Michael Willits Email & Phone Number

Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Championed Slover’s strategic vision and priorities with the Slover Library Foundation, Norfolk PublicLibrary, the Friends of Norfolk Public Library, and other major supporting organizations. Promoted Slover’s extensive resources and services among the local business community including BizConnect Hampton Roads, Norfolk Innovation Corridor, and Selden Market. Produced, with members of the administrative leadership team and external partners, Imagine The Slover 2030, a comprehensive strategic planning initiative; contributed expertise during data collection and assessment stages, as well as to the design and development of overall plan for implementation and evaluation. Strengthened, with members of the administrative leadership team, organizational culture and climate through data-informed practices that identify and prioritize DEI in staff recruitment, retention, and compensation, library collection development and community lifelong learning programs, and strategic budgeting. Coordinated with CivicLab Norfolk on a “data dashboard” project to aggregate, automate, and visualize The Slover’s performance data across multiple online and proprietary sources.

Norfolk, Virginia

Contributed, as administrative leadership team member, to organizational, operational, and budgetary restructuring, resulting in establishment of The Slover as a new city department in January 2019. Co-authored and led the implementation of over $700K in grant-funded technology projects supported by the Slover Library Foundation and the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. Created, with CivicLab Norfolk, comprehensive dataset on Norfolk’s Open Data Portal containing performance measures for The Slover’s Creative Studios; results include an active dataset with 490 views and 265 download, as well as an associated data story, A space for creativity: Slover Library Creative Studios, with 1,032 views since 2020. Developed and managed The Slover’s Programming & Community Services Division and its Innovation & Technology Services Division. Responsible for department’s array of community-based lifelong learning and community engagement programs, the Creative Studios program, and the department’s strategic communications and technology development initiatives.

Norfolk, Virginia

Established and led the Creative Studios program offering access to professional-level technologies and extensive resources for artists, craftspeople, designers, and makers; results include over 5,300 hours of studio use by patrons since 2018 and featured projects such as hosting video productions by a former CNN producer and the Girl Scouts, to coordinating 3D printing projects with entrepreneurs and local organizations such as CHKD, ODU, and the Hermitage Museum.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

While at The Center for Educational Partnerships, produced a series of web-based narrated video segments highlighting each of five lesson plans guiding a professional development institute for high school science teachers. Used Adobe Premiere for cataloging, tagging, and post-production of approximately 100 hours of video footage. Consulted with SME regarding storyboard development, created additional media assets, composed narration scripts, and conducted recording sessions with voiceover talent. Analyzed Military Connected Families program curriculum to develop detailed revision recommendations for learning objectives, content sequencing, and presentation.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

Independently responsible as Instructor-of-Record for facilitating face-to-face class sessions with undergraduate students enrolled in STEM 251G: Computer Literacy: Communication & Information (2 sections, 30 students per section). Within a computer learning lab environment, instructed and evaluated student performance on basic- and intermediate-level knowledge and skills with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint). Guided students as they worked independently and in teams to create projects demonstrating their understanding of information literacy concepts and using technology to communicate effectively with various audiences. Actively coordinated frequent communication about course duties and expectations with students via multiple channels including one-on-one advising sessions, Blackboard LMS, course blog (Wordpress and Blogger), and Twitter.

Norfolk, Virginia

Independently responsible as Instructor-of-Record for facilitating face-to-face class sessions with students enrolled STEM 110T: Technology & Your World (5 sections, 30 students per section). Within an active learning lab classroom, guided students in examining and the evolution and effects of technological systems on individuals and society. Integrated project-based learning activities, guest speakers, and critical classroom discussions to help students synthesize a broad array of socio-technological concepts such as 3D printing, biotechnology, communication technologies, and urban planning. Led two teams of students in competing at the annual StartNorfolk entrepreneurial start-up competition, for which one team reached the final round of concept pitches for their idea that originated during the class. Guided students as they worked independently and in teams to create projects demonstrating their grasp of course concepts. Actively coordinated frequent communication about course duties and expectations with students via multiple channels including one-on-one advising sessions, Blackboard LMS, course blog (Wordpress and Blogger), and Twitter.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

