May 07, 2026

CTE technology team achieves industry certification

SIU Carbondale’s Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) is celebrating a major milestone that will strengthen classroom innovation across the campus.

Each of CTE’s instructional media systems technicians is now a certified technology specialist (CTS) — a globally recognized credential in the audiovisual industry. The certification “marks a significant investment in the expertise behind SIU’s learning environments,” said Craig Engstrom, CTE director.

Instructional media systems technicians (IMST) “play a critical role in designing, installing and supporting the technology that powers SIU's classrooms — from HyFlex spaces to accessible teaching spaces,” Engstrom said. “With all team members now CTS-certified, SIU joins a small and select group of institutions with fully credentialed audiovisual support staff.”

Fewer than 12,000 professionals worldwide hold the certification, which signals advanced technical knowledge and a commitment to industry-best practices, Engstrom said.

SIU’s IMST team consists of:

  • Kelly Caringer, chief instructional media systems engineer.
  • Gray Griffith, instructional media systems technician.
  • Lucas Luper, instructional media systems technician.

For SIU faculty and students, the impact is practical and immediate. A fully certified team means more reliable classroom technology, stronger support for innovative teaching methods, and faster adoption of emerging tools that enhance learning, Engstrom said.

“This milestone reflects our commitment to excellence behind the scenes,” he said. “Our IMST team does far more than maintain classroom systems — they proactively design and engineer environments that are intuitive, reliable and forward-looking. From testing Microsoft Teams Rooms to exploring AI-driven camera systems, they are working toward deploying new systems that will shape the future of teaching and learning at SIU for decades.”

The certification also requires ongoing professional development, ensuring the team stays current with rapidly evolving technologies. Through the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA) membership, CTE staff engage with global peers, access new research, and explore innovations before they reach widespread use in higher education.