From tradition to transformation: Academic librarians as key players in online education

Author's Biography

Brad Garner serves as Digital Learning Scholar in Residence at Indiana Wesleyan University. Prior to moving into higher education, his career was focused on programme and faculty development in K-12 public school settings where he worked as a classroom teacher, school psychologist and administrator. Brad is a frequent presenter at conferences and workshops and has authored several publications including Teaching Millennial Learners (2007), Teaching Adult Learners (2009), Teaching in the First-Year Seminar (2012), Creating Engaged Learners and Digital Citizens (2016), Students as Digital Content Curators (2019) and Inclusive Hospitality in Online Learning (2023). Brad also serves as editor for an electronic newsletter, eSource, for the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina. He is a co-host, with Tiffany Snyder, of the ‘Digital2Learn Podcast’.

Tiffany Snyder is the Director of Faculty Enrichment at Indiana Wesleyan University, overseeing the professional development of both full-time and adjunct faculty for the National & Global Campus with a focus on hybrid and online programmes. Since the release of Chat GPT 3.5 in autumn 2022, Tiffany has invested in leading generative artificial intelligence (AI) training and teaching, from facilitating professional learning communities, delivering conference and university presentations, teaching graduate courses and consulting on graduate research to hosting on-site and online training for over 500 full-time and adjunct faculty. Tiffany has co-hosted the Digital2Learn podcast since 2018, launching weekly episodes featuring global scholars and exploring critical topics about technology, teaching and learning. In 2021, she earned a PhD in psychology with an emphasis on the integration of technology and learning. Her investment in academia underscores her hope to see technology and education harmonised, creating meaningful and impactful learning experiences for students and educators alike.

Jay Wise joined Indiana Wesleyan University’s (IWU) National & Global Campus administrative faculty in October 2011 as an Online Campus Library Services (OCLS) Reference Librarian. He accepted the opportunity to become the second Director of Off Campus Library Services in 2019, and IWU’s first Dean of University Libraries in 2023. With over two decades’ experience in academic libraries, Jay is passionate about the future of libraries and leveraging the many ways academic librarians help students succeed in higher education’s changing landscape. In addition to duties as Dean, Jay actively supports IWU’s residential and online students, partnering with faculty and staff to provide an excellent educational experience for his stakeholders. He enjoys assisting administrators and faculty with course development, documentation and research needs, collaborating with colleagues and serving as the Seminary Librarian for Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. Jay holds the Master of Divinity from Wesley Seminary (2015), the Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University (2006), and the Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in history (both with High Honours) from Ohio University’s Honors Tutorial College. To better meet his stakeholders’ needs, he began doctoral studies in organisational leadership in July 2019; as of January 2024, he is ABD.

Rachel Walters Before joining Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) as an Online Librarian for the National & Global Online Campus, Rachel completed her academic journey as an adult exclusively through online education, earning an Associate of Science from IWU in 2011 and a Bachelor of Science from IWU in business in information systems (Cum Laude) in 2014. Subsequently, she obtained a Master of Library and Information Science from San Jose State University in 2019. She transitioned to the field of academic libraries in 2015. She is currently focused on providing library services to online adult college students. In her current role, she brings her expertise in online education, support for neurodivergent students and skills in graphic and web design, content creation and marketing and communication. Guided by the principle of meeting students where they are, Rachel is devoted to helping them realise their full potential. Her role as a librarian is marked by a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by online education, coupled with a steadfast commitment to facilitating student success.