Document Type
Conference Session
Publication Date
7-1-2026
Abstract
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, online students continue to seek instructors who consistently appear, genuinely care about them as individuals, and provide guidance, challenge, and support. AI tools can help with speed and structure, but human-centered leadership keeps connection and meaning at the forefront of the learning experience.
This interactive workshop invites online instructors and faculty leaders to explore how human-centered leadership can support their teaching in the middle of rapid technological change.
Grounded in a six-pillar leadership model that encompasses conscious self-awareness, relational intelligence, ethical influence, adaptive growth, transparent communication, and empowered action, this session translates leadership principles into practical teaching strategies. We will examine how these pillars can shape lectures, announcements, feedback, discussions, and group work, enabling students to experience clarity, structure, and care.
Participants will engage in polls, short case scenarios drawn from real online teaching experiences, and small group discussions. They will also participate in a brief chat and reflection on what they wish institutional leaders understood about the current realities of teaching online. Each attendee will complete a short online leadership presence plan that they can apply in their next term.
This session is designed for online instructors, adjunct faculty, program leaders, and instructional designers who want technology to support learning while maintaining a human-centered leadership approach at the core of their practice, all while upholding academic rigor.
Conference/Symposium
United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) Annual Conference
Department
College of Business and Management
Recommended Citation
Ramsey, E. (2026, June 22-July 1). Get ready to lead: Human-centered leadership in an AI-driven world [Conference session]. United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) Annual Conference, Virtual.
