Nationally respected and connected leader in higher education online learning, Ray Schroeder is Senior Fellow at the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) and Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS). Beginning as an Instructor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1971, he came as Assistant Professor to the university in Springfield 1977 where he became Emeritus Professor of Communication in 2001. During his tenure, he launched the online learning program at UIS in 1997. He founded the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service and later became Associate Vice Chancellor for Online Learning in 2013, a position held until 2021. The recipient of numerous national awards and citations for individual excellence and leadership from many 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 is the author of book chapters, articles, widely read curated reading lists, blogs and social media feeds on news and research in online learning / educational technology. Ray is a noted speaker, consultant, researcher, and author on topics related to online learning, emerging educational technologies, and technology-enhanced learning.