Our Team
Dr. Katie Sprute
Senior Faculty Chair
Dr. Katie Sprute is the 2025 L.O.P.E. Conference Chair and a seasoned leader with 20 years of experience in education, project management, and leadership. Since joining Grand Canyon University in 2013, she has served as a Faculty Chair in the Department of Online Teaching and Learning (DoTL) for nearly a decade and as an assistant professor in the College of Education.
Beyond her role at GCU, Dr. Sprute is the co-owner of a small business, as well as a consultant, active community volunteer and researcher. Her research interests include structural empowerment, job embeddedness, AI applications in higher education, online teaching and learning, and strategies for fostering community among remote employees.
Dr. Sprute holds a Ph.D. in General Psychology with an emphasis in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Sheila Damiani
Dr. Damiani serves as the 2025 L.O.P.E. Conference Co-Chair, bringing her passion for academic excellence and online learning to the forefront. A lifelong educator, she has been with Grand Canyon University since 2012 and currently serves as a Senior Faculty Chair for the Department of Online Teaching and Learning, where she leads a team of online full-time faculty. With a B.A. in Elementary Education from Arizona State University, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, and an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Higher Education from GCU, Dr. Damiani combines academic expertise with practical experience. She is deeply committed to fostering professional growth, staying at the forefront of evolving educational trends, and supporting her department through professional development initiatives. A frequent presenter at conferences, Dr. Damiani focuses on advancing online education while inspiring and empowering educators to pursue excellence in their fields.
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Remilyn Mueller
Remilyn is an online full-time faculty at Grand Canyon University. She has a Ph.D. in General Psychology, a Master’s in Communications, and a Bachelor’s in Education. Her interest and motivation to embrace AI technologies stem from her mottoes, “Work ahead, not behind,” and “Be proactive, not reactive.” Artificial intelligence will never be able to replace humans. But humans who know how to use artificial intelligence would replace those who don’t. In this
regard, educators should be the frontrunners in advocating for the proper and ethical use of artificial intelligence.
Steve Hughes
Steve Hughes is an online mathematics instructor at DOTL. His research investigates the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in education. He is dedicated to creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment for his students. He will present “Beyond the Basics: Leveraging Technology for Pedagogical Innovation” at the upcoming PD day in February. You can contact him at [email protected].
Dr. Lynn Basko
Lynn Basko, Ed.D. is a Full Professor at Grand Canyon University in the College of Education. In addition to teaching courses full time, she presents at education conferences, including the National Association of Teacher Educators Conference in 2023. She has published articles on various topics, including online teaching tools, efficiency tips for online educators, and volunteer motivations. She continues to research strategies for reducing stress for teachers, helping online instructors reach their students in a more relational way, and how to encourage teamwork in the education field.
Lindy Gaudiano, PhD
Assistant Dean
Dr. Lindy Gaudiano holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Elementary Education Reading. She is a certified Elementary Educator and Reading Specialist, bringing extensive experience in early childhood literacy and curriculum development. She earned her PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, further expanding her expertise in leadership, organizational development, and educational effectiveness.
Dr. Gaudiano began her career teaching in the public school system before transitioning to Higher Education, where she now serves as an Assistant Dean. Passionate about student success and innovative program development, Dr. Gaudiano continues to contribute to the field through research, instruction, and leadership in higher education.
Dr. Alexis Register
Dr. Alexis earned her PhD in General Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition and Instruction in 2021. Her dissertation, “Elements of Self-Transcendence to Combat Volunteer Compassion Fatigue,” is a seminal work that addresses critical issues in psychological resilience and volunteer well-being. A member of the American Psychological Association since 2020, From 2014 to 2017, SPSP since 2024, and she served on the board of the Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching, and from 2013 to 2014, she was the faculty lead for the same center. Her editorial expertise was showcased during her tenure as the Assistant Managing Editor for the Journal of Non-Significant Differences from 2013 to 2014. She currently sits on the AI Committee at Grand Canyon University. Also served as a Subject matter expert for courses, including Adult Development, Experimental Psychology, and Introduction to Psychology. Currently, she is a valued dissertation content expert committee member, guiding doctoral candidates through their research journeys
Keith Rogers
Keith is an instructor in the Department of Online Teaching and Learning (D.O.T.L.) at Grand Canyon University. He has over 20 years of experience in education as an Instructor, Trainer, and Assistant to the Chancellor. He has 17 years’ experience as an Ordained Minister. Keith’s educational journey has taken him through Indiana University, Cleveland State University, and Grand Canyon University. Over the years, he has built a diverse career across the medical, hospitality, government, and education industries. While finding joy in serving others in these fields, his greatest passion is teaching. Keith firmly believes that God has guided him to this path and is excited to continue embracing opportunities to teach and make a difference in others’ lives. Keith is dedicated to fulfilling the assignments God has placed before him and embracing the journey ahead. You can connect with Keith at [email protected].
