About University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Anchal Malik Chopra serves as faculty at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Dental Medicine. Through her Coursera course "Introduction to Dental Terminology," she helps students understand fundamental dental concepts and terminology across various specialties. Her course covers comprehensive topics including endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, restorative dentistry, dental radiography, and practice administration. Her teaching methodology breaks down complex dental terminology into accessible components while maintaining professional standards. The eight-module course she developed provides foundational knowledge for both clinical and non-clinical dental terms, making it valuable for students, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in dental healthcare. Her expertise spans both clinical practice and dental education, focusing on making dental concepts accessible to diverse audiences.

Dr. Andrea Fairman serves as faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in assistive technology and smart home solutions. Through her Coursera course "Mainstream Smart Home Technology as Assistive Technology," she helps healthcare providers, social service professionals, and caregivers understand how smart home technology can enhance independence and well-being for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Her course covers comprehensive topics including smart home components, major ecosystems like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, and wireless communication protocols. Her expertise focuses on integrating mainstream smart home technology as assistive solutions, addressing assessment approaches, client-centered goals, and functional performance evaluation. The course emphasizes practical applications while considering privacy, security, and sustainability concerns in smart home implementation

Dr. Dan Ding serves as Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Research at the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, while also working as a Research Biomedical Engineer at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Through her Coursera course "Mainstream Smart Home Technology as Assistive Technology," she helps students understand how smart technology can support independence and participation for people with disabilities. Her research focuses on sensors, machine learning, and human-machine interaction, particularly in wearables, internet-of-things, and assistive robotics. As Principal Investigator of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wireless Technology for People with Disabilities, she leads initiatives to advance assistive technology solutions. With over 180 peer-reviewed publications and extensive federal grant funding, she continues to pioneer research in smart technology applications for disability support while maintaining secondary appointments at the Department of Bioengineering and McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Dr. Julie Beaulieu serves as Teaching Associate Professor in the Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Literature with a certificate in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and a BA in English/Women's Studies from the University of Southern Maine. Through her Coursera course "Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace," she helps students understand complex issues of gender and sexuality in professional environments. Her research focuses on the history of sexuality, global LGBTQ studies, transgender studies, and queer theory. She is currently working on her first book manuscript, "Obsessive Love: A Queer History," while being actively involved in Pitt's LGBTQ Archival Education Project. Her teaching spans various aspects of gender and sexuality studies, including feminist theory, transgender studies, and global LGBTQ literature, combining theoretical frameworks with practical applications for workplace inclusion.

Dr. Lindsey Morris serves as Clinical Research Scientist in the Rehabilitation Science and Technology Department at the University of Pittsburgh. Her academic credentials include a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from MGH Institute of Health Professions. Through her Coursera course "Mainstream Smart Home Technology as Assistive Technology," she helps students understand how smart technology can support occupational participation for people with disabilities. Her expertise stems from her experience as Director of Programming for the Down Syndrome Association of the Valley, where she developed advocacy, educational outreach, and occupation-based programs. Her research focuses on integrating mainstream smart technologies into community-based interventions to improve health, participation, and quality of life for persons with disabilities and underserved populations. Her approach combines clinical expertise with practical applications, emphasizing the role of technology in supporting daily occupations and community participation.

Dr. Maighdlin Anderson serves as faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in disaster preparedness and emergency management. Through her Coursera course "Disaster Preparedness," she helps students understand core competencies needed for disaster preparedness and survival. Her course covers comprehensive topics including the disaster cycle, personal preparedness plans, and response strategies for various disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and tsunamis. Her teaching methodology emphasizes practical, hands-on skills and easy-to-implement advice for disaster scenarios. The 13-hour course she developed combines theoretical frameworks with real-world applications, focusing on essential aspects of survival including food, shelter, water, security, and first aid. Her expertise spans both personal and community-level disaster preparedness, helping students develop comprehensive emergency response plans while understanding the importance of mental and physical preparation for disaster situations.

