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University News

Provost’s Office Announces New CTL, IDEAS Directors

UMass Provost Office wordmark

The Office of the Provost recently announced the appointment of new directors for the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and Instructional Design, Engagement, and Support (IDEAS).

Brian Baldi
Brian Baldi

Brian Baldi has been named assistant provost and director of the CTL, a position he has filled in an interim capacity during the 2025-26 academic year. Baldi came to UMass Amherst in 2007 and was promoted to assistant director of the CTL in 2013. A recipient of the ADVANCE Faculty Peer Mentoring Award, he has been recognized by the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education for his work on the UMass Amherst Mutual Mentoring Program and has served as co-PI on grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Center for the Contemplative Mind in Society. He has served as a past co-chair of the University Writing Committee and has published in the Journal of Faculty Development, International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Innovative Higher Education, and the Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education.

Julie Breen
Julie Breen

Julie Breen has been appointed assistant provost and director of IDEAS. As an instructional design leader and technical writer, Breen specializes in measurable, engaging learning solutions. In her former role as director of the Office of Innovative Technology and Learning Design at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH), she and her team provided assessment design, e-learning development, technical support, and training to faculty and staff. In this role, Breen directed CECH’s transition from Blackboard to Canvas, collaborated with School of IT faculty to establish a course quality assurance process, and designed a competency-based education course process. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes student-centered, inclusive design with particular attention to introverted learners.

The announcements were made in an email sent to faculty July 23 by Dena Novak, associate provost for instructional excellence.

More information about CTL can be found at umass.edu/ctl, and more info about IDEAS can be found at umass.edu/ideas.