Norma I. Scagnoli has led an impressive career in higher education and leadership, spanning four decades. Dedicated to creating impactful educational practices, she has focused not only on teaching but also on faculty development, fostering a strong learning environment for both students and educators. Her passion for elevating students’ lives through education and witnessing their achievements has been a driving force throughout her career.
About Dr. Scagnoli
Growing up in Argentina, Scagnoli was heavily influenced by her parents’ adamant support of pursuing knowledge through education. They believed firmly in its transformative power, and her father believed that a college diploma was essential for all his children. Throughout her life, Scagnoli’s family has supported her pursuits, and she has passed on her family’s dedication to learning to the next generation.
Scagnoli started her academic career in Argentina and received a Bachelor of Arts in teaching English as a foreign language from the Profesorado Gabriela Mistral, Instituto del Rosario in Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina, in 1982.
Though she originally believed she would pursue a career as an architect because of her love of design and her desire to help others, Scagnoli’s passion for education led her in another direction. She decided to become an English teacher. As soon as she graduated, she faced some obstacles after the 1982 War between Argentina and Great Britain. There was a backlash against all things “English,” so she took on various jobs while starting her English school, called Instituto Superior de Enseñanza Inglesa (ISEI), which is still running and, in its 40 years of existence has helped hundreds of students to become bilingual and complete successful careers.
Scagnoli’s desire to continue her education resulted in her becoming a Fulbright Scholar in 1998, which brought her to the United States. She received a Master of Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2000. She followed this accomplishment by receiving a Doctor of Philosophy in human resource education, with emphasis on learning technologies, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2007. She has also pursued certifications in leadership in education technology, with an emphasis on change management, disruptive strategy, and emerging technologies, from leaders in higher education such as Harvard Business School and EDUCAUSE, among others.
Expanding Digital Learning
Scagnoli is currently the vice provost of Learning Innovation and the director of the Center for Learning Innovation at the Illinois Institute of Technology. She is particularly interested in first-generation individuals and helping them achieve their goals. A comment from a mentor deeply resonated with her and is at the core of her success. After witnessing her ability to connect people and ideas, he told her that her “mission in life was to build bridges.”
Among Scagnoli’s responsibilities is the expansion of Illinois Tech’s digital learning initiatives. She leads the Center for Learning Innovation and ensures “high-quality, innovative, and accessible digital learning experiences.” Scagnoli states she is “keen on addressing the growing gap between technology and human relationships.” She emphasizes human factors must be considered when using technology and is “committed to fostering innovation” to maintain “human connections in a tech-driven world.”
As she continues to teach, inspire, and discover new ways to enhance online learning, Scagnoli will ensure that technology does not overshadow the essential aspects of being human as people pursue their dreams through the path of education.
