Due to circumstances related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we have made the difficult decision to postpone OLC Innovate 2020, originally scheduled for March 31 – April 3, in Chicago. We have been working with the Sheraton Grand Chicago to finalize details for new dates, which will now be July 21-24, 2020. We believe this is the right decision for our community, as we all work to manage through this period of disruption and concern. 

We appreciate the dedication and flexibility of our community, especially those that have spent the past year involved in preparations for OLC Innovate 2020. This includes the significant time and effort invested by our Conference and Program Committees and our incredible community of volunteers. Our goal at this point is to fulfill our promise to our community to deliver a conference filled with opportunities to network and learn, free from undue risk to health and safety.

As you navigate these circumstances and their impact on your organization, we invite you to reach out with any questions or concerns. And if you haven’t already, you might also want to take a look at OLC’s Continuity Planning and Emergency Preparedness resources. 

We thank you for your flexibility and understanding as our team and our community work through this challenging period. 

Jennifer Mathes, Ph.D., Interim Chief Executive Officer, OLC Jennifer is responsible for the development of OLC’s long-range goals, strategies, plans and policies. She also provides leadership in researching and planning strategic initiatives, special projects and partnerships that align with OLC’s mission, vision and goals. Dr. Mathes has nearly 20 years of experience in both public and private higher education where she has served as a faculty member and an academic leader. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she wrote her dissertation on “Predictors for Student Success in Online Education.” She also has earned a Master of Science degree in Business Education and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications from Illinois State University.