By Madeline Shellgren, Ph.D., Director of Outreach and Development, OLC | The Online Learning Consortium (OLC) is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural OLC HBCU Advisory Group, a new initiative designed to guide and strengthen OLC’s ongoing work with and in service to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This Advisory Group represents an important step in deepening OLC’s commitment to equity, collaboration, and community-informed innovation in digital learning.
About the OLC HBCU Advisory Group
The OLC HBCU Advisory Group will serve as a strategic body, providing leadership, insight, and guidance to inform OLC’s HBCU-focused initiatives. This includes signature programming such as the annual OLC HBCU Summit, professional development opportunities, collaborative projects, and broader community engagement efforts.
As a thought leadership and advisory body, the group will help OLC:
- Identify priorities aligned with the needs and aspirations of HBCUs
- Build and sustain meaningful institutional partnerships
- Ensure that HBCU-focused programming is shaped by lived experience and community voice
- Support innovation, access, and quality in online and digital learning environments
In its inaugural phase, members of the Advisory Group will also help shape the group’s long-term structure, leadership model, and focus areas, laying a strong foundation for future engagement.
Introducing the Inaugural Chair and Vice Chair
OLC is honored to announce the inaugural leadership of the HBCU Advisory Group:
Dr. Dionne Thorne, Chair
Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Operations in the College of Interdisciplinary and Continuing Studies at Morgan State University
Dr. Thorne is an accomplished scholar-practitioner with more than 15 years of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, quality assurance, and online teaching and learning. At Morgan State University, she provides leadership for curriculum quality, online program development, and instructional design. She holds a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Instructional Design for Online Learning and brings deep expertise in advancing high-quality, equitable online education at HBCUs. Dr. Thorne is widely recognized for her leadership in the field and has received numerous honors for her contributions to online learning and instructional excellence.
Dr. John Bannister, Vice Chair
Director of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning at Johnson C. Smith University
Dr. Bannister is an educator, bridge builder, and advocate for innovative and inclusive approaches to teaching and learning. He leads faculty development initiatives and Johnson C. Smith University’s online degree programs, with research interests that include adult learning, connectivism, educational technology, and learning communities. A frequent presenter and contributor to the field, Dr. Bannister has been recognized as a 2026 Fulbright Scholar, a UNCF HBCU Change Agent, and a 2024 Faculty Innovation Fellow, and he serves on the HBCU Faculty Development Network board.
Both leaders bring a longstanding relationship with the Online Learning Consortium and deep engagement in the online learning community. Dr. Dionne Thorne has been an active member of the OLC community for many years and has served in a leadership role on the OLC HBCU Summit Planning Committee since 2024. She is also a graduate of OLC’s Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (class of 2023), the organization’s premier leadership development program. Dr. John Bannister has likewise been engaged with OLC and the broader digital learning community for years and joined the OLC HBCU Summit Planning Committee in 2025, contributing his expertise in faculty development, collaboration, and innovation. Together, they bring strong leadership, connectivity, and a shared commitment to advancing online learning at HBCUs.
What’s Next
As the inaugural leadership begins its work, both Dr. Thorne and Dr. Bannister emphasize the importance of grounding the Advisory Group’s efforts in community, collaboration, and shared purpose. “The creation of the OLC HBCU Advisory Group represents an important opportunity to center HBCU voices in conversations about online learning and innovation,” said Dr. Dionne Thorne, noting that the group is intentionally designed to bring institutions together around common priorities. “I’m honored to serve in this role and excited to collaborate with colleagues across institutions and build a stronger HBCU network to help shape online learning programming and partnerships that are responsive, impactful, and rooted in our shared commitment to student success.”
Looking ahead, the Advisory Group will begin convening regularly in the coming months to establish focus areas and contribute to the planning of future HBCU-focused initiatives, including professional development opportunities, collaborative projects, and community-centered events. Dr. John Bannister, Vice Chair, underscored the momentum and possibility ahead, sharing that “this Advisory Group is about connection, collaboration, and community. HBCUs bring a rich legacy of innovation and resilience to higher education, and this group creates space to share knowledge, elevate best practices, and collectively imagine what’s possible for digital learning at our institutions.” Additional updates, announcements, and opportunities for engagement will be shared as this work continues to take shape.
Get Involved
For inquiries or to express interest in getting involved with future HBCU initiatives, please complete this form:
OLC looks forward to building this important new chapter in partnership with the HBCU community—and to sharing more exciting updates ahead.
