Indianapolis, IN
January 17, 2025 – The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is thrilled to announce the appointment of two distinguished professionals, Dr. Stephanie Smith Budhai and Dr. Vanessa Dennen, to the Publishing Advisory Board for for Publishing effective January 9, 2025. These accomplished scholars bring a wealth of expertise and leadership to AECT’s ongoing efforts to advance excellence in educational publishing.
Dr.
Dr. Stephanie Smith Budhai joins the board from the Educational Technology program at the University of Delaware, with over a decade of publishing, faculty and leadership experience. She has authored nine books through renowned publishers such as ISTE, ASCD, Routledge, Corwin, and Myers Education Press, including a forthcoming justice-centered AI book through Harvard Education Press. Her contributions extend beyond authorship, as two of her works have been translated into Arabic, and one is in its second edition. In addition to books, Dr. Budhai has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and written over 80 practitioner articles and a quick reference guide for outlets such as Tech & Learning, Education Week, Faculty Focus, The Teaching Professor, and Corwin Connect.
Dr. Budhai’s educational background includes a PhD in Educational Leadership & Learning Technologies and dual master’s degrees in Library & Information Science and Counseling & Personnel Services. She has held various leadership roles, including serving as a Council Chair for the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE), Treasurer for the Pennsylvania Association for Educational Communications Technology (PAECT) southeast region, and Director of Graduate Education at Neumann University. Her expertise in learning design & technology, justice-centered pedagogies, and teacher and special education further enhances her ability to contribute meaningfully to AECT’s publishing initiatives. Dr. Budhai stated that in her new role “I hope to bring my breath and depth of experiences with myriad education publishers, criticality, and professional association leadership expertise, to support the work of AECT and grow their publication presence in the field.”
Dr. Vanessa Dennen
Dr. Vanessa Dennen, the Tyner Distinguished Professor of Education at Florida State University, also joins the board with an impressive academic and editorial background. A prolific scholar, Dr. Dennen has published more than 100 journal articles and book chapters and has co-edited four books, with two additional volumes in progress. She has served as Editor-in-Chief of The Internet and Higher Education, a top-tier academic journal, for a decade. Her editorial experience also includes guest editing for prestigious journals such as Educational Technology Research and Development (ETRD), Distance Education, and Online Learning.
Dr. Dennen holds a PhD in Instructional Systems Technology (IST) from Indiana University and has served as the ISLT program coordinator at Florida State University for 15 years. Her leadership roles within AECT and other professional organizations position her as a valuable asset in guiding the Center of Excellence for Publishing to new heights. Dr. Dennen noted that “working to ensure that AECT maintains its strengths in the area of quality publications is important, and it is an honor to be part of the advisory board.”
Remarks from Nolan Gruver, CEO of AECT
"I am delighted to welcome Dr. Stephanie Smith Budhai and Dr. Vanessa Dennen to the Publishing Advisory Board for the AECT Center of Excellence for Publishing. Their extensive experience and remarkable contributions to the field of educational publishing will undoubtedly enhance our efforts to advance excellence in this domain.
Dr. Budhai's impressive background in publishing, coupled with her leadership roles and dedication to justice-centered pedagogies, brings a unique and valuable perspective to our board. Her breadth of experience with various education publishers and her commitment to criticality and professional association leadership will be instrumental in supporting AECT's publishing initiatives.
Similarly, Dr. Dennen's prolific scholarly work and her editorial expertise with top-tier academic journals make her an invaluable asset to our board. Her leadership within AECT and other professional organizations positions her perfectly alongside the center’s other advisory board members to guide our Center of Excellence for Publishing to new heights.
Together, alongside their colleagues currently on the Publishing Advisory Board, Dr. Budhai, and Dr. Dennen will help shape the strategic direction of our publishing program, ensuring that AECT continues to produce high-quality publications that contribute to the advancement of educational technology and learning.
I look forward to working closely with both of them and am excited about the future of our publishing endeavors with their involvement."
Looking Forward
Dr. Saul Carliner, Chair of the Board for the Center of Excellence for Publishing, shared his enthusiasm for the new appointments, highlighting the unique strengths each member brings. “Dr. Budhai’s extensive experience as an author of several published books and her insights into the publishing process, combined with Dr. Dennen’s impressive editorial expertise with peer-reviewed journals, will be invaluable assets to the board,” said Carliner. He added that their contributions, alongside those of continuing members, will help shape the policies, procedures, and strategic direction of AECT’s publishing program for years to come.
Dr. Tonia Dousay, AECT President, expressed her excitement to have the new members on board and emphasized the importance of their contributions to the future of the organization's publications. She shared, “The Center of Excellence for Publishing is a critical part of steering AECT into the next 100 years. I look forward to working closely with this advisory board and am thrilled to see such prominent professionals like Dr. Dennen and Dr. Budhai appointed to this group.”
About the Association for Educational Communication and Technology (AECT)
AECT is an international organization that values diversity of thought, culture and people whose activities are directed toward improving learning. AECT members may be found in colleges and universities; in the Armed Forces and industry; in museums, libraries, and hospitals; and in any other places where educational change takes place. AECT members include instructional designers, researchers, professors and teachers, educational technologists, and other professionals united by a passion for improving teaching and learning with technology.