Melissa Layne, Ed.D., is the Director of Research Methodology and Editor-in-Chief for Internet Learning at American Public University System. Layne earned her doctoral degree in reading (digital literacies) from Sam Houston University in Huntsville, Texas and also holds a master's in curriculum and instruction from University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. Layne's research agenda includes topics on student retention, adaptive and personalized learning, multi-user virtual environments, self-paced instructional design and implementation, text analytics, informal learning, and quality assurance in online learning at the institutional, program and course levels. Her research has been recognized by several distance learning organizations including the National University Technology Network (NUTN), and the Distance Learning Administration (DLA) organization. Layne also serves on the advisory council for the New Media Consortium, which is responsible for the annual issue of The Horizon Report. Her work has been covered in peer reviewed journal publications, book chapters, presentations and invited keynotes.