Dylan Barth is the Vice President for Innovation and Programs. Dylan provides strategic vision and oversight for professional development, consulting, research and publications, and the Quality Scorecard Suite at OLC. He has 20+ years of experience teaching in higher education and 12+ years working in faculty and instructional development. Dylan holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with an emphasis on masculinities in contemporary post-apocalyptic fiction.

As the Chief Financial Officer at the Online Learning Consortium, Jenny Brown is responsible for all of the organization’s financial activities, including budgeting and forecasting, accounting, audit, internal controls, treasury and investment, and taxes. She also supports the organization’s strategic direction and informs key stakeholders of the financial health of the organization.

Prior to joining the OLC, Ms. Brown spent 18 years at KPMG serving the public accounting industry. For the past five years, she served as a Director in KPMG Business School – Audit as a member of the Learning Experience Design leadership team, managing those responsible for creating learning and development material for KPMG’s U.S. audit professionals. Before that, she audited multinational public entities, working both in the United States and Germany.

Ms. Brown is a certified public accountant. She holds a Master in Professional Accounting degree from the University of Texas -Austin, McCombs School of Business, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Trinity University. She is fluent in both English and German.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Colette A. Chelf, Ed.D. serves as Director of Grants for the Online Learning Consortium where she scopes and manages a diverse portfolio of grant funded projects. She brings over 20 years of experience to OLC as a project manager and learning strategist in educational, corporate, and government sectors. Colette’s entrepreneurial spirit guides her work focusing on transformative change through creative problem-solving and teamwork. She is passionate about providing educational opportunities to all learners by building strategic partnerships to develop and scale inclusive educational resources and services. She holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and a M.A. in Communication from Western Kentucky University and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Kentucky.

Phil Denman serves as Coordinator of the Quality Scorecard Suite for the Online Learning Consortium where he leads quality assurance programs related to online, blended, and digital learning. He brings over 20 years of experience to OLC, including 15 years spent as an instructional designer, initially helping launch UC Berkeley’s first two fully-online Master’s degree programs, then spending 10 years at San Diego State University. During this time, he held concurrent roles with the California State University Chancellor’s Office, serving as Campus Coordinator for the Course Redesign with Technology initiative leading faculty to implement high impact practices to improve student success, as well the Faculty Lead for Quality Assurance where he developed programs to evaluate and improve online and blended learning. Outside of higher education, Phil has also held roles in product development, marketing, and broadcasting. He holds a M.S. in Education from California State University, East Bay and a B.A. in Communication Arts from Allegheny College, a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania.

Zeren Eder has over 20 years of experience in higher education and has been designing, developing and facilitating online and blended courses since 2005. Prior to joining OLC in 2010, Zeren worked as faculty in various institutions teaching and designing face-to-face, blended and online courses. Currently, she is the Assistant Director of Partnership Management.

Zeren holds a BA in Education with emphasis in English, MA in Linguistics, and ABD status in English Literature . She is also alumna of OLC’s Online Teaching Certificate, and IELOL (Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning) programs.

As her role as the Business Development Manager at Online Learning Consortium, Sandra is dedicated to helping foster and sustain enterprise growth. She brings over 20 years of experience in sales spanning academia, government, private, and non-profit organizations.

She is passionate about developing personable relationships with clients to better understand the unique strengths and needs of their business. By developing meaningful rapport with clients, she believes that strong, long-lasting partnerships can be formed.

Sandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Administration from the Union Institute & University.

Diana Garcia has been a part of the Online Learning Consortium since Fall of 2022. You can often find her assisting customers over the phone and via emails. Her prior years of experience in customer service have given her the skills to promptly and effectively solve customer inquiries. Diana holds both the Google Project Management Certificate and the Salesforce Sales Operations Certification. In her spare time, you can find her crafting and drinking coffee.

Kaitlin Garrett has worked in the higher education space for about 15 years and posseses a strong passion for creating accessible and inclusive learning experiences. She is currently an instructional designer in the OLC’s Center for Professional Learning where she collaborates with subject matter experts on the design, development, and implementation of scalable and engaging programs that adhere to quality standards. She manages the workshop pathways related to equity, inclusion, and belonging and emerging technology and tools, the suite of self-paced workshops, and the microlearning library. She also oversees the planning, management, and technical execution of OLC’s webinar program.

Prior to joining OLC, Kaitlin was a module coordinator at the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine. She assisted first-year module directors and faculty teams with the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional materials used in both synchronous and asynchronous classroom and laboratory environments. Kaitlin holds a MA in Educational Leadership (Higher Education/Student Personnel), a graduate certificate in Instructional Design and Technology (e-Learning), and a BS in Psychology from the University of Central Florida. She is also a graduate of the 2024 cohort of the Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) program.

Natalya Hierholzer is the Graphic Designer and Marketing Specialist for the Online Learning Consortium. She supports OLC marketing and communication and is responsible for developing and designing social media elements, conference promotional materials, website design, and visual identity development for OLC.

