Welcome to the OLC’s “Volunteer Spotlight” series, where we highlight the valuable contributions of just some of the many OLC volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to serving the community. This month, we shine the spotlight on Dr. Andrew (Andy) Wiss, a passionate advocate for innovation in online and digital education. I had the pleasure of interviewing Andy to learn more about his journey, his involvement with OLC, and the impact of his volunteer work.
Fostering Innovation in Digital Learning
Dr. Andrew (Andy) Wiss serves as the Assistant Dean for Academic Innovation and is a Professorial Lecturer in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University. In his role, he oversees the school’s online programs, including the online Master of Public Health, Executive Master of Health Administration, and Doctor of Public Health programs. He has also developed and teaches required courses in each of these programs that focus on topical areas such as workforce development, interprofessional collaboration, emerging technology’s role in learning and performance, and organizational learning. These programs are designed to meet the educational needs and professional goals of adult learners preparing for a wide array of health sector roles. “All of these programs, we believe, are some of the most progressively designed and effective academic programs of their kind in terms of appealing to the needs, psychologies, and career goals of adult learners training for or currently working in a diverse set of public health, healthcare delivery, and related roles. The model for these programs, which emphasizes active learning, synchronous connection with instructors, collaboration with peers, and the hands-on development of program competencies, has allowed our remarkable faculty to connect personally with our students and prepare them for the next steps in their careers, getting them ready to address thorny challenges found throughout the health sector. It has been a joy to be a part of these programs as they have grown and flourished over the past decade while watching our students do just the same during their time with us.“.
Embracing the OLC Community
Andy’s awareness and involvement with the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) began during a pivotal phase in his career, prior to completing his doctorate and assuming his current role as dean for academic innovation. He recognized OLC as a platform that fosters collaboration, bringing together professionals from various institutions and private sector organizations to advance online and digital learning.
In his most current role with OLC, Andy is program co-chair for the upcoming OLC Accelerate 2025 conference. Last month, Andy served as moderator for the OLC Webinar: Leading & Scaling Innovation featuring Drs. Maricel Lawrence from Purdue Global and Bettyjo Bouchey from the University of Vermont. These types of contributions have enriched the OLC community and advanced the field of online and digital learning.
Andy’s involvement with the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) began over a decade ago when he attended his first OLC conference. As a frequent presenter at OLC conferences and events, Andy shares his research and new initiatives with our community, receiving an OLC Best-In-Track award in 2023 alongside GW colleague Dr. Leonard Friedman.
Andy co-presented with his colleague, Dr. Mary Showstark from Yale University and the Virtual Interprofessional Education (VIPE) collaborative, at OLC’s Global Leadership Impact Summit. Their presentation focused on their efforts to build national and global partnerships to offer virtual interprofessional education activities to students. This initiative has engaged over 10,000 learners since 2018 and includes a consortium of over 60 universities across 30 countries.
Impacts of Volunteering
Through his volunteer work with OLC, Andy has relished the opportunity to meet like-minded professionals who are also doing really impressive and progressive work at their own institutions. These connections from within the OLC community have translated into meaningful new collaborations, new projects, and a network of relationships that are renewed year after year at the conferences.
“It’s been a remarkable opportunity to learn more about how different institutions are leveraging emerging technologies, driving curricular innovation, and to be connected with the people who are leading these efforts within their own institutions. Volunteering gives you a front-row seat to some of the best work being done in the space right now.”
Rewards and Challenges
Andy values that the environment of OLC welcomes and respects different perspectives. “There’s a lot of opportunity to contribute where you know you can provide some value, from your own areas of strength, not just your professional self, but really, your whole self.” Andy appreciated that OLC provides clear goals and objectives and sets their volunteers up for success. “I think OLC does a really remarkable job of making sure that their volunteer’s time, brainpower, and expertise are respected and put to good use.” Andy notes that the biggest challenge he sees for OLC is also shared by educational institutions and the industry as a whole, which is navigating the rapidly changing landscape of online and digital learning,requiring continuous adaptation and innovation.
Memorable Moments and Future Goals
Memorable moments for Andy have been presenting at OLC conferences, where he receives thoughtful questions and feedback from attendees with varied perspectives. This experience highlights the multidimensionality of the OLC community. Looking ahead, Dr. Wiss aims to continue using OLC as a platform to disseminate the work being done in online and digital programs and research. He also aspires to help others find their way forward, paying forward the support he received from mentors.
“One of my primary goals volunteering with OLC Is trying to provide spaces for people new to or looking to grow within our field to find that one thing that ignites and inspires them, that helps them connect disparate skills, knowledge bases, or interests that they have, and to find new paths forward for their own learning and development. The online learning and digital learning space is changing very rapidly, and now is exactly the time when people who are early-to mid-career should be looking at new pathways within academic institutions, corporate and nonprofit organizational environments, and K-12 to forge new paths forward that are going to be valuable for those organizations and propel them forward in their own careers. If I can help be a connector in some way, and provide the same kinds of valuable mentorship and investment that others made in me during my early career development, then I consider that a success. That’s my big volunteering goal at this point.”
Openness to New Ideas and Perspectives
Andy believes that OLC’s openness to new ideas and perspectives sets it apart from other professional organizations. He notes that OLC brings together individuals from various roles within higher education, including faculty, staff, and administrators, creating a collaborative environment that is often absent in more siloed academic settings.
“It is a warm community. It’s an inviting community where individuals at all careers stages are welcome. It is a community comprised of practitioners – folks who are doing instructional design and instructional media and who are involved in a lot of the frontline work with faculty. It’s also a community of administrators, strategists and innovators, those who are managing and leading programs and institutions. And it’s a community of faculty who are doing research and experimental work in the space. ”
Navigating the Future of Digital Learning
Andy acknowledges the rapid evolution within the digital learning landscape, emphasizing the importance of addressing complex challenges such as equity, access, and the ethical use of data. He highlights the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI), both generative and analytical, in shaping educational practices. Andy envisions the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) as a pivotal convener, bringing together thought leaders and innovators to collaboratively navigate these developments.
“I hope that future volunteer roles that I may have will help convene and bring together the best thought leaders and innovators in the space to help us tackle really thorny challenges around the role of artificial intelligence in education, equity and access, and data’s usage and transformation; leveraging it as a resource to improve all the various processes within our institutions.” He underscores the necessity of our collective navigation of these issues within the evolving digital learning space, with OLC serving as a central platform for these critical discussions.
A Call to Future Volunteers
Andy encourages those considering volunteering with OLC to recognize that everyone has something valuable to contribute, especially if they are engaged in digital learning or related fields. “Getting out there and showing off your work to the OLC Community at one of their conferences is one of the best places to take that first step.” He advises reaching out to OLC staff to explore opportunities to get involved, whether through committees, shaping programming, or introducing new ideas. Andy concludes, “If you’re looking for a professional organization home, I can’t think of a better place than OLC. “
Gratitude and Recognition
Andy expresses gratitude for the support and opportunities provided by OLC, noting that the organization does a wonderful job supporting its volunteers. He also noted thanks to OLC community leaders who actively encouraged him over time to get involved beyond conference attendance, including Paige McDonald, Cody House, and Florence Williams, and OLC staff, including Dylan Barth, Katie Fife Shuster, and Madeline Shellgren. He believes that getting involved with OLC is a rewarding experience that offers more than one gives, particularly in terms of the connections made and the warm, accepting community found within the organization.
If you are interested in connecting with like-minded professionals and gaining professional development through volunteering for the OLC, we invite you to apply! We frequently have new opportunities and will reach out when there is a match to your indicated interests.
