Assistant Teaching Professor Pooneh Lari Elected Member-at-large of AAACE Commission for Distance Learning and Technology Executive Leadership Committee

Pooneh Lari, an assistant teaching professor of training and development in NC State’s College of Education, has been elected as a member-at-large of the executive leadership committee of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education’s Commission for Distance Learning and Technology (CDLT). 

The CDLT provides members with opportunities to share best practices and research on how adults learn in networked learning environments with the goal of increasing communication and collaboration among adult educators in academic, workplace and community settings. Lari will serve a three-year term in her role on the organization’s executive leadership committee. 

“This opportunity means a great deal to me because it reflects my passion for innovation and accessibility in adult learning. It also gives me a chance to collaborate with educators and leaders across the country who are doing inspiring work in the field of distance and online learning,” Lari said.

As a member-at-large on the CDLT executive leadership committee, Lari will be involved in initiatives that highlight the work happening across the field, serve as a pre-conference proposal reviewer, and co-edit a special journal issues focused on research and practice in distance learning and technology, among other things. 

She said she is most looking forward not only to the opportunity to combine her interests in teaching, research and professional collaboration, but to learn from others who are reimagining what adult learning looks like in digital spaces. Specifically, she is interested in learning more about how technology can create more engaging learning experiences for adult learners. 

Additionally, Lari is excited about the ways in which this opportunity aligns with her role as program coordinator for the College of Education’s Master’s of Education in Training and Development program. 

“Our program guides our adult learning professionals to design, deliver and evaluate effective training experiences in both virtual and workplace settings,” she said. “Being part of the CDLT leadership team allows me to bring ideas and best practices from the national community back to our students and alumni, while also showcasing the innovative work our training and development students are doing in real-world settings.”