Sarah Wellman

As an instructional designer, educator, and Ph.D. candidate, I focus on advancing quality, effectiveness, and innovation in online higher education. I have worked in online learning since 2010 and, I have served as a Learning Design Specialist at Michigan State University since August 2019, supporting the Colleges of Business and Arts & Letters. I also teach Native American Studies online part-time at Bay Mills Community College.

My doctoral research in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education at MSU investigates how Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) assess the quality of online course design, with attention to both recognized standards and culturally grounded approaches. I am MSU’s first (and currently only) certified Quality Matters (QM) Master Reviewer, specializing in online course quality assurance, learning design, and course review. Through this work, I aim to help shape online learning environments that are both high-quality and responsive to diverse learners.