Rick West is a doctoral candidate at the University of Georgia. He's been a member of AECT for two years and is also a member of AERA and AACE. He is currently a research assistant in the Learning and Performance Support Laboratory, and his personal research interests include designing instructional systems and environments that support developmental change in individuals and institutions, as well as studying emerging technologies for fostering computer-supported collaborative learning.

He recently graduated from Brigham Young University with an M.S. in Instructional Psychology and Technology. While at BYU, Rick was the lead investigator on several projects, including a campus-wide evaluation of the implementation and adoption of the Blackboard Course Management System. He also served as the president-elect and president of the department's student organization.