The Office of Distance Education is very happy to welcome a new member to its team. Kerry Rubadue has recently joined as the Manager of Electronic Learning Development. In this interview, she shares her vision, experiences, and what excites her about the future of distance education at Ohio State. 
 

Q: Welcome to the Office of Distance Education, Kerry! Can you tell us a little about your background and what brought you to this role? 

Kerry Rubadue:  I’ve been learning, teaching, managing, and designing curricula / courses in the field of education for 35 years. I started my lifelong journey in education here at Ohio State, earning my undergrad in EHE. In preparing for my career as a high school English teacher, I took many courses right here in Denney Hall (which looks remarkably the same after all these years). I taught high school English locally for six years and then transitioned to a career in project management at several global and national ed-tech corporations, where I helped faculty innovate their educational products. More recently, I completed a master’s program in EHE and moved into instructional design at The Ohio State College of Medicine. 
 

Q: What excites you most about joining the Office of Distance Education? 

Kerry Rubadue: I am most excited about having the opportunity to partner with a talented team of instructional professionals in ODE. I see tremendous opportunities for us in ODE to help instructors deliver the most optimal learning possible for their learners.  
 

Q: What are your main goals as Manager of Electronic Learning Development? 

Kerry Rubadue:  My main goal in ODE is to drive excellence—in our work as educational professionals, educational experts, and advocates for learners. Ultimately, all the work we do must drive learning—often by closing gaps.   
 

Q: How do you see technology shaping the future of distance education? 

Kerry Rubadue: Given the pervasiveness of technology in learners’ everyday lives, and the real need for learning to take place inside and outside the classroom, I see much growth in e-learning on the horizon. E-learning allows us to meet learners where they are and supports their personalized needs, including accessibility. With AI rapidly impacting our work in education, there are undeniable challenges and opportunities for us to navigate in the best interests of learners. Finally, technology enables us to drive evidence-based solutions that positively impact both teaching and learning on a scale not possible until now. 
 

Q: Any final thoughts or messages for the Ohio State community? 

Kerry Rubadue: As a serious Buckeye athletics fan, I think it’s important for all of us to remember the significance of the Buckeye football team’s journey to the latest national championship.  Teamwork, integrity, and leadership are required for any of us to achieve excellence. 

The entire ODE team feels incredibly fortunate to have Kerry on board, and we eagerly anticipate the impact she will have in advancing distance education within the college.

Stay tuned for more updates from the Office of Distance Education!