Prior to supporting OLC, Natalya attended Texas A&M University where she earned her B.S. in Visualization with an emphasis in UI/UX and graphic design and a minor in Art and Architectural History. She began her career in design for marketing as a student intern for the Division of Student Affairs at Texas A&M University. Here, she learned the role and importance of design in communications and how to leverage visual communication for marketing in order to build meaningful and long-lasting connections.

Out of office, Natalya loves knitting and crocheting, designing patterns, reading, and spending time with her cat.

Christine Hinkley, Senior Director of Conferences and Events, has served OLC nearly 20 years in this capacity. She is responsible for the planning and execution of OLC’s conferences and events, and works in close collaboration with the OLC team and volunteers to bring these quality programs to life. Prior to her career as a certified meeting planner, Christine spent 20+ years in biomedical sales and marketing.

Christine is originally from Illinois, is a graduate of the University of Iowa, and avoids winter at all costs as a long-term Florida resident. Outside of work, she enjoys her grandchildren, golf, yoga, and other outdoor activities, including her current endeavor to hone her pickleball skills.

Veronica Gonzalez Hoff is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Online Learning Consortium. She is responsible for marketing and communications strategy, public and media relations, and the brand identity of OLC.

Prior to joining OLC, Veronica was the Communications Coordinator for the Division of Student Affairs at Texas A&M University. Over the last decade, she has held various marketing and communications positions within the higher education industry. She brings her expertise in public and media relations, social media strategy and content development, and website content management.

Veronica is working on her Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership through Sam Houston State University. Her research examines how student affairs functions utilize social media and other digital spaces as an extension of their services to support and build digital community with students. She also holds an M.S. in Publishing from the University of Houston-Victoria and a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis on print journalism from the University of Texas-Pan American.

Adelle Koscinski is the Conferences and Events Specialist for the Online Learning Consortium. She is responsible for supporting the planning and execution of OLC’s conferences and events, including exhibitor and sponsor fulfillment, registration management, and logistical coordination. Prior to joining OLC, Adelle has taken on a variety of roles in events and marketing over the last decade.

Adelle is originally from Upstate New York and currently lives in Boston. Outside of work, she can be found at the thrift store, exploring nature with a special love for the Adirondacks, and cherishing quality time with her loved ones and her two hilarious, delightful cats.

Laurie provides expert guidance and assistance to OLC members to ensure the successful utilization of their membership benefits and ease in the process of renewal. Laurie brings her many years of experience in sponsor and conference attendee relationship support and works closely with the OLC membership team to ensure continuous high-quality membership offerings and communications. Laurie graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Jennifer Mathes, Ph.D., serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). In her role, she sets the strategic direction for the organization and spearheads the development of key projects and programs to benefit OLC members. With over 25 years of experience in both public and private sectors of education, Dr. Mathes has been a staunch advocate for digital learning initiatives. In addition, Dr. Mathes is the author of the ICDE Report Global Quality in Online, Open, Flexible and Technology Enhanced Education: An Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (2019) and co-editor of the OLC Quality Scorecard Handbook: Criteria for Excellence in Blended Learning Programs (2017). She continues to write and present on key topics in online, blended and digital learning.

Dr. Mathes began her academic journey as a faculty member, eventually ascending to the role of Chief Academic Officer. She has also served as a consultant, advising educational institutions on implementing best practices in online education. Her recent work has involved collaborating with higher education associations and institutions internationally to support the global adoption of best practices in online learning.

Dr. Mathes earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also holds a Master of Science in Business Education and a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications, both from Illinois State University.

As Partnership Manager, Mary works to promote OLC’s resources and services, helping our members get the most use from their membership and working with potential members to highlight how OLC can benefit their organization and professional advancement.

Prior to joining OLC, Mary has over 25 years in strategic sales and account management partnering with higher education and K-12 institutions with a focus on exceeding customer experience and engagement. She is passionate about making a difference. Her goal is to empower everyone to reach their full potential. Mary looks forward to working as an extension of your team to support your efforts in reaching your online learning goals. Mary attended her local technical college and was focused on Industrial Technology, learning valuable skills she was able utilize with her employer at that time Cray Research Inc.

After hours, Mary can be found enjoying the great Wisconsin outdoors. She is obsessed with the sport of volleyball and has coached and currently officiates. Her family owns and operates apple orchards, so if you are looking for a good apple pie recipe she can help. The last couple years, she has been blessed with 3 grandchildren and is always looking for the opportunity to spend more time with them.

