Tour of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center
Brief Abstract
Join the OLC Innovate Field Guides, Innovation Crews, and other conference attendees for a tour of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. There is no better way to explore this hotel and learn about conference layout than on a guided tour. Meet at the Field Guide Station near conference registration. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and shoes (as we will be moving throughout the tour).
Presenters
Dr. Amy Johnson is a Core Faculty member for the Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree program in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC). She earned a Doctorate of Early Childhood Development and Education from Texas Woman’s University, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Chapman University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing from San Diego State University. Dr. Johnson began her career teaching elementary grades in the Cajon Valley School District. She transitioned into higher education in 2010 and enjoys the diversity of University of Arizona Global Campus students. Dr. Johnson lives in the Ft. Worth, Texas, area with her husband and two daughters.
Dr. Sebrena Jackson is a strategic thinking, servant leader with over 25 years of social work practice and leadership experience. Over the span of her career, she has worked with diverse populations with the goal of inspiring them to do the healing work that leads to living on purpose and reaching their fullest potential.
Dr. Jackson’s diverse career in academia has spanned from Title IV-E Coordinator/Instructor of an undergraduate social work program at an HBCU, to Director of Field Education for the first fully online university to receive CSWE accreditation for an MSW program, to her current role as a tenured Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Educational Programs and Student Services at a Research I university, The University of Alabama.
As a first-generation college student, Dr. Jackson is passionate about education. This passion has guided her practice, research, and scholarship. Her two lines of education research include: (1) post-secondary education access and success for youth transitioning from foster care and (2) online education. She has published and presented on these topics at state, national and international conferences. The pre-college program she founded, the National Social Work Enrichment Program (NSEP), provides a 6-week college experience for foster youth. NSEP seeks to encourage foster youth to consider social work as a college major, while inspiring youth to graduate high school and enroll in college.
Dr. Jackson has received numerous awards and honors for her work. She was honored as the Social Worker of the Year in two states, NASW-GA in 2009 and NASW-AL in 2017 for her work with transition-age foster youth. She was honored to be selected as the 2023 Online Learning Innovation Summit Keynote Speaker at The University of Alabama. Dr. Jackson was selected to participate in the Institute on Pedagogy and Technology for Online Courses at Columbia University and the Online Learning Consortium’s Institute for Emerging Leaders in Online Learning (IELOL). She was recently appointed as a Co-Lead for the Social Work Grand Challenge: Harnessing Technology for Social Good. She has received awards as an Innovation Team Scholar and Innovation Scholar in Residence from the University of Alabama College of Continuing Studies (CCS) Online Education Initiative. She is a certified Quality Matters Online Instructor.
She obtained her BSW from Tuskegee University and MSW and PhD from Clark Atlanta University. Dr. Jackson is a trailblazer in the profession, and through her leadership, practice, and research, a college education has become a viable option for hundreds of youth transitioning from foster care.
Extended Abstract