CETLI’s Director of Marketing & Communications, Denise Fitzpatrick, has been elected to UPCEA’s Board of Directors Engagement & Opportunity (E&O) Committee. She will enter into her one-year term at the conclusion of the 2026 UPCEA Annual Conference on April 17, 2026.
UPCEA is the online and professional education association. Members are elected to the UPCEA board through a nomination, deliberation, and election process that takes place in November. Bob Hansen, UPCEA CEO, celebrated the "diverse expertise, forward-thinking perspectives, and deep commitment to the transformative impact of education” Fitzpatrick and the other newly elected board members will bring to the organization at a critical time: “Their strategic vision and dedication to expanding engagement and opportunity will help drive meaningful progress as we navigate an increasingly dynamic landscape together.”
The E&O Committee is responsible for elevating the work UPCEA members do to serve distinct constituencies in online and professional education. Board members plan webinars, chats, and conference sessions on relevant topics for UPCEA members. Fitzpatrick, who runs the Online Programs Marketing Group for Penn and has led teams recognized by NACMA, looks forward to contributing her experience in online and higher education marketing and external affairs to the role. “I’m excited to foster collaboration and create meaningful connections for members of UPCEA’s vibrant online and professional education community,” Fitzpatrick says.
Penn’s institutional membership in UPCEA is sponsored by the College of Liberal and Professional Studies at SAS. Megan Carr, CETLI’s Senior Director of Digital Strategies, underscored the harmony between the UPCEA community, Penn, and Fitzpatrick’s work at CETLI: “Denise has done incredible work to nurture the online programs community here at Penn. I am thrilled she will be able to share her expertise with the UPCEA community, which has been an invaluable resource for CETLI in our mission to support innovation in online learning, here at Penn and beyond.”