During a 1-year grant funded position, collaborated on planning, designing, and developing interactive online courses on behalf of and in cooperation with 18 public school divisions in southeastern Virginia. Led small virtual teams of content developers to produce Virginia Standards of Learning (VA SoL) linked courses in astronomy, biology, oceanography, and world geography. Used authoring tools including Articulate Rapid eLearning Studio, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Camtasia, SnagIt, and Raptivity to produce highly interactive and accessibility standards-compliant content guided by Gagne’s 9 Events of Instruction in a Desire2Learn LMS environment.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

While in the Center for Learning & Teaching, assisted with designing and developing a computer-based training (CBT) series of narrated and interactive lesson modules for the Navy Expeditionary Logistics (ExLog) Combat Command. Guided by the ADDIE process, used Articulate Rapid eLearning Studio to author lesson and assessment modules, created supporting materials, wrote narration scripts, and coordinated recording sessions with voiceover talent. Completed extensive HTML, PHP, and multimedia content revisions for the online Dental Hygiene Program. Designed and facilitated workshops on WordPress, Twitter, and other Web 2.0 technologies for teaching and learning. Spearheaded project to compile over 200 social media best practices in education, corporate, government, and non-profit organizations.

Fredericksburg, Virginia

As a member of the Division of Teaching & Learning Technologies, consulted and led workshops for faculty on instructional design strategies and classroom- and web-based technologies, including WordPress. Assisted with cost-benefit analysis and faculty user experience LMS evaluation of Angel, Blackboard Learn, Desire2Learn, Moodle, and Sakai. Assisted with establishing evaluation criteria and setting up testing environments. Conducted faculty user training, administered surveys, and hosted regular focus groups. Assisted with administration of umwblogs.org, including setting up course blogs, performing MySQL database maintenance in a LAMP server environment, and customizing HTML, CSS, and PHP code to meet specific technical and instructional needs.

Newport News, Virginia

Designed, developed, and administered with a faculty member a WordPress Multisite social network entitled, Pop Academy: A Social Network of Cultural Criticism, to support a hybrid course of 250 students across multiple sections. Assisted in LMS evaluation, pilot testing, and faculty user experience testing of Blackboard Learn and Moodle. Supervised and mentored eight students in the digital media production studio as they planned, produced, and broadcasted live and pre-recorded news programs for the student community.

Athens, Ohio

Served as the official elected representative for approximately 3,500 graduate students. Supervised three executive officers and managed activities of multiple project teams. Balanced needs of multiple constituencies on issues including institutional vision, university budgetary recommendations, and policymaking. Spearheaded a two-year restructuring of governing policies and operating procedures. Guided reformation of the $35,000 graduate research grant program.

Athens, Ohio

Aided with conducting focus groups and drafting content for a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis on improving career development initiatives. Acknowledged by supervisor for excellence in providing one-on-one consultations and leading dozens of professional development workshops. Nurtured relationships with faculty resulting in repeated requests for in-class presentations and seminars.

New York City

Improved accountability and accuracy of reporting for $3 million in billable hours across ten client accounts and three agency teams. Created more efficient media coverage tracking and results reporting procedures. Collaborated on developing tailored communications campaigns and delivering training on public relations best practices for the Visa USA Small Business incubator program. Recognized by client for outstanding work developing shared extranet content and facilitating training for 12 staff members.

Phd Candidate, Instructional Design & Technology

Master Of Education - Med, College Student Counseling And Personnel Services

Activities and Societies: Graduate Student Senate (President, Treasurer), Student Personnel Association (Treasurer), Corporate.

Bachelor Of Science In Communication, Organizational Communication, General

Activities and Societies: Forensics Speech & Debate Team, Corporate Communication Leaders, National Communication Association Student.