Senior Accessibility Coordinator
Noelia Franzen née Mendoza, serves as the Senior Accessibility Coordinator at Sonoma State University in Disability Services For Students. She specializes in Alt Media, Assistive Technologies, and Academic Technologies.
Noelia earned a Master's in Education with an emphasis in Instructional Technologies, and a Bachelors in Raza Studies (Latina/o) Studies from San Francisco State University. In her 20-years as an Academic Technology professional and instructional designer, she has served on the Accessible Technology Initiative Committees at SF State and SSU to advocate for students with disabilities. She is an EOP alumna and a first-generation college student. In her previous role as Academic Technology Manager at SSU she provided pedagogical and technical training and support to SSU faculty using the campus Learning Management System (LMS), web-conferencing system and other Academic Technology tools and systems in the SSU service catalog; she also lead the SSU Affordable Learning Initiative, providing faculty with resources to develop and adopt accessible low-cost instructional materials and in doing so provide students with free or more affordable textbook options.
Previous to beginning her work at SSU, she worked as the lead LMS Instructional Designer at SF State. While at SF State, Noelia also taught a hybrid course providing innovative approaches to understanding information technology and its relationship to Latina/o(Raza) populations. Students compared the advantages and limitations of emerging Internet technologies; explored the diversity within US Latino populations; analyzed Internet access and usage patterns; explored a range of internet-driven communications; developed digital literacy skills; designed websites and digital media press kits to promote activism around community-driven needs, and students examined the role of the internet in maintaining cultural connections among Raza and creating communities online.
She had served as the president of Directors of Educational Technology / California Higher Education (DET/CHE), an organization of academic technology professionals focusing on common management concerns within academic computing, instructional technology, media services, and distance education across all levels of higher education.
Noelia enjoys venturing into nature, kayaking, and playing with her energetic canine companion.
Current Service Appointments 2020: Immediate Past-President, Directors of Educational Technology / California Higher Education (DET/CHE) 2019-2020: SSU Campus Representative, American Association of University Women (AAUW)