Welcome to the OLC’s “Volunteer Spotlight” series that aims to highlight the valuable contributions of just some of the many volunteers who serve the OLC community. We are so very grateful to each of our volunteers for the time and expertise they share in a variety of capacities.
This month, we shine the spotlight on Matthew Vick, a dedicated leader in graduate and continuing education and a long-time contributor to the OLC community. I had the pleasure of interviewing Matt to learn more about his journey, his involvement with OLC conferences and IELOL, and the impact of his volunteer work.
A Journey Rooted in Passion for Education
Matt serves as the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, supporting over 1,600 graduate students, most of whom are online, and more than 10,000 youth summer campers. His unit also helps support the university’s research and sponsored programs enterprise.
With a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a doctorate in Urban Education, Matt began his career teaching high school science before transitioning to a role as a professor of curriculum and instruction. After nearly a decade helping to prepare future K-12 teachers, he moved into administrative roles, becoming dean in 2021.
Embracing the OLC Community
Matt first connected with OLC in 2017, attending the OLC Accelerate conference to present on applying the 5E learning cycle from science education to online education. A session on adaptive learning presented by Tony Picciano, Chuck Dzuiban, Patsy Moskal, and Colm Howlin sparked his curiosity and inspired new approaches using an adaptive learning system on his campus. His enthusiasm led him to get more involved, serving as a conference proposal reviewer and later taking on leadership roles, including as a steering committee member and track chair. He credits Tawnya Means, who served as conference co-chair in 2022, for her inspirational mentorship. They have stayed in touch and even ran the 5K fun run together (along with many others attending the conference) at OLC Accelerate in 2024! Matt also enjoyed being an invited speaker at the 2023 Blended Learning Symposium.
Currently, he’s playing a key role in preparing for the 2025 Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL), which will be hosted in Wisconsin.
Making an Impact through Volunteering
For Matt, volunteering is about meaningful connection and helping others grow. His work with OLC reflects the same spirit he brings to his involvement with Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts—creating opportunities for others to build confidence, discover new paths, and reach their potential through small but impactful actions.
“OLC is a great opportunity to volunteer to help adult learners make potentially life-changing connections with their colleagues by inspiring them to think differently about the problems we are facing in digital learning and to inspire people to take the next step in their professional journeys… often not ones they first saw themselves taking,” he shared. His own career path, going from teacher education into continuing education, has been shaped by these kinds of unexpected yet transformative moments.
Through his experiences with OLC, Matt has had the opportunity to learn about new innovations and approaches from various institutions that help make higher education more accessible to non-traditional students.
Rewards and Challenges
Among the many rewarding experiences, one small gesture stood out: receiving a thank-you gift of cookies from a presenter he mentored. “It reminded me that just taking the time to help someone run through their presentation and feel confident can be very valuable,” he said.
As for challenges, finding time to volunteer can be tough, but Matt frames it as a re-energizing experience that’s worth making room for.
Memorable Moments and Future Goals
A standout memory was serving on a 2023 AI panel with Tony Picciano and Tawyna Means, two leaders who had previously inspired him. It was a full-circle moment and a testament to the power of OLC connections.
Looking ahead, Matt values staying grounded in both leadership and service. He prioritizes opportunities that include small tasks that may seem invisible to stay connected to the work. “I try to remember to give leadership through service, not to limit my view to my leadership as my only service to others.”
A Unique OLC Experience
What sets OLC apart? According to Matt, it’s the culture of innovation and inclusivity across roles—whether instructional designer, educator, or administrator. “You need all of those roles to succeed, and it’s great to have them all welcome and conversing.”
A Call to Future Volunteers
Matt encourages anyone considering volunteering with OLC to dive in. “The flexibility of online learning is also available when volunteering—it can be asynchronous and on your time,” he noted. “You’ll learn more about innovation in this space, but more importantly, you’ll be enabling others around you to learn and succeed.”
Gratitude and Recognition
We are deeply grateful to Matt for the time, insight, and leadership he continues to share with the OLC community. His dedication to service, innovation, and connection exemplifies what makes our volunteer network so impactful.
Interested in getting involved?
If you are interested in connecting with like-minded professionals and gaining professional development through volunteering for the OLC, we invite you to apply here! We frequently have new opportunities and will reach out when there is a match to your indicated interests.
