Faculty Spotlight
Advancing Counselor Education: Faculty and DLAI Collaborate on Fully Online Program - Featuring Dr. Jamie Ho and Dr. Chris Leeth
Counseling and Educational Psychology faculty Dr. Adrienne Backer, Dr. Jamie Ho, Dr. Chris Leeth, and Dr. Wannigar Ratanavivan, in collaboration with their leadership — Dr. Joshua Watson and Dr. Michelle Hunnicutt-Hollenbaugh, are currently working alongside DLAI to develop a fully online program. This program is designed to equip students with the essential skills to serve their clients effectively while also providing a flexible, virtual learning format that accommodates different schedules and needs of potential students. The department’s faculty saw an opportunity to develop a curriculum that prepares students for real-world counseling. Student interest and the potential for positive community impact reinforced the need for this program.
For our spotlight this month, DLAI interviewed Dr. Jamie Ho and Dr. Chris Leeth whose courses will be the first to go live for this program in Fall 2025.
As part of the program development with DLAI, the Counseling and Educational Psychology faculty:
- Earned the Quality Matters Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) Certificate of Completion.
- Actively participated in the day-long “Kickoff” workshop lead by DLAI covering extended course development and digital teaching best practices.
- Are developing a “course map” - a structured outline of the alignment between what students will learn, how they will demonstrate their learning, and how they will prepare to demonstrate their learning.
- Are designing & developing their courses within a special canvas template which aligns with Quality Matters Standards.
To support course development, the Counseling and Educational Psychology faculty also organized a series of 'Online Course Development Parties.' Despite the name, these were informal working sessions where faculty collaborated with the DLAI instructional design team. These gatherings provided a space for faculty to share progress, exchange ideas, and seek guidance from both colleagues and instructional designers.
With the support of their department and DLAI, Dr. Ho and Dr. Leeth have reached the next major milestone of their course development – having 50% of their courses mapped and built in Canvas.
Course development came with its challenges, but also valuable learning experiences. Dr. Leeth reflected, “This is a very detail-oriented process.” He shared that the experience made him recognize the importance of consistency and taking a more deliberate approach to developing new content.
Dr. Ho also reflected on the experience, noting the Counseling team’s enthusiasm for learning about Quality Matters. She shared that they were excited to apply these concepts not only to their online courses but also to enhance their In-Person programs. She added, 'Y’all are passionate about what you do, and I think that really also helps to energize us,' highlighting the positive impact of the DLAI team’s support throughout the development process.
For faculty considering course development for online programs, collaboration and the expertise of instructional design professionals are invaluable. “Lean into DLAI and make use of their expertise and help,” Dr. Leeth said, as he encouraged colleagues to take full advantage of available resources at TAMU-CC.
2025 Spotlights
Explore the 2025 Faculty Spotlights featured in the Digital Learning Digest newsletter. Click on a faculty member below to learn more.
Dr. Harper facilitates collaboration between her aspiring educator students, local families, and community organizations through community-driven initiatives like Books, Balls, and Blocks, the Read to Lead Preschool Summer Camps, and the Week of the Young Child event. These programs not only enrich learning experiences for young children, but also provide TAMU-CC students with hands-on opportunities to develop their teaching skills and interact with families. 
The Read to Lead Summer Preschool Camps empower families with preschool-aged children through engaging, play-based experiences that foster school readiness. This two-day program is a collaboration between TAMU-CC, United Way’s Success By Six, and the Nueces County Public Library. TAMU-CC Early Childhood Education students play a key role in the camps, leading interactive read-aloud sessions enhanced with singing, fingerplays, and group interactions. They design hands-on learning centers that extend book concepts, covering math, science, literacy, social-emotional skills, and creative arts. Students also engage directly with families, helping caregivers understand the educational value of the activities and offering strategies for replicating these experiences at home.