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Registration is now open For the 15th Annual Digital Education Summit #DES26!

Join SHSU Online June 25–26, 2026, for this free, two-day virtual event focused on advancing excellence in online teaching and learning, featuring innovative ideas, practical strategies, and opportunities to connect, learn, and grow.

We invite educators, instructional designers, administrators, innovators, and those interested in digital higher education to join us for this dynamic event focused on the evolving landscape of digital learning.

Register Here

Meet Our Keynote Speakers

Day 1 – Digital Education Summit June 25 – 9 am CDT

Michelle Weise, PhD

Chief Impact Officer at The Kern Family Foundation and co-host of the podcast "A Life Worth Working," Dr. Michelle Weise is an internationally recognized leader in the future of learning and workforce development. Named by Thinkers50 as one of the top management and leadership thinkers to watch, she is the author of the award-winning Long Life Learning: Preparing for Jobs that Don’t Even Exist Yet and co-author of Hire Education: Mastery, Modularization, and the Workforce Revolution.

Her keynote explores how higher education must evolve to prepare learners for a rapidly changing world of work. She introduces the concept of the Cloverleaf Design, a model focused on continuous engagement with real-world challenges that helps cultivate adaptable professionals equipped with both technical fluency and strong character.

Day 2 – TSUS Faculty Development Day June 26 – 9 am CDT

Justin R. Louder, EdD

Associate Vice President for Academic Innovation at Blackboard, Dr. Justin Louder leads strategic initiatives focused on digital learning, artificial intelligence integration, and institutional transformation. With more than 18 years of experience in higher education innovation, he previously served as Associate Vice Provost at Texas Tech University, where he developed a nationally recognized online learning enterprise and oversaw a global K–12 program serving 16,000 students.

His keynote examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education by shifting the focus from content delivery to intentional learning design. He argues that the most meaningful impact of AI is pedagogical, requiring institutions to rethink assessment in ways that emphasize process, judgment, and reflection in order to strengthen learning outcomes and academic integrity.

Call for Proposals

We are excited to announce that the Call for Proposals is now open for the 15th Annual Digital Education Summit (#DES26), presented by SHSU Online.

This free, fully online, two-day event on June 25–26, 2026, brings together educators, innovators, and thought leaders in digital learning. By combining the Digital Education Summit with a TSUS Faculty Development Day, #DES26 offers expanded opportunities to connect, learn, and share ideas that support effective teaching and meaningful student engagement.

Day 1 (Call for Proposals Open) will highlight best practices, emerging trends, and innovative approaches in digital education.

Day 2 will focus on faculty development, providing practical strategies, hands-on ideas, and insights into the future of Blackboard from experts across SHSU Online and TSUS institutions.

If you have effective strategies, research insights, or practical ideas to share, we encourage you to submit a proposal. We are seeking engaging sessions on topics such as:

Submission Details

Submit your proposal

We look forward to welcoming you to #DES26 as we explore the future of digital education together. If you have any questions, please contact infoDES@shsu.edu.