In this month’s Facilitator Spotlight, we’re excited to feature Celia Coochwytewa, a dynamic leader in OLC’s professional learning community. Celia is passionate about helping educators refresh and elevate their work—spotlighting accessibility and AI as must-watch trends this fall. Whether facilitating the new Global Leadership Certificate Program or leading workshops for digital learning leaders, she infuses every session with an equity-centered, community-driven approach that invites collaboration, cultural awareness, and authentic connection. What inspires her most? Learning alongside colleagues and discovering fresh perspectives that make every cohort a one-of-a-kind experience.
Q: Are there particular trending topics in the teaching and learning environment that our community members should be exploring this fall?
A: While there are several topics I could add here, I believe two of the most important ones this fall are accessibility and Artificial Intelligence (AI). More than the subjects themselves, the key trend I’ve noticed is prioritizing the need to review & refresh. This emphasizes the need for a thorough evaluation to ensure quality and implement meaningful improvements before publishing content. I bring this idea with the intent of emphasizing that we’re in a time of not looking at how we build new material but also refreshing what we already have. If you haven’t started exploring or supporting these topics yet, now is a great time to bump them up on the list.
Q: As faculty in a variety of CPL’s offerings, including the new Global Leadership Certificate Program and other workshops for leaders in digital learning, are there overarching themes you carry across all of them?
A: The overarching theme I carry across the workshops I facilitate is designing with communities, not for them. An equity-centered approach frames my work, keeping collaboration and intent at the core. I like to build relationships and connect with learners to define goals, consider and honor cultural context, and align on quality. In each workshop, participants’ diverse experiences are invited, sharing of ideas is encouraged and feedback is used to make sure sessions are relevant and actionable.
Q: What do you enjoy most about facilitating and engaging with the OLC professional learning offerings?
A: What I enjoy most about facilitating the OLC professional learning workshops is connecting with colleagues across the community and learning from them. Every cohort brings a unique blend of institutional, professional, and personal experience, which makes each session feel fresh, no matter how many times it’s been run. There have been times I’ve needed to consider a different perspective, which then broadened my thinking and knowledge. I’ve had the opportunity to facilitate several workshops, and each one has its own character. I learn alongside participants and leave with fresh ideas every time.
Celia Coochwytewa is the Assistant Director of Academic Operations at Arizona State University’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. In this role, she supports nursing and health-related programs by coordinating faculty consulting needs related to instructional technology and course design, working closely with program leaders and cross-functional teams. She also co-leads the college’s artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, providing strategic direction through faculty consultations, custom project development, and the integration of AI tools into teaching and learning.
Celia holds a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and began her career as a K-8 classroom teacher before transitioning to higher education. She has a strong background in instructional design and consulting, with experience developing innovative, technology-enhanced learning experiences. Her work includes teaching teacher preparation courses and facilitating professional development workshops for educational organizations focused on effective online and blended learning. She also serves as a quality assurance reviewer, ensuring courses meet instructional standards and accessibility guidelines.
Celia is deeply committed to purposeful, inclusive innovation in higher education. She contributes to several university-wide workgroups, offering guidance on course design, learning spaces, and emerging technologies. She also shares her expertise as both a participant and facilitator on the Instruction by Design podcast, produced by Edson College.
