Senior Director, Learning Design Center
Ashley Kovacs is a proven leader in online education with extensive experience in developing and delivering high-quality, scalable programs. As the Director of the Learning Design Center (LDC) at the University of San Diego (USD), she leads the department responsible for designing and delivering USD’s 17 fully online degree programs, ensuring academic quality through accessible and innovative course design. In addition, the LDC leverages its expertise in design and technology to implement campus-wide educational technology initiatives and solutions. In this role, she has spearheaded faculty adoption of technology and best practices for Remote Teaching, led the migration to Canvas learning management system, and chaired the committee tasked with developing institutional recommendations for adapting to generative AI.
With a background in instructional design and professional experience in curriculum development, non-traditional education models, and accessible learning design, Ashley takes a research-based approach to supporting faculty in using educational technologies and advancing pedagogy to meet evolving educational trends. Her expertise includes strategic planning, faculty development and technology implementation.
Before joining USD, Ashley held leadership roles at National University, where she contributed to large-scale online program development, learning management system implementations, and faculty support and training.
With a background in instructional design and professional experience in curriculum development, non-traditional education models, and accessible learning design, Ashley takes a research-based approach to supporting faculty in using educational technologies and advancing pedagogy to meet evolving educational trends. Her expertise includes strategic planning, faculty development and technology implementation.
Before joining USD, Ashley held leadership roles at National University, where she contributed to large-scale online program development, learning management system implementations, and faculty support and training.
Her team's work has been recognized with several awards, including the 2023 Blackboard Exemplary Course Award and the 2022 Award for Excellence in Teaching & Learning from the United States Distance Learning Association.
Ashley holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Leadership Studies, focusing her research on the impact of generative AI on higher education.
Ashley holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Leadership Studies, focusing her research on the impact of generative AI on higher education.