eDesign Collaborative Network

The UPCEA eDesign Collaborative (eDC) Network, serves higher education instructional design teams (instructional designers, multimedia developers and team administrators) in higher education seeking networking and professional development. Participation in the eDesign Collaborative Network provides access to a community of professionals who are interested in best practices for online course creation. The UPCEA eDC Network has three main objectives: 1) networking, 2) professional development, and 3) research and publication. As such, the eDesign Collaborative has a leadership team, comprised of the chair and vice chairs, which work to facilitate this vision. 

Who Should Join?

The eDesign Collaborative Network serves all sorts of professionals, and the following individuals may find value in the conversations and connections:

  • Instructional Designers
  • Course Designers
  • Online Learning Specialists
  • Instructional Technologists
  • Media Specialists
  • Chief Online Learning Officers
  • Deans 
  • Provosts
  • Administrators
  • Directors
  • Managers
  • Program Coordinators
  • Vice Presidents
  • ...and all other interested UPCEA Members!

How to Engage With the Network

Attend Network Events

The eDC Network conducts webinars and coffee chats throughout the year, on a number of topics related to the work of the Network, as well as the eDC ThinkTank Roadshow, focusing on the eDesign efforts of individual institutions. Check out the events pages linked below and keep an eye out for our upcoming events.

Join the Discussion

Log in to CORe, UPCEA's member community and online networking space where you can ask, answer or search for questions on relevant topics. Get advice, answers and ideas from your colleagues online via CORe, UPCEA's professional networking platform.

Your membership gives you full access to:

  • Active conversations, and the chance to ask your questions in real time
  • Robust search of conversation archive
  • A diverse resource library
  • UPCEA's entire member directory
  • Exclusive member content -- including benchmarking studies, conference session slides, and webinar recordings

UPCEA Award for Outstanding Service in Postsecondary Instructional Design

Instructional Design is necessary for the development of engaging quality teaching and learning experiences across a wide variety of modalities and contexts. The UPCEA Outstanding Service in Postsecondary Instructional Design Award recognizes outstanding service to the field of instructional design in one or more of the following areas: modeling and disseminating research (via workshops, webinars, conferences, papers, etc.), best practices, innovative methods, and/or mentorship, all for the betterment of the instructional design community. This award celebrates the connective power of instructional design professionals within the learning design process, chiefly their role in highlighting the critical need for educators of all roles to work in partnership in support of student success.

Today, the field of professional, continuing, online education is characterized by engagement in very complex, highly specialized areas of practice. UPCEA’s eight Networks are designed to serve professionals practicing in the key areas that define this vibrant and growing sector of higher education.


Networks are open to any UPCEA Member. Members can join any one (or multiple) of these networks by logging in to their profile, going down to My Networks + Committees then click "Browse Networks + Committees". Select the network you would like to join, and click "Join this Network/Committee".

Recent Network Newsletters

Stay up to date with Network news and happenings!

Volunteer and grow as a leader, presenter, or mentor.

Take an active role in your membership! Members are encouraged to serve as volunteer leaders. There are many ways to get involved! Click below and let us know how you'd like to volunteer with UPCEA.

Have a question about the Network? Ask a volunteer leader!

UPCEA Network Leadership is composed of UPCEA members who serve in these roles. Below you can find a current listing of this year's network leadership team. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, visit upcea.edu/volunteer.

2024-2025

Leadership Team

Kristlyn Thomas

CHAIR

Loyola University Chicago
[email protected]

April Wolf

CHAIR-ELECT

Purdue University
[email protected]

Jennifer Lattin

PAST CHAIR

University of California, Davis
[email protected]

Tracy Miller

VICE CHAIR, ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Northern Illinois University 
[email protected]

Nic Bongers

CO-VICE CHAIR, AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Oakland University
[email protected]

Catie Weaver

CO-VICE CHAIR, AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Western Kentucky University
[email protected]

Jennifer Lattin

VICE CHAIR, COMMUNICATIONS

University of California, Davis
[email protected]

Christy Jersin Woods

VICE CHAIR, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Colorado State University
[email protected]

VACANT

VICE CHAIR, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Interested in getting involved as a volunteer leader with UPCEA? Fill out this form and let us know!

Hala Esmail

SUPPORTING VICE CHAIR, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Louisiana State University
[email protected]

Connie Hahn

SUPPORTING VICE CHAIR, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Purdue University
[email protected]

Aaron Bauer

VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE

Colorado State University
[email protected]

Dan Blickensderfer

VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE

Purdue University
[email protected]

Carrie Hansel

VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE

Indiana University
[email protected]

Jacqueline Roebuck Sakho

VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE

North Carolina A&T State University
[email protected]

Megan Slatton

VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE

Auburn University
[email protected]

Muhammad Wajahat Afzal

VICE CHAIR, AT-LARGE

The New School
[email protected]

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Get Involved with UPCEA

Professional development isn't just about attending sessions. Get involved with UPCEA to meet members from other institutions, share the great work your institution is doing, and hone your own skills. From submitting a session proposal for a conference or an article for a publication to serving as a volunteer on a conference planning committee, there are as many ways to engage with us!

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Awards of Excellence

Since 1953, UPCEA has recognized its members' outstanding contributions to the Association and the field, as well as their achievements in innovative programming, marketing and promotion, community development and services, research and publications, and many other areas.