Educational Background

• Ph.D., Instructional Management and Leadership, Robert Morris University
• Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Master of Arts, Counseling Services, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Professional Background

• Dr. Alicia M Cassels has two decades of experience in higher education. Serving in ranked faculty, principal investigator, and evaluator roles at West Virginia University, Virginia Tech, and Auburn University, she has secured nearly $8 million in funding through ten competitive state and federal grants, directed educational programs for K-12 students, college students, and professional audiences across the U.S, and conducted course and program evaluations. Her passions lie in developing impactful learning programs and exploring how instructors can leverage teaching practices and technology to promote learning. She has received national awards for her work in curriculum and development. Currently, Alicia serves as an instructional designer and the assistant director at the Center for Innovative Teaching at Robert Morris University, where she also teaches graduate and undergraduate communications and organizational leadership courses.

Area of Expertise/Research

• As a principal investigator, Dr. Cassels has secured nearly $8 million in competitive funding and contributed to research addressing the needs of children and teens U.S., Military families, and exploring teaching practices that enhance learning outcomes.

Publications

• Cassels, A. M. (2024). Leveraging LMS Technology to Deliver Formative Assessment in the Post-Pandemic Era. In L. Tomei & D. Carbonara (Eds.), Exploring Technology-Infused Education in the Post-Pandemic Era (pp. 335-352). 
  Bernauer, J. A., Fuller, R. G., & Cassels, A. M. (2024). Transforming courses across teaching modalities in higher education. Current Issues in Education, 25(1). 
  
  Cassels, A. M. (2024). Assessment as Teaching: Factors Associated With Online Formative Assessment (Doctoral dissertation, Robert Morris University).
  
  Plein, C., & Cassels, A. (2021). The Military Families Learning Network: A Model for Extension-Based Virtual Learning Communities. Journal of Extension, 57(6), Article 22. (Reprint). 
  
  Plein, C., & Cassels, A. (2019). The Military Families Learning Network: A Model for Extension-Based Virtual Learning Communities. Journal of Extension, 57(6), n6.