Dr. Sheri Conklin is an Associate Professor in Instructional Technology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). She earned her Ed.D. in Educational Technology from Boise State University. Before moving into this role, she worked as the Director of eLearning over a team of Instructional Designers and multimedia developers. She also worked as an Instructional Designer in higher education for nine years. Before joining higher education, she was a special education teacher in K–12 schools.
Biography
Dr. Conklin is the WCE recipient of the 2025 Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award. The award recognizes all aspects of excellence in teaching and in teaching-related activities that foster students’ desire for lifetime learning and success. Dr. Conklin has previously earned the Excellence in Technology Integration Award (2012) and the Excellence in Teaching Award (2014). As a dedicated scholar, she has published extensively on topics including cooperative online learning, distance learning anxiety, instructor presence, and micro-mentoring. She led a research study to strengthen UNCW’s online and hybrid courses and is currently collaborating on integrating AI into education. Since 2021, she has received Watson College’s Most Peer-Reviewed Publications award each year.
Dr. Conklin’s research interests include instructor social presence and connectedness, instructional design, online course design and professional development.
- Ed.D. Instructional Technology from Boise State University in 2017
- M.S. in Instructional Technology from UNC Wilmington in 2008
- Certificate in Special Education from UNC Wilmington in 2002
- B.A. in Art History from UNC Wilmington in 1998