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Center for Academic Technologies

At the intersection of teaching and technology

Information Technology

The Center for Academic Technologies (CAT) sits at the intersection of teaching and technology. Our mission is to enhance the quality of instruction by applying frameworks, strategies and best practices to integrate technology into instruction.

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Digital Accessibility

We believe that education should be a universally accessible and inclusive experience for all members of our diverse community. 

Digital accessibility ensures that our online content, tools and resources are designed and developed to be usable by individuals with various abilities, including those with visual, auditory, cognitive and motor impairments.

Instructional Design Support

Instructional design (ID), or instructional systems design/technology (ISD/IST), involves the systematic process of developing instructional materials that are designed to facilitate and enhance student learning.

The CAT team is here to help you enhance your teaching through course design best practices that improve student learning.

Professional Development and Training

We offer a wide range of professional development opportunities for faculty and staff across the university community.

Some of these include professional development courses, workshops, webinars and grant opportunities, among others.

Faculty Resources

Our resources for faculty are designed to support your teaching through advanced technologies, course evaluations, textbook identification resources and more.

We provide individualized support and training, digital badges, equipment checkout, and instruction on new technologies.

Meet Our Team

CAT supports CSUMB faculty through professional development and training, instructional design reviews, course development consultations, and digital accessibility training and support. Our team is comprised of accomplished, seasoned experts who help faculty effectively bridge classroom instruction and technology.

Jeff McCall, M.S., Associate Director for the Center of Academic Technologies

Jeff has worked at Cal State Monterey Bay since 2002 as an Instructional Technologist and Lecturer in Computer Science and an Associate Director. 

Cassandra Eccles, M.S., Accessible Technology Coordinator

Cassandra has been with CSUMB for over a decade, growing from an undergraduate student to a lecturer and Accessible Technology Coordinator.

Luz Española, M.S., Accessibility Specialist

Luz joined the Center of Academic Technologies in 2019 as an Instructional Designer and then accepted the Accessibility Specialist position.

Chris Beem, M.S., Senior Instructional Designer

Chris has been a lecturer at CSUMB in the Master’s in Instructional Science and Technology program since 2012 and a full-time Instructional Designer since 2013. 

Richie Cobb, M.S., Instructional Technologist

Richie has worked at CSUMB since 2018 as an Equipment Systems Specialist, Software Services Consultant, Instructional Designer, and is currently the Instructional Technologist.

Laura Otero, Ph.D., Online Education Coordinator

Laura has over a decade of experience in the field of online education and has worked in admissions, student support, online education administration, IT training and staff and faculty development. 

Heather Rougeot, M.S., Instructional Designer

Heather has over a decade of experience in higher education working in program coordination, admissions and faculty and student support. 

Professor points at a student’s laptop while three students discuss and work together in class

Live Zoom Support

CAT Drop-In

Center for Academic Technologies

Monday to Friday, 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.

Tech Support Hotline

Get live help with classroom tech or general IT issues.

CAT supports CSUMB faculty through professional development and training, instructional design reviews, course development consultations, and digital accessibility training and support. Our team is comprised of accomplished, seasoned experts who help faculty effectively bridge classroom instruction and technology.

Jeff McCall, M.S., Associate Director for the Center of Academic Technologies

Jeff has worked at CSUMB since 2002 as an Instructional Technologist, Lecturer in Computer Science and the Associate Director of CAT.

Erin Foster, M.S., Accessibility Specialist

Erin Foster has worked in digital accessibility since 2016. They earned a B.A. in Printmaking from Fresno State in 2016 and an M.S. in Instructional Science and Technology in 2021 from CSU Monterey Bay. Their current work focuses on creating inclusive digital learning environments, with an emphasis on accessible document remediation.

Chris Beem, M.S., Senior Instructional Designer

Chris has been a lecturer at CSUMB in the Master’s in Instructional Science and Technology program since 2012 and a full-time Instructional Designer since 2013. 

Heather Rougeot, M.S., Instructional Designer

Heather has worked at CSUMB since 2015, and joined CAT as an Instructional Designer in 2022. She is one of the university’s founding students, earning both a B.A. in Liberal Studies, and an M.S. in Instructional Science & Technology.