From working help desks and pulling cables to leading teams for the creation and learning of new technology management systems for higher education institutions, Sara Baber brings more than two decades of experience to her new position at Texas Southmost College.
Baber is TSC’s new Director of Educational Technology and Online Learning and said she is excited to be joining a growing community college that has room for technology growth and innovation.
“Two-year colleges like TSC are agile when it comes to keeping up with the ever-changing demands and needs of students and the workforce,” said Baber. “I’m excited to join the Scorpion family and lead the search and implementation for new innovative ways of serving our students.”
Baber comes to Brownsville from College Station where she was the Director of Online Learning for one of the Colleges at Texas A&M University. She oversaw the instructional design, development and implementation of online learning initiatives and collaborated with faculty and academic leadership to identify and implement innovative online programs and certificates. She has also held a number of leadership roles at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, University of Houston, University of North Texas and University of Texas.
“Now, more than ever, people have come to realize how important technology is for staying connected,” said Baber. “Not only is it essential for21st century learning, but it’s also a way to make sure students remain and feel connected to their learning environments. That’s always my goal.”
In fact, she purposely enrolled in an online doctoral degree program in Instructional Technology and Distance Education to learn first-hand what these classes entail and the challenges students face. Her experience as an online student enriched her understanding of these challenges and have helped shape her work with online program development and implementation.
“Completing an online graduate program was challenging, but it was one of the best things I could have done for my career,” said Baber. “It has allowed me to use best practices, research and my own experiences in my work.”
Baber received her doctorate degree in 2009 from Nova Southeastern University.She also holds a master’s degree in instructional psychology and technology from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree in administration and management from Oklahoma State University.
As TSC’s Director of Educational Technology and Online Learning, Baber will lead the development of strategic approaches for integrating technology into the educational environments of the college. In addition, she will provide support for all instructional technology to improve learning outcomes, facilitate technology-rich teaching, advance curricular innovation and provide professional development to support faculty with learning and training opportunities for the technology implemented within their curriculums.
“My ultimate goal is to support the mission and vision of the college and identify innovative ways to leverage technology in our classrooms,” she said. “By blending technology, teaching and learning, we can take TSC and its students to a new level.”
For more information about online courses available at TSC, visit tsc.edu.
