Media Contact: Susan Cipollaro, scipollaro@fairfield.edu, 203-254-4000 x2726

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (April 16, 2020) — Following a comprehensive national search, Fairfield University announces the appointment of Jill Buban, PhD, as the new Vice President, Digital Strategy and Online Education, effective April 16, 2020. In her new role, Buban will oversee strategic development, infrastructure and programming, to expand Fairfield University’s online and hybrid academic program offerings, with a particular focus on graduate and professional studies.

Most recently, Buban has served as the chief academic officer of the Unizin Consortium, overseeing the organization’s research activities, member and partner engagement, and acting as the liaison for Unizin’s robust teaching and learning committee.

“As we continue to execute on our strategic plan for the evolution and innovation of our academic programs, it is my pleasure to welcome Dr. Jill Buban to Fairfield University,” said President Mark R. Nemec, PhD. “Dr. Buban’s proven leadership experience in digital learning, and knowledge of best practices for implementing online programs in higher education, will be invaluable to the growth and continued success of Fairfield, as we deploy new modalities to reach ever broader populations in ever more innovative ways.”

Prior to joining Unizin, Buban served as the senior director of Research and Innovation for the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). In this role, she founded and oversaw the OLC Research Center for Digital Learning and Leadership, worked on key strategic leadership initiatives for digital learning leaders, and oversaw the organization’s peer-reviewed journal, Online Learning. While at OLC, Buban lectured nationally and internationally on research in online, blended, and digital learning; innovation in higher education; and best practices for implementing online and blended programs at institutions.

"I am honored and excited for the opportunity to extend Fairfield University’s mission globally through a strategic vision for online learning,” said Buban. “I look forward to working with the University community to further Fairfield’s impact by exposing students to its esteemed certificate and degree programs from multiple disciplines."

Buban has held positions at for-profit and state institutions. At Post University, she was the assistant provost for Research and Innovation and oversaw all aspects of digital learning initiatives, including the transition of 500+ courses to eBooks, digital courseware, and open education resources (OER); creating and launching an online school for high school students; and instituting credit hour and regular and substantive policies for the institution. While at Post, Buban previously served as the dean of the School of Education and the academic program manager for the Master of Education program. Her career in online and distance learning began in Academic Affairs at SUNY Empire State College (ESC).

As a higher education thought leader, Buban speaks on many campuses, at a variety of conferences, and serves on multiple advisory boards. A collaborator with organizations such as APLU, Educause, WCET, NC-SARA, and Quality Matters on topics that are pertinent to the distance learning field, Buban is also a member of the higher education board of directors for IMS Global, and has served on the senior leadership team for the Association of Chief Academic Officers (ACAO) Digital Fellows, and the National University Technology Networks (NUTN) board of directors. Currently, Buban serves on the editorial board of the international journal, Educational Technology in Higher Education (ETHE).

Buban earned her PhD in Educational Studies with a Specialization in Adult Learning from Lesley University. She holds an MS in Curriculum and Instruction from State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, and a BA in History from the University of New Hampshire.

Awards earned for her accomplishments include being named a Top 100 Influencer in EdTech by Ed Tech Digest, a member of the 2017 Class of OLC Fellows, Best in Track Award from Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning (2011), Emerging Scholar for the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood (2012), and the Hartford Business Journal 40 under 40 achievement (2014).

Posted On: April 21, 2020

Volume: 51 Number: 89

Fairfield University is a modern, Jesuit Catholic university rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from the U.S. and across the globe are pursuing degrees in the University’s five schools. Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values. The University is located on a stunning 200-acre campus on the scenic Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.