April 15, 2024 Richard Smith

MDLA History

History of Distance Learning in Maryland

  • 1975 College of the Air Distance Education Consortium (COADEC) formed.
  • 1981 Nuclear industry asks UMUC to develop Nuclear Science Degree at a distance (NSEP).
  • 1983 UMUC begins delivery of NSEP degree at nuclear sites around the U.S. using PLATO & mainframe-based learning modules.
  • 1989 Montgomery College awarded FIPSE grant for a computer conferencing system.
  • 1990 Win Tycho course management software created by UMUC.
  • 1997 Web Tycho course management software created by UMUC-Maryland Community College Teleconsortium formed.
  • 1999 Master’s degree in Distance Education created at UMUC-MarylandOnline (MOL) formed.

1999 / 2000 Maryland Distance Learning Association formed.

  • 2000 MHEC FOTTC grant awarded (faculty training)Maryland Digital Library created.
  • 2001 MHEC Synergy grant awarded (faculty training).
  • 2003 FIPSE grant for “Quality Matters” awarded to MarylandOnline.
  • 2004-2005 “Quality Matters” production timeframe.
  • 2022 The inaugural recipient of the Barbara Zirkin Award was Herbert “Buddy” Muse of Montgomery College. Buddy was Program Manager for eLearning, Innovation, and Teaching Excellence (ELITE) at Montgomery. He has been heavily involved with both organizations, having previously served as President and Treasurer of MDLA, as a MOL Board Member, and participated in the Quality Matters and Certificate for Online Adjunct Teaching (COAT) projects.

MDLA Officer History:

Year President President Elect Vice President, Finance Vice President, Programs Vice President, Membership Secretary & Webmaster Past President Executive Assistant to the MDLA Board        
2000/2001 Gene Rubin Herbert (Buddy) Muse ? ? ? n/a ? ?        
2001/2002 Herbert (Buddy) Muse Bob Spear David McDonald Kay Shattuck Cynthia France n/a Gene Rubin Lynn Folick        
2002/2003 Bob Spear Diana Zilberman David McDonald Tinnie Banks Bernadette Low n/a Herbert (Buddy) Muse n/a        
2003/2004 Diana Zilberman Patti Wolf Chikao Tsubaki Virginia Kirk Bernadette Low n/a Bob Spear n/a        
2004/2005 Patti Wolf Carol Redline Chikao Tsubaki Christina Sax Joan Cassidy n/a Diana Zilberman n/a        
2005/2006 Carol Redline Tim Steelman Chikao Tsubaki Christina Sax Enid Bank n/a Patti Wolf n/a        
2006/2007 Tim Steelman Jean Runyon Chikao Tsubaki Kathleen Barr Warner John Beyers n/a Carol Redline n/a        
2007/2008 Jean Runyon John Beyers Chikao Tsubaki Kathleen Barr Warner n/a Melissa Harris Tim Steelman n/a        
2008/2009 John Beyers Richard Schumaker Chikao Tsubaki Christina Sax n/a Melissa Harris Jean Runyon n/a        
2009/2010 Richard Schumaker Jean Runyon Chikao Tsubaki Christina Sax n/a Melissa Harris John Beyers n/a        
2010/2011 Jean Runyon Rhonda Spells Fentry Chikao Tsubaki Richard Smith n/a Melissa Harris Richard Schumaker n/a        
2011/2012 Rhonda Spells Fentry Michael Mills Herbert (Buddy) Muse Richard Smith n/a Robert Cole Jean Runyon n/a        
2012/2013 Michael Mills Susan Biro Herbert (Buddy) Muse Richard Smith n/a Robert Cole Rhonda Spells Fentry n/a        
2013/2014 Susan Biro Pam Deering Herbert (Buddy) Muse Glenda Hernandez-Baca n/a Tom Cantu Michael Mills n/a        
2014/2015 Pam Deering David Buck Herbert (Buddy) Muse Rebecca Walker n/a Tom Cantu Susan Biro n/a        
2015/2016 David Buck Barbara Zirkin John Cramer Dionne Thorne n/a Gloria Barron Pam Deering n/a        
2016/2017 Barbara Zirkin Richard Smith John Cramer Cynthia Brown-LaVeist n/a Gloria Barron David Buck n/a        
2018/2019 Richard Smith Brandi Angel John Cramer VACANT n/a Debbie Dorsey Barbara Zirkin n/a        
2019/2020 Brandi Angel VACANT Richard Smith VACANT n/a Debbie Dorsey Richard Smith n/a        
Executive Board Era:
2020/2021 Eric Belt Debbie Dorsey Adam Fantom Sarah Felber Wendy Gilbert David Johnson Jenn Larkin Megan Myers Richard Smith Fred Stemple Brandi Angel Jinsong Zhang
2021/2022 Eric Belt Debbie Dorsey Adam Fantom Sarah Felber Wendy Gilbert David Johnson Richard Smith Fred Stemple Brandi Angel Jinsong Zhang Ron Hansen  
2022/2023 Eric Belt Debbie Dorsey Adam Fantom Sarah Felber Wendy Gilbert David Johnson Richard Smith Fred Stemple Brandi Angel Jinsong Zhang Ron Hansen  
2023/2024 Eric Belt Debbie Dorsey Adam Fantom Sarah Felber Wendy Gilbert David Johnson Richard Smith Fred Stemple Brandi Angel Jinsong Zhang Dionne Thorne Ron Hansen
2024/2025 Debbie Dorsey Sarah Felber Wendy Gilbert Richard Smith Fred Stemple Brandi Angel Jinsong Zhang Dionne Thorne Ron Hansen Shawn Crosby Megan Myers Alissa Harrington
2025/2026 Debbie Dorsey Paul Miller Wendy Gilbert Richard Smith Fred Stemple Tamasa Nelson Jinsong Zhang Dionne Thorne Ron Hansen Shawn Crosby Megan Myers Alissa Harrington