Ellen O'Brien

Position title: Program Manager for Curriculum Change Initiatives

Email: elobrien4@wisc.edu

Pronouns
she/her/hers or they/them/theirs
Degrees
Ph.D., English, University of Connecticut; M.A., Training and Development, Roosevelt University; M.A., English, University of Connecticut; B.A., English, St. Mary’s University
University of Wisconsin crest - a white letter W on a red background framed by a golden oval with filigree.

I joined the CTLM in 2025 after serving for 25 years as a professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies at Roosevelt University (RU) in Chicago. At RU, I also held various administrative and leadership positions that included overseeing an interdisciplinary academic unit, managing university-wide learning support services and disability resources, creating faculty development initiatives on high-impact teaching practices, and leading instructors through course redesign projects with attention to equity, transparency, and access. With more than 30 years as an instructor in multiple course delivery modes, I am inspired by the range of instructional possibilities for creating effective learning environments that meet the needs of diverse learners and instructors. When not at work, I can be found volunteering on gardening projects, exploring state parks, and reading at the public library.