Apereo Foundation Welcomes Five Board Members

Stephanie Lieggi is the Executive Director of the Center for Research in Open Source Software (CROSS) at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she has worked since 2016. She leads initiatives that support academic-based open source projects and has established mentorship programs like the Open Source Research Experience (OSRE). In 2022, Stephanie took on the additional role of leading UCSC's Open Source Program Office (OSPO), supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Her efforts have been instrumental in creating a system-wide network of OSPOs across the University of California, backed by significant financial support. Stephanie’s work includes co-chairing the CHAOSS University Working Group and contributing to UCSC's National Science Foundation Pathways to Enable Open Source Ecosystem (POSE) grant. She holds a master’s degree in International Policy Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, San Diego.

Angela Newell is the Director of Communication, Governance, and Innovation in the Office of the Vice President and Chief Information Officer, as well as the Director of the Open Source Program Office at The University of Texas at Austin. Angela's role involves managing people and projects, narrating the technology landscape of a large organization, and overseeing an Innovation Lab that connects students with technology careers. She has contributed significantly to open source projects and research, supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Angela’s academic contributions include teaching at the McCombs School of Business and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. She holds a doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Public Policy and Information Systems Management from Carnegie Mellon University.

Josh Wilson is the principal at Flywheel Strategies, co-founder at B.Cognition Labs, and the Vice Chair of the Apereo Foundation’s Board of Directors. He has a history of leadership in education technology, having served as Chief Operating Officer at Longsight and Associate CIO at Brandeis University. Josh’s strategic planning and leadership development skills have been pivotal in his roles, including his work with the Sakai LMS community and the nationwide MISO Survey. Josh is known for building cohesive teams through empathetic leadership and is a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. He holds a track record of success as a leadership development consultant, instructor, and coach.

Daniel Izquierdo Cortázar bridges the gap between academia and industry with his extensive background in open source research and development. His PhD work and involvement in EU-funded projects have provided him with a deep understanding of open source’s impact from individual to societal levels. Daniel co-founded a company that has thrived on the principles of open source, and he has actively engaged in discussions on the benefits of open source in education at events like FOSSASIA. His expertise in software development analytics and his commitment to promoting open source in higher education make him a valuable addition to the Apereo Foundation Board. Daniel’s contributions will help advance the Foundation's mission of fostering open source collaboration in the educational sector.

Wilma Hodges has been appointed to the Board for one year, filling the vacancy left by Clint Lalonde's resignation. Wilma is the Director of Training and eLearning Initiatives at Longsight and serves as the Sakai Community Manager. With over 20 years of experience in faculty training, LMS administration, instructional design, online course development, technical writing, and user experience design, Wilma has been a pivotal figure in the Sakai project since 2009. She holds a master’s degree in Technical Writing from the University of Central Florida and an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology and Distance Education from Nova Southeastern University. Recognized as an Apereo Fellow in 2016, Wilma continues to play a leadership role in various Sakai community groups, including the Teaching & Learning and UX Group, the Documentation Working Group, and the Sakai Virtual Conference Planning Group.