Meet Our Team
Contact the Office of Appreciative Education team at oae@rjval.com
Jenny Bloom, Ed.D.
Jennifer L. Bloom, Ed.D. joined the Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology at Florida Atlantic University in August 2015. She serves as a Professor and Founder of the FAU Office of Appreciative Education. Dr. Bloom is a co-founder of the Appreciative Advising and Appreciative Education movements. She established the Appreciative Advising Institute, the Appreciative Education Conference, the Appreciative Advising Online Course, the process for Certifying Appreciative Advisers, and other exciting initiatives related to Appreciative Advising and Appreciative Education.
Connect via LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-jenny-bloom-1873487/
Mykel Beorchia
Mykel Beorchia uses Appreciative Education as a framework for cultivating spaces centered on possibilities for students and educators. Mykel started as the Director of the Office of Appreciative Education at Florida Atlantic University in 2024. As Executive Director of University and Exploratory Advising at Utah State University (2016-2024), Mykel infused Appreciative Education practices throughout the advising system. She is dedicated to building connections and empowering others to amplify their strengths to create advising relationships with students and achieve personal, unit, and institutional goals. She served as chair of the NACADA Appreciative Advising Community from 2021-2023.
Connect via LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelbeorchia
Ashley Weinkoff
Ashley Weinkoff serves as the Coordinator for the Office of Appreciative Education at Florida Atlantic University. She is dedicated to supporting educational and professional development initiatives that utilize a positive, strengths-based, and student-centered approach to helping students realize their full potential. Ashley graduated cum laude from University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and continued her education at Towson University where she earned a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and Florida Atlantic University where she earned a Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership.
Connect via LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-weinkoff/
Bryan Hursh
Bryan Hursh serves as the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Office of Appreciative Education at Florida Atlantic University. He is committed to utilizing Appreciative Education strategies and techniques to foster community among his peers. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a minor in Communication Studies and Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Florida Atlantic University. As a doctoral student pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Leadership, Bryan’s research interests are centered around the practices and theories used in developing undergraduate student leaders, peer mentors, and Appreciative Advising. Bryan is committed to fostering community among his peers that is rooted in the foundations of Appreciative Education.
Connect via LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/hurshbryan
Ellie Serafin
Ellie Serafin is an Intern with the Office of Appreciative Education at Florida Atlantic University. Ellie is an undergraduate junior communications major at Florida Atlantic University. While being a First Generation, Transfer, and commuter student, she studies with the hopes of becoming involved in teaching for a university while pursuing student affairs. Her on-campus responsibilities also include being a Mentor Orientation Leader and a Peer Mentor for the Mentor Collective.
Staff Associates
Steve Sanderson
Steve Sanderson is a Staff Associate with the Office of Appreciative Education and is a veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard. Steve grew in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, and received a degree in Accounting from Eastern Illinois University. He retired from Administration at the University of Illinois and later worked as a Corporate Pilot for a Vesuvius USA, a company based in Champaign. Steve also worked as a Flight Instructor and a charter pilot, both in Illinois and in South Carolina. He holds the Airline Transport Pilot rating. After moving to Florida, Steve spent five years with the Office of New Student Orientation and Family Engagement, and has served in various capacities for all of the Summer Institutes. Steve is a Certified Appreciative Adviser and works with many of the other OAE programs.
Connect via LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steve-sanderson-15730511/
Ed Morrison
Ed Morrison is a Staff Associate with the Office of Appreciative Education and is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves. Ed grew up in West Virginia and received a degree in Mathematics from The University of Toledo. He had a career in Information Technology as a software developer for Owens Illinois, Inc. a glass company and then with Holcim, Inc. a cement manufacturing company. After moving to Florida, Ed spent two years with the Office of New Student Orientation and Family Engagement and has served in various capacities with the Office of Appreciative Education. Ed has joined the team in the Zoom Broadcast Engineer control room helping with the Summer Institutes and many other OAE programs.