Announcement: Learnvia introduces free, AI-enabled Calculus I courseware
About Learnvia
Learnvia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2025 with significant institutional and philanthropic support.
Who We Are
Learnvia was founded in 2025 in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and with generous support from the Gates Foundation. CMU’s global leadership in learning science, cognitive science, AI, and human-computer interaction provides a strong foundation for Learnvia’s mission and ongoing development.
Our Mission
Learnvia is a nonprofit learning collaborative dedicated to transforming student success in higher education. We believe that great teaching combined with great courseware gives students the best chance for success.
Great teaching draws on evidence-based practices—facilitating active learning, supporting metacognition, and fostering a sense of belonging. The term courseware—a blend of “course” and “software”—reflects how instructional materials once found in textbooks, homework exercises, and solution manuals have evolved into integrated, interactive digital tools that connect teaching and learning in new ways.
Our mission is to design, test, and continually improve evidence-based courseware that is free to students, supporting faculty in their teaching and helping all learners succeed in critical gateway courses. At Learnvia, technology and teaching amplify one another—rooted in research, collaboration, and a shared commitment to equitable student success.
What We Do
Learnvia develops next-generation courseware that integrates lessons, homework, quizzes, a discussion forum, and an AI tutor into a single, structured digital learning environment. We design both the platform and the content so that these elements work together as a coherent whole, not just as separate tools. Grounded in principles from cognitive science, learning science, and human-computer interaction, our courseware supports faculty-led teaching and strengthens student persistence in mathematics and other high-enrollment subjects. Our initial focus is math gateway courses, offered free to students.
How We Are Organized
Learnvia is structured as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliated with CMU, ensuring our focus stays on students, faculty, and institutions rather than shareholders. The organization brings together expertise in education, research, and technology innovation, guided by a board that includes representatives from both CMU and the Gates Foundation.
Our Team
Learnvia is led by experienced educators, researchers, and educational technologists. The team works closely with faculty collaborators and national advisors to ensure the courseware is shaped by both research evidence and real classroom practice.
Norman Bier
Executive Director
MA, Philosophy,
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Norman Bier leads Learnvia, building on a 25-year career at the intersection of learning and technology dedicated to expanding access to education and improving the quality of education. His work leverages his ongoing role at CMU’s Open Learning Initiative and Simon Initiative, ensuring a close integration between courseware, learning research, and instructional practice to maximize student success.
Anita Delahay
Director – Research & Development
PhD, Psychology,
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Anita Delahay is a learning scientist focused on how instructional design drives student success in digital learning. She has led research and development at organizations like Argos Education and Laureate, building innovative solutions to improve outcomes for diverse learners.
Bailey Miller
Director – Engineering & AI
MS, PhD, Computer Science, University of California Riverside
Bailey Miller leads Learnvia’s engineering and artificial intelligence strategy and development. He previously served as Sr. Director of Engineering at Wiley and zyBooks, where he built scalable educational technologies.
Chris Chan
Director – Content Development
MA, Mathematics, San Francisco State University
Chris Chan directs Learnvia’s content development, creating math courseware that improves student learning and long-term success. He also teaches mathematics and statistics at Austin Community College.
Lizbeth Areizaga
Content Tech Generalist
BS, Computer Science,
UC Riverside
UC Riverside
Lizbeth Areizaga supports content technology development and authoring at Learnvia. She has research experience in computer science education and has presented published work at the ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education.
Archisha Datta
Content Tech Generalist
MS, Computer Science, University of Southern California
Archisha Datta develops content technology for Learnvia, coding animations, creating randomized homework, and supporting courseware delivery.
Kevin Diggs
Finance Manager
MS, Accounting, University of Maryland
Kevin Diggs manages budgeting, planning, and compliance as Learnvia’s Finance Manager. With nearly a decade at Georgetown University, he brings expertise in building efficient financial systems and aligning strategy with institutional goals.
Alex Edgcomb
Principal Engineer
PhD, Computer Science,
UC Riverside
UC Riverside
Alex Edgecomb is a Principal Software Engineer with expertise in pedagogical tools and courseware platforms. At zyBooks, he led development of interactive STEM tools and authored 40+ research publications, including multiple award-winning papers.
Tyler Hanf
Principal Engineer
BS, Computer Science, Rochester Institute of Technology
Tyler Hanf is a software engineer with experience in systems engineering and spacecraft software at Advanced Space. He brings this technical expertise to developing innovative solutions in EdTech at Learnvia.
Michael Huang
Executive Assistant
BS, Film and Video Production, Middle Tennessee State University
Michael Huang is Learnvia’s Executive Assistant with over 5 years of administrative experience. He specializes in travel planning, event coordination, expense management, and procurement.
Kelly Montgomery
Author Trainer
BA, Mathematics,
University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
Kelly Montgomery trains courseware authors to ensure consistent pedagogy and style across STEM content. With over 8 years in courseware at Macmillan and zyBooks, she now also serves as interim Project Manager supporting task tracking and team coordination.
Brian Rojas
Principal Engineer
BS, Computer Science and Engineering, UC San Diego
Brian Rojas is a systems and software engineer with over a decade of experience in backend development, DevOps, and full-stack delivery. He co-founded a consultancy serving clients like zyBooks and UC San Diego, building scalable education technologies.
Dayyan Sission
Principal Engineer
BS, Computer Science,
UC San Diego
UC San Diego
Dayyan Sission is a developer specializing in interactive learning systems, with experience in frontend development, UI/UX, and machine learning. He previously co-founded Apex Design and worked as a Machine Learning Engineer at Advanced Space.
Kathryn Stewart
Content Author
PhD, Case Western Reserve University
Kathryn Stewart is a content author with over a decade of teaching experience in higher education. Before Learnvia, she was a teaching professor in mathematics at Penn State and has taught at the University of Florida and Math Corps Cleveland.
Work with Us
Now Hiring
Managing Director, Strategy & Operations
Learnvia is seeking a Managing Director to play a pivotal role in building this early-stage nonprofit born from two world-class institutions known for innovation and excellence.
Now Hiring
Senior Marketing Lead
Learnvia is seeking a Senior Marketing Lead to play a critical role in defining Learnvia’s identity, voice, and market presence at an early stage of the organization.
Now Hiring
Project Manager
Learnvia is seeking a Project Manager to oversee the coordination and delivery of projects that support the successful development and implementation of Learnvia’s digital courseware and related technologies.
Now Hiring
Director of Faculty Success
The Director of Faculty Success will join the Learnvia leadership team and partner closely with the Simon Initiative at Carnegie Mellon University to advance Learnvia’s vision of Great Teaching enabled by Great Courseware. This role positions faculty engagement, professional learning, and community-building as defining strengths of the Learnvia ecosystem.
Funding and Sustainability
Learnvia’s work is funded by the Gates Foundation, supporting courseware development, technology infrastructure, and ongoing research.
Our Partners
Learnvia collaborates with leading partners in technology, curriculum, and research to design, test, and continuously improve its courseware—ensuring it is innovative, evidence-based, and responsive to the needs of faculty and students.
Looking Ahead
Learnvia launched its first pilot program in Fall 2025 with Calculus I, followed by additional gateway math courses, including Calculus II, Precalculus, and Quantitative Reasoning. Over time, Learnvia will expand into other high-enrollment, high-attrition gateway courses while continually refining its platform based on faculty and student feedback and research findings.
