Dr. Ivonne Chirino-Klevans, program director for Walden University’s Center for International Programs, will speak at the opening of The Hispanic Educational Technology Services (HETS) Consortium Second Annual Best Practices Showcase, Feb. 16-17, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dr. Chirino-Klevans will join Dr. Jose Rivera, president of Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, and Reggie Smith III, chair emeritus of the United States Distance Learning Association, to discuss attracting and retaining Hispanic students in online higher education.
 
In her position at Walden, Dr. Chirino-Klevans works to develop tools, activities and improvements that enhance and support the international student experience at the online university. She also explores new partnerships in Latin America, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico to expand online higher education access in the region.
 
Dr. Chirino-Klevans is a member of the HETS board of directors as well as the chief editor of HETS Online Journal. She has written extensively about the specific needs and concerns that Hispanic students have as online learners. Her articles appear in The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine, HispanicBusiness.com, Poder 360 Magazine, Diversity Executive and Hispanic Executive.
 
Prior to joining Walden in 2005 as a professor of organizational psychology, she worked with Fortune 500 companies designing training and development programs and serving as program director for Duke Corporate Education. Dr. Chirino-Klevans received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the Universidad Iberoamericana. She also holds an M.B.A. from the Universidad de las Americas and a master’s degree in psychology from Georgia College.
 
The HETS Consortium annual conference celebrates innovative technology strategies in higher education. Conference presentations will highlight best practices for access, retention and assessment strategies as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for Hispanics.
 
As a member of HETS Consortium, Walden partners with the organization’s 27 other members to focus on making a positive impact on the Hispanic student population by improving college retention, completion and successful learning outcomes.