OHIO Online advances faculty leadership in digital education

Faculty and staff are taking deliberate steps toward redefining what academic leadership means in a rapidly changing digital learning landscape. Through OHIO Online initiatives and the conversations elevated during the recent Online at OHIO Symposium, the university is empowering faculty to lead with creativity, data-driven insight and a unified commitment to student success.

The Online at OHIO Symposium, held Oct. 10, highlighted a shift in digital education leadership. Rather than focusing only on individual course development, faculty and administrators are working together to build a shared movement that supports high-quality online learning. Donald Leo, executive vice president and provost, and Kari Lehman, vice provost for OHIO Online, emphasized that strong pedagogy must be paired with strategic collaboration across departments, disciplines and campuses. Their vision centers on faculty guiding the evolution of online programs with intention and expertise.

This approach places instructors at the center of decisions involving course design, program growth and new strategies that respond to student needs. Dialogue throughout the symposium reflected OHIO Online efforts to elevate faculty voices and support accessible and high-quality learning at scale.

Educators today are navigating emerging technologies, changing student expectations and expanding online program demands. OHIO Online provides resources that help faculty step confidently into this leadership role. Presenters such as keynote speaker Dr. William Kuskin, professor and chair of the English Department at the University of Colorado Boulder, added that leadership in digital learning depends on academic stewardship, thoughtful adaptation and the creation of meaningful learning environments that reflect OHIO values.

OHIO Online’s initiatives create space for faculty to connect, share insights and collectively address the challenges of online learning. These collaborations reinforce that effective digital education relies on coordinated leadership, from program directors shaping curriculum pathways to instructors experimenting with new engagement strategies.

Support structures such as instructional design partnerships, professional development and emerging programs expand the university’s capacity to innovate. Together, these efforts position faculty as active architects of OHIO’s future in online education.

As OHIO Online continues to grow, the university is cultivating a network of educators who lead with curiosity, adaptability and student-centered thinking. This leadership-driven approach ensures that online learning at OHIO is not simply responsive to change, but ahead of it.

By empowering faculty, fostering collaboration and driving innovation, OHIO Online is shaping a digital learning environment where educators lead the way and where students benefit from the strength of that shared vision.