Do you know someone who’s made significant contributions to the field of online learning? Honor them with an OLC Fellows nomination.

Complete List of OLC Fellows

Recognition as an OLC Fellow is one of unusual professional distinction and is conferred by the OLC Board of Directors upon members of the Online Learning Consortium who have:

  • Outstanding qualifications in the field of online learning
  • Significant experience in online learning or an allied field
  • A record of distinguished service to OLC and/or the field
  • Extraordinary leadership in the field of online learning

The following individuals have been recognized as OLC Fellows:

    • Deborah Adair (2023): “For her dedication to the advancement of quality assurance in online learning.”
    • I. Elaine Allen (2019): “For her work and dedication to the field of online learning through her outstanding contribution to the research of online and blended learning.”
    • Terry Anderson (2022): “For outstanding online learning research and the co-founding of the Community of Inquiry Framework.”
    • Meg Benke (2010): “For innovative and inspirational work in the creation, design, and evaluation of online student services and for sustained advocacy for online learning on a national scale.”
    • Curtis Bonk (2023): “For his dedication to advance the principles and practices that underpin OLC’s Five Pillars of Excellence.”
    • Bettyjo Bouchey (2023): “For her many distinguished contributions to different OLC initiatives like conferences, awards, publications, and professional development.”
    • John R. Bourne (2010): “For exceptional service as the founding Executive Director of the Online Learning Consortium and the founding Editor of the Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks.”
    • Jill Buban (2017): “For her contributions in building visibility in online learning research, leadership at two OLC member institutions and in strengthening the research mission for the Online Learning Consortium.”
    • Thomas B. Cavanagh (2014): “For exceptional contributions to the online learning community in the areas of scholarship, assessment, and administration.”
    • Elizabeth Ciabocchi (2015): “For exemplary service to the Online Learning Consortium and exceptional leadership in blended and online learning administration and leadership development in private higher education institutions.”
    • Bruce N. Chaloux (2010): “For his leadership of OLC as it transitioned to a self-sustaining professional society and for his contributions to national projects that demonstrated the power of online learning.”
    • Catheryn L. Cheal (2014): “For visionary and courageous leadership in spearheading bold educational reform involving high-quality online programs that champion student needs.”
    • Marie A. Cini (2014): “For visionary contributions that have significantly advanced the field of online learning and enabled thousands of people to transform their lives and careers.”
    • Vickie Cook (2017): “For active and engaged leadership in advancing online learning as an author, speaker, evaluator, and director of programs for the University of Illinois, Springfield.”
    • Luke Dowden (2022): “For distinguished service to the field, particularly related to innovating in online learning, increasing adult access to quality online education, and generous mentoring of colleagues.”
    • Laurie Dringus (2017): “For exceptional contribution to research devoted to improving the field of online learning.”
    • Charles D. Dziuban (2010): “For developing new and more effective data analysis models that provide information about technology’s impact on the online, blended and Web 2.0 learning environments.”
    • Linda Enghagen (2018): “For her exemplary service to the OLC through her capacity to translate the complexity of copyright and fair use law by training generations of distance educators.”
    • Cristi Ford (2021): “For her exceptional contributions to the field of online, blended and digital learning.”
    • Eric E. Fredericksen (2013): “For exceptional national leadership in the development and advancement of online learning and for distinguished service to the Online Learning Consortium.”
    • D. Randy Garrison (2010): “For advocacy of collaborative and engaged learning and for advancing our understanding of online and blended learning.”
    • Christine Marie Geith (2013): “For outstanding leadership in promoting a wide array of technologies and policies needed to advance global online education.”
    • Ralph E. Gomory (2010): “For remarkable vision and leadership in recognizing the importance of online education and for making online education a recognized part of American higher education through targeted philanthropy on a national scale.”
    • Charles R. Graham (2015): “For outstanding achievement in advancing theory, research and effective practice in online and blended learning.”
    • Michele Gribbins (2024): “For exemplary Contributions in research and professional development to the field of Online Learning.”
    • Angela Gunder (2019): “For her dedication to service, innovation, scholarship and students in online learning.”
    • Gerard L. Hanley (2014): “For exceptional leadership and advancement of online learning through the development of the MERLOT repository for the international education community.”
    • Joel L. Hartman (2012): “For exceptional leadership in online and blended learning on a national and international scale.”
    • Starr Roxanne Hiltz (2010): “For conceiving the idea of Virtual Classrooms and for scholarship related to the design, implementation, and verification of effective online education over multiple decades.”
    • Fred Hurst (2018): “For his lifetime career in digital learning and contributions spanning multiple institutions to extend anywhere, anytime learning.”
    • Phil Ice (2012): “For distinguished service to Sloan-C and for outstanding research that has advanced the field of online learning.”
    • Kathleen Ives (2015): “For her leadership in developing the OLC Institute and the transition from the foundation-supported Sloan Consortium to the Online Learning Consortium, a fully, self-sustaining member-supported, professional association.”
