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Kiley Forsythe has been the Instructional Design Manager at the Center for Distance Education since 2023, and has worked with instructional design at the Center since 2018. Her interests include writing pedagogy, online pedagogy, student success through faculty success, UDL, and academic integrity. Kiley holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English from Mississippi State University; she holds certifications in writing center tutoring and alternate route teaching for K-12. She holds professional certifications from Quality Matters and The Online Learning Consortium. She is the 2020 recipient of the UPCEA South Emerging Professional, Continuing and Online Education Leader award.
Email: k.forsythe@msstate.edu

Arianne Hainsey is an Instructional Designer with the Center for Distance Education. Her professional background in teaching foreign languages at Mississippi State and her dedication to faculty success paved the way for her instructional design career. Over the years, she has represented MSU at national and state conferences presenting on topics related to online instruction and instructional technology. Arianne is credentialed through Quality Matters and holds an Instructional Design Certificate from the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). Her interests include faculty professional development, active learning, and online course organization. In her off time, she enjoys gardening, rewatching Parks and Recreation, and spending time with her family.
Email: arianne.hainsey@msstate.edu

Darian Saffold is a Systems Analyst for the Center for Distance Education (CDE). Prior he was an Instructional Technology Specialist for CDE and served as Systems Analyst at the National Strategic Planning and Research Center. His interests include Canvas course design, utilization of the Canvas API, and student success through instructional technologies and services. Darian holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on Business Information Systems from Mississippi State University and has professional certification from Instructure.
Email: d.saffold@msstate.edu

Jared Jones joined the Center for Distance Education in July 2023 as an Instructional Designer. Prior to that, he worked as a lead instructional designer for the Emory College Online team at Emory University. His interests include Universal Design for Learning (UDL), video production, academic technology, and supporting faculty create humanized online learning experiences. Jared holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Mississippi State University, a Master of Divinity degree from Columbia Theological Seminary, and is completing a PhD in Historical Studies in Theology and Religion at Emory University.
Email: jared.jones@msstate.edu

Jenna Schmidt is the Instructional Resource Consultant for the Center for Distance Education. She previously worked for the Department of K-12 Outreach in the Bagley College of Engineering, where she developed curriculum for S.T.E.M summer camps and other outreach events for K-12 students in Mississippi. Jenna holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Instructional Technology, both of which are from Mississippi State University. Her interests include online resource development, emerging technologies in education, and multimedia design.
Email: jenna.schmidt@msstate.edu

Tracy Craven has been Associate Director for the Center for Distance Education (CDE) since June 2023. Prior she was the Instructional Technology Manager at CDE for ten years. Her interests include accessible course design, universal design for learning, and online program technology. Tracy holds a BS in Geosciences with a focus on Operational Meteorology and a MS in Instructional Technology both from Mississippi State University. She holds certifications in Accessibility, Leadership in Online Learning, and Faculty Foundations all from the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) and has certification from Quality Matters. Tracy has completed the Senior Directors Institute through the EDUCAUSE organization; she has completed the Mississippi State’s Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals (LEAP) program and the Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) through OLC. In 2021, Tracy received the Zacharias Distinguished Staff Award, the highest award given to Mississippi State staff members.
Email: t.craven@msstate.edu