Meet Our Experts

Our Power in Numbers panel of experts includes a broad mix of leaders in math, pedagogy, and technology. Their guidance will help support our teacher user groups, develop and shape research reports, and sustain many other efforts across the initiative.

Jo Boaler

Professor of Mathematics Education, Co-founder youcubed.org, Stanford University

Dr Jo Boaler is a Professor of Mathematics Education at Stanford University, and the co-founder of youcubed. She is the author of the first MOOC on mathematics teaching and learning. Former roles have included being the Marie Curie Professor of Mathematics Education in England, a mathematics teacher in London and a researcher at King’s College, London. Her PhD won the national award for educational research in the UK. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, the recipient of an NSF Early Career Award, and an NCSM Equity Award. She is the author of nine books, 2 TEDx talks, and numerous research articles. She was recently named one of the 8 educators “changing the face of education” by the BBC.

John Comings

Senior Technical Consultant, World Education

John Comings is a Senior Technical Consultant at World Education, an international NGO based in Boston and an adjunct faculty member at the Center for International Education at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. From April 2012 to October 2013, he served in the Obama Administration, as an education policy advisor focused on USAID’s early-grade reading initiative. Between 2008 and 2012, he was a principal international technical advisor at the Education Development Center. From 1996 to 2008, he was director of the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy and a member of the faculty at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. Before coming to Harvard, he spent 12 years as vice president of World Education.

Iddo Gal

Senior Lecturer, Department of Human Services Management, University of Haifa, Israel

Iddo's interests focus on the development and assessment of adult numeracy and statistical literacy skills, and on management of service processes and empowerment of service clients and service. Iddo has a PhD in Applied Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, and M.A. in occupational psychology. Iddo has been active for many years in the area of adult numeracy, and is a Special Senior Advisor for Literacy/Numeracy Assessment at the International Literacy Institute. He chaired the expert group that developed the conceptual framework and assessment scheme for OECD's Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), after working on the Adult Literacy and LifeSkills survey, is a member of the OECD expert group on skills use and skills mismatch, and Past-President of the International Association for Statistical Education.

Amee Evans Godwin

Director, Innovation, ISKME

Director, Innovation and founding Program Director of ISKME's digital public library, OER Commons, Amee Evans Godwin brings two decades of applied research and development of digital applications and processes that support learning, engagement, and collaboration. Godwin co-leads ISKME’s Research & Learning strand, including advising on research, grant and business development efforts, and designing professional learning programs that support cross-disciplinary, open educational practices and knowledge sharing. She earned a Masters Degree from New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program, Tisch School of the Arts, and B.A. from the Center for Media Study, University of Buffalo, NY. Prior to ISKME, Godwin worked as an arts and media educator and digital media maker.

Gerard L. Hanley

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Technology Services and Executive Director of MERLOT, California State University Office of the Chancellor

Gerard L. Hanley Ph.D. is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Technology Services and the Executive Director of MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) for the California State University, Office of the Chancellor.  At the CSU, Gerry oversees the management of systemwide academic technology initiatives including digital library services, course redesign with technology, affordable learning solutions, accessible technology, and Cal State Online, serving CSU’s 23 campuses and 475,000 students. At MERLOT, he directs the development and sustainability of the international consortium and technology strategy to provide open educational services to improve teaching and learning. He is the Director of SkillsCommons, the US Department of Labor’s open repository of educational resources for workforce development. Gerry’s previous positions include professor of psychology.

Chonda Long

Director of Professional Development, The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Chonda Long is the Director of Professional Development at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Dr. Long oversees the development, implementation, delivery, and evaluation of professional development programs and services offered by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. For the past three years, she has been actively involved as a mathematics coach in the OCTAE project, Implementing College and Career Readiness Standards (CCR) in Adult Education. As a coach, she provided guidance and support to state teams participating in CCR Standards-in-Action and contributed to the development and identification of CCR standards training materials for in-person and online use. Before joining the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Dr. Long was a high school teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools.

Dan Meyer

Chief Academic Officer, Desmos

Dan Meyer taught high school math to students who didn't like high school math. He has advocated for better math instruction on CNN, Good Morning America, Everyday With Rachel Ray, and TED.com. He earned his doctorate from Stanford University in math education and is the Chief Academic Officer at Desmos where he explores the future of math, technology, and learning. He has worked with teachers internationally and in all fifty United States. He was named one of Tech & Learning's 30 Leaders of the Future. He lives in Oakland, CA.

Katherine Safford-Ramus

Professor of Mathematics, Saint Peter’s University

Katherine Safford-Ramus is a Professor of Mathematics at Saint Peter’s University. She holds a doctorate in Mathematics Education from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. She has been teaching mathematics at the tertiary level for more than 30 years. She began her career teaching introductory mathematics courses to adult evening students at a community college. It was only when her schedule shifted to daytime classes that she became intrigued by the subtle and the striking differences between traditional and adult students. From October 2005 to October 2006, Dr. Safford served as the co-director of the Adult Numeracy Initiative, a project of the United States Office of Vocational and Adult Education. She is the author of Unlatching the Gate: Helping Adult Students Learn Mathematics.

Patti Smith

Chief Marketing Officer & Co-Founder, Querium

Patti Smith has 20+ years driving educational product strategy and marketing solutions that address emerging technologies and market demands. In 2013 she co-founded Querium to develop artificial intelligence-based technology to help teens and adults succeed in mathematics through step-by-step virtual tutoring assistance. Past roles include VP Marketing and Product Management at DreamBox Learning, an early leader in adaptive learning technology, and VP of Portfolio Management with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. At HMH she was responsible for driving product strategy to improve financial performance including product concept development, pricing and promotion for K-12 math, science, STEM, and AP products.