    • Tanya M. Joosten (2013): “For exceptionally creative work in advancing blended and online learning in the K-12 and higher education environments.”
    • Kate Jordahl (2022): “In recognition of her vision, leadership, commitment and passion for equitable quality online teaching and learning. “
    • Kadriye O. Lewis (2019) “For her work and dedication to advance online learning for health professions and medical education.”
    • A. Frank Mayadas (2010): “For outstanding vision and sustained leadership in transforming higher education through support of exemplary approaches to online education, and for creating the Online Learning Consortium (formerly the Sloan Consortium).”
    • Robbie Melton (2016): “For her leadership, advocacy, passion and generosity of time and talent in the promotion of the effective use of technology in teaching and learning.”
    • Gary E. Miller (2010): “In recognition of a forty-year career devoted to using online learning and electronic media to increase access to education at all levels nationally and internationally.”
    • Jacqueline F. Moloney (2010): “For her role as a national leader in championing the application of the OLC pillars in building online programs that provide quality access for students and while advancing strategic institutional goals.”
    • Patsy D. Moskal (2011): “In recognition of her groundbreaking work in the assessment of the impact and efficacy of online and blended learning.”
    • Mary P. Niemiec (2011): “For remarkable vision and national leadership in conceptualizing and advancing blended learning.”
    • Burks Oakley II (2010): “For innovative and inspirational work in the conceptualization, implementation, and advocacy of online learning in higher education on a national scale.”
    • George Otte (2013): “For energetic, exemplary promotion of online and blended education across the many campuses of the country’s largest public, urban university system.”
    • Bill Pelz (2013): “For distinguished service to faculty development that is deeply rooted in his extraordinary enthusiasm for and belief in online teaching and learning.”
    • Anthony G. Picciano (2010): “For outstanding publications that have advanced the field of online learning and for his tireless contributions to the conference activities of OLC.”
    • Alexandra M. Pickett (2012): “For innovation and vision in conceptualizing and implementing high-quality faculty development programs and course design and delivery processes.”
    • J. Garvey Pyke (2024): “For outstanding Service and Leadership and Contributions to the field of Online Learning and OLC.”
    • Janet K. Poley (2010): “In recognition of a distinguished career devoted to expanding distance education and to improving technology access, and for exceptional service to OLC.”
    • Russell Poulin (2019): “For his engagement and advocacy for rational and student-focused higher education policy on behalf of the national online learning community.”
    • Lawrence C. Ragan (2011): “For national leadership in preparing faculty for online teaching success and for creating innovative approaches to the design of online learning environments.”
    • Jennifer Richardson (2016): “For her significant contributions to the areas of scholarship, teaching and service.”
    • Jason Rhode (2023): “For his extraordinary contributions and leadership in developing and driving effective strategies in the field of online learning.”
    • Jason Ruckert (2020) for his “belief in sharing information and empowering others to grow and develop”
    • David A. Sachs (2014): “For pioneering leadership in establishing a coalition to provide outstanding industry-driven online education to students across the globe.”
    • Raymond E. Schroeder (2010): “For increasing access to higher education by cultivating a breadth of online degree programs and for chronicling the progress of the theory and practice of online education through new media.”
    • Jeff Seaman (2019) “For his long-term commitment to national research and role in raising awareness of online learning, which exemplifies the Fellows designation.”
    • John Sener (2013): “For pioneering development of online degree programs and for his contributions as an innovative thought leader in the field of online education.”
    • Peter J. Shea (2011): “For outstanding research that has advanced our understanding of online learning and for noteworthy contributions to the field of online education.”
    • Andrew Shean (2024): “For exemplary Leadership and Contributions to the field of Online Learning.”
    • Kaye Shelton (2019) “For her passion for improving the quality of online teaching and learning, advancing research and scholarship, and service to the profession.”
    • Wayne D. Smutz (2014): “In recognition of a career-long commitment to opening doorways of opportunity and avenues to success for non-traditional students through innovations in online learning.”
    • Karen P. Swan (2010): “For rigorous research that has advanced our understanding of learning effectiveness in online and blended education.”
    • Calvin H. Sydnor, III (2010): “For sustained advocacy of online learning and its implementation within the HBCU community and for exemplary service to OLC.”
    • Kelvin Thompson (2020) for his “innovative leadership in online and blended learning and creation of many award-winning resources”
    • Murray Turoff (2014): “For his pioneering and visionary research in computer-mediated communications, learning management systems, and the effectiveness of online learning.”
    • Robert N. Ubell (2011): “For exceptional leadership in scientific and technical online learning programming, international collaboration, and enterprise learning.”
    • Norman Vaughan (2018): “For his advancement of blended learning and faculty development across educational sectors, countries and continents.”
    • Karen K. Vignare (2012): “For exemplary service to OLC and for visionary leadership in the administration of online learning programs having a global scale.”
    • Melissa Vito (2024): “For visionary Leadership and Dedication to Academic Innovative in the field of Online Learning.”
    • Jack M. Wilson (2015): “For his visionary leadership and nationally recognized advocacy for online education as a professor, CEO of UMass Online, and President of the University of Massachusetts.”