Dr. James Laffey's teaching and research interests are in developing technology innovations to facilitate learning and support performance. He provided the leadership for the University's mission enhancement for networked learning systems, co-founded the Center for Technology Innovations in Education, and is the lead faculty member for the Networked Learning Systems curriculum. He has been the principal investigator for several NSF awards to study and advance understanding and practice for bring technology to bear in education.

Dr. Janine Stichter, Ph.D. is a Professor of Special Education at the University of Missouri (MU), specializing in behavioral interventions for children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and behavioral disorders. In addition, she is also the Associate Director for Behavior and Education Division at MU’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. For over twenty years, Dr. Stichter has been involved in direct practice with children and youth in her work as an intervention program evaluator and behavioral specialist. Her areas of specialization include: autism, behavioral disorders, social competence, functional and structural analysis, and applied behavior analysis.

Matthew Schmidt is a doctoral candidate in the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri – Columbia. Matthew is project manager of the iSocial project, which aims to build and research three dimensional, multiuser, virtual learning environments for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Carla Schmidt is a PhD candidate in the Department of Special Education in the College of Education at the University of Missouri. She holds a masters degree in autism research from the Department of Special Education and in public policy from the Truman School of Public Affairs.

Ryan Babiuch is an undergraduate at the University of Missouri where he is working towards a Dual Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Technology with an emphasis in Media Entertainment. As a member of the iSocial team, Ryan acts as a software developer.