Staff
Robert Gray, PETAL Director
Robert Gray became the Director of the Program for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in July 2007. He holds a PhD in Instructional Technology from the University of Alabama, as well as a BA and MA in English, also from Alabama.
Gray has taught English at the University of Alabama, Michigan State University, and Troy State University, and he currently teaches part-time for the English Department at USA. He has worked as an Instructional Designer/Technologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Troy State, the Alabama Online High School, eCollege, and Outcomes, Inc.
Gray’s research interests include interaction, dialogism, blogging, streaming video, and qualitative and mixed methods research methodologies. He has also recently published two books of poetry.
EJ LeBlanc, PETAL Assistant
EJ LeBlanc became the PETAL Assistant in 2010. He holds a BAE in Secondary English Education from the University of North Florida and is completing his requirements for a Master's in Instructional Design and Development at the University of South Alabama.
EJ's interest in IDD began during his five years serving as an English teacher, where he discovered a passion for improving and creating educational systems. He is specifically interested in the promotion and design of instruction that fosters analytical, creative, critical, and systems thinking; new critical thinking, decision making, and instructional design models; the Web 2.0 movement and its potential for creating paperless institutions; lifelong learning; and innovations in education.
EJ also served five years in the US Navy as a Sonar Technician for Submarines. You can find out more about EJ at his website, www.ejleblanc.com.