With 25 years as an educational consultant and nationally recognized faculty developer, my career centers on strengthening teaching quality, digital learning strategy, and inclusive online and hybrid instruction. I design and deliver evidence-based, interactive workshops, courses, and self-paced and facilitated digital learning environments for higher education institutions and global organizations.
Core Consultation & Workshop Offerings:
- Generative AI & Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Integration: Co-designing human-centered, responsible uses of Generative AI in teaching and course design using UDL and Backwards Design frameworks.
- Inclusive Online Course Design & Teaching: Building equitable digital assessments, engaging instructional materials, and welcoming digital spaces that foster student belonging.
- Strategic Faculty Development: Guiding institutions through digital transformation, online quality standards, and course success diagnostic tools.
Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness
Across multiple faculty development initiatives, my evaluations consistently demonstrate exceptional instructional impact and learning gains:
- 100% “Very Satisfied” rating for emerging technology courses (Staying Human with AI).
- 10/10 Rating for institutional confidence boost and pedagogical impact.
- Supported more than 650 instructors through campus wide faculty development programs, online teaching initiatives, and Generative AI learning experiences and over 7,500 users reached via award-winning self-directed review frameworks.
“I learned how to incorporate AI to make my lessons better without it taking obscene amounts of time.”
— Graduate Student / Instructor, UW–Madison“Each course offers a nice mix of theory, practical strategies, and information… easy to digest and apply right away.”
— Online Education Micro-Course ParticipantGlobal Digital Content Development
OneHE Higher Education Network
Currently collaborating with the global OneHE Network to design and author A Guide to Course Success. This self-paced, research-backed resource provides immediate, evidence-informed strategies to help higher education instructors reflect on course design across six foundational pillars:
- Course Planning & Structure: Clarifying outcomes and alignment.
- Supporting Student Learning: Driving engagement and continuous guidance.
- Instructor-Student Interactions: Communication and instructional feedback channels.
- Student-Student Interactions: Creating collaborative digital spaces and peer learning.
- Materials & Media Accessibility: Supporting diverse learning environments and UDL needs.
- Assessment & Feedback: Crafting inclusive and learning-focused evaluations.
Workshop Facilitation & Instructional Leadership
In partnership with SCOC Consulting, Dr. Karen Skibba designs and co-facilitates higher education workshop series focused on evidence-based, research-backed strategies for inclusive online course design and teaching utilizing responsible Generative AI integration.
🎧 Listen to this Featured Episode“Why is It Important to Offer Instructors Professional Development?” — Adult Learning Exchange Virtual Community Podcast
Work History
Karen Skibba Consulting LLC | Founder & Principal Consultant
2026 – Present
- Lead an independent consulting practice specializing in faculty development, inclusive online course design, Generative AI integration, and digital learning strategy.
- Global Content Developer for OneHE: Designing self-paced Course Success Guides and structured self-review tools to optimize teaching quality and student engagement globally.
- Partner with SCOC Consulting to design and deliver higher education workshop series.
Center for Teaching, Learning, & Mentoring (CTLM) – UW–Madison | Distinguished Teaching & Learning Specialist
2021 – 2026
- Awarded Distinguished Status in 2023 for exceptional institutional and national impact.
- Co-designed and taught graduate-level courses on integrating Generative AI technologies using active learning and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) frameworks.
- Directed the campus-wide Enhancing Online Education program, providing professional development to over 200 instructors across disciplines.
Division of Continuing Studies – UW–Madison | Online Course Design Program Manager
2012 – 2021
- Managed the flagship TeachOnline@UW learning community, serving over 440 instructors across 21 schools and colleges.
- Managed the pedagogical response during the COVID-19 pandemic transition, supporting over 3,500 instructors through more than 90 virtual labs and webinars.
- Co-developed the Course Success Self-Review (CSSR) diagnostic reflection tool, recognized as an EDUCAUSE Horizon Report Exemplary Project.
Prior Digital Learning Leadership
- UW–Whitewater (2008–2012): Instructional Design Specialist.
- Carroll University (2006–2008): Director of Online Programming & Online Coordinator.
- UW–Milwaukee (2003–2007): Graduate Program Coordinator & Assistant, Center for Instructional & Professional Development.
Publications
My research on faculty learning, adult education, and blended learning has earned recognition from the Professional and Organizational (POD) Network and EDUCAUSE and appears in multiple volumes of Blended Learning Research Perspectives.
Featured Book Chapters & Peer-Reviewed Research:
Skibba, K. & Widmer, M. (2021). Blended Faculty Community of Inquiry Transforms Online Teaching Perceptions and Practices. In A. B. Picciano, C. Dziuban, C. Graham, & P. Moskal (Eds.), Blended Learning Research Perspectives Volume 3. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Skibba, K. A. (2014). Choice Does Matter: Faculty Lessons Learned Teaching Adults in a Blended Program. In A. G. Picciano, C. D. Dziuban, & C. R. Graham (Eds.), Blended Learning Research Perspectives Volume 2. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Skibba, K., Moore, D., & Herman, J. H. (2013). Pedagogical and Technological Considerations Designing Collaborative Learning Using Educational Technologies. In J. Keengwe (Ed.), Research Perspectives and Best Practices in Educational Technology Integration (pp. 1-27). IGI Global.
Skibba, K. A. (2012). Adult learning influence on faculty learning cycle: Individual and shared reflections while learning to teach online lead to pedagogical transformations. Virtual Mentoring for Teachers: Online Professional Development Practices.
Conceição, S. C. O., & Skibba, K. A. (2008). Experiential learning activities for leisure and enrichment travel education: A situative perspective. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 7(4), 17–35.
Kaleta, R., Skibba, K. A., & Joosten, T. (2007). Discovering, designing, and delivering hybrid courses. In A. B. Picciano & C. D. Dziuban (Eds.), Blended Learning: Research Perspectives. Sloan-C.
Presentations
Research and Thought Leadership
How do we foster deep student belonging in digital classrooms? How can instructors lead with care while maintaining academic rigor?
Through award-winning research, interactive workshops, and international presentations, Dr. Karen Skibba brings transformative, high-touch teaching strategies to faculty and higher education leaders around the globe—from the International Consortium for Educational Development (ICED) in Spain to the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network, EDUCAUSE, and the Online Learning Consortium (OLC).
🚀 Explore the Presentation Directory (70+ Keynotes & Workshops) →
