IDDC - Meet the Team

Our team is dedicated to supporting faculty in the design, development and delivery of engaging and effective online courses. We are here to provide expertise, resources, and personalized assistance to enhance online teaching and learning. Get to know the team members who are ready to help you every step of the way.

 

Staff headshot

Jessica Chill
Director of Youngstown State Online

Email: jrchill@ysu.edu | Phone: 330.941.1526 

Bio: Jessica has been with Youngstown State University since May 2014 and has served as the Director of Youngstown State Online since 2019. She brings 15
years of experience in higher education, including more than a decade
specializing in online program management. With a strong foundation in
leadership and digital learning, Jessica is committed to enhancing the
accessibility and quality of online education. She holds a Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration (Management) from Pennsylvania Western
University (Clarion) and a Master of Science in User Experience Design from
Kent State University.

In her free time, Jessica enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and
kayaking, especially when her adventures take her to scenic, travel-worthy
destinations. 

 

 

Joe Alberti

Joe Alberti
Senior Instructional Designer

Email: jmalberti@ysu.edu | Phone: 330.941.1535 

Bio: Joe has been an instructional designer at Youngstown State University since
March 2017. He has close to twenty years of experience in education,
technical training, and instructional design. Joe holds a Master of Education
in Instructional Design and Technology from Post University. He has also
completed the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) training and the
Quality Matters Peer Reviewer training. Joe teaches part-time through the
Beeghly School of Education.  

When he is not working or teaching, he spends most of his time with his
family. Joe spends many long weekends in cars driving for soccer, lacrosse,
and gymnastics tournaments and competitions. On the rare weekend off, you can
find Joe on a golf course trying to find his ball!  

 

 

Stephanie Adams

Stephanie Adams
Senior Instructional Designer

Email: sadams04@ysu.edu | Phone: 330.941.1535 

Bio: Stephanie has been an instructional designer at Youngstown State University
since March 2020. She has over a decade of experience in educational
technology, instructional design, training and facilitation, and product
development. She holds an MBA from Youngstown State University and a Master
of Science in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of
North Dakota. She has completed the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric
(APPQMR) training and the Quality Matters Peer Reviewer training.

Stephanie enjoys a good latte, trips to the library with her kids, and
traveling, especially to Walt Disney World.  
 

 

 

Rachel Faerber-Ovaska

Dr. Rachel Faerber-Ovaska
Instructional Designer

Email: rofaerberovaska@ysu.edu | Phone: 330.941.1535 

Bio: With an EdD focused on technology-enhanced education from the University of
Pittsburgh, an MAT in French, and an MA in Germanic Philology, Rachel is a
consummate pedagogy nerd. She brings a wealth of experience from her time
teaching K-12 in Finland, her 14 years living abroad, and a decade teaching
world languages and linguistics part-time at YSU. As part of the YSU Online
instructional design team since 2021, she focuses on helping faculty
integrate interactive multimedia and emerging technologies (Virtual Reality,
Artificial Intelligence) into online courses to create engaging, high-quality
learning experiences. She is trained in Applying the Quality Matters Rubric
(APPQMR) and Quality Matters Peer Review.

In her free time, Rachel goes to France! When that’s not possible, she
takes walks in Mill Creek Park. 

 

 

Rachel Faerber-Ovaska

Jared Roller
Instructional Designer

Email: rofaerberovaska@ysu.edu | Phone: 330.941.1535 

Bio: Jared has been an instructional designer at Youngstown State University since 2025. He has over three years of experience supporting faculty in creating their online courses through instructional design and information design. He holds a Master in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences from Utah State University and a Bachelor in English with an emphasis in Technical and Professional Writing. He has completed the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) training. 

He also spends a lot of time playing various games with his family, exploring natural areas, and creating stories & games.