Management Team
Dr. Nishikant (Nish) Sonwalkar, Sc.D., MIT
Dr. Sonwalkar is regarded as a leading expert in the application of computers in education. He has extensive research and development experience in hypermedia authoring, mobile learning, adaptive learning, and brain-based synaptic learning, advanced scientific visualization, database management systems, and computer simulation.
After receiving a doctoral degree from MIT in the area of Molecular Dynamics of Nano-interfaces, he joined MIT as faculty in Mechanical Engineering, but his passion for technology enabled education led him to become the founding director of the Hypermedia Teaching Facility (Hypermedia Lab) at MIT and later he was appointed as the Principal Educational Architect of MIT.
As the Principal Educational Architect at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Sonwalkar was the key architect of the Singapore MIT Alliance (the SMA program is a premier distance education program delivered by MIT at three Universities in Singapore). Dr. Sonwalkar developed several educational technologies and learning management systems in his former role as Director of the Hypermedia Teaching Facility, namely, the MetaMosaic Interface and Hypermedia Instruction and Teaching Environment (HITE) and Stellar Learning Platform which is currently used for over 800 courses at MIT and for courses deployed by Open Knowledge Initiative (OKI).
Dr. Sonwalkar has received numerous National awards for his significant contributions to technology enabled education, such as, the 2007 Innovative Excellence Award in Teaching and Learning, the 2007 USDLA Award for Outstanding Leadership by an Individual in the Field of Distance Learning, and the 2007 USDLA Platinum Award for Best Practices for On-line Distance Learning Programming.
Dr. Sonwalkar is a successful serial entrepreneur and has successfully launched several companies, such as, InteQ Corporation, IDL Systems, Sonwalkar Consulting Group (SCG), and Synaptic Global Learning (SGL), LLC. He also co-founded LearnQuest Academy of Indian Music and is performing artist for Indian drums and has produced Jazz and Fusion CDs. He is Producer of the Multicultural Music Magazine, a monthly TV magazine for the Public Access Television, USA.
He is the author of numerous articles, journal papers, and books including: "Fluid Mechanics Hypercouse", MIT Press, 1996, and "Changing the Interface of Education with Revolutionary Learning technology," iUniverse, 2004. He also serves on the editorial board of the journal "Hypermedia and Multimedia in Education," published by the American Association of Computers in Education (AACE).
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Dr. John G. Flores, Ph.D.
Dr. John G. Flores is an authority in the field of education, technology and telecommunications. As an Executive Director and Program Professor at Nova Southeastern University – Abraham S. Fischler School of Education, Dr. Flores, represents a global university focused on the support, development and delivery of quality educational programs. In addition as Board member and Executive Director of the United States Distance Learning Association, Dr. Flores helps lead a global association focused on the application of distance learning for varied constituencies using varied technologies.
Dr. Flores was an early advisor, co founder and investor of Synaptic Global Learning (SGL). He serves on the Board of Directors and provides world wide connectivity opportunities for the company through his global contacts.
Prior to this Dr. Flores was President and CEO of Global Learning Network, a Seattle based company focusing on the development and broadcast of educational programming in partnership with the Direct Broadcast Satellite industry. In addition Dr. Flores served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications (MCET). At MCET Dr. Flores lead an award winning national organization that produced distance learning programming through the Mass Learnpike broadcasting network. During his tenure he built MCET Corporation into an outstanding multi-million dollar business successfully combining federal and state telecommunications projects with the private sector. Dr. Flores has also served as a K-12 Superintendent of Schools in Massachusetts, a teacher and as an educational technology specialist in his previous professional experiences.
Kimberly F. Airasian, JD
Kimberly F. Airasian is Director of Corporate and Legal Services for Synaptic Global Learning (SGL). Her practice focuses on drafting partner contracts and extensive document review. In addition to her role at SGL, Attorney Airasian is also Director of Corporate and Legal Services for the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) where she works directly with Premium Association Sponsors and aids local state chapters in the 501(c)(3) chartering process.
Prior to joining SGL and USDLA, Attorney Airasian clerked for the Superior Court of Massachusetts where she assisted the Justices in all phases of civil and criminal litigation and helped prepare draft decisions, legal memoranda and proposed jury instructions. In addition, Airasian worked extensively with the Justices on trials, hearings and motion sessions. Airasian also has extensive litigation experience working in large Boston law firms, focusing on general practice matters including patent infringement and toxic tort cases.
Attorney Airasian is a 1998 graduate of Middlebury College and a 2005 graduate of Suffolk University Law School. During law school, Airasian was staff member of the Journal of Trial & Appellate Advocacy, a member of the Moot Court team and the recipient of the First Year Best Brief Award. Attorney Airasian was admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
