Nationally respected leader in higher education online learning, Ray Schroeder is Senior Fellow of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) and Professor Emeritus / Associate Vice Chancellor at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS).  He came to the university in Springfield in 1977, beginning as assistant professor, then associate, then full professor, prior to becoming an emeritus professor in 2001.  He launched the online learning program at UIS in 1997. Ray founded the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service and became Associate Vice Chancellor for Online Learning in 2013.  The recipient of many awards and citations for individual excellence and leadership from associations and entities including the Sloan Consortium (OLC), US Distance Learning Association, American Journal of Distance Education, Illinois Council for Continuing Higher Education, University of Wisconsin and University of Illinois, Ray authors book chapters, articles, widely read curated reading lists, blogs and social media feeds on news and research in online learning / educational technology.  He writes the “Online: Trending Now” bi-weekly column in Inside Higher Education.  Ray is a noted speaker, consultant, researcher, and author on topics related to online learning, emerging educational technologies, and technology-enhanced learning.