1EdTech Consortium Membership Executive Board Election 2026
The Membership Executive Board plays a central role in shaping the direction and impact of the 1EdTech Consortium.
In 2026, members will choose seven new voices to help lead our work forward.
The Board Nominating Committee has reviewed all applications and selected a slate of qualified candidates for the open seats.
Below, you’ll find each nominee, along with their statement and a short video on how they plan to help our community and the wider edtech ecosystem move forward.
Voting will be open from November 12 to December 4, 2026.
Each 1EdTech Contributing Member’s designated representative will receive a voting link by email.
If you have questions about your organization's vote, please reach out.
Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Sherri Braxton Castanzo, Sc.D.
Deputy CIO for Digital Innovation at Bowdoin College
With a career spanning leadership roles in digital innovation, academic technology, and organizational strategy, Dr. Sherri Braxton Castanzo brings a unique blend of technical and educational expertise. Her extensive involvement with 1EdTech—including co-chairing key initiatives, presenting at major conferences, and helping shape digital credential standards—demonstrates both commitment and influence. As Deputy CIO at Bowdoin College, Sherri bridged the worlds of technology, academia, and industry, fostering collaboration across diverse communities. Her collaborative leadership style and ability to unite stakeholders toward common goals have been recognized with a 1EdTech Higher Education Leadership Award. Sherri’s record reflects a passion for advancing educational technology and supporting innovation across the field.
Kristin Delwo
Executive Vice President at EBSCO Information Services (EBSCOed)
Kristin Delwo brings more than 25 years of leadership in education technology and institutional administration to the executive board. As Executive Vice President of EBSCOed, she has built and grown digital solutions like LER.me and the Alabama Talent Triad. Her work has helped advance 1EdTech's mission by guiding LER.me through Open Badges and CLR certification and by supporting the CASE standard. Kristin’s background includes library work, executive roles, and the development of national standards, giving her a broad perspective that connects institutions, technology providers, and policymakers. She has demonstrated the ability to lead on the national level, co-publishing guidance on LER interoperability and providing practical examples for credential standards. This experience helps Kristin champion 1EdTech’s priorities and represent a wide range of stakeholders.
Scott Gaspar
VP, Product Data at VitalSource
With a proven record of driving early adoption of key industry standards, Scott Gaspar brings a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic vision. His leadership at VitalSource has shaped the organization’s pioneering initiatives, including LTI 1.3, LTI Advantage, and Caliper Analytics, often positioning the team at the forefront of industry change. Scott is deeply committed to advancing interoperability and data democratization, leading data platform teams and fostering collaboration across the education sector. Active in standards development working groups and steering committees, he has consistently provided thought leadership within 1EdTech and beyond. Scott's ability to navigate both the technical and strategic dimensions of complex challenges makes them an invaluable asset, ready to help scale standards initiatives across the industry.
Gary Gilbert
Chief Software Architect at Unicon
With over two decades of experience in education technology, Gary Gilbert has held architectural leadership roles for nearly 18 years and currently serves as Unicon's Chief Software Architect. His background includes shaping technical strategies, advising on complex decisions, and actively contributing to the 1EdTech ecosystem, both as a representative on the Technical Advisory Board and through Unicon's collaborative initiatives. Gary’s governance experience is further bolstered by community service, including board leadership in local organizations. He is committed to advancing 1EdTech Consortium's mission by bringing a practical, implementation-focused perspective and fostering ongoing contributions to standards development and real-world solutions.
Mick Hewitt
Co-Founder/CEO at Ednition
As the CEO and co-founder of Ednition, Mick Hewitt has demonstrated a deep commitment to 1EdTech standards, leading large-scale deployments of OneRoster and actively collaborating with partners to enhance industry-wide data practices. His leadership extends to board service with Common Good Learning Tools, advancing the CASE standard and making education data more accessible nationwide. Under Mick’s direction, Ednition has become one of the largest deployers of OneRoster in K-12 and a trusted advocate for security through early adoption and rigorous certification programs. His experience building companies grounded in open standards and interoperability, and his track record of fostering collaboration and driving innovation with open standards, will benefit both 1EdTech and the broader community.
