In 2021, I had the privilege of participating in the Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL), hosted in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU). At that point in my career, as an Associate Director of Academic Operations, I was already deeply engaged in academic operations, faculty systems, and innovation initiatives within my institution. I was leading multiple teams, managing complex institutional priorities, and navigating the realities of digital transformation in a fast paced and evolving educational landscape. Despite my career moving upwards, I knew there was an enormous amount to learn and to help me grow more in my profession and make a larger impact. This is where IELOL became one of the most important professional development experiences of my career. Not because it gave me a checklist of leadership tactics, and not because it offered a single breakthrough framework to follow, but because it created something far more powerful—perspective, clarity, and an enduring professional network that continues to shape my leadership trajectory today.
One of the greatest challenges in leadership, particularly in online education, is the pace. We are constantly responding to enrollment fluctuations, technological advancements (Artificial Intelligence), regulatory requirements and changes, evolving faculty needs, and student success priorities. The work is seemingly always urgent and complex. At The University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC), almost our entire workforce works remotely, so there are additional complexities associated with time zones and geographical implications with weather, etc. One of the greatest opportunities was the ability to allow IELOL to create and provide a structured space to step back from the daily urgency and uncertainty, and focus on my personal professional development.
During the immersion experience, I was able to think about the future of online learning, the systems we build to support students, faculty and staff, and the type of leader I wanted to become at UAGC. The program strives to push participants to move beyond tactical problem solving and into a higher-level strategic reflection. You are encouraged to articulate your leadership philosophy, examine your institutional context, and identify the impact you want to have on higher education. This is in no way done in a vacuum, as you quickly build long-lasting relationships with your cohort and especially with your faculty mentor. For me, that reflection sharpened my strategic lens. I began thinking less about solving isolated challenges and more about designing systems that integrated cohesively with faculty lifecycle management, academic innovation and operations, technology infrastructure, and the student experience. That shift has directly influenced how I approach institutional transformation work today.
My experiences and guidance through the program helped evolve my self-perception and self-awareness.
While the curriculum is valuable, the most transformational aspect of IELOL is the community. I can’t stress this enough as it has guided me through more challenges and discussions than I could count. IELOL brings together a carefully selected cohort of leaders from across the country who are shaping online and hybrid education within their institutions and across the industry. Participants represent diverse roles and institutional types but share a common ground as we are all navigating complexity and challenges at our institutions. From the very first interactions, the conversations go deeper than typical conference networking. You are not simply exchanging business cards or focusing on getting to your next session; you are exchanging ideas, vulnerabilities, aspirations, and institutional realities. Everyone talks candidly about resistance to change, budget constraints, faculty culture, governance structures, innovation fatigue, and the tension between speed and sustainability. Those conversations build trust quickly. I will say that what emerged from my cohort was not just a professional network in education; it was a strong, focused, and hard-working leadership community. Years later, I still reach out to fellow alumni for perspective and guidance. When facing a strategic decision, launching a new initiative, or evaluating a structural change, I often find myself thinking, “Who in my IELOL network has navigated something similar?” That is frequently the first place I go to gain insight and weigh my options. That network becomes an advisory board of sorts accelerating learning because I am no longer solving problems in isolation. For anyone considering IELOL, I cannot overstate this benefit, as it has changed my approach to work and boosted my career trajectory. The relationships you build extend well beyond the immersion experience. They become long-term professional assets.
The timing of my participation in 2021 was particularly meaningful. Higher education was navigating significant disruption and recalibration after the pandemic. Online learning was no longer a niche modality; it was central to institutional sustainability and student access across ALL levels of education. Participating in IELOL during that period reinforced the importance of thoughtful, human-centered leadership in digital environments. The program does not treat online learning as purely technical. Instead, it emphasizes culture, governance, faculty development, student experience, and ethical innovation. Online learning is not simply about platforms and tools. It is about building sustainable systems that serve students equitably and empower faculty meaningfully. IELOL equips leaders to think in those integrative terms.
If you are at a point in your career where you are leading others or preparing to lead initiatives, IELOL offers something unique. The program offers structured time for strategic reflection, exposure to diverse institutional models and leadership approaches, a trusted national network of peers, mentorship from experienced leaders in digital education, and a framework for clarifying your leadership identity. Each of these are essential to an individual’s growth in leadership! Perhaps most importantly, it expands your perspective from solving an immediate challenge to designing systems that shape the future of digital learning at your institution which is a meaningful and powerful shift. Years after completing the program, I continue to feel its impact. Participating in IELOL was not simply an item on a résumé, although it might have started with that in mind for me. It was an inflection point. It expanded my network significantly and provided access to a community that continues to inform my growth. It deepened my strategic thinking and strengthened my confidence in leading complex change. For anyone who is serious about shaping the future of digital learning, IELOL is more than a program; it is an investment in your leadership trajectory! I am grateful to be a 2021 alumnus, and I strongly encourage others to consider taking this step to shape their future and online education!
