Richard Smith is Barbara Zirkin Award Recipient

Richard W. Smith, Instructional Design Specialist at Harford Community College, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Barbara Zirkin Award by the Maryland Distance Learning Association (MDLA) and MarylandOnline (MOL). Smith was recognized for this achievement at the MDLA Spring Conference in Hanover, MD on April 5.

The award, which recognizes outstanding work in the field of eLearning, is presented to a distance learning professional who has demonstrated leadership, service, and commitment to MDLA and MOL. Smith has worked with MDLA, MarylandOnline and the MarylandOnline Leadership Institute (MOLLI) in various capacities. In each area, he worked diligently and made significant contributions in promoting professional development and leadership skills for distance learning professionals.

The award is a tribute to lifelong educator and online learning advocate Barbara Zirkin, who passed away in 2019. A former associate dean of Stevenson University and an early developer of online learning programs, Zirkin served as a mentor to many involved in distance learning.

“I am honored to continue the legacy of Barbara Zirkin,” Smith said. “I worked with her on the MDLA Board, and her drive motivated me to work harder to continue the mission of MDLA.”

Smith, who has worked at Harford Community College for 26 years, currently serves on the College’s Learning Assessment Committee. He earned an A.A, degree from the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), a B.S. degree from Towson University, and a Master’s of Liberal Studies from Fort Hays State University.