2026 Champion: O'Reilly, Peter; Merritt, Daisha M; Chapman, Karen; Rozar-Bergmann, Heather; Nordeen, Sarah
Biography
Dr. Peter O’Reilly is an Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Management in the College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide campus, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in strategic management, international business, leadership, and related disciplines. He holds a Doctor of Professional Studies in Business with majors in International Business and Strategic Management from Pace University, as well as an M.B.A. and B.S. in Marketing from St. John’s University. In addition to his faculty role, he serves on the Faculty Senate’s Shared Governance Committee, is a Fellow at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and mentors students through coaching and the Worldwide COMPASS Mentoring Program.
Dr. Daisha M. Merritt is an Assistant Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Management in the College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide campus, where she has served since 2018. She earned her Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership with a concentration in Nonprofit and Community Leadership from James Madison University and teaches courses in the MSM, BTSM, and MSLD programs. Her research focuses on nonprofit strategy, leadership development, and diaspora communities, particularly the impacts of remittance giving.
Dr. Karen Chapman is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Management in the College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide campus, where she currently teaches Organizational Behavior (MGMT 317) and Strategic Management (MGMT 436). She has also taught courses in transportation principles, IT management strategy and governance, air cargo management, and project management in aviation operations. Dr. Chapman holds a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix–Wyoming, an M.B.A. in Human Resource Management from Wayland Baptist University, and a B.S. in Management from Park University.
Heather Rozar-Bergmann is the Director of the Rothwell Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, where she leads faculty development initiatives and advances evidence-based teaching and learning practices. Her experience includes work as an adjunct professor, online instructor, and online administrator, with expertise in e-learning, instructional design, professional development, project management, and supervision. She holds a Master of Business Administration in Management and Strategy and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Central Florida.
Sarah Nordeen is the Director of Instructional Design and Development at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she leads course design and development initiatives that support effective teaching and learning. She holds a Master of Science in Project Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Arts in Instructional Design and Technology in eLearning from the University of Central Florida. She also earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management from Daytona State College and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Northwest Nazarene University.
Campus
WorldWide
Courses Impacted
OBLD 317: Organizational Behavior
2026 Champion: O'Reilly, Peter; Merritt, Daisha M; Chapman, Karen; Rozar-Bergmann, Heather; Nordeen, Sarah
Comments
Nomination Comments: "OBLD 317, an undergraduate Organizational Behavior course in the College of Business core curriculum, was redesigned with the goal of making learning more accessible, engaging, and affordable for students. Because this is a required course taken by a wide range of majors, reducing textbook costs while maintaining strong learning outcomes was a central priority. The course now relies on an open-source textbook as its foundation, removing the need for a traditional commercial text. From there, the learning experience was rebuilt to emphasize application and decision-making rather than passive reading. Students move from open textbook content to first-person source listening, specifically in the form of industry interviews from aviation professionals, and then into real-world organizational scenarios where they must make choices, consider consequences, and reflect on outcomes. Original branching decision scenarios now make up more than half of the course modules, allowing students to actively engage with core organizational behavior concepts in practical, realistic contexts. This redesign reflects a commitment to open education not only by adopting open materials, but by using them in thoughtful and intentional ways that support different learning styles and increase accessibility. Technology is used to support collaboration, interaction, and applied learning rather than as an add-on. The result is a course that lowers financial barriers for students while creating a more meaningful and engaging learning experience. The work done in OBLD 317 demonstrates how open educational resources, paired with creative instructional design, can support affordability, access, and deeper learning in a high-impact core course."