UNO Appoints Digital Learning Faculty Fellows

The Division of Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives (ILCI) at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Margeret Hall, Ph.D., and Kelly Rhea MacArthur, Ph.D., as Digital Learning Faculty Fellows for the 2024-25 academic year. Their participation in this new fellowship program will play a pivotal role in advancing UNO’s digital learning initiatives.

Magie Hall, an Associate Professor of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis, will focus on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into higher education. With her expertise in technology and society, Hall will explore the potential benefits and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI), identifying best practices and developing strategies to harness AI for enhanced teaching and learning at UNO.

Kelly MacArthur, an Associate Professor of Sociology, will concentrate on enhancing student success in online and flexible learning environments. Leveraging her research in medical sociology and online teaching, MacArthur will examine factors influencing student retention and achievement in online courses and programs, providing valuable insights to improve UNO’s digital learning experiences.

As Digital Learning Faculty Fellows, Hall and MacArthur will collaborate closely with the ILCI Digital Learning team and campus partners to develop innovative projects, share their findings, and contribute to UNO's strategic goals. They will also participate in a leadership development program with their colleagues in the Academic Affairs and Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA) faculty fellowship programs.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with faculty researchers in this capacity. For years, the Digital Learning team has wanted to be able to ask important questions about the broader impact of the projects and initiatives we support,” said Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovative & Learning Centric Initiatives Jaci Lindburg, Ph.D. “It’s exciting to have Magie and Kelly serving as our first faculty fellows and be able to utilize their expertise to learn more about student success in online courses and AI in teaching and learning. I believe these faculty fellows will help us transform knowledge into action and empower us to further cultivate innovative learning environments.”

More About Margeret Hall

Magie Hall is an Associate Professor of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis at UNO. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor in Strategic Business Analytics at the Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien and at UNO's School of Interdisciplinary Informatics. Dr. Hall's research investigates how technology impacts behavior and society. She is particularly motivated by addressing vulnerability using a mixed-methods approach. Her numerous publications appear in journals such as ACM Transactions on Internet of Things, Sustainable and Renewable Energy Reviews, and Artificial Intelligence Review. Prior to starting her PhD, she worked at the United Nations Office in Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and at Bayer Business Services. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master's degrees in Policy studies in the United States, Lebanon, and Switzerland.

More About Kelly Rhea MacArthur

Kelly MacArthur is an Associate Professor of Sociology, joining the UNO faculty in 2014 after receiving her Ph.D. from Kent State University. She is a medical sociologist with teaching and research experience in medical socialization/education, mental health/illness, health disparities, gender, and quantitative methods/statistics. Her past work has examined various aspects of the doctor-patient relationship, with publications in journals including Academic Psychiatry, BMC Medical Education, Social Science and Medicine, Child Abuse & Trauma, Health Sociology Review, and Sociology Compass. Her current research focuses on the well-being of medical students, the effects of loneliness on health, and statistics pedagogy.