As senior researcher at OLC, Carrie designs, conducts and manages the portfolio of research projects that align with the mission, vision, and goals of the Online Learning Consortium. She brings with her over 15 years of experience as an online educator and instructional designer with a passion for research. In the early part of her career, Carrie helped open the branch campus of Benedictine University at Mesa, where students were invited to attend a lecture-free, technology-enhanced campus that used problem-based and flipped learning strategies to engage learners. In addition to providing instructional design and technology support, Carrie designed Benedictine at Mesa’s first online MBA program using problem-based learning and conducted a full curriculum evaluation at the end of the first semester. As an instructional designer at Minnesota State University, Carrie expanded her expertise in game-based learning, online pedagogy, assessment, and research while sharing those skills with faculty in professional development workshops. Carrie also received two grants during her time at MNSU that allowed her to expand professional development offerings around Open Educational Resources and save students almost $1 million in textbook costs. She has peer-reviewed publications covering a variety of topics such as open educational resources, online course best practices, and game-based learning. In addition to a strong background in higher education teaching and instructional design, Carrie brings with her extensive experience in customer service and small business management. She holds a PhD in Educational Technology from Arizona State University, an MS in French from Minnesota State University, and BA in French from Arizona State University.

Robert Pope oversees technical operations at the OLC. He directs the development of all OLC web properties, mobile apps and systems integrations. He has a degree in computer and electronic engineering technologies CEET.

Suzie Reed joined Online Learning Consortium in a part-time bookkeeping capacity and eventually became a full-time member of the Finance team as a Financial Analyst. Her responsibilities include day-to-day bookkeeping, payroll, reporting, and analysis. Suzie has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Salem State University.

Cindy Schanke is an instructional designer at the OLC where she provides instructional design, course development, and educational technology expertise within the OLC Institute for Professional Development. In 2000, she got her start in the eLearning field for government and industry, and in 2013 she began working as an instructional designer in higher education. She joined OLC in 2021 after serving Elizabethtown College as the Assistant Director of Online Learning. She holds a Masters of Science degree in Instructional Technology from Bloomsburg University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Lock Haven University.

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Madeline (Maddie) Shellgren, Ph.D. serves as the Online Learning Consortium’s Director of Outreach and Development, advancing the OLC’s mission through strategic outreach, collaborations, and program development. Maddie excels in fostering meaningful relationships across a global community while leveraging her expertise in engagement strategies and change management to shape the organization’s vision for external relations and resource development.

Previously, Maddie was OLC’s Director of Community Strategy and Engagement, leading the organization’s engagement portfolio. She became known for her love of storytelling, play, and gameful learning through innovative learning experiences like OLC’s Technology Test Kitchen, Innovation Studio, and Engagement Hub. Her interdisciplinary background has allowed her to push the boundaries of what’s possible for online and digital engagement, driving and modeling transformative learning experiences.

Maddie has dedicated her professional life to teaching and learning related initiatives and has strategically sought out opportunities that give her a multi-dimensional perspective on teaching and learning, including working as a Standardized Patient training medical students, serving as Program Director for Teaching Assistant development, taking lead on a number of cross-institutional educator onboarding and professional development projects, and working as an Assistant Rowing Coach.

As a result of these efforts, as a leader, Maddie brings extensive expertise in ed-tech, training, and eLearning, blending research and practice to drive high-quality learning and development initiatives. In her current role, she leverages her deep understanding of instructional quality, engagement strategies, and change management, to identify new and exciting partnerships and opportunities for the OLC.

Clarise began working with the Online Learning Consortium in the fall of 2016. You’ll find her in many places where customers connect with OLC, most notably in the chat room, adding a personal touch to virtual communications. Clarise is always happy to help, whether guiding customers through a registration process, answering questions, or resolving concerns quickly.

Previously Clarise spent 20 years in customer-facing roles in the hospitality industry, working for an airline company in reservations and in their private club. She’s also served as an assistant librarian and an office manager. Clarise has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Emmanuel College.

Elisabeth Stucklen is an instructional designer in the Online Learning Consortium’s Center for Professional Learning, where she manages the Instructional Designer and Advanced Instructional Designer Certificate Program, the Instructional Design Professional Certification, the 4-week workshops program, and serves as the instructional designer on the planning team for the Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) program. She has worked in online higher education and instructional design for over 21 years. Prior to joining OLC, she worked as the senior instructional designer at Mount Washington College (MWC) in Manchester, NH, where she was responsible for creating new online courses, providing training and support for faculty, and assisting the director in monitoring the course development process. Before MWC, she worked at Lesley University providing professional development and course design assistance to faculty. In addition to her role with the OLC, Elisabeth also teaches online for Brandeis University in their Masters in Learning Experience Design program and has served as a mentor in the Educause ID2ID cross-institutional peer mentoring program for the instructional designer.

Elisabeth holds a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology from Emporia State University and a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication Technology from Lesley University and is a graduate of the 2020 cohort for the Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL).

Brenda Weiss-Pesta is the Assistant Vice President, Membership and Sponsorship for the Online Learning Consortium. She is responsible for the relationships with new and existing sponsorship partners and building opportunities to share their products and services with valued OLC members and the OLC online learning community.

Prior to joining OLC, Brenda was a sales manager in the educational technology industry working with both higher education institutions and K-12 districts in the northeast. She has been active in her central Minnesota community as a chairperson and a volunteer on youth related projects and is a member of her local planning and zoning commission. Brenda has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Northwestern College.