Ayesha Sadaf
University of North Carolina-Charlotte

I am Ayesha Sadaf, Assistant Professor of the Instructional Systems Technology program at University of North Carolina, Charlotte. I earned my Doctorate (2013) in Learning Design and Technology from Purdue University. My research focusses on designing online learning environments to promote higher-level learning and preparing teachers to integrate emerging technologies to facilitate student-centered learning. I have published my research in Educational Technology Research and Development, Computers & Education, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, and Journal of Computing in Higher Education. I was the recipient of 2013 Distance Education Best Journal Article Award and 2015 Distance Education Best Practice Award from DDL. Recently, my research on cognitive presence in online case discussions received 2016 Effective Practice Award at the Online Learning Consortium International Conference.

Since joining AECT in 2007 as a graduate student, I have been actively involved in the association and had the opportunity to serve in several roles. Serving as the President of the Graduate Student Assembly (2011-2013), I co-planned GSA convention programs and co-organized several GSA webinars in collaboration with different AECT divisions. In addition, I served as the member of the presidential leadership nominating committee to select the AECT presidential candidates for 2013 and 2015. I have the honor of being selected as an ECT Strohbehn Intern, AECT NSF career symposium participant, recipient of the ECT Mentor Endowment Scholarship, and presidential service award. For the past three years, I have been serving as the DDL Communications officer.

I benefited from the mentoring and leadership afforded by AECT and the DDL in my own career development. As the DDL President-Elect, I want to ensure that our members experience those same benefits.  Building on preceding division’s leadership, I would dedicate myself to advancing research, mentoring new scholars, hearing members’ voices, and collaborating with DDL colleagues to advance our division’s goals and AECT’s mission. It would be an honor for me to serve as the DDL President-Elect!