The Maryland Distance Learning Association (MDLA) and MarylandOnline (MOL) give, as a tribute to long-time educator and online learning advocate Barbara Zirkin, an award to an outstanding Maryland professional.
Zirkin was a lifelong educator, a former associate dean of Stevenson University, and an early developer of online learning programs before she retired in 2018. She was long involved in both organizations, as an educator, and as a mentor for many involved in distance learning. Zirkin passed away in 2019.
“Barbara was never about herself, ever,” said Barry Ronald Zirkin, her husband of 54 years. “Her focus was never about her, but about the things she was doing or the people she was doing them with. The words ‘I’ and ‘me’ were almost alien to her.”
As a joint award between MDLA and MOL, we want to make sure that the recipient worked with both organizations, was a professional in eLearning, and has performed outstanding work in the field of eLearning.
The inaugural recipient of this annual award was Herbert “Buddy” Muse of Montgomery College. Buddy was Program Manager for eLearning, Innovation, and Teaching Excellence (ELITE) at Montgomery. He has been heavily involved with both organizations, having previously served as President and Treasurer of MDLA, as a MOL Board Member, and participated in the Quality Matters and Certificate for Online Adjunct Teaching (COAT) projects.
2024 – Debbie Dorsey – Harford Community College
2023 – Fred Stemple – Garrett College
2020-2022 – Herbert “Buddy” Muse – Montgomery College