Thursday Keynote: Dr. Enilda Romero-Hall

Enilda Romero-Hall is Associate Professor in the Learning, Design, and Technology program in the Theory and Practice in Teacher Education Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her research focuses on faculty and learners’ digital literacy, networked learning, and critical digital pedagogy. Dr. Romero-Hall is the author of the book Learning Designers in Context (Routledge, 2026) and the editor of Research Method in Learning Design and Technology (Routledge, 2021). In addition, she is a co-editor of Feminist Pedagogy for Teaching Online (Athabasca University Press, 2025) and serve as an editor for the accompanying digital guide. At UTK, Dr. Romero-Hall is an active member of the UTK Latinx/e Engagement Community of Scholars. Her contributions to the field are not limited to publications; she has aimed to advance research in the field through her service as President of the Research and Theory Division (2016 - 2017) of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology.
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​Context Matters!
Learning Design Practice Through
Global South Perspectives

​How do learning designers in the Global South transform challenges into opportunities for innovation? This keynote invites you on a journey across higher education, corporate, non-profit, and government sectors, where practitioners adapt to rapidly changing environments by drawing on local knowledge, cultural traditions, and resourcefulness. Through vivid real-world examples, we’ll explore how learning designers respond to diverse needs—navigating unique demographics, traditions, and policy landscapes—to create meaningful educational experiences. We will discuss the creative strategies, emerging competencies, and organizational models that are shaping learning design in contexts often overlooked by mainstream narratives. Whether you’re a designer, educator, or leader, this session will spark fresh perspectives on what it means to build impactful learning experiences in a complex world.