Nicola Ritter
Instructional Associate Professor
Director, Center for Educational Technologies
Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences
Research and Scholarly Interests
Veterinary Education Research
Educational Technology Research
Educational Program Evaluation
Learning Analytics
Curriculum Development
Online Program Evaluation
EDUCATION
BS: Interdisciplinary Studies, Texas A&M University, 2005
M Ed: Curriculum & Indtruction, Texas A&M University, 2009
PhD: Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, 2014
CREDENTIALS
Certificate in Education & Social Sciences Advanced Research Methods, Texas A&M University
HONORS & AWARDS
GoWeb Award for Transformational Education, Texas A&M University, 2018
Professional Organizations
American Educational Research Association
Southwest Educational Research Association
American Veterinary Medical Association
Service
Committee on the Status of Academic Professional Track Faculty, Fall 2025 – present
VIBS Promotion and Tenure (P&T) Committee, Fall 2022 – present
Service Center Director, Spring 2018 – present
Core Facility Director, Spring 2018 – present
Faculty Advisor: Texas A&M student organization, Spring 2012 – Summer 2025
Initiative for Educational Excellence, Spring 2017 – Spring 2020
Women's Faculty Network Committee Member, Spring 2017 – Spring 2019
Academic & Professional Track Committee Member, Spring 2017 – Spring 2019
Promoting Outstanding Writing Excellence Research (POWER) Consultant, Editor, Spring 2012 – Spring 2018
Quality Matters Master Reviewer, Spring 2016 – Fall 2018
Short Bio
Dr. Ritter’s research focuses on developing and evaluating educational resources for veterinary, biomedical, and health sciences. She is the lead investigator and director of the Center for Educational Technologies, with PI roles on grants totaling over $7.75 million, much funded by the USDA. Her curriculum and educational technology products are used in 195 countries, reaching over 4,000 students and 1,000 teachers. She oversees a service center/core facility supporting faculty, staff, and students and has numerous peer-reviewed publications, software, and copyrighted works.
Veterinary Education Technology
Learning Analytics
Scenario-based Micro-learning
Educational Program Evaluation
In progress:
TX 2024 FADD Augmented Reality Training,” USDA-APHIS, 2024–2026 ($1,500,000), PI: N. Ritter
Completed:
Faculty Exchange Program Southeast Asia Veterinary Sciences, USDA-FAS, CoI, 2024–2026 ($489,465)
Building Capacity for Aquaculture Food Security for the United States, USDA-APHIS, PI, 2024–2025 ($40,000)
Aquatic Health Training Program for Aquatic Producers, USDA-APHIS, PI, 2023–2025 ($100,000)
On-Demand Training for Foreign Animal Disease Diagnosticians for Animal Disease Response, USDA-APHIS, PI, 2023–2025 ($499,496)
Improvement and Maintenance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Distance Learning and Knowledge Management Platforms, USDA-FAS, PI, 2023–2027 ($1,156,740)
Core Surgical Skills: Basic Instrument Use Course, Multi-institution, PI, 2016–2027 ($111,661.46)
Title IX Mental Health & Sexual Assault Course, Texas A&M University Division of Student Life Services, PI, 2025 ($7,594)
Companion Animal Decision Making Cases, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences - Texas A&M University (VMBS), PI, 2025–2026 ($8,121)
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Veterinarian Training Program, Tarrant County, PI, 2025 ($8,884.10)
Core Facilities Promotional Campaign, VMBS, PI, 2024–2025 ($3,134.50)
Anatomy Intelligent Tutor: Neuro-anatomy Supplemental Instruction (NeuroSI), VMBS, PI, 2024 ($9,621.45)
Camelids Physical Exam Video, VMBS, PI, 2024 ($20,952.23)
Case Studies with Mental Health Component, VMBS, PI, 2024 ($12,856.74)
Murmur Learner Expansion, VBS, PI, 2024 ($21,308.58)
Title IX and Mental Health Course, VMBS, PI, 2023 ($7,770)
Bovine Physical Exam Video/Canine Physical Exam, South Dakota University, PI, 2023–2024 ($100)
Biocontainment Curriculum Development Contract, USDA-APHIS, CoI, 2023 ($52,623.92)
Equine Library, VMBS, PI, 2023 ($4,615.75)
The Effectiveness of Scenario-based Micro-learning Interactive Videos, DOJ-National Institute of Corrections (NIC), PI, 2023–2024 ($320,000)
Primary Care Veterinary Educators Curriculum, American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, PI, 2022–2023 ($2,900)
Expansion of SPS Learning Curriculum, USDA-FAS, PI, 2021–2022 ($478,376.80)
Bone Pathology Library, VMBS, PI, 2021–2023 ($23,182.25)
Veterinary Cardiology Course, University of Illinois, PI, 2021–2022 ($3,000)
Veterinary Dermatology & Veterinary Hematology Course, Lincoln Memorial University, PI, 2021–2022 ($4,000)
