Tuesday 3/5: USDLA News
Meet Bernadette Deamico, USDLA Conference & Events Chair
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Dear friends — We are thrilled to introduce you to Bernadette Deamico, our newest USDLA Board Member and chair of our events committee.
In that role, Bernadette is heading up our 2024 National Conference. She shares: “With over 25 years in nonprofit fund development and for-profit marketing, I’ve been fortunate to be a part of creating, implimenting, and producing smaller meetings for C-suite executives to large scale galas, industry roundtables, awards events, golf tournaments, and numerous conferences. Part of the pandemic pivot is all about adjusting. I have been interested in and personally involved with distance learning since the early 00s. The pandemic helped us all see the value of reaching audiences online. When the opportunity arose with the USDLA to assist in planning and implementing their annual conference, I was excited to join the incredible team of distance learning professionals.”
In addition to USDLA: Organizations that Bernadette has supported include The WorkPlace, Dress for Success Mid-Fairfield County, PwC, and Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation. Bernadette also has a background in business development, integrated marketing plans, creative directing, and media production, which enables her to provide innovative and effective solutions for small-scale and established enterprises.
Scroll down for our Q&A with Bernadette about the exciting speakers, events, and more she is planning for the 2024 Conference!
Have you registered for the conference yet? Do it before March 31 and save with our Early Bird Special: usdla.org/2024-conference-registration
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USDLA Q&A
Bernadette Deamico, Board Member & Events Chair
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USDLA: Bernadette, you are new to our Board of Directors. Welcome! We are excited that you are chairing the Events & Meeting Planning Committee. First and foremost, tell us about the 2024 National Conference that you are heading up in St. Louis on June 17-20.
Bernadette: The theme of USDLA’s 37th annual conference is “Gateway to the Future of Distance and Digital Learning,” and we have a robust track of selections related to AI, including hands-on opportunities with Dr. Robbie Melton, research-focused sessions with Samuel Tweneboah-Koduah, and a Generative AI and Students Learning Experience. Other timely topics include: Best Practices in Instructional Design and Learner Engagement, Student Engagement Techniques, Policy, Regulation and Governance in Distance Education, workshops on innovative techniques and technologies and the annual Awards event. All this, and more, will take place at the Marriott St. Louis Grand in downtown St. Louis, and we will offer networking events and opportunities at local destinations to celebrate the city’s music, food, and history.
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USDLA: We will have several amazing speakers at the event. Tell us about them!
Bernadette: Yes!
- Our first Keynote Speaker will be retired Navy Seal Don Mann, author of 22 motivational books and host of the Surviving Mann TV show. Don will speak about “Overcoming Challenges in the Changing World of Distance and Digital Education,” telling his story of what it took to become part of US Navy SEAL Team Six. Don will also address how to reach your limit—and then blow past it, revealing the lessons he learned facing life’s most unimaginable challenges. “My goal is to have your perspective change forever,” explains Don.
- Back by popular demand is Dr. Robbie Melton. A long-time Board member, tenured professor, Acting Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and transitional dean of Graduate School for Tennessee State University, Dr. Melton is also associate vice president of SMART Global Technology Innovation Strategies. With her extensive study of the pedagogy and best teaching practices with mobile devices, quality standards for using mobile apps, and her creation of the Mobile App Education and Workforce Resource Center, she will bring attendees through “The Tools Shaping the World of Artificial Intelligence.”
- We are also thrilled to welcome Joe Sallustio, EdD, co-author of the award-winning book “Commencement: The Beginning of a New Era in Higher Education,” and the host of the nation’s leading higher education podcast “The EdUp Experience. The skills we need, the ways in which we collaborate, and the very jobs available to graduates are changing.
Gamification sessions: In response to the increased interest in gamification and fresh ways to engage our learners, we will offer a workshop by Jonathan Peters, Chief Motivation Officer from Sententia Games. He will talk about deliberate fun and using learner personas, escape rooms, how a college course was gamified, the fusion of gamification and AI, and more.
