Gratitude and Farewell: Reflecting on Our Journey Together
Chris’ departure from DL&I marks the end of an era that saw BU through the advent of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and the Online Master’s in Business Administration (OMBA), surviving the COVID pandemic, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). As Chris embarks on this new chapter in his journey, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for his work for the past eight years as Associate Provost for Digital Learning & Innovation.
With enthusiasm to spare, curiosity to match, and big-picture thinking to connect technology and learning in imaginative and practical ways, Chris has been tireless in his efforts to spearhead groundbreaking initiatives that have elevated BU's standing as an innovator in higher education.
In our restless work environment, ‘tomorrow’ (or sooner!) is often a deadline and reflection is frequently a luxury. Nonetheless, under Chris’ direction, much has been achieved against what sometimes seemed impossible odds. Through his vision, the Digital Learning Initiative (DL&I’s precursor) launched and helped develop online at-scale courses (formerly known as MOOCs), which established BU as a leader within the edX consortium and acquired a solid reputation as a partner who produced high-quality MOOCs. The success of this initiative became a springboard for the development and success of the next two: MicroMasters programs and the OMBA program, masterfully executed under Chris’ leadership and guidance, which led to an explosion in online at-scale courses at BU and the creation of BU Virtual.
The success of the turn to remote instruction in March 2020 also owes a great deal to Chris’ relentless drive and attention to detail: under Chris’ guidance, the Remote Teaching Coordinators group met for months, including every day for many weeks, creating a committed community to support colleagues during the traumatic and demanding circumstances of change in the pandemic. The faculty Lightning Talks, organized by the Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) in partnership with DL&I, began during this time and were inspired largely by Chris’ unswerving aim of providing a meaningful educational experience to BU’s students during quarantine and social distancing. More recently, Chris’ enthusiasm and dedication to helping faculty navigate teaching in the age of AI has been seen through several initiatives in collaboration with CTL, like the Generative AI Info Series, Chat GPT Symposium, and AI Teaching Co-labs.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Chris’ personal touch has left a lasting impression on us all. As he transitions back to faculty at the Questrom School of Business, we do not doubt that Chris’ expertise and passion will continue to enrich the academic experience of BU students.
On behalf of the DL&I community, we express our deepest appreciation for Chris’ work and eagerly anticipate exciting opportunities as we continue to build on the strong foundation we established together.
-The leadership and staff of Digital Learning & Innovation and Center for Teaching & Learning
