By The OLC Awards & Recognition Team | The Online Learning Consortium (OLC) is proud to announce the recipients of the Accelerate 2025 Awards, honoring exceptional achievements in advancing online, blended, and digital learning. These awards recognize individuals and teams who demonstrate innovation and excellence across areas such as faculty and learner support, leadership, programming, and impactful research. Together, their contributions help shape the future of digital education and inspire our community to continually raise the standard of excellence.
Excellence in Digital Learning Support
This award honors individuals, teams, or organizations who deliver exceptional support services that lead to success in digital learning. The 2025 Excellence in Digital Learning Support award goes to the University System of Georgia eCampus and its USG eCore project, which delivers a scalable, data-informed, and student-centered approach to digital learning support across the University System of Georgia, driving retention and learner success. By integrating data, technology, and human support into every stage of the learner journey, USG eCore exemplifies excellence in digital learning support.
Excellence in Digital Learning Innovation
Recognizing bold, creative, and impactful solutions, the Excellence in Digital Learning Innovation award celebrates those who push the boundaries of technology, pedagogy, and engagement. This year’s award is bestowed upon the team from Purdue University for their entry entitled CoPILOT: Cohort Program for Innovation and Leadership in Online Teaching. CoPilot is an innovative, cohort-based faculty development initiative designed to address complex challenges of scalable, high-quality online course production. Since its inception, CoPilot has served as a collaborative professional development program dedicated to advancing excellence in online instruction.
Gomory-Mayadas Award for Excellence in Digital Learning Leadership
Leadership is critical in driving transformation and vision in digital learning. The Gomory-Mayadas Award for Excellence in Digital Learning Leadership for 2025 is awarded to Dr. Natalie Henderson for her pivotal role in the development of DCS Virtual at Dublin City Schools, as Coordinator of Online Learning. Dr. Henderson has built this program from the ground up with a vision rooted in equity, access, and sustainability. Unlike most public schools, which often rely on third-party providers for online learning, Dublin City Schools, under Dr. Henderson’s guidance, built its virtual program internally.
John R. Bourne Award for Excellence in Online and Digital Programming
This award spotlights exemplary practices in creating, scaling, or managing online and digital programs. The 2025 John R. Bourne Award honors the team from the University of Colorado Boulder, Office of Academic and Learning Innovation (ALI) for their National Leadership in Scalable, Student-Centered Online Degrees. Since 2018, ALI has transformed the landscape of online education at the University of Colorado Boulder through its commitment to access, innovation, and excellence. By reimagining how degrees are designed, delivered, and supported, ALI has empowered thousands of learners around the world to pursue high-quality graduate education on their own terms.
Karen J. Swan OLJ Outstanding Research Achievement Award
Intellectual rigor and scholarship are the heartbeat of educational advancement. This year, the Karen J. Swan OLJ Outstanding Research Achievement Award in Digital Education is awarded to Dr. Evrim Baran of Iowa State University, who serves as the Helen LeBaron Hilton Chair in the School of Education. Professor Baran has demonstrated exceptional research in the field of online learning, resulting in more than 12,000 citations of her work. She has recently agreed to serve as a Senior Associate Editor for Online Learning.
OLC Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award
This award celebrates extraordinary service to the OLC community itself. The OLC Outstanding Volunteer Achievement Award is presented to Diana Mabel Ruggiero of the University of Memphis, whose exceptional commitment has supported OLC’s mission, strengthened community ties, and helped to sustain the infrastructure of peer support and knowledge sharing.
Bruce N. Chaloux Scholarship for Early Career Excellence
The Online Learning Consortium is pleased to honor Dr. Tracy W. Schrems, Assistant Professor in the Adolescence Education Program at St. Bonaventure University, as the recipient of the 2025 Bruce N. Chaloux Scholarship for Early Career Excellence. In just a few short years, Dr. Schrems has distinguished herself as a leader in integrating AI and emerging technologies into teacher preparation, mentoring pre-service educators in inclusive, student-centered design, and advancing faculty development in Universal Design for Learning. Her scholarly work, professional service, and innovative approaches to bridging technology with classroom practice exemplify the spirit of this award, recognizing early-career educators whose contributions are already shaping the future of digital learning.
OLC Fellows
Becoming an OLC Fellow recognizes sustained, distinguished contributions to online learning and to the OLC community. The 2025 Fellows, Dr. Susan Wegmann and Dr. Lisa Templeton, have each demonstrated a legacy of leadership, scholarship, service, and vision. Their enduring impact on digital education and their commitment to the OLC mission continue to inspire the next generation of online learning professionals.
Dr. Susan Wegmann
Dr. Wegmann has demonstrated exceptional qualifications in online learning. As Executive Director of Southern Illinois University Online and Extended Campus, she has enhanced the quality and accessibility of online education at the university. Her scholarly work has contributed to the advancement of best practices in the field. Her tenure includes developing and overseeing online programs, leading faculty development workshops on digital pedagogy, and consulting on e-learning course design. Dr. Wegmann’s leadership is evident in her strategic initiatives that have transformed online learning environments. Dr. Wegmann’s commitment to advancing the field is demonstrated by her scholarship, presentations, and participation in collaborative research projects for online learning practices.
Dr. Lisa Templeton
Dr. Templeton currently serves as Vice Provost of Oregon State University’s Division of Educational Ventures, where she leads a comprehensive strategy to expand access to high-quality online and professional education. Under her leadership, OSU Ecampus has grown to offer over 1,800 courses and more than 120 degree and certificate programs, serving over 16,000 learners across all 50 states and 60 countries. She launched OSU’s Division of Educational Ventures in 2023 to further expand the university’s reach through innovative educational pathways, including alternative credentials and workforce-aligned programs. Dr. Templeton is a graduate of the OLC Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) and has actively supported the program by encouraging her leadership team to participate and by promoting IELOL nationally.
