GianMario Besana, PhD

GianMario Besana is a Vincent de Paul professor in the College of Computing and Digital Media and currently serves as associate provost for global engagement and online learning at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. His portfolio comprises the internationalization process of the institution and its online learning operations. The two sides of GianMario’s portfolio recently came together in the creation of the Global Learning Experience (GLE) program, a virtual exchange initiative aimed at supporting DePaul’s faculty members who wish to open their classrooms to technology-facilitated learning experiences at a distance, in partnership with institutions all over the world. In collaboration with DePaul’s Center for Teaching and Learning and Information Services, GianMario established a university wide virtual exchange initiative, including a professional development workshop for instructors, that has attracted national and international attention as a model for institutional support of virtual exchange. DePaul has offered over 100 courses with GLE projects, in collaboration with institutions in 26 different countries. GianMario has facilitated workshops on institutional approaches to virtual exchange at UNESP, UFPE, Clemson University, St. John’s University, Université Catholique de Louvain, Centro Universitario Unichristus, and has presented on the topic of virtual exchange at several conferences (COIL, AACU, FAUBAI, AIEA).