Veterinary Training Video Library, Leader Healthcare Group, PI, 2021–2022 ($9,000)
Carcass Management Resources and Tools to Ensure Stakeholder Acceptance and Maximize Cost Effectiveness, USDA-APHIS, PI, 2021–2024 ($74,996)
DVM Accreditation Report Project, VMBS, PI, 2021–2022 ($16,580)
Online Veterinary Opioid Course, VMBS, PI, 2021 ($3,880)
Creating Partnerships Between Veterinarians And Small And Medium-Sized Farmers To Enhance Economic Efficiency And Sustainability, USDA-NIFA, PI, 2021–2023 ($499,999)
Expected Practices Video Project, Department of Justice, PI, 2020–2021 ($297,060)
An Interactive Online Training Program for Foreign Animal Disease Diagnosticians to Respond to Foreign Animal Diseases and Emerging Disease Incidents, USDA-APHIS, PI, 2020–2022 ($449,287.00)
Expected Practices Video Project, Department of Justice, PI, 2020–2021 ($297,060.00)
SPS Distance Learning, USDA-FAS, PI, 2017–2022 ($1,460,423.00)
Scaling Up Existing PCS Content with Technology Enhanced Pedagogy and Active Learning, CET Service Center, PI, 2019–2022 ($41,476.80)
DVM Program Surgical Manual (Large Animal), CVM/PPO/Curriculum Enhancement Grant, PI, 2018–2019 ($24,941.00)
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Curriculum, VMBS, PI, 2018 ($25,998.50)
Translation of SPS Distance (French), USDA-FAS, PI, 2017–2018 ($235,101.70)
Antibiotic Use, Resistance, and Stewardship in Veterinary Practice for Domain 8, CDC, CoPI, 2016–2018 ($350,873.84)
Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician Manual (FADD Manual 3rd Edition), USDA-APHIS, CoPI, 2016–2018 ($106,040.00)
Core Surgical Skills I: Basic Instrument Use Course, Multi-institution, PI, 2016–2027 ($111,661.46)
SPS International Training Program, USDA-FAS, CoPI, 2017–2018 ($111,517.00)
Primary Care Preventive Care Curriculum (PCVE), American Veterinary Medical Foundation, PI, 2017–2018 ($50,000.00)
VIBS 691: Research
VIBS 685: Directed Studies
VIBS 985: Directed Studies
LDTC 651 700: E-Learning Design and Development (remote students only)
LDTC 651 699: E-Learning Design and Development
Faculty Mentoring
Dr. Molly Gonzales, Instructional Assistant Professor, Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Fall 2018-Summer 2025
Dr. Lisa Keefe, Instructional Assistant Professor, Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Spring 2018 – Summer 2018
Professional Students
Lindsey Walker, Professional Student - DVM, VMBS, Spring 2023, Summer 2023
Heather Showley, Professional Student - DVM, VMBS, Spring 2023, Summer 2023
Jennifer Nary, Professional Student - DVM, VMBS, Summer 2019, Summer 2019
Aisha Hanna Ellis, Professional Student - DVM, VMBS, Summer 2019, Summer 2019
Graduate Students
Bette Bittner, EdD, Agriculture Leadership Education and Communications, Fall 2023, Ongoing
M B, Diviya Bhavaani, MS, Computer Science, Summer 2026, Ongoing
Seo Hyeon Beom, MS, Computer Science, Summer 2026, Fall 2026
Gretchen Williams, PhD, PHD-VM, Spring 2023, Summer 2026
Miguel Hoch, MS, Public Service and Administration, Spring 2024, Summer 2025
Lindsey Walker, MS, Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology (VPHE), Fall 2021, Spring 2025
Rutvi Vasani, MS, Computer Science, Spring 2024, Spring 2024
Helen Hunter, MS, VT-NGP, Fall 2023, Summer 2024
Lizette Beltran, MS, Public Administration, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
Neeti Sharma, MS, Management Information Systems, Spring 2023, Spring 2024
Angelica Frazer, MS, Biomedical Science, Fall 2021, Summer 2022
Wenting Weng, PhD, Educational Psychology, Fall 2015, Spring 2022
Wenting Weng, MEd, ED-MDE, Spring 2014, Summer 2019
Kimberly Jones, MEd, Educational Psychology, Fall 2018, Fall 2018
Babette Perkins, MEd, Educational Psychology, Fall 2017, Fall 2017
Undergraduate Students
Pablo Gonzalez, Computer Science, Spring 2026, Ongoing
Aubry Putnam, Agricultural Communications and Journalism, Summer 2025, Ongoing
Seo Hyeon Beom, Computer Science, Spring 2025, Spring 2026
Aarya Patade, Technology Management, Fall 2025, Fall 2025
Deigo Burgueno, Computer Science, Summer 2025, Fall 2025
Katelyn Jensen, Economics, Fall 2024, Summer 2025
Aidan Cannon, Computer Science, Summer 2024, Summer 2025
Max Mouget, Computer Science, Fall 2023, Summer 2025
Zippora Johnson, Technology Management, Spring 2024, Spring 2024
Daniel Lam, Computer Science, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
Audrey Fidler, Sociology, Spring 2023, Spring 2024
Cameren Belvin, Animal Sciences, Fall 2021, Spring 2022
Jaylin Lewis, Animal Sciences, Spring 2021, Spring 2022
Hannah Wang, Mechanical Engineering, Spring 2019, Fall 2020
Ledet Awano, Computer Science, Summer 2018, Fall 2018
Sarah Baker, General Studies, Summer 2017, Summer 2017