Education
May 2009
The University of AlabamaEd.D, Higher Education Administration
Dissertation:
The Socialization of Non-Black Faculty at an Historical Black College
Feb 2003
University of Massachusetts at AmherstM.Ed, Learning, Media and Technology
Instructional Technologies
May 1996
University of Massachusetts at AmherstBS Natural Resources
Recipient, Talented Minority Scholarship, 1994
Experience
May 2010 - Present
Alabama State University, Montgomery, AlAssistant Professor
- Teaching Educational courses to master’s students, preparing lectures, and examinations
- Developing Online Courses
- Teaching online and face to face courses
Oct 2011 - May 2018
Alabama State University, Montgomery, ALAssociate Vice President
- Developed University’s Mobile App
- Implemented various open source projects that brought cost savings to institution
- Member of leadership team that implemented Google Apps Campus-Wide
- Developed Faculty Online Certification Program that focuses on pedagogy
- Implemented Online Course Evaluation System
Feb 2004 — Oct 2011
Alabama State University, Montgomery, AlAcademic Computing Coordinator
- Created faculty development program for various academic technologies i.e. PowerPoint, Blackboard, Outlook
- Implemented Blackboard Learning System and Community Portal Campus wide, and integrated with Student Information System
- Developed and managed WordPress website for University’s Accreditation
- Consolidated all university licensed software contracts, i.e. SPSS, Blackboard, Wimba to bring cost savings to institution
- Created committee that develops technical standards and direction for the University
Feb 1999 - Feb 2004
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MASoftware Support Manager
- Developed an Anti-Virus/Security application for Campus-Wide distribution to 25,000 students, staff and faculty
- Developed a program called “Netfest” in order to assist students with connectivity and promote network security awareness.
- Taught classes on various operating systems and applications to campus community
- Developed diversity in technology internship program
Jan 1996 - Feb 1999
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MASenior Technical Consultant
- Assisted with instituting one of the first and largest university residential network in North America (25,000 users)
- Taught classes on various operating systems and applications to campus community.
- Provide advanced protection and recovery support for customer data.
Sep 1994 - Sep 1996
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MASenior Macintosh Consultant
- Conducted computer maintenance and repair activities
- Setup and managed Macintosh network
Research Activity & Grants
Mishra (PI) 9/1/2014-8/31/2018
National Cancer Institute, NIHAlabama State University-UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Partnership
Alabama State University-UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Partnership.
The main goal of this project is to jump start the cancer research and education program at Alabama State University by establishing a partnership with UAB comprehensive cancer center to eliminate health disparity.
Role: Senior personnel, Information Technology
Robertson (PI) 9/14/13 – 9/1/18
National Science Foundation's AlliancesNational Science Foundation's Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) Program, Grant Nos. 1433005, 1432991 & 1433004.
The Tuskegee Alliance to Forge Pathways to Academic Careers in STEM (T-PAC)
The Tuskegee Alliance to Forge Pathways to Academic Careers in STEM (T-PAC) is a collaborative effort among three doctoral granting institutions in the state of Alabama consisting of two Historically Black Universities, Tuskegee University (TU), and Alabama State University (ASU); a Traditionally White Institution, Auburn University (AU); and two supporting partners, AU’s Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and AU’s Miller Writing Center. The focus of T-PAC is to recruit 18 first year U.S. citizen underrepresented minority (URM) doctoral students (T-PAC Scholars) at the three T-PAC Alliance institutions and assist them in their preparation through a promising novel model for STEM doctoral education. T-PAC also encourages its Scholars to consider tenure track faculty careers at American Colleges and Universities.
Role: Senior Instructional Designer and Technical Lead
Qazi (PI) 9/1/16 – 9/1/20
NSF Scholarships in Science, TechnologyNSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM) NSF 16-54
Making to Achieve Knowledge, Excellence and Recognition in STEM (MAKERS).
The Making to Achieve Knowledge, Excellence and Recognition in STEM (MAKERS) is a collaborative project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) whose focus is to recruit financially disadvantaged, academically talented students (MAKERS Scholars) at the six participating institutions in Alabama and provide them with the academic foundation and professional skills needed for STEM graduate school and the STEM workforce.
