The University of New England hosted its first OER Awards Breakfast, recognizing the outstanding contributions of faculty and professional staff advancing open educational practices across the university. Library Dean Elizabeth Dyer opened the event with a warm welcome, inviting attendees to enjoy breakfast and celebrate UNE’s growing OER community. President James Herbert delivered remarks, emphasizing that open educational resources are about student savings, innovation, collaboration, and equity.

Three OER Awards were presented during the celebration:

• Leadership in Open Education Award: Oak McCoy
  Recognized for his visionary, sustained commitment to open education, Oak McCoy has created and continues to develop impactful OER, including original textbooks and student-led content. His work integrates open pedagogy, ethical AI practices, and a deep dedication to equity. As a driving force behind UNE’s efforts to develop a zero-cost economics program, Oak’s leadership exemplifies the transformative potential of OER.
• Open Textbook Impact Award: BIO104 Team – Daniel Johnson, Wendy Roberts, Jenn Garcia
  This team has reimagined General Biology with Lab using OpenStax and custom interactive modules, eliminating textbook costs and expanding access for hundreds of students annually. Launching in Fall 2025, their OER-based redesign demonstrates high-impact, student-centered innovation and sets a new standard for foundational science courses.
• Open Collaboration Award: Bethany Kenyon
  As UNE’s Digital Access Librarian, Bethany has transformed DigitalUNE (DUNE) into a thriving, inclusive repository of over 6,500 works. Her commitment to open infrastructure, faculty and student engagement, and diverse, real-world scholarship makes DUNE a collaborative, community-driven knowledge-sharing model with a global impact.

Congratulations to all award recipients and the UNE faculty, staff, and students who work tirelessly with open educational resources daily.