Learning Experience Designer
Sarah Wellman (she/her) is a learning design, online education, and academic innovation specialist whose work focuses on creating high-quality, accessible, and learner-centered educational experiences. As a member of the Office of Program Development and Management (OPDM) within Michigan State University's Academic Development and Innovation (ADI), Sarah works with faculty, academic leaders, and partners to develop and enhance innovative educational programs and learning experiences that expand access, support student success, and advance institutional goals.
With more than 15 years of experience in online higher education, Sarah brings expertise in instructional design, course quality assurance, accessibility, faculty development, and digital learning strategy. She is particularly passionate about helping educators translate their ideas into engaging learning experiences while balancing pedagogical effectiveness, learner needs, and institutional goals. Her collaborative approach emphasizes practical solutions, continuous improvement, and inclusive design practices that support diverse learners.
Sarah is Michigan State University's first certified Quality Matters Master Reviewer and has led course quality review and online learning quality assurance initiatives across the institution. Her professional interests include online course design, accessibility, Universal Design for Learning, faculty support, and the development of sustainable systems that enhance teaching and learning at scale.
In addition to her work at Michigan State University, Sarah serves as an online adjunct instructor at Bay Mills Community College, where she teaches Native American Studies courses. Her teaching practice is complemented by scholarly research examining online course quality, culturally responsive design, and the ways institutions adapt quality frameworks to support diverse learners and educational contexts. Together, her experiences as a learning designer, instructor, and researcher inform her commitment to creating meaningful, engaging, and equitable learning experiences.
Sarah earned a Ph.D. in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University, where she also completed a Graduate Certificate in American Indian and Indigenous Studies. She holds an M.A. in Educational Technology and Graduate Certificate in College Teaching from Central Michigan University, and a B.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design from Michigan State University.