Marily Nixon serves as Professor of Practice and Director of the Online Master of Studies in Law Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Through her Coursera course "Law You Can Use," she helps non-lawyer professionals understand essential legal concepts and their practical applications. Her extensive legal career spans over 20 years, including positions at major law firms like Holland & Hart LLP and Dorsey & Whitney LLP, leading nonprofit legal groups including the Southern Environmental Law Center, and work in a County Attorney's office in Denver. Her expertise includes environmental law, demonstrated through her management of an air quality improvement initiative for The Heinz Endowments in Pittsburgh. As program director, she takes a practical approach to legal education, focusing on equipping students with applicable legal knowledge for their careers. Her teaching methodology emphasizes making complex legal concepts accessible to professionals who need to understand law without practicing it.

Dr. Mary Goldberg serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology and Education & Outreach Project Director at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh. Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Administrative and Policy Studies of Education, focusing on online learning in assistive technology. Through her Coursera courses "Disability Awareness and Support" and "idea 2 IMPACT: An Introduction to Translating Assistive Health Technologies," she has engaged over 4,000 learners globally. Her research focuses on developing model interventions for capacity building in assistive technology to support full inclusion of people with disabilities. Her work earned her recognition as a "Top Tech Innovator in Higher Education" by the Chronicle of Higher Education in 2016. Her expertise spans program evaluation, STEM education, and international capacity building in assistive technology, combining academic research with practical applications for disability support and inclusion.

Dr. Michael Beach serves as Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, where he teaches in the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program and coordinates the 2nd Degree Accelerated BSN Program. His academic credentials include a Doctor of Nursing Practice (2009) and certifications as both an Acute Care Adult and Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Through his highly successful Coursera course "Disaster Preparedness," which has enrolled over 59,000 students, he helps learners understand core competencies for disaster response and survival. His expertise spans emergency medicine, disaster preparedness, and mass casualty care, developed through over 20 years of volunteer search and rescue work. As a member of the Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT), he has participated in major disaster responses including Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. His book "Disaster Preparedness and Management" (2010) and international presentations demonstrate his commitment to advancing disaster response education and practices

Dr. Michael Gold serves as Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. Through his Coursera course "Clinical Terminology for International and U.S. Students," co-developed with Dr. Swigart, he helps international healthcare students understand American medical terminology and communication practices. His expertise focuses on designing and implementing technology-aided communications, particularly in healthcare settings. His extensive travel throughout Asia and Africa has informed his understanding of cross-cultural healthcare communication challenges. His work addresses the specific needs of international students adapting to American medical terminology and healthcare communication, especially under stressful conditions. His teaching methodology emphasizes practical applications and safety in healthcare communication, helping students develop effective communication skills with American medical personnel while considering cultural differences in healthcare practices.

Dr. Susan Marine serves as Professor and Program Director in the Higher Education Master's Program at Merrimack College while contributing as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh. Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Boston College, an M.A. in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and a B.A. in Philosophy from Transylvania University. Through her Coursera course "Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace," she helps professionals understand inclusive practices and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Her 25-year career focuses on advancing women and trans* students' rights, sexual violence prevention, and LGBTQ+ community advocacy. She authored "Stonewall's Legacy: Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Students in Higher Education" and has published extensively in leading journals. Her research examines feminist praxis in higher education, trans* student inclusion, and campus sexual violence prevention, while her teaching emphasizes transformative leadership for social justice in higher education.

Dr. Valerie Swigart serves as Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, with a 30-year academic career focusing on technology, healthcare ethics, and human behavior. Through her highly successful Coursera course "Clinical Terminology for International and U.S. Students," which has enrolled over 124,000 learners, she helps international healthcare students master clinical terminology and cross-cultural communication. Her expertise spans qualitative research methods, teaching with technology, and mindful meditation applications in healthcare. Her work has earned multiple honors, including two Nursing Excellence in Teaching with Technology Awards (2006, 2014) and the Dean's Distinguished Teaching Award (2008). As a member of the Center for Bioethics and Health Law, she frequently lectures on clinical ethics and social justice issues. Her research includes NIH-sponsored studies on surrogate decision-making, life-sustaining technology, and healthcare access for underserved populations. She continues to consult on qualitative research, ethics, and mindful meditation while maintaining her commitment to international nursing education.