About Shenita Ray, PhD

Online learning strategist, educator, and advisor to institutions

A woman with dark skin and short curly black hair, wearing a sleeveless white dress with a high neckline, standing against a dark background and smiling with arms crossed.

I design learning experiences that help institutions and individuals grow, adapt, and thrive. My work focuses on strengthening online education through thoughtful strategy, strong instructional design, and systems that support quality, scale, and long-term sustainability.

For more than twenty years, I’ve worked in higher education and professional learning, designing and developing over forty online programs across a range of disciplines. I have led instructional design teams, supported institutional growth initiatives, and partnered with academic leaders to navigate the complexities of online learning—from operations and partnerships to quality and innovation.

I am also the designer, developer, and instructor of an in-demand non-credit certificate program in online instructional design, which I have taught for the past five years. This program is grounded in core instructional design principles, learning theory, and inclusive course design, and prepares learners to design high-quality online learning experiences across sectors.

In parallel with this work, I have developed a strategic framework for using AI to accelerate the design and development of online courses and programs. This framework is informed by my experience leading online learning teams and focuses on where AI can responsibly support efficiency—such as early design, iteration, and documentation—while preserving human judgment, pedagogical rigor, and institutional values. This approach allows institutions to move faster without compromising quality or equity.

My consulting practice draws on both of these foundations: deep instructional design expertise and a practical, human-centered approach to innovation. I work with leaders and teams to clarify online learning strategy, strengthen internal operations, advise on external partnerships, and design programs that are both rigorous and adaptable.

Alongside my work in online education, I am a longtime wellness educator. I am a certified hot yoga instructor with over fifteen years of practice and a former co-host of Cooking Raw, a public television series focused on accessible, plant-based cooking. My wellness work informs how I think about learning, behavior change, and sustainability—but my consulting practice is centered on supporting institutions leaders, and teams in online education.

Across all of my work, I am guided by a belief that learning should be accessible, inclusive, and designed to support real change. I partner with institutions at different stages of growth—from strategic planning to hands-on program design—and approach each engagement with care, clarity, and collaboration.

If you’re interested in exploring how we might work together, I welcome the conversation.

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