From Urgency to Strategy: How IELOL Shaped My Leadership Lens
In 2021, I had the privilege of participating in the Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning (IELOL), hosted in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU). At that point in my career, as an Associate Director of Academic Operations, I was already deeply engaged in academic operations, faculty systems, and innovation initiatives within my institution. […]
When Civility Is Optional in Higher Education
Higher education prides itself on values of inquiry, community, and social justice. Mission statements emphasize belonging, respect, and shared responsibility. Yet within the everyday rhythms of academic life, a troubling pattern often emerges: civility is optional for those with the most privilege, while staff, students, adjuncts, and early-career scholars disproportionately absorb the costs of incivility. […]
Student Well-Being in Online Learning: A Design Question, Not Just a Support Question
January 2026 Snap Survey Results Dashboard Well-being is a holistic and dynamic state that extends beyond the absence of illness to encompass physical, psychological, and social functioning. It includes both happiness and life satisfaction, as well as purpose, growth, and self-actualization. Rather than implying a life free from challenge, well-being reflects the balance between the […]
Supporting Student Development in Online Learning Environments
Dr. Jerry Johnston, a turtle ecologist at Santa Fe College, opened a lecture by unexpectedly asking his students: “How many of you know what you are going to do with your life?“ Although this question was surprising at a science lecture, it introduced his central argument that examining one’s purpose is directly connected to both […]
Innovate 2026: Reflections on a Week of Connection, Creativity, and Courage
As the (virtual) lights dim on Innovate 2026, I’ve found myself thinking back over the past several days, replaying conversations, insights, unexpected moments of inspiration, and the thousand small sparks that happen when a community comes together with curiosity and purpose. Each year, Innovate asks us to challenge assumptions, explore emerging possibilities, and stretch the […]