Recognized as an Open Leader
From the nominator:
Hello. Our names are Ruby and Dakota. But our Indigenous names are “Young Owl Spirit”, and “Good Voice”, names given to us by the elder bundle keeper of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. We are nominating our mother, Tanya Spilovoy for this award. We saw it on her computer, and this is a surprise. We would like to tell you about her commitment, strength, and perseverance to ensure all people have access to knowledge regardless of their place of birth, ancestry, language ability, and money.
Our mom works like a strong wind that pushes ideas and people to action. We have watched her do her doctorate, teach, and work to make education free, open, and accessible for all. As an OER Leader, she has used her knowledge of educational systems to come up with new ideas, organize and lead numerous successful Open Education initiatives.
Dr. Tanya Spilovoy embodies the vision and priorities of Open Education through her decades of transformative leadership, strategy, and community-building. From pioneering statewide OER initiatives in North Dakota and Colorado to founding the National Consortium for Open Educational Resources and directing large-scale programs at OpenStax, SPARC, and AIHEC, she has consistently expanded access, affordability, and equity in education. Her creation of the SPARC Open Education Leadership Program alone has empowered more than 130 fellows who now lead initiatives across institutions and communities, multiplying her impact globally. Her visionary contributions have inspired countless educators and learners, positioning her as a catalyst for lasting, systemic change in the open education movement.
Award Reviewer
