Jennie Mitchell, Ph.D., professor of business at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), presented “Virtual Team Play” at the 2008 National Student Leadership Conference. The conference was hosted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) July 17-20 in Indianapolis, Ind., which is the national headquarters of the NFHS.

The NFHS, which serves more than 11 million students nationwide each year, strives to be a leader in training talented, committed young people to become better citizens and who will be positive, contributing adults. This was the organization's fifth annual National Student Leadership Conference, and this year's theme was “Take Part. Get Set For Life.”

The four-day leadership conference hosted 300 student and adult leaders from across the United States who participate in interscholastic athletics and fine arts activity programs through their state high school athletic/activities associations. The student participants are all athletes or fine arts activity participants, and they are handpicked for the conference by the athletic and activity associations in each member state.

Mitchell's presentation showed participants how MySpace, WIKIs, SecondLife, and Microsoft OfficeLive, allow people to meet virtually, learn from each other and share experiences.

“The value of team play is the synergy of working together,” Mitchell said. “Imagine collaborating on projects where miles don't matter!”

Mitchell, who has taught at SMWC for 17 years, is experienced in a variety of instructional technologies and completed a book on instructional technology during a recent sabbatical leave. She holds a CPA and CMA and earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, & Media Technology in 2000 from Indiana State University. A practicing accountant and member of non-profit boards, she also has expertise in corporate and non-profit accounting and finance.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College offers undergraduate campus, undergraduate distance and graduate degree programs with an emphasis in business. For more information about the business programs at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, contact the SMWC Office of Admission by email at smwcadms@smwc.edu or by phone at 812-535-5106 or 1-800-926-SMWC.