James Hudson
Senior Director, Enterprise Architecture at McGraw Hill
James Hudson leads enterprise architecture at McGraw Hill—bridging technology strategy, business value, and organizational adoption. His leadership has driven early adoption of standards and active participation in interoperability initiatives, earning McGraw Hill industry awards and recognition. By connecting enterprise-wide integration strategy to practical governance, James ensures standards are embedded in core planning and execution. His cross-functional approach brings together technical, operational, and change-management perspectives essential for effective board service. Dedicated to advancing the educational technology community, James is poised to guide 1EdTech’s strategic direction in ways that are both visionary and achievable.
Loren Malm
Vice President for Information Technology and CIO at Ball State University
With over thirty years of experience, Loren Malm brings leadership and a proven commitment to advancing educational technology. As Vice President for Information Technology and CIO at Ball State University, he has spearheaded university-wide initiatives and built strong collaborations with key stakeholders. Loren’s active engagement with 1EdTech, including leadership roles in advocacy groups and technology development, demonstrates a dedication to industry standards and innovation. His efforts have directly contributed to expanding member services and enhancing technology integration across institutions, resulting in his recognition with a 2026 1EdTech Leadership Award. Loren’s vision centers on strengthening the value of membership and fostering an open, trusted, and sustainable edtech ecosystem.
Suraj Mohandas, Ph.D.
VP, Global Head of Education Strategy & Go-To-Market at Jamf
With a strong background in client experience, strategy, and market development, Dr. Suraj Mohandas brings a global perspective to the 1EdTech community. Leading Jamf’s Education business strategy, he has driven key initiatives, including the integration of new technologies and direct engagement with schools, districts, and ministries worldwide. Suraj’s collaborative work with 1EdTech’s Student Safety Task Force and participation in national and international forums demonstrate his commitment to advancing educational technology and student safety. His understanding of diverse educational needs and proven ability to align organizational priorities with board objectives ensures that 1EdTech’s work remains relevant and accessible to institutions of all sizes.
Alisa Sommer O'Hara
Global Head of Learning + Education Partnerships & Developer Relations at Google
Leading Google's Education Partnerships team, Alisa Sommer O'Hara brings deep expertise in collaborating with higher education institutions, NGOs, and non-profits. Her active involvement in key 1EdTech standards committees and programs, such as WIDEN, reflects a commitment to advancing industry standards and fostering strong relationships within the education ecosystem.
Under Alisa’s leadership, Google has played a pivotal role in advancing standards such as CASE for the benefit of all 1EdTech members.
Zach Pendleton
Chief Architect at Instructure
Zach Pendleton, Chief Architect at Instructure, brings over a decade of leadership and expertise in education technology. He has played a pivotal role in shaping and implementing open standards such as LTI, Caliper Analytics, OneRoster, and Open Badges, ensuring their real-world impact for educators and learners. Zach is a recognized thought leader, frequently presenting at industry events, including Learning Impact, on the link between AI and interoperability, and advocates for the implementation and adoption of open standards. His legal background, with a J.D. from BYU, informs his approach to privacy, data governance, and contract questions that boards face.
Rochelle Ramirez
Senior Vice President of Product at Accredible
Rochelle Ramirez has over two decades of leadership in product, technology, and business. As SVP of Product at Accredible, she bridges the needs of educational institutions, employers, standards bodies, and learners, translating complex requirements into actionable outcomes. Her commitment to interoperability and industry standards is demonstrated through active roles in 1EdTech working groups, steering committees, and standards revision efforts. Notably, Rochelle championed initiatives that enhance credential portability and real-world value, such as advancing ACE-endorsed credit support in Open Badges. Her deep engagement ensures that standards are not only technically robust but also widely adopted and impactful for all stakeholders.