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We will also feature sessions on public policy, including a workshop by our friends at NC-SARA. Anthony Pina will be talking about federal regulations. Michael Edmonson, a speaker at our January Public Policy Week, will discuss the Policy Outlook on Economic & Workforce Development. Public Policy Chair Alexandra Salas (pictured right) will be hosting a discussion about organizational structure.
In our IDEAs track: Topics will focus on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. Tarrant County’s Rebekah Adderley’s session is entitled “Long Overdue: A Chat with Your BFF.” Wendy Simmermas will also tackle tough conversations in her presentation, “Empathy in Pixels: Enhancing Online Training Through Trauma-Informed Principles.”
USDLA: You also have some spectacular outings in St. Louis for the attendees. Share some of the exciting opportunities that you’ve set up for us all.
Bernadette: Downtown St. Louis has a vibrant arts-and-culture scene, BBQ, top-notch clubs, and family-friendly fun — all near the conference location. We are arranging excursions to the iconic 630-ft. Gateway Arch, a riverboat dinner cruise on the Mississippi, the National Blues Museum, the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and more!
USDLA: Thank you so much for your hard work and insights running this committee, Bernadette! As a USDLA Board Member, you have spent countless hours helping our members become advocates for distance learning at local, state, and national levels. We look forward to seeing you in St. Louis from June 17-20.
Click here to register for the 2024 National Conference: usdla.org/2024-national-conference
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USDLA Institutional Members
For Profit: Atlantic International University
Non-Profit: American School of Correspondence
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We are so grateful to our Institutional Members and want to shine a spotlight on their work!
For Profit: Atlantic International University — Atlantic International University exists as an institution of experiential learning and non-traditional education at a distance. There are no classrooms and attendance is not required. What makes us unique is the combination of a student “self-instruction” approach (with guidance), the collaborative development of a curriculum that is unique to each student, and the flexibility of time and place of study. This provides what we consider to be, the ideal learning environment. It is created with the purpose of satisfying individual needs and providing personal development for each student. Learn more: www.aiu.edu/about-us/
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Non-Profit: American School of Correspondence — The American School offers accredited middle school and high school courses at an affordable cost. Courses are available in print and online formats and may be taken collectively to complete full grade levels or earn an accredited high school diploma or individually for credit recovery or enrichment purposes. Click here to learn more: www.americanschoolofcorr.com
Want to become a USDLA Institutional Member? Learn all about our Membership levels here: usdla.org/levels
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USDLA Sponsor of the Week
Harmonize Learning
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Harmonize Learning provides a collaboration toolset that helps institutions improve student success and retention by providing an elevated online learning experience focusing on accessible student engagement and freeing up instructors’ time to teach.
Created by Marcus Popetz, CEO and co-founder of 42Lines, he is passionate about finding new ways to fill gaps in education technology. “I believe in collaborating with customers to help them bridge the gap between business needs and technology solutions so they can achieve their goal of helping every student succeed,” shares Marcus, who has developed admissions, course creation, and financial aid software, as well as a custom learning management system. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Click here for our USDLA Q&A and video interview with this tech guru.
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| Thank You to Our National Sponsors
D2L, Instructure, JDL Horizons, Poly, Google, Verizon, Carolina Distance Learning, Harmonize, FDLA, IAP, Nearpod, ViewSonic, Wolfvision, Anatomage, Arizona Telemedicine Program and Southwest Telehealth Resource Center, GoReact, Huddly, BocaVox, Softchalk, NC Sara, Simple Syllabus, VDO360, Symbiosis, VirtualCare, Waldorf University, Merlot, IntelliBoard, Flo-ops, Upswing, Questionmark, Perlego, Padlet
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| Thank you for supporting USDLA, our Sponsors, and our State Chapters.
Chuck Sengstock, President
Valary Oleinik, President-elect
About United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
Formed in 1987, USDLA is a 501(c)3 non-profit association formed in 1987. Our weekly newsletters reach more than 100,000 people globally, including our members and sponsors working in industries including pre-K-12 education, homeschooling, higher education, continuing education, corporate, military, government, and telehealth. Our mission is to promote the development and application of distance learning for education, training, advocacy, and networking: USDLA.org
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