle's background on her website.