Essays on the systems beneath innovation.
Field notes on how innovation actually gets built: through infrastructure, workforce, AI, partnerships, and the connective tissue between them.
More on the work beneath the work.
Two Doors Into the Same Occupation
A practical framework for designing AI-enabled Registered Apprenticeship pathways with one federal standard, two entry points, and one credential.
The Heartland Is Not Behind. It's Where the Next Systems Get Built.
A place-based thesis on why the Heartland is structurally advantaged for building the next systems of infrastructure, workforce, governance, partnership, and trust.
Future essays will continue exploring the systems leaders must connect before transformation can scale:
MindScapes writing is grounded in decades of work building programs, partnerships, convenings, and regional systems across infrastructure, workforce, technology, and higher education.
The work beneath the institutional credential.
Wichita State University · 2022
Led the two-year self-study and documentation submission that earned Wichita State University the Association of Public & Land-grant Universities' Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) University Designation — placing WSU among approximately 90 IEP-designated institutions nationally. The designation recognizes universities with substantive, sustainable, institution-wide commitments to regional economic engagement across Talent, Innovation, and Place.
In 2023, WSU was named a finalist for the IEP University Awards in all three categories — Talent, Innovation, Place — and the top Connections award.
Building the rooms where the layers meet.
A different kind of credential than being invited to speak: helping organize the convening itself — and being trusted to be on its program.
CMMC Midwest Conference
Five years organizing and speaking. The annual Midwest gathering of CMMC practitioners, defense supply-chain SMBs, and federal cybersecurity partners.
cmmcmidwest.com →IXP.US AI Interconnection Summit
Convened by Connected Nation and IXP.US in Wichita. Brought together university leaders, federal policy advisors, and infrastructure builders advancing the national IXP blueprint.
CNIXP Wichita Summit →APLU IEP Community of Practice
Organized and spoke at the Innovation & Economic Prosperity Universities annual community of practice convening on inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems.
APLU recap →Invited to frame the conversation.
Digital Infrastructure & IXP
-
Apr 2026
-
2026Mid America Connect Broadband Summit
-
May 2026Rotary Club of Wichita
"Connectivity & Competitiveness: Why Digital Infrastructure Matters Now"
-
Mar 2026WIBA Monthly Luncheon
"Why the Internet Exchange Point Matters to Wichita Businesses"
-
2025Fiber Broadband Association
-
2025"Latency Kills" Webinar · DE-CIX & Connected Nation
-
2024Broadband Breakfast
Innovation, Economic Engagement & Workforce
-
Nov 2025Rockefeller Big Bets for America · Oklahoma City
-
2025AURP Building Communities of Innovation
-
2023Ad Astra Technology Summit
"Technology Skills for the Workforce of Tomorrow"
-
2022UEDA Annual Summit
University Economic Development Association national conference
-
2020APLU National Academy of Inventors Web Panel
"How APLU's IEP Universities are Fostering Inclusive and Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems"
Two decades of writing on technology and learning.
Working the Seams
Prairie Pens
Expressions
Foundations of American Education (6th Ed.)
Integrating Computer Technology into the Classroom (4th Ed.)
Op-Eds & Commentary
Full bibliography & chapter contributions
Across a career bridging education, technology, and applied learning, contributing author and lead author on the following titles:
- Microsoft Office for Teachers (3rd Edition) · Addison Wesley Longman, 2002
- Science Instruction in the Middle and Secondary Schools (6th Edition) · MacMillan Publishing Co, 2002
- 10 Cool LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System 2 Projects · Syngress Publishing, 2002
- 10 Cool LEGO Mindstorms Ultimate Builder Projects · Syngress Publishing, 2002
- National Educational Technology Standards for Students Curriculum Series: Multidisciplinary Units for Prekindergarten Through Grade 2 · ISTE, 2003
- Linking Technology and Curriculum: Integrating the ISTE NETS Standards into Teaching and Learning (2nd Edition) · Pearson, 2001
- Instructional Media and Technologies for Learning (5th Edition) · Prentice Hall, 1996
- A Model for an Online, Global, Constructionist Learning Environment: Robotics Around the World
- Using LEGOs to Interest High School Students and Improve K12 STEM Education
- Clay Animation: Encouraging Visual Literacy
- Tips for Parents: Technology and the Young Profoundly Gifted Child
Looking for a speaker, contributor, or strategic briefing?
Tonya speaks and writes on infrastructure, workforce development, AI policy, and the heartland innovation economy.
Get in Touch →