Research and Impact Fellowship recipients announced

The eCampus Center at Boise State University is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026-27 eCampus Research & Impact Fellowship. These faculty members are investigating innovative, evidence-based practices to improve online teaching and learning, with topic areas including artificial intelligence, online student engagement, immersive digital simulations, and open education.

The fellows' projects explore a range of timely topics. Each project aims to generate actionable insights that support high-quality online education, enhance student engagement, and expand equitable access to learning.

The 2026-27 fellows and research areas

Victoria Abramenka

• Clinical Assistant Professor, College of Education
• Project Title: Using the IDea Chatbot to Support Professional Reasoning and Autonomy in Graduate Instructional Design Students
• Abramenka will explore how interaction with a domain-specific generative AI tool (IDea chatbot) influences graduate instructional design students' professional reasoning, reflective depth, autonomy, and decision-making during authentic client-based projects. The research also compares AI-supported learning to traditional peer discussion and role-play approaches.

Darci McCall

• Instructor, School of Nursing
• Project Title: Student Perceptions of AI-Based VR Simulations in Asynchronous Online Nursing Courses
• McCall will investigate how nursing students experience AI-based VR simulations in asynchronous online learning environments, particularly in relation to communication skills, emotional conversations, engagement, and usability.

Serena Morales

• Clinical Associate Professor, College of Education and Public Service

• Project Title: Developing Assessment Literacy and AI Literacy Through AI-Integrated Pedagogy
• Morales will examine how AI-integrated pedagogy, modeling, and deliberate instructional design influence graduate students' development of assessment literacy and AI literacy as professional competencies.

Jayne Josephsen

• Professor, College of Health Sciences
• Project Title: AI-Generated Avatar Simulations and Empathy Development in Nursing Education
• Josephsen will continue to explore (from prior study) the effectiveness of AI-generated avatar simulations, virtual role-play, and reflective debriefing in supporting empathy development and reflective practice among nursing students.

Gemma Morawski

• Instructor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Project Title: Evaluating H5P Activities for Language Learning Retention and Practice
• Gemma will examine which H5P activities are most and least effective for language retention and practice in accelerated online Spanish courses.

Brittney Gehrig

• Lecturer, College of Arts and Sciences
• Project Title: AI Chatbot Conversation Assistants and Student Retention in Online Spanish Courses
• Gehrig will explore how AI chatbot conversation assistants influence student retention, engagement, language learning outcomes, and persistence in fully online Spanish courses.

Andy Hyer

• Lecturer, College of Health Sciences
• Project Title: Student Confidence and Self-Efficacy in Generative AI-Supported Assignments
• Hyer will examine how structured, scaffolded AI-based assignments affect student confidence, self-efficacy, and perceptions of AI-supported assessment strategies.

Todd Norton

• Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Project Title: Structuring AI-Supported Discussion Activities to Increase Student Engagement
• Norton plans to investigate how discussion prompts and AI-supported activities can encourage more meaningful, applicable student engagement in undergraduate and graduate courses.

Karen Nicholas

• Associate Professor, College of Business and Economics
• Project Title: Integrating AI Into Teaching and Learning in Business Education
• Nicholas wants to study how instructors can effectively integrate AI into business education both to teach disciplinary content and to develop students' AI literacy and professional competencies.

Anthony Saba

• Assistant Professor, College of Education
• Project Title: Persona-Informed AI Assistants to Support Engagement and Persistence in Accelerated Online Courses
• Saba will investigate how AI assistants designed from learning analytics and student feedback can support engagement, persistence, and success in accelerated asynchronous online courses.

Learn more

These fellowship opportunities are sponsored by the eCampus Center in the Division of Extended Studies. The eCampus Research and Innovation Team provides support to the research fellows throughout the experience. Visit the Research and Innovation website to learn more.

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