James Glapa-Grossklag has been named the Michelson 20MM Foundation’s most recent Open Educational Resources (OER) Fellow. In this role James will assist in shaping our textbook affordability strategy and priorities. James currently is the Dean of Educational Technology, Learning Resources, and Distance Learning at College of the Canyons (CA).
James has been a longtime advocate for OER and is recognized as a global leader on the topic. He is past president of Open Education Global (OEG) and the Community College Consortium for OER (CCCOER). He served as Global Ambassador for OER for the International Council of Distance and Open Education (ICDE). In 2018, he was recognized as a “Top 10 Global Influencer in OER” for the past decade. In 2019, he received the President’s Award from Open Education Global for “advancing open education around the world through his exceptional dedication, outstanding contribution, and exemplary service.”
Most recently, he is leading the Open for Anti-Racism program with CCCOER and is a faculty member for the Institute on OER of the Association of American Colleges & Universities.
“James has been an open education leader not just in California but on a global stage,” said Phillip Kim, CEO of Michelson 20MM. “We are excited to recognize his work with this fellowship. In this role James will assist our organization’s mission to promote programs and policies that advance the proliferation and adoption of open educational resources in order to improve the affordability of instructional materials, efficacy of faculty instruction, and equitable access to educational opportunities. ”
In addition to his work in the open education space, James’ professional service includes terms as president of the Directors of Educational Technology in California Higher Education (DET/CHE), board member and vice chair of Intelecom, and board member of the Instructional Technology Council. He also has been an advisor on educational technology to the Lumina Foundation and a member of the Distance Learning Task Force of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
James earned tenure as a faculty member in history, and has taught in online, hybrid, and face-to-face formats. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Illinois Wesleyan University; a Master of Arts in humanities from the University of Chicago; a Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning from California State University East Bay; a Certificate in Proactive Leadership in Higher Education from Cornell University; and a diploma from the School of Polish Language and Culture, Jagiellonian University, Poland.
James follows in the footsteps of our inaugural OER Fellow Dr. Barbara Illowsky.
Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation seeking to accelerate progress towards a more just world through grantmaking, operating programs, and impact investing. All activities are made possible thanks to the generous support of renowned spinal surgeon and inventor Dr. Gary K. Michelson and his wife, Alya Michelson.