Kelly McKenna
, associate professor of adult education in the School of Education at Colorado State University, has been awarded the “Malaysia All Disciplines Fulbright Scholar” grant in teaching and research. McKenna will be partnering with Asia Pacific University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to engage in cross-cultural exchange, research, and equity-focused, innovative curricular development for APU’s diverse learner population.
“I am beyond honored to represent CSU, the field of adult and distance higher education, and the U.S. in cultural exchange efforts to develop and promote international understanding while supporting access for all learners to participate and succeed in higher education,” McKenna said of receiving the award.
“I deeply value cultural exchange and I have long had a personal and professional goal of being a Fulbright Scholar,” she said. “I felt like everything had aligned to support my participation and success in this educational exchange program.”
Focus on adult education
McKenna researches adult and higher distance education with a focus on technology-enhanced teaching and learning and online learning communities. She will be partnering with APU’s Digital Learning Hub, and its director, Abtar Darshan Singh, a UNESCO Chair, to support the creation of inclusive, engaging, and innovative distance learning opportunities.
APU stands as a premier private university with over 13,000 students from more than 130 countries. Renowned for its multicultural learning experiences, it also has a strong reputation for online learning.
As APU discontinues emergency remote teaching due to the pandemic, it is focused on increasing hybrid and online offerings and developing new tools to support distance education. According to Singh, course design has been a challenge for asynchronous distance learning at APU.
McKenna is confident her expertise and experience will help APU in reaching these goals. “I am passionate about this modality and the access it provides for learners who would not otherwise be able to participate in higher education,” she said. “Through the use of innovative educational approaches and technology, open distance learning can be as engaging and educational as any other modality.”
Teaching the teachers
McKenna will be teaching APU students and facilitating professional development workshops for instructors, designers, and academic staff at APU. Based on participation and interest, those workshops may be extended to instructors and designers beyond APU. She will also be conducting research on developing best practices for diverse learner populations in international contexts.
Education is a transformational experience that creates life-changing opportunities. But “participation isn’t always that simple,” McKenna said.
“The field of adult education is inherently equity-focused, historically educating individuals from minoritized groups who were not given access to education, supporting learners who were not successful in traditional contexts, and facilitating lifelong learning for a prosperous life,” she said.
The School of Education is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
