Dr Carol A. Twigg is an internationally recognized expert in using information technology to transform teaching and learning in higher education. Since 1999, she has served as Executive Director of the Center for Academic Transformation at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Center serves as a resource for colleges and universities, providing leadership in how effective use of information technology can improve student learning while reducing instructional costs.

The Center manages the Program in Course Redesign.  In collaboration with 30 participating institutions, the Program has demonstrated how effective use of information technology can lead to significant improvements in student learning and reductions in instructional costs.  The Center also hosts The Leadership Forum, which offers a series of activities designed to guide individuals in leading their institutions, companies and organizations in The Information Age.

During the course of her career, Dr. Twigg has become known as a strong advocate for the benefits of using technology in higher education.  A widely published writer and a sought-after speaker, she is seen as an authority on a range of topics including the impact of telecommunications on restructuring higher education, the need to improve productivity in higher education, and the process of engaging college faculty in using instructional technology effectively.  In 1995, Newsweek named her one of the 50 most influential thinkers in the information revolution, and in 2003, she was the recipient of the prestigious McGraw Prize in Education.

From 1993 to 1998, Dr. Twigg served as Vice President of Educom (now EDUCAUSE), a national association of colleges and universities dedicated to the effective use of information technology in higher education. At Educom, she advanced the need for new models of student-centered, online teaching and learning, now commonly accepted in higher education.  She also initiated the IMS (Instructional Management Systems) project, which is establishing interoperable technical standards for online education and training. Before joining Educom, Dr. Twigg was the Associate Vice Chancellor for Learning Technologies for the State University of New York (SUNY) and held a number of senior academic administrative positions at SUNY Empire State College, SUNY's college without a campus.  She has taught at SUNY/Buffalo, the State University College at Buffalo, and Empire State College.

Dr. Twigg received her B.A. from the College of William and Mary and a Ph.D. in English Literature from the State University of New York at Buffalo.