2026 Badge Summit

I’m Sarah Korpi (PhD, German, UW–Madison), Director of Organizational Development in the Division of Continuing Studies at UW–Madison. My work focuses on strengthening programs, people, and systems through strategic planning, organizational assessment, and learning‑centered approaches. I lead and support initiatives related to professional development, program and unit review, organizational surveys and analysis, recruitment and onboarding, competency development, and leadership learning—always with an eye toward alignment, effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
Drawing on extensive experience as a teacher and facilitator, I bring a learning‑centered lens to organizational and educational strategy. I’ve provided leadership for educational strategy, learning technologies, and development functions; coordinated cross‑functional teams; supervised staff; managed budgets; and advised faculty and staff on learning theory and instructional design. I also continue to lead digital badging efforts at UW–Madison, championing competency‑based recognition and credentialing models that support meaningful learning and workforce development. More recently, I’ve been helping to initiate the Fostering Success program at UW–Madison as part of broader efforts to support student belonging and success.
I’m especially interested in how digital credentials fit into broader credential ecosystems, how organizations move from pilots to sustainable practice, and how learning strategies—including the thoughtful use of AI—can scale while maintaining trust, equity, and clarity. I’m always glad to talk about digital badging, change management, inclusive learning design, organizational development, and what it takes to turn good ideas into systems that actually work.