Dr. Devendra Potnis
Principal Investigator
Dr. Devendra Potnis has co-authored over 130 peer-reviewed research publications in the ICT for Development area, with a focus on the causes and consequences of accessing and using ICTs and information by (a) individuals such as farmers, people earning less than a dollar a day, (b) communities, including vulnerable populations in rural Appalachia, (c) organizations like academic and public libraries, and (d) government agencies in developing and developed countries. In the past, he had developed an innovative curriculum for library and information science graduate students to serve as mobile technology consultants for nonprofit organizations.
Dr. Daniel Collins
Co-Principal Investigator
Dr. Daniel Collins is an Extension Specialist at UTIA. He is a life-long 4-H member. He has served as a camp staff member, an educational programming assistant, an agent, and a state coordinator for multiple 4-H centers in North Carolina and Virginia. At UTIA, he oversees statewide 4-H camping and STEM programs. He completed his Doctor of Education degree in Agricultural and Extension Education with emphasis on Leadership and Adult Learning.
Dr. Jamie Greig
Co-Principal Investigator
As an assistant professor of agricultural communication, Dr. Jamie Greig conducts research on the intersection of internet access and ICT adoption in the agricultural sector and rural communities.
Dr. Shelli Rampold
Co-Principal Investigator
Dr. Shelli Rampold is an assistant professor in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications and is responsible for the agriculture and natural resources at UTIA. Agricultural communication is her area of expertise, and she holds a large Extension appointment in which she works with Extension agents to mitigate issues facing the agriculture and natural resource sectors. She has extensive experience conducting needs assessments to design evidence-based initiatives.
Luke McDonald
Graduate Student
Luke McDonald is a graduate student in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He received his undergraduate degree in English from Belmont University and spent a year working on an urban farm as an AmeriCorps member. He currently works part-time in a rural public library.