Center for
Learning and Innovation
Center for
Learning and Innovation
Robyn Bryce brings more than 26 years of experience in education to her new leadership role at Yavapai College. Throughout her career, she has been driven by a passion for student-centered learning and the thoughtful integration of technology to enhance education. As Special Programs Manager, Robyn was part of the team that advanced micro-credentials at the college. She also played a leading role in elevating emerging technologies like immersive learning and artificial intelligence across the college. With the guidance of Dr. Rhine’s vision for the future of Yavapai College, Robyn founded the WIN Coalition— a community of practice that explores what’s next for education and the communities it serves. The coalition shares tools, technologies, and ideas, and hosts the monthly WIN Speaker Series, where educational leaders from across the country share their insights and expertise. A graduate of Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA, Robyn has served as a K–12 teacher, a paraprofessional, an instructional coach, an adjunct faculty member, an instructional designer, and an educational technologist. She continues to look ahead, championing innovation, collaboration, and meaningful learning experiences for all students.
With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Ustadza brings a thoughtful, student-focused approach to academic support. She holds a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science and a Bachelor of Science in Human Factors Psychology. Ustadza is passionate about lifelong learning and is deeply committed to continuous education, innovation, and meaningful campus partnerships. In this new role, she will work closely with the Executive Director of Learning & Educational Innovation to advance the college’s strategic goals that enhance the success of students, faculty, and staff. Over the past several years, Ustadza has led key improvements across library systems and tutoring services, including integrating artificial intelligence tools and immersive learning technologies. She looks forward to building on this work, creating environments that blend personalized learning support with innovative solutions.
We are pleased to announce that Mike Byrnes, who previously served as the Library Director, has transitioned into a new role that continues to build on his passion for student success and academic support. As the new Library and Tutoring Specialist – Academic Success Coach, Mike brings a wealth of experience, institutional knowledge, and a deep commitment to helping students thrive. In this student-centered role, Mike will provide personalized support academic coaching, offer library and research support, and contribute to tutoring services across campuses. He will also play a key part in responding to OWT submissions, facilitating academic workshops, and guiding students through common academic challenges. Mike’s dedication to education, his approachable demeanor, and his collaborative spirit makes him an invaluable addition to the Tutoring Services team. We are excited to continue working with him as he helps expand our impact and enrich student learning experiences. Please join us in congratulating Mike on this new chapter!
Tutoring Services has developed an innovative AI Tutor named S.O.P.H.I.E., which is currently being piloted in several classes during the spring semester. Designed to support student success, S.O.P.H.I.E. offers a unique approach compared to traditional chatbots by not only providing academic assistance but also connecting students to Yavapai College’s existing support network. Rather than functioning in isolation, S.O.P.H.I.E. actively directs students to valuable campus resources such as tutoring services, librarians, and other forms of academic and personal support, ensuring that learners are aware of and can access the help available to them throughout their educational journey.
Contact the Tutoring Services manager for more information.
The School of AI is an immersive learning environment, where students can speak to notable figures of history.
Learn from those who lived through it. The School of AI harnesses the power of OpenAI, ChatGPT and many Generative AI solutions to bring you a powerful next generation learning tool.
Your students can speak directly to Marie Curie, Julius Caesar and many others as if they were alive today. Not only do these AI characters look like their host personalities, but they also sound exactly like them.
The School of AI is set in authentic historic locations, such as Marie Curie’s lab or the Hall of Independence with Benjamin Franklin. This is an unforgettable learning experience for students and will alter their perception of history forever.
Contact Immersive-learning@yc.edu to learn how you can add this experience to your class.
A groundbreaking collaboration between the Math Department and the Library is transforming the way students access course materials. With the Math Department nearing 100% adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER), students now have access to free, high-quality textbooks and study materials tailored to their courses.
A key component of this initiative is the Resources for Your Courses site, hosted by the library. This resource hub is designed to provide students with curated study materials that align directly with their courses, ensuring that they have the support they need to succeed. The Math Department and the Library are working closely to ensure that all materials featured on the site are relevant to students’ coursework, as well as supplemental resources that enhance their learning experience.
Beyond benefiting individual students, Resources for Your Courses will also serve as an essential tool for the Tutoring Center. The site will function as a “one stop shop,” allowing tutors to quickly locate and share the same materials students are using in their classes. For example, if a student enrolled in MAT 212 – Topics in Calculus needs to review foundational concepts, they can instantly access materials from MAT 182, 183, and 187 with just a click.
This collaborative effort highlights Yavapai College’s commitment to accessibility, affordability, and academic success. By embracing OER and aligning library resources with classroom instruction, the college is making higher education more affordable and equitable while providing students with the tools they need to thrive. For more information or to explore Resources for Your Courses, visit the Yavapai College Library website today!
The Learning Center has been rebranded as Tutoring Services to ensure students can easily find the tutoring help they need, whether online or on campus. Along with this change, we have launched an updated website designed to make it easier than ever for students to access the resources they need. The new website features a searchable and filterable tutor schedule, allowing students to quickly find the right tutor at the right time. For added convenience, students can now access their study log even when off campus.
Another exciting update is our improved room reservation system, which allows students to reserve study rooms with a simple, self-checkout process, providing greater flexibility and independence. Additionally, faculty members who hold office hours in the Tutoring Services study space are now listed on the website, ensuring students can connect with their instructors more easily.
These updates are all part of our mission to create a more streamlined and supportive experience for students. Visit the new Tutoring Services website to explore these enhancements and discover how we can help you succeed!
In August, the Center for Learning and Innovation at Verde Valley (CLI-V) opened.
The space in building M has been under renovation for 15 months, since May of 2023. On August 8th we had a “soft opening” that included some demonstrations in the Immersive Learning Lab and brief tours. August 13th was the official ribbon cutting for the CLI-V.
The CLI-V houses the Library, Learning Center and Disability Resources departments.
This inviting space offers students areas for studying, interacting, and tutoring, with both open spaces and private study rooms available. We also opened three new spaces: the Fast Capture studio, the Experimental Classroom, and the Immersive Learning Lab, which students can use to create or participate in projects for their classes.
Hours
Mon - Thu: 8a - 6p
Fri: 8a - 4p
Sat - Sun: Closed