Kara Thorstenson
Director of Digital Learning and Libraries at Chicago Public Schools
Kara Thorstenson has nearly a decade of involvement in 1EdTech and extensive experience bridging academics and technology. Her role as a senior member in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Digital Learning at CPS Central Office uniquely positions Kara to align instructional goals with technical requirements, ensuring effective district-wide implementation. Serving on the K-12 Advisory Council, she has demonstrated strong governance and leadership skills.
Kara’s commitment to 1EdTech is evident in both her personal engagement and the sustained participation of colleagues from her organization.
Heather Tillberg-Webb
Vice President, Business Technology Solutions at Southern New Hampshire University
With over 15 years of leadership in academic technology, Heather Tillberg-Webb brings a wealth of experience overseeing large-scale technical ecosystems and driving impactful change. Her unique perspective bridges the gap between enterprise technology management and the enhancement of the teaching and learning experience, with a keen focus on interoperability that truly serves users. Notably, Heather has co-authored a book on Ethics and Educational Technology, underscoring a commitment to thoughtful, values-driven innovation. Within 1EdTech, she has played a pivotal role in the LTI working group, advocating for UX Principles that prioritize real user experiences. Her team's contributions have advanced conversations beyond technical integration, shaping the future of standards adoption.
Marisa Urbano
Senior Vice President, Platform Integrations and Infrastructure at HMH
Marisa Urbano brings experience leading product strategy, digital transformation, and cross-functional collaboration across HMH, Ascend Learning, and Pearson. Her expertise spans digital licensing, enterprise subscriptions, and the development of interoperable K-12 solutions, including significant contributions to standards such as OneRoster and LTI Advantage. Demonstrating leadership within 1EdTech, Marisa’s actively participated in council meetings and working groups. Her commitment to reducing friction for educators and students, coupled with hands-on experience building cross-functional teams, positions Marisa as an excellent advocate for users' needs.
Wade Weichel
Senior Director, Product Management and Partnerships at Blackboard
With deep expertise spanning both academia and edtech, Wade Weichel has a proven record of leadership, innovation, and advocacy. As the head of Blackboard’s partnerships team and a senior leader, he has driven impactful change by advancing open standards and championing accessibility, privacy, and security. Wade’s extensive involvement with 1EdTech includes leading the LTI Product Steering Committee, pioneering early adoption of key standards, and participating in the CLR Standard, LTI, Edu-API, and CASE working groups. Recognized for his ability to bridge organizations and communicate complex strategies, Wade has consistently prioritized the needs of learners and educators. His work has been honored by peers, underscoring a commitment to collaboration and service.
Vanessa Wrenn
Chief Information Officer at North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
- Video
- Statement of Intent
- LinkedIn Profile
With a unique blend of experience as an educator, school district administrator, and state CIO, Vanessa Wrenn stands out as a bridge between classroom needs and statewide technology leadership. Her forward-thinking approach to driving cross-state collaborations, advancing data interoperability, and advocating for trusted data privacy solutions demonstrates a deep commitment to educational innovation. Vanessa’s leadership has helped shape impactful initiatives such as the NC Learning Exchange and the EdTech Collaboratory. She brings practical insight and visionary perspective as an active contributor to 1EdTech’s CASE collaboration and Student Safety Task Force. Vanessa’s dedication to turning strategic discussions into actionable improvements benefits schools, educators, and learners alike.
Carla Zummak-Fredrick
Chief Builder Experience Officer at Infinite Campus
With a unique blend of executive leadership and technical expertise, Carla Zummak-Fredrick has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing educational technology. Her 15 years as a software engineer and executive roles at Infinite Campus have equipped Carla to bridge the gap between strategic decisions and real-world implementation. She has led critical initiatives, from launching innovative platforms to championing open standards and collaboration within 1EdTech.
Carla’s leadership extends to active participation in steering committees, working groups, and conference presentations.