Sarah K. Lee, Ph.D., Assistant Provost for Academic Initiatives and Innovation, Abilene Christian University shares about her experience in the Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL) Program.

Alumnus Picture	Testimonial
	Blair Stamper Center for Interactive Teaching and Learning, Washtenaw Community College (2018 Alumnus) “The IELOL experience helped me grow as a professional and inspired me to do things I never thought were possible. Because of the IELOL program, I have a group of colleagues I can call my friends, am applying for doctorate programs, and have set myself on a new career path with confidence.”
	Linda Merillat School of Nursing, Washburn University (2018 Alumnus) “I’ve had the opportunity to participate in two other leadership experiences prior to IELOL. One was 20 years ago, and it was at the city level. One was a couple of years ago, and it was at the university level. I really loved both of these experiences, but IELOL reached me where I lived, at my core – these are my people!”
	Monica Simonsen Director, Special Education Online Programs, University of Kansas (2018 Alumnus) “IELOL was a transformative leadership experience for me. I learned practical, actionable strategies to bring back to my institution immediately, grew my leadership skills and gained new colleagues – and friends!”
	Tyler Watts Associate Director of Clemson Online, Clemson University (2018 Alumnus) “The connections I made at IELOL, between both facilitators and participants, are colleagues and friends that I will regularly call upon for professional guidance and advice.”
	Claudia Mather Associate Dean of Distance Learning, Barton Community College (2018 Alumnus) “IELOL was a fantastic experience and is an excellent way to connect to other professionals in the online learning field.”
	Shelley Kurland Dean, Virtual Campus, County College of Morris (2018 Alumnus) “IELOL provided the opportunity and safe space for me to learn, to network, and to grow. While the commitment was intense, the program allowed the invaluable opportunity to step back and reflect so we can begin to think more strategically and lead more effectively from where we are. Even more, the relationships I fostered with the faculty and peers are profound and life-long.”
	Julie Ryan Instructional Design Coordinator, Bellin College (2018 Alumnus) “The faculty leaders really cared about the cohort and also took the time to get to know us as individuals. This made for a more meaningful experience. I left armed with relevant knowledge and skills that have already made a difference in the quality of my leadership.”
	Brad Washington Assistant Provost for Online Programs; Director, Online MATESOL Program, Notre Dame de Namur University (2018 Alumnus) “In addition to being surrounded by leaders in higher education in the sphere of online learning and engagement, IELOL provided me with a platform to explore ideas and challenge my thinking in how to approach aspirational goals with strategic collaboration.”
	Stefan Nowicki Director of the Centre for Distance Learning, University of Wroclaw – Poland (2018 Alumnus) “This was a fantastic week, spent with great inmates and faculty. I have learned a lot of things I would probably never experienced if only doing by myself. I am convinced, that being a part of IELOL 2018 cohort will greatly improve the quality of my work as well as my career perspectives.”
	Bettyjo Bouchey Associate Dean & Associate Professor, College of Professional Studies and Advancement; Director of Online Academics, National Louis University (2018 Alumnus) “I have really enjoyed my IELOL experience, from the early online interactions to the immersion experiences, and now looking forward to OLC Accelerate as well. Not only did it inspire me to do and be better in my leadership of our online organization, but I have had the unique opportunity to establish enriching and enduring relationships with peers for continued professional development and career development. Plus, I just got nominated for a subcommittee for NCOE and got invited to serve in an exclusive group of faculty looking at the future of STEM for an NSF grant recently – as a result of my IELOL experience!”
	Amy Greene Executive Director for Online Learning, Ferris State University (2017 Alumnus) “Participating in IELOL surpassed all of my expectations! I knew that I would have an opportunity to collaborate with other online leaders, but I had no idea how much fun, critical thinking, networking, and friendship would emerge from the experience. It was one of the best and most valuable professional development experiences that I’ve had in my career. I have already recommended that one of my colleagues apply for the 2019 cohort! “
	Ravi Patel Adjunct Professor, The Pennsylvania State University (2017 Alumnus) “IELOL was a wonderful experience which helped me to connect with others who are in a similar situation to me. It stretched me to apply things that we learned and was a long-term learning experience that I am so glad to have been a part of.”
	Shaun Moore Director of e-Learning, Oakland University (2016 Alumnus) “I would recommend the IELOL program to anyone in the field of online learning in higher education. It was an amazing experience, both the online component and the face-to-face, conference-like sessions. The contacts I gained there have proven invaluable. The presentations were relevant, delivered by credible, engaging speakers. The highlight of the program was the group presentation project we did, getting to know a smaller cohort quite well. We researched and pitched an idea. Not only is that great practice, but the feedback we got from actual high-level administrators made it all worth the time. Truly a career-changing experience.”