Monica Perrone
Monica Perrone is an experienced educator with over 13 years of service at Grand Canyon University, where she teaches critical thinking courses in the Department of Online Teaching and Learning (D.O.T.L.). Holding a master’s in educational leadership, Monica has a strong background in fostering students’ analytical and problem-solving skills, emphasizing the importance of questioning assumptions and evaluating information critically.
Although her primary focus is on education and critical thinking, Monica is deeply interested in how emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence, can shape the way we teach, learn, and make decisions. She is particularly passionate about exploring the ethical challenges AI presents and how it can be used to enhance educational practices while ensuring a human-centered approach to learning.
Sean Sullivan
Sean is the Director of Curriculum Design and Development for Grand Canyon Education, with a background in Instructional Design and Educational Technology. He leads his team of curriculum managers, developers, instructional designers, and curriculum editors to effectively collaborate and build strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders including educators, administrators, and industry experts. Sean is passionate about the intersection of technology and education to enhance curriculum, instruction, and learning for all students.
Stefan Koukoudeas
Stefan Koukoudeas serves as a Faculty Chair for the Department of Online Teaching and Learning (DoTL) at Grand Canyon University. With two decades of leadership experience in higher education, including a significant tenure at GCU since 2007, he brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to his role. His contributions extend beyond his administrative responsibilities, as evidenced by his active participation in multiple university committees, reflecting his dedication to institutional advancement. Stefan holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and History from Arizona State University, as well as a Master of Education with an emphasis in Secondary Education and a Master of Science in General Psychology from GCU. His diverse academic background integrates theoretical expertise with practical experience, enriching his contributions to the university community.
Emily Farkas
Emily’s over 20 years of experience in education has included teaching middle schoolers ELA in Tile I schools, teaching first grade-college aged students English abroad through a Fulbright Teacher Exchange, and teaching undergraduate teacher preparation courses for GCU. She has extended her love of education through working in GCU’s College of Education as the Program
Director for the newly established Canyon Center for Character Education and by mentoring student teachers as a Faculty Supervisor.
Emily recently completed the MA Character Education program at the University of Birmingham in the UK and is intrigued by the enormous potential impact character education can make. She is passionate about making positive impacts in the lives of many and mentoring individuals to seek both academic and personal gains.
Tirumala Rao Chimpiri
Tirumala Rao Chimpiri is a Senior Programmer Analyst at Stony Brook University, NY. He is a seasoned software professional with over 26 years of experience, specializing in enterprise technology & solutions, and cloud-based applications, with a primary focus on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Actively engaged in the tech community, he serves as a committee member for various IEEE, ACM, and AIS-approved national and international conferences, as well as a reviewer and judge for industry awards evaluating innovative technologies. His publications on ERP, Higher Education, Artificial Intelligence, and cloud computing have been featured in prestigious technology journals, highlighting his contributions to ERP and Higher Education.
Dr. Ashley Brandon
Ashley Brandon received her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Northcentral University. Her doctoral and master’s work focused on serving English Language Learners in the K-12 environment. Ashley holds a Master’s degree in Character Education, as well as a Master’s degree in Leadership and Teaching English as a Second Language, a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and Associate’s degree of Arts in General Studies and an Associate’s degree of Arts with emphasis in Elementary Education.
Ashley is the Assistant Director for the Canyon Center for Character Education at Grand Canyon University. In this role, she is serving leaders, educators and students in cultivating a flourishing society through virtue formation and development of practical wisdom. Ashley was a primary education teacher for over seven years, teaching grades K-6. She is also an instructor for higher education in the field of education for over 12 years, supporting students in a variety of education courses. Her passion is education and making a difference in the lives of students.
Rick Holbeck
Rick Holbeck, EdS, is the Executive Director of the Department of Online Teaching and Learning at Grand Canyon University and editor of the Journal of Instructional Research. With over 30 years in education, he is dedicated to enhancing online learning and academic excellence. Currently pursuing an EdD in Instructional Technology, Rick researches generative AI technologies in online teaching. He also teaches educational leadership and graduate education courses. A respected leader and scholar, Rick frequently presents on instructional technology and ethical issues, contributing to the advancement of education through innovation and a forward-thinking approach.