CLA in the Classroom Staff 

The CLA in the Classroom staff members include experts on teaching, learning and assessment. And they like "The Simpsons."

Dr. MarcCChun (Director of Education) joined CAE in 2001, and currently serves both as the director of CLA in the Classroom as well as a research scientist. Dr. Chun previously worked for the National Center for Postsecondary Improvement, the Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research, the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, and the RAND Corporation. He has taught at Stanford University, Columbia University, the New School University, and Vanderbilt University. Dr. Chun completed his graduate training at Stanford University in sociology and education, and held a postdoctoral fellowship in sociology and education at Columbia University. His research focuses on assessment, organizational theory, and the sociology of knowledge.

Liza Bolitzer (Research Associate) focuses on problem based learning and community colleges. In addition to her work at CAE, she is also a doctoral candidate in Higher Education at Teachers College of Columbia University. Liza has a masters in English literature from the City University of New York, and has taught college composition at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York and Hudson County Community College in Jersey City, New Jersey. Liza's  research interests include faculty learning and development, student learning at high access urban institutions, and the relationship between pedagogy and subject matter

James Hardin (Program Associate) is a born and bred Texan.  He received a B.S. in Sociology from Texas State University-San Marcos, where he also did extensive course work in floating the San Marcos River.  After his clichéd post-college ‘backpacking through Europe’ adventures he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, West Africa.  When he wasn’t extreme biking or teaching art classes at his village elementary school, he was dropping hip-hop beats for the locals on community radio, all in Pulaar.  He came to New York and worked for a time in the special events department at the International Rescue Committee. He currently works on the VSE survey at CAE.  He has an insane obsession with food, from strolling the cities farmer’s markets to cooking for his friends in his tiny Brooklyn kitchen or eating at one of the many restaurants the city as to offer. 

Robert Keeley (Program Associate) received his Bachelors from Clark University where he majored in German and Geography. After obtaining his degree, he completed a year of AmericorpsVISTA service in Burlington, Vermont where he taught high-needs and ELL students. Following this year of volunteer service Robert spent a year in Graz, Austria working as Fulbright Teaching Assistant. He now works as part of CLA team at the Council for Aid to Education. Robert enjoys learning bits and pieces of different languages and has a published excerpt in the book Sprachwandel through the Goethe Institute.

Kimberly Shelby (Writing Evaluator and Research Associate) joined CAE in 2006. She received her Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing and English Literature at Hofstra University, also studying television and film production at its School of Communications. In addition to wearing many-colored hats in the entertainment industry, she has taught K-12 academic reading, writing, math and theatre. Kimberly is a produced playwright, and her articles dealing with education, health and the arts have been published in MetroParent Magazine, The Big Idea, and The Drive, as well as on various websites.