About OOL
The Office of Online Learning (OOL) provides comprehensive support for the development and delivery of online summer instruction and online graduate programs from ideation to implementation. Our team of digital learning specialists provides online instructors with instructional design services, course building support, quality assurance testing, student accessibility checks, and faculty professional development opportunities for distance education and online instruction.
Our Office provides a suite of services that assist both academic programs and faculty members to create rigorous, engaging, and accessible online and hybrid learning experiences. For academic programs, the OOL will design a deliberate student experience that ensures consistency and alignment across courses. The OOL offers one-on-one course development consultations as well as faculty development programming to bolster skills and confidence levels in teaching online.
To read more about OOL's Services and Guidebook, click here.
Developing and deploying new, hybrid/online courses requires a highly collaborative partnership between faculty and course designers. Faculty provide the subject matter expertise and key instructional content, guiding the development of appropriate student learning activities and assessments. In turn, the instructional design team provides faculty with course building support, program alignment, and student-centered learning experiences that address both course and program-level learning objectives.
To read more about OOL's Faculty and ID Partnership, click here.
Meet the Office of Online Learning
Debi Aggers
Sr. Instructional Designer
Debi Aggers has been a loyal Lion since graduating from Loyola Marymount University in 1992 with a B.A. in Biology. Debi began her professional career with LMU in 2005, joining as a part-time faculty in the School of Education, and then serving as an Instructional Technologist in the College of Business Administration in 2019, and has been in her current role with the Office of Online Learning since 2020. In her free time, Debi loves walking and roller skating on the Strand near the beach, and traveling to new places.
Katie Harper
Sr. Instructional Designer
Katie Harper joined Loyola Marymount University in the Fall of 2020, serving as a Instructional Technologist for the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, before moving to her current role as Sr. Instructional Designer in the Office of Online Learning. Katie earned her M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, and has a background in education and experience with developing online, hybrid, and flipped courses for a variety of disciplines. Katie enjoys working collaboratively with subject-matter experts to effectively translate highly technical concepts into user-friendly and delightful learning experiences.
Nick Somsavanh
Sr. Instructional Designer
Nick Somsavanh joined LMU in the Summer of 2019 and has served as an Instructional Technologist for the College of Communication & Fine Arts and School of Film and Television, as well as a Multimedia Specialist for the Office of Online Learning. Nick earned a B.A. in Film and Electronic Arts, and a M.A. Ed. in Educational Technology & Media Leadership, both from California State University, Long Beach. In his free time, Nick enjoys rooting for (/loathing) the Lakers, Dodgers, and whoever may be on his Fantasy Football team that season.
Thi Nguyen
Multimedia Specialist
Thi Nguyen joined LMU in the Summer of 2023 as OOL's Multimedia Specialist. Prior to her role at LMU, Thi earned her Master of Arts in Instructional Technologies from San Francisco State University, and completed here internships at Patelco Credit Union and World Resources Institute. In her free time, Thi loves cooking, experimenting with food and hosting dinners for friends. Thi loves traveling and is always planning for her next trips in the States and overseas. She also enjoys exploring new neighborhoods while intentionally making eye contacts with any dogs she sees on her walks.
Zijing Zhou
Instructional Design Assistant
Zijing Zhou joins Loyola Marymount University as a graduate student majoring in Elementary Education with Bilingual Authorization, and will graduate in the Summer of 2024. Zijing hails from Shanghai, China and came to the United States in 2016. When Zijing isn’t working or studying, she likes to practice calligraphy, hang out with her adorable kitten, read detective novels, and watch movies and TV shows.
Dylan Yang
Video Editor
A philosophy major turned screenwriter, Dylan Yang is a graduate student at LMU’s School of Film and Television, class of 2026. Originally from Massachusetts, Dylan earned his Bachelor of Arts from Dickinson College in 2023, majoring in Philosophy and triple minoring in Film Studies, Music, and Ethics. A lover a music, Dylan plays saxophone, sings, and beatboxes. In his free time, Dylan enjoys both reading and watching films, as well as playing video games.
Logan Watts
Video Editor
Logan Watts is a Video Editor for OOL currently majoring in Film and Television Production at LMU. In addition to his studies, Logan plays a role within the campus community as a Resident Advisor under the Student Housing Office. His passion for LMU extends into his role as a Broadcast Assistant with LMU Athletics, where he contributes to capturing the excitement of collegiate sports. Outside of his professional and academic pursuits, Logan finds joy in reading, photography, hiking, and any other excuse to be in nature.
Jeff Schwartz
Senior Director of Digital Learning and Innovation
Jeff Schwartz joined LMU in 2014 and has served as the Manager of Instructional Technology team in ITS, a Lecturer in the School of Education and College of Business Administration, and currently works as the Director of Digital Learning and Innovation in the Office of Online Learning. A former middle school and high school Social Studies teacher, Jeff has published two books on the history of popular music and received national recognition for his cancer advocacy work on behalf of young adults from Lance Armstrong and the LIVESTRONG Foundation. Jeff earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by an M. Ed in Information Systems and Learning Technologies from the University of Missouri-Columbia. When he's not working, Jeff enjoys spending time with family, playing guitar and attending live music events, coaching little league baseball, playing video games, and rooting for the Green Bay Packers.