Josh Abrams (’03) is an Instructional Design Specialist with more than 15 years of experience in higher education. Josh has supported the Division of Information Technology for 5 years, providing comprehensive Blackboard support and instructional design guidance to faculty across campus. As a Quality Matters (QM) Certified Master Reviewer, Josh works closely with faculty to support course design and improve the online teaching and learning experience. Josh brings expertise in academic advising and instruction to his work, co-teaching FYS 102: Decoding AI – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and UNIV 101 Intro to the University. He holds a Master of Science in Learning Design & Technology from University of Maryland Global Campus, a Master of Arts in English from Kansas State University, and a Doctor of Education from Frostburg State University.
Josh is passionate about leveraging technology to create accessible learning experiences. Josh sees instructors as partners in a larger effort to support student learning through intentional course design and the effective use of technologies. He values open communication and views collaboration with UMBC community members as an opportunity to support online learning best practices and digital accessibility principles.
Select Presentations
- Hawken, M., & Abrams, J. (2025). Building Accessibility TEAMS for Training, Empowering, Adapting, and Motivating Support for a New Campus Culture [Conference session]. Anthology Together 2025, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Abrams, J., Burrett, B., Jordaan, D., & Fiscus, A. (2025). Accelerating Faculty Adoption with Anthology Adopt: Lessons from the Field [Conference session]. Anthology Together 2025, Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Hawken, M., Biro, S., & Abrams, J. (2024). Ask Janet: Leveraging AI for Course Design, Instruction, and Learning [Conference session]. Anthology Together 2024, Orlando, FL.
- Abrams, J., Biro, S., & Hawken, M. (2024). Ally Up: Amplifying UDL for Inclusive Learning with Anthology Ally [Conference session]. Anthology Together 2024, Orlando, FL.
- Hawken, M., & Abrams, J. (2024). Building Accessibility TEAMS for Training, Empowering, Adapting, and Motivating Support for a New Campus Culture [Conference session]. OLC Accelerate 2024, Orlando, FL.
- Ariev, P., & Abrams, J. (2023). Leveraging Audience Response Systems for Inclusion, Interaction, and Assessment [Conference session]. OLC Accelerate 2023.
- Hawken, M. & Abrams, J. (2023). Spark Joy: Refreshing and Innovating Your Course Designs with Learn Ultra [Conference session]. Anthology Together 2023, Nashville, TN.
- Abrams, J. & Sullivan, C. (2022). Not just another brick in the wall: Building a foundation to support equitable and inclusive courses [Conference session]. OLC Accelerate 2022, Orlando, FL.
- Abrams, J., Ariev, P., & Sullivan, C. (2021). Research conferences go virtual: Leveraging voicethread to continue campus engagement [Conference session]. OLC Accelerate 2021.