UNM Online Honors Faculty for Excellence in Course Design
June 30, 2026 - Ellie Walton, UNM Online
Every great online course starts with a solid foundation. This spring, a group of UNM instructors took the time to strengthen their courses through the Foundational Course Design Review, an important step that continues to help ensure students have a positive online learning experience.
UNM Online is proud to recognize the faculty members who completed the Spring 2026 Foundational Course Design Review (FCDR). Their willingness to review, revise, and strengthen their courses reflects a commitment to improving their courses helps create online learning experiences where students can focus less on finding their way and more on learning. From course organization to thoughtful learning activities, their work helps students feel prepared and supported throughout the semester.
What is the Foundational Course Design Review?
The Foundational Course Design Review is an opportunity for instructors to take a fresh look at their online courses and identify ways to make the student experience even better. With support from an instructional designer, faculty review their courses using the 18 Foundational Design Elements in UNM's Online Learning Excellence Framework. Together, they look at everything from course organization and navigation to communication, accessibility, and student engagement.
The goal isn't to redesign a course from scratch. Instead, it's about making meaningful improvements that help students find what they need, understand course expectations, and stay focused on learning throughout the semester.
A Step Toward Excellence
For many instructors, the Foundational Course Design Review is the beginning of a larger journey. Completing the review prepares courses for the next stage of quality improvement and can lead to Golden Paw Certification, UNM's highest recognition for excellence in online course design.
More importantly, the process gives faculty the chance to reflect on their teaching, try new approaches, and build courses that support student success long after the review is complete.
Congratulations to the Spring 2026 Recipients
UNM Online congratulates the following instructors for successfully completing the Spring 2026 Foundational Course Design Review.
- Manel Martinez-Ramon, ECE 510, Deep Learning
- Suzanne Williams, HED 572, Community Health Education Program Planning
- Sarah Vogt, SPCD 504, Practicum
- Scarlett Higgins, ENGL 2510, Literary Textual Analysis
- Fan Xu, MSET 365, Technology Integration for Effective Instruction
- Corinne Aramburo, SPCD 420/520, Introduction to Intellectual Disability
- Ashley Martin-Cuellar, FCS 343, Family Management Theories
- Emma Mincks, WGSS 336, Queer Theories
- Ursula Moffitt, EDPY 503, Principles of Human Development,
- Acadia Buro, PH 420, Population Health Evidence-Based Practices
- Michael Richarme, MGMT 522, Managerial Marketing
- Nicole Capehart, MGMT 508, Business and Society
- I-Heng (Ray) Wu, MGMT 506, Managing People in Organizations
- Ryan Jacobson, MGMT 506, Managing People in Organizations
Celebrating Excellence with Golden Paw Certification
Additionally, for instructors looking to take their online courses to the next level, Golden Paw Certification represents an exciting milestone! As UNM's highest recognition for excellence in online course design, the certification celebrates faculty who go above and beyond to create engaging, accessible, and student-centered learning experiences.
To earn Golden Paw Certification, instructors must demonstrate how their courses meet all of the 18 Foundational Design Elements and six Advanced Strategies. It's a meaningful achievement that recognizes the time, care, and creativity faculty put into making online learning better for their students.
UNM Online is excited to recognize the following instructors who earned Golden Paw Certification in Spring 2026.
- Patricia Bandy, Lecturer I, NURS 429, Introduction to Concepts in Justice & Equity for Health Professionals
- Jesse Alemán, Professor, ENGL 2620, American Literature II
- Rick Arenas, Associate Chair, SHS 310, Anatomy and Physiology of Human Communication
- Scarlett Higgins, Associate Professor, GNDR 2110, Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
- Darci Balkcom, Temp Parttime Faculty, MUSC 1130, Western Music Appreciation
- Sarah Peceny, Education & Devt Manager, ARSC 198, Learning Strategies
- Kenneth Oravetz, Lecturer III, FYEX 1030, Critical Text Analysis
- Afeefeh Saleh, Lecturer I, NURS 407, Care of Vulnerable Populations
- Brisa del Bosque Byrnes, Graduate Asst Regular, SPAN 1220, Spanish Heritage Learners II
- Maia Rodriguez, Director, NATV 474, Applying Traditions of Native American Philosophy
- Steven Walsh, Distinguished Professor, MGMT 517, Technology Program Management
Thank You
Designing and revising an online course takes time, creativity, and a willingness to keep improving. We appreciate the faculty who invested in this process and the instructional designers who partnered with them along the way.
Congratulations to each of this spring's Foundational Course Design Review and Golden Paw recipients. Every improvement you make to your course helps create a better learning experience for the students who take it. Thank you for your commitment to excellence in online teaching.
Interested in taking one of these courses? Explore our Schedule of Online Courses or reach out to our student success team for more information.
