UPCEA Outstanding Service in Postsecondary Instructional Design Award Recipient Announced
Inaugural award bestowed at 2020 Summit for Online Leadership and Administration
WASHINGTON, February 5, 2020 – UPCEA, the leader in professional, continuing, and online education, has announced the 2020 Outstanding Service in Postsecondary Instructional Design Award recipient, Penny Ralston-Berg of the Pennsylvania State University.
The Outstanding Service in Postsecondary Instructional Design Award recognizes outstanding service to the field of instructional design through modeling and disseminating research, best practices, innovative methods, and/or mentorship, all for the betterment of the instructional design community. The award is part of the UPCEA Association Awards program, which includes recognition of both individual and institutional achievement across the UPCEA membership.
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.
“This national award was created because most recognition for instructional design is around a single course, tool, or program—and often honors faculty or institutions on a local or regional level. We wanted to uphold the exceptional individuals who have dedicated their careers to instructional and multimedia design, and commend their positive influence sharing and implementing new ideas on the community as a whole,” said Mel Edwards, Lead Instructional Designer at Purdue University and Chair of the UPCEA eDesign Collaborative Network. “As our inaugural award recipient, Penny certainly exemplifies these traits, and many designers recognize her name and work.”
Ralston-Berg accepted this first-ever award at the 2020 UPCEA Summit for Online Leadership and Administration + Roundtable (SOLA+R) in New Orleans.
“It’s such an honor to receive this award from my peers in the field, and I’m proud to be part of a profession that helps people improve their lives ” said Ralston-Berg, Senior Instructional Designer at Penn State World Campus. “My own experience as a first-generation college student was shaped by distance learning, and the student perspective has always been my most important consideration throughout my career in course design.”
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About UPCEA
UPCEA is the leading association for professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. The association supports its members with innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues. Learn more at upcea.edu.
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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.