Michelle Ray

Michelle “Shelly” Ray is Professor of Mathematics and the former Director of Academic Assessment at Aims Community College. In her role as Director, she developed and established the foundation for the assessment practices currently in place at her institution. She is currently back in the classroom where her teaching emphasis includes: the Calculus sequence, Trigonometry, Statistics, Math for the Liberal Arts, College Algebra, Career Math, and Introduction to Education. In addition to teaching mathematics courses, she also mentors new faculty.  She has been teaching at Aims Community College since 1999 and began her teaching career in 1993.  She earned her PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Mathematics Education at Colorado State University through a National Science Foundation Grant.  She also holds a Masters in Mathematics Education, Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics with an emphasis in Secondary education, and advanced coursework in mentoring.

Dr. Ray also works as a consultant in higher education supporting best practices in assessment of student learning with colleges and universities, as well as the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE). She was a lead consultant on the Re-envisioning GTPathways project for the State of Colorado working collaboratively with faculty from across the state to revise the competencies and learning outcomes for general education transfer courses. In working with colleges and universities to meet the demands of accreditation related to assessment of student learning, she advises on the development and implementation of multi-level institutional assessment plans and practices.

Dr. Ray currently serves on the Math Pathways Task Force for the State of Colorado as the two-year lead and presents the work of the task force at regional, state, and national events.  She is the leading the efforts for the curriculum redesign in the Quantitative Reasoning/Quantitative Literacy path including faculty professional development in best practices to engage these types of learners to support the redesign. Dr. Ray worked a Content Specialist for e-Mentoring for Student Success through New Teacher Center from June 2008 to May 2016.  She has held leadership roles in multiple organizations including the role of Vice President for the Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics from spring 2014 to spring 2016.  She enjoys working with and presenting for groups across the higher education spectrum and has presented both nationally and regionally at multiple conferences on both assessment and mathematics related topics.  These include the Higher Learning Commission’s annual conference, the League for Innovations, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges, Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and Colorado Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges.  She is also a reviewer for the publication Mathematics Teacher. Her areas of expertise include: research and practice in assessment, curriculum and faculty development, mentoring new faculty, and Writing-to-Learn Mathematics.