Jonathan Pizzo

Jon Pizzo is the Manager of Multimedia Services at the Center for Distributed Learning. He oversees the day-to-day operations and logistics of the instructional development team. Jon is responsible for supporting and overseeing the production of livestream events hosted by the division and managing the division’s web space. Collaboratively with his team and various project teams, he supports and helps build the communication strategy and infrastructure for the Center for Distributed Learning, including faculty-focused communications and social media initiatives.

Jon holds a B.S. in Information Technology from UCF and has been with the Center for Distributed Learning since 2009. Starting as an Assistant Instructional Designer, he later joined the instructional development team full-time in 2013 and later took on a leadership role within the team in 2020. As a native Floridian, Jon enjoys fishing, visiting local beaches, tailgating UCF home games (Go Knights!), kayaking, camping, and exploring the US on frequent road trips.

Bren Bedford, MNM

Bren has been with the University of Central Florida since 2001. Most recently, she joined the Center for Distributed Learning’s Instructional Development (iDev) Team and has assisted the UCF Online Planning Team with the UCF Online initiative. She has experience with instructional design for technology-based training in industry, and over 20 years of experience with project and personnel management in industry, military, and higher education.

Bren earned her Master of Nonprofit Management, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration | Management Information Systems degrees from the University of Central Florida. She’s a veteran of the United States Army. During her spare time, she volunteers in the pet rescue community.

Karen Tinsley-Kim, M.A.

Karen is part of the Instructional Development, or iDev, Team that creates tutorials and training to equip faculty, staff and students to effectively use Webcourses@UCF and other online instructional assets.

Karen has a Bachelor of Science in Studio Art from Florida State University, a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and is preparing for candidacy in the Texts & Technology, Ph.D program at the University of Central Florida. Before joining CDL’s Instructional Development Team in the fall of 2012, Karen had taught ESL/EFL to non-native English speaking teachers, graduate, undergraduate and college intent students for over two decades. This part of her career included teaching seven years in East Asia and ten years at UCF-CMMS. While at CMMS, Karen also contributed her skills in writing, editing, graphic and web design, while also helping to implement and train basic online teaching and learning in Moodle. Karen is the utility patented product developer of the Redema Ottoman Footrest, inspired by her need to elevate her legs with dignity while pregnant and teaching at CMMS.

Resourcing her previous career and educational interests, Karen currently coordinates Blind/Low Vision and Deaf/Hard of Hearing online content accessibility reviews for students registered with Student Accessibility Services (SAS). She enjoys learning the latest to enhance online accessibility and likewise orient and equip instructors who use Webcourses@UCF. In March 2014, her proposal for the UDOIT (Universal Design Online content Inspection Tool, pronounced “You do it,”) LTI was awarded a Higher Education Canvas Grant for Applying Universal Design for Online Learning. The Accessibility Team along with Jacob Bates and the Techrangers at CDL developed and implemented UDOIT into Webcourses@UCF in May 2015. UDOIT continues to receive national accolades and award-winning recognition, including the 2015 Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Effective Practice Award.

Wendy Dye, M.A.

Wendy has been an Instructional Development (iDev) team member since 2019. After receiving her B.A. in Theatre from Florida State University, she moved to New York City. She worked in professional theatre and television as a stage manager and casting director on numerous productions.

Since returning to Florida, she received her M.A. in English – Technical Communication from the University of Central Florida. She has worked at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios on live television press events, at Valencia College in faculty development, and as a freelance web designer.

In her current role, she can combine her skills in entertainment production, educational technology, and web design to create engaging and informative web content.

Nafije Prishtina, M.S.

Nafije is a member of the Instructional Development Team (iDev), supporting the Special Program community by designing and developing non-academic courses for the faculty and staff’s professional development.

In the summer of 2021, Nafije earned her UCF M.S. degree, with a focus on Interdisciplinary Studies, and joined the CDL’s Instructional Development Team. Her educational credentials include a bachelor’s degree from Davenport University, majoring in Business with emphasis in Human Resources Training and Development, and the recent Master’s in Cognitive Sciences, Instructional Design and Technology.

Nafije is a refugee from Kosovo where her earliest college coursework planted the seed for her passion for teaching and developing courses. In 1998, the life she and her family knew ended when the country erupted into civil war. Her journey led her to take refuge, first in neighboring refugee camps, and then in America, where she began her new life in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Following intensive English language studies, Nafije resumed university studies focusing on training and development.

After working for corporate America, Nafije started her consulting business, supporting clients to shine fully and increase their personal and professional effectiveness. Her work with business owners inspired Nafije to design and launch her own learning system. The ShiningStarsSuccessSystem (4S), is a self/time management system that Nafije teaches via online courses and workshops. 

Nafije is also a wife and mother of two young ladies. She balances her vast responsibilities, employing her own success system to ensure productivity and harmony in her personal and professional roles.