KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Ford has a distinguished career spanning secondary and higher education, both domestically and internationally. Her focus has been on promoting high-quality online education, particularly in the United States and Africa. With over two decades of experience in various educational roles, including project management, program evaluation, training, and student services, she is a dedicated advocate for accessible and impactful online learning. Dr. Ford has helped institutions develop and expand online programs through effective faculty development, instructional design, and pedagogical practices. Her commitment to reducing barriers and increasing access to education has led her to work across diverse educational sectors, from K-12 to higher education and global initiatives. Throughout her career, Dr. Ford has consistently strived to create opportunities for learners who may have been marginalized.

In recognition of her contributions, Dr. Ford was chosen as the Online Learning Consortium's 2021 OLC Fellow - the highest professional distinction awarded by the association. She is a passionate advocate for faculty development, instructional design, and pedagogical practices, and has used her leadership to help institutions expand their online programming. In addition, in 2024 Dr. Ford was awarded the Mildred and Charles Wedemeyer award to recognize her work as an outstanding practitioner in distance education. She also serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs of a global technology company, D2L.

Dr. Ford earned her PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of Missouri-Columbia, as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees in Psychology from Hampton University and the University of Baltimore.