Indianapolis, IN – The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is pleased to announce the selection of members for the advisory board of its newly established Center of Excellence for Event Planning. This initiative underscores AECT’s dedication to enhancing the quality, accessibility, and impact of its events, ensuring AECT events continue to serve as valuable spaces for collaboration, innovation, and professional development.
AECT hosts a variety of conferences, workshops, and networking events throughout the year, including its flagship International Convention, which brings together scholars, practitioners, and industry leaders in the field of educational technology. The new Center of Excellence for Event Planning will provide strategic guidance and oversight to ensure AECT events consistently align with modern educational technology focuses and AECT strategic plans while still maintaining an engaging and friendly professional feel for a diverse global membership. Among the focuses of the new center will be to assist with plans for additional areas of membership event engagement.
“AECT has established the new Center of Excellence for Event Planning to assist AECT with consistency in the planning processes of events and to allow for a strategic scheduling of different event types throughout the calendar year,” said Nolan Gruver, AECT CEO. “We understand the importance of well-organized events for our members and are excited to provide opportunities for experienced AECT event planners who are dedicated to helping the organization grow and thrive.”
“The creation of the Center of Excellence for Event Planning is more than an operational improvement—it’s a strategic investment in the future of AECT,” said Dr. Tonia Dousay, AECT President. “As we grow and evolve as an organization, our events must do more than just gather people; they must inspire, connect, and reflect the values of our field. This Center provides the structure and expertise to ensure our conferences and gatherings are intentional, inclusive, and aligned with our mission. I’m confident the board’s work will elevate not just our events, but our impact as a professional community.”
The advisory board members were selected through a competitive application process designed to identify AECT members with extensive experience in event planning, educational technology, and community engagement. The advisory board will oversee key initiatives such as streamlining event logistics, enhancing attendee experiences, in-person event opportunities, and fostering greater collaboration with industry partners.
“Planning an event can be difficult, and even more so to make it a top-notch event that attracts a wide audience of participants,” said AECT President-Elect, Dr. Chris Miller. “It is exciting that AECT has taken the step of creating a Center of Excellence for Event Planning. This group will be at the forefront of helping to create a number of high-quality events each year. The inaugural board provides a strong group of AECT members that have diverse experiences in event planning. I look forward to experiencing the events they put together for AECT in the future.”
The newly appointed advisory board will bring together a wealth of expertise, ensuring that AECT events continue to set a high standard within the field. “I am excited to collaborate with the advisory board on event decision-making,” said Christy Isaacson, AECT Director of Operations. “Their insights as AECT members and experienced event attendees, combined with their event planning expertise, will be invaluable in ensuring that our processes and logistics for AECT events effectively meet the needs of our attendees.”
Members of the inaugural advisory board include:
The board will meet regularly to discuss strategy, assess event effectiveness, and explore innovative ways to enhance member engagement through AECT-hosted events.
About the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)
AECT is an international organization that values diversity of thought, culture, and people, with a mission to improve learning through educational technology. AECT members include instructional designers, researchers, educators, and professionals dedicated to advancing the field through research, best practices, and innovation. AECT provides a collaborative space for thought leadership and knowledge-sharing across academic and professional settings.