OER Fellowship Program

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The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s (THECB) Division of Digital Learning’s Texas OER Fellowship Program aims to support mentor relationships for OER use, creation, and capacity building at institutions and statewide. THECB Digital Learning staff, experts from the Institute of the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME), and select instructors offer coaching and facilitation of the program.

Texas OER Fellowship Vision

The future of Texas education is open, and we get there together.

In July 2024, the program welcomed the Founding Fellows cohort. Founding Fellows were selected based on their considerable demonstrated experience and leadership in open education in Texas. The Founding Fellows collaborated to design and evaluate a program curriculum and essential resources to guide the leadership development of future Texas OER Fellows. They received training from invited experts to develop advocacy and mentorship skills.

OER Fellowship Course

This course was developed by the Founding Fellows during the Summer of 2024 to support mentor relationships for OER use, creation, and capacity building at institutions and statewide. The Founding Fellows collaborated on the design and evaluation of the OER Fellowship program course and essential resources to guide leadership development of future Texas OER Fellows.

Texas OER Fellowship Course
  • Victoria Brame, Joint Use Librarian/Associate Professor, Lone Star College-CyFair
  • Ruth Chisum, Assistant Vice President, Sam Houston State University
  • Maegan Collins, Department Chair General Education and Developmental Studies, Lamar Institute of Technology
  • Sabrina Davis, Open Educational Resources Librarian, Texas Tech University
  • Gabrielle Hernandez, Open Education Librarian, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
  • John Martin, Director of Scholarly Communications, University of North Texas
  • Jennifer Pate, Director of OpenEd, Texas A&M University
  • Nathan Smith, Chair Philosophy Department, Houston Community College
  • Elizabeth Rodriguez, Dean of Innovation & Technology, Laredo College
  • Niki Whiteside, Assistant Vice Chancellor – Instructional Innovation & Support, San Jacinto College

In September the Year I Fellows cohort kicked off during the Open Texas conference. Throughout the academic year, Year I Fellows will:

  • Pilot and provide feedback on the Texas OER Fellowship curriculum
  • Build strong relationships between Mentors and Fellows
  • Create mentorship plans for Year 2 Fellows
  • Develop OER Capstone Projects to advance OER statewide
  • Inspire Texas OER leaders through impactful video storytelling

In September the Year I Fellows cohort kicked off during the Open Texas conference. Throughout the academic year, Year I Fellows will:

  • Prakash Mansinghani, Professor, Laredo College
  • Isabelle Antes, OER Librarian, Texas State University
  • Kate Carter, OER Librarian, University of Houston
  • Heather Medley, Instructional Designer, South Plains College
  • Dr. Philip Mathew, Program Director/Professor, Weatherford College
  • Dr. Tasha Davis, Professor, Austin Community College
  • Dr. Joan Wakasa Murumba, Information Literacy Librarian – Faculty, Texas A&M International University
  • Dr. Kyle Gullings, Associate Professor, The University of Texas Tyler
  • DeeAnn Ivie, OER Coordinator, The University of Texas San Antonio
  • Patrick Osei-Hwere, Instructor, West Texas A&M University

Apply to be a fellow

The application period for the Year 2 Fellows cohorts is now open until May 31, 2025. Faculty, librarians, staff, and administrators from Texas public and independent institutions of higher education and system offices are eligible to apply. Fellows must agree to attend a two day in-person workshop in Austin, participate in weekly virtual sessions throughout the academic year, and complete a capstone project.

Please contact Carrie Gits, Director, at DigitalLearning@highered.texas.gov with questions about the Texas OER Fellowship Program.

Texas OER Fellowship Vision

The future of Texas education is open, and we get there together.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s (THECB) Division of Digital Learning’s Texas OER Fellowship Program aims to support mentor relationships for OER use, creation, and capacity building at institutions and statewide. THECB Digital Learning staff, experts from the Institute of the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME), and select instructors offer coaching and facilitation of the program.

Apply to Become a Year 2 Fellow!

Founding Fellows

In July 2024, the program welcomed the Founding Fellows cohort. Founding Fellows were selected based on their considerable demonstrated experience and leadership in open education in Texas. The Founding Fellows collaborated to design and evaluate a program curriculum and essential resources to guide the leadership development of future Texas OER Fellows. They received training from invited experts to develop advocacy and mentorship skills.

  • Victoria Brame, Joint Use Librarian/Associate Professor, Lone Star College-CyFair
  • Ruth Chisum, Assistant Vice President, Sam Houston State University
  • Maegan Collins, Department Chair General Education and Developmental Studies, Lamar Institute of Technology
  • Sabrina Davis, Open Educational Resources Librarian, Texas Tech University
  • Gabrielle Hernandez, Open Education Librarian, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
  • John Martin, Director of Scholarly Communications, University of North Texas
  • Jennifer Pate, Director of OpenEd, Texas A&M University
  • Nathan Smith, Chair Philosophy Department, Houston Community College
  • Elizabeth Rodriguez, Dean of Innovation & Technology, Laredo College
  • Niki Whiteside, Assistant Vice Chancellor – Instructional Innovation & Support, San Jacinto College

Year I Cohort

In September the Year I Fellows cohort kicked off during the Open Texas conference. Throughout the academic year, Year I Fellows will:

  • Pilot and provide feedback on the Texas OER Fellowship curriculum
  • Build strong relationships between Mentors and Fellows
  • Create mentorship plans for Year 2 Fellows
  • Develop OER Capstone Projects to advance OER statewide
  • Inspire Texas OER leaders through impactful video storytelling

In September the Year I Fellows cohort kicked off during the Open Texas conference. Throughout the academic year, Year I Fellows will:

  • Prakash Mansinghani, Professor, Laredo College
  • Isabelle Antes, OER Librarian, Texas State University
  • Kate Carter, OER Librarian, University of Houston
  • Heather Medley, Instructional Designer, South Plains College
  • Dr. Philip Mathew, Program Director/Professor, Weatherford College
  • Dr. Tasha Davis, Professor, Austin Community College
  • Dr. Joan Wakasa Murumba, Information Literacy Librarian – Faculty, Texas A&M International University
  • Dr. Kyle Gullings, Associate Professor, The University of Texas Tyler
  • DeeAnn Ivie, OER Coordinator, The University of Texas San Antonio
  • Patrick Osei-Hwere, Instructor, West Texas A&M University

Outcome

OER Fellowship Course

This course was developed by the Founding Fellows during the Summer of 2024 to support mentor relationships for OER use, creation, and capacity building at institutions and statewide. The Founding Fellows collaborated on the design and evaluation of the OER Fellowship program course and essential resources to guide leadership development of future Texas OER Fellows.

Texas OER Fellowship Course

Apply to be a fellow

The application period for the Year 2 Fellows cohort is now open until May 31, 2025. Faculty, librarians, staff, and administrators from Texas public and independent institutions of higher education and system offices are eligible to apply. Fellows must agree to attend a two day in-person workshop in Austin, participate in weekly virtual sessions throughout the academic year, and complete a capstone project.

Please contact Carrie Gits, Director, with questions about the Texas OER Fellowship Program.

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