Role: Senior Instructional Designer and Technical Lead
Selected Workshops Conducted
- Web Based Project Management, Project Management Institute
- Introduction to Microsoft Excel, Alabama State University
- Developing Websites for Non-Profits, City of Montgomery, Office of Faith-Based Programs
- Intermediate Microsoft Office, Alabama Department of Public Housing
- Developing Hybrid Courses, Alabama State University
- Using Weave Online in Institutional Assessment, Alabama State University
- Advance Blackboard Topics, Alabama State University
- Intro to Blackboard, Alabama State University
- Advance Topics in Office 2007 Alabama State University
- Web 2.0 Technologies in Education Alabama State University
- Advance topics in Microsoft Access, University of Massachusetts
- Intro to Macintosh Operating System, University of Massachusetts
University Service
- Member, College of Education Leadership Council, Alabama State University, 2016
- Chair, Academic Computing Steering Committee, Alabama State University, 2017
- Board Member, Alabama Supercomputing Authority, Alabama State University, 2013
- Chair, Moodle Pilot Program, Alabama State University, 2013
- Chair, iTunes Implementation Project, Alabama State University, 2012
- Member, Distance Learning Committee, Alabama State University, 2009 – 2016
- Member, College of Education Technology Committee, Alabama State University, 2009 - 2012
- Member, Web Coordination Committee, Alabama State University, 2009 – 2010
- Member, Athletic Certification Committee, Alabama State University, 2008 - 2010
- Member, SACS Reaffirmation Leadership Committee, Alabama State University, 2007 - 2010
- Chair, SACS Reaffirmation Technology Committee, Alabama State University, 2007 – 2010
- CDW Higher Education Steering Committee, 2005-2006
Selected Publication & Papers Presented
- Major, C.H. (2015). Teaching Online: A Guide to Theory, Research, and Practice.
- In K.H. Obas (Ed.), Faculty Socialization only (pp. 39-44). Johns Hopkins Press.
- Obas, K.H., Technology Ice Breaker for the Classroom (May, 2014) Presentation made at South Alabama Conference on Teaching and Learning, Mobile, AL
- Obas, K.H., & Johnson, S., Connecting Virtual Teaching and Evaluation: The Progression from Training Online Faculty to University Supervisors (May, 2013) EDUCAUSE Southeast Regional Conference, Atlanta, GA
- Obas, K.H., 3 Things that are Changing Media (February, 2012) Guest Lecturer Journalism and Mass Media (Comm 305)
- Obas, K.H., Social Media and Digital Media: A New Paradigm (October, 2011) Guest Lecturer
Introduction to Mass Media (Comm 205) - Obas, K.H., New Media and Journalism, (May 2011) Presentation made at ASU High School Journalism Workshop, Montgomery, AL
- Obas, K.H., New Media and Journalism, (May 2009) Presentation made at ASU High School Journalism Workshop, Montgomery, AL
- Obas, K.H., (2009) Using Blackboard. In A. Depas, M. Campbell & S. Sutton-Obas (Ed.) Orientation 100: The First Year Experience: Littleton, MA: Tapestry Press,
- Obas, K.H., An Experience with Wimba: Wimba at ASU, (May 2008) Presentation made at Annual Wimba Southeast User Group Meeting. Auburn, AL
- Obas, K.H., McCullough, H. & Green, T. Finding the Right Fit for Faculty IT Development, (June 2007) Presentation made at EDUCAUSE Southeast Regional Conference Atlanta, GA
- Obas, K.H., From Chalkboard to Blackboard in 8 Months: The Implementation of Blackboard at Alabama State University, (September 2005) Presentation made at Annual Blackboard Southeast Users Group. Savannah, GA
Awards and Achievements
- Selected by University President to Attend Educational Visit to Beijing and Shanghai, China, 2011
- Selected to Attend Educational Visit to Santiago, Chile, 2009
- Faculty Development Fellowship, University of Alabama,. 2007 – 2009
- Outstanding Achievement, University of Massachusetts at Amherst 2004
Professional Development
- Campus Technology Conference, Boston, MA, July 2015
- Campus Technology Conference, Boston, MA, July 2012
- EduComm, Orlando, FL June, 2011
- MacWorld, San Francisco, January 2011
- Blackboard Users Conference, Orlando, FL, July 2010
- Campus Technology Conference, Boston, MA, July 2009
- EDUCAUSE Southeast Regional Conference Atlanta, GA, June 2009
- EDUCAUSE Southeast Regional Conference Atlanta, GA, June 2008
- Syllabus 2005 Conference, Los Angeles, CA, July 2005
- EDUCAUSE Southeast Regional Conference Atlanta, GA, June 2005
- Computing Services Management Symposium, Charleston,, SC April 2005
- Blackboard Southeast Regional Conference Durham, NC, September 2004
- EDUCAUSE Southeast Regional Conference Atlanta, GA, June 2004
- Remedy User Group Conference, San Francisco, CA, July 2003
- Using Macromedia Director 7, Amherst College, Amherst, MA, 2001
- Introduction to Crystal Reports, University of Massachusetts at Boston, 2000
- AR System 4.5 Advance Topics Remedy Corp., Columbia, MD, 2000
- Dealing with Difficult Employees Learning Tree International, Springfield, MA, 2000
- Administering AR System 4.x Remedy Corp., Columbia, MD, 2000
- UNIX Shell Scripting, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA 1999
- Coaching Advising and Mentoring, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA,1999
- Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Training, Franklin Covey Co. Salt Lake City, Utah, 1998
