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Dr. Maleka Ingram | Digital Learning Strategist
Dr. Maleka Ingram | Digital Learning Strategist

About Me

I am a creative visionary committed to studying and solving problems related to implications of the digital world on society and education. My interest in issues related to technology and society started as a child. This passion led me to study digital access, usage, equity, and culture in graduate school. Before graduate school, attending Spelman taught me the importance of community service and helping those less fortunate. Spelman instilled in me a sense of belonging and responsibility to people of the African Diaspora.

This foundation played a pivotal role in my areas of research and the people I studied. For graduate school I conducted a comparative research study on the differences in technology use between rural, urban, and suburban students. For my doctorate I studied socio-cultural factors that impact computer use and non-use by working class Black Americans over the age of 55.

I have spent the past 30+ years obtaining advanced degrees and working in both corporate and higher education environments. I spent 17 of those years away from my home town, Atlanta, GA, traveling the world, learning about different cultures, forming and supporting grassroots community organizations, and expanding my world view. In 2013 I relocated to Atlanta to be closer to my family. Since my return home it has been a dream of mine to work at Spelman College, to help lead an HBCU in the online and digital learning space.

I have a comprehensive approach to online and digital learning program design and management. This approach includes formulating a strategy and utilizing a framework. The details of my approach are included in the sections below.

You may also download my presentation: Strategic Planning for Online Program Growth & Sustainability at Spelman College.

If you want learn more about my work experiences, educational background, and professional writing samples, check out my LinkedIn profile.

Approach to strategic online programming

I incorporate a wholistic and collaborative approach to strategic planning for online program development.

  • Review students/ leaners, faculty/ staff, programs/ portfolio, research the market, competitors and pricing, and review operations, systems, and tools. Risk management is included in this phase to identify areas of concern for student data protection.

  • The goals and objectives are based on the data collected and analyzed during the assessment step. These are used to provide scope and focus for the strategy.

  • This is the roadmap that will guide the team through the entire process. The roadmap lists the deliverables, milestones, timelines, owners, financial implications, and the project management and tracking system.

  • This is the phase in which we get buy in and approval from all key stakeholders to move forward with the strategic plan.

  • It is important during this phase to communicate and make sure students, faculty, and staff have the support needed to be successful in the online environment.

Design Learning Framework for Sustainability

Once the online program strategy is defined, there must also be a sustainability plan to ensure continuous growth and improvements.

    • Clear Strategic Goals: Develop clear strategic goals for online programs that are aligned with the institution's overall mission.

    • Sustainable Funding Model: Develop a sustainable funding model to support online program development and maintenance.

    • Faculty Recognition and Incentives: Provide faculty recognition and incentives for developing and teaching high-quality online courses.

    • Partnerships and Collaboration: Explore partnerships with other institutions, industry partners, and online learning providers.

    • Digital Marketing: Use digital marketing strategies and tactics to connect with prospective students, current students, alumni, and other stakeholders through online channels.

    • Clear and Consistent Messaging: Ensure that marketing materials accurately reflect the quality and benefits of online programs.

    • Online Presence: Maintain a strong online presence through a user-friendly website and social media.

    • Reputation Management: Build and maintain a positive reputation for online programs.

    • Regular Program Reviews: Conduct regular program reviews to ensure quality and compliance with accreditation standards.

    • Accreditation Compliance: Ensure that online programs meet all accreditation requirements.

    • Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement to enhance the quality of online programs.

    • Enrollment Strategy: Create an enrollment strategy from a holistic approach, encompassing recruitment, admissions, retention, and student success.

    • New Program Development: Conduct research to determine new areas for academic planning and either improving or sunsetting existing programs.

    • Student and Learner Life Cycle: Create a student journey from prospect to graduate/ certificate completer.

    • Student Services: Examples of student services are academic advising, online writing and tutoring, online communities, accessibility services, and orientation and onboarding experiences.

    • Support: Develop training, communication, and professional development materials and opportunities to ensure faculty and staff have the resources to succeed.

    • Learning Products: The creation of quality learning products using innovative and reliable technologies, incorporating pedagogical theories and instructional design principles.

    • Technical Support: Provide ongoing technical support to accommodate multiple time zones and schedules.

    • Engagement and Belonging: Online programs must have virtual programming and a continuation of products and resources for online students/ learners to create community, a sense of belonging, and encourage engagement.

    • Program Evaluation and Student Experience: Encompasses a multifaceted approach to program evaluation to learn about the quality of the overall experience and determine if the outcomes were achieved.

Dr. Maléka Ingram | Digital Learning Strategist | 2025