UDL Awards Committee
The UDL Awards Committee is composed of experienced education leaders, accessibility researchers, and UDL experts who bring a diverse range of backgrounds to the review process. Updated yearly to ensure fresh insights, this esteemed group is dedicated to honoring innovation and overseeing the selection of community-driven nominations that advance the core principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Meet the 2026 UDL Awards Committee
Anne Meyer
Dr. Anne Meyer is CAST’s Co-Founder, and Chief of Education Design, Emeritus, and a member of CAST’s Board of Directors. In the 1990s, Anne Meyer, David Rose, and their colleagues at CAST introduced Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a framework to improve teaching and learning in the digital age, sparking an international movement now celebrated worldwide. Dr. Meyer played a leading role in CAST’s early design of multimedia technology for diverse learners, and has led efforts to define, develop and disseminate CAST’s ideas about UDL throughout her career.
Widely recognized for her contributions in the field of technology as it relates to disabilities, Dr. Meyer served as a national advisor to President Clinton’s Educational Technology Panel and on the Texas Task Force on Electronic Textbook Accessibility. She has co-authored and co-edited several books on digital education and UDL, including the foundational text Universal Design for Learning: Theory and Practice (with David Rose and Editor David Gordon), now in its third edition as Universal Design for Learning: Principles, Framework, and Practice.
Denice C. DeCoste, EdD
Dr. Denise DeCoste is an educator with over 25 years of experience in assistive technology and currently serves on CAST’s Board of Directors. For 22 years, she led assistive technology teams for Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools—the 14th largest district in the U.S.—where she began systematically implementing UDL in 2003. In 2011, she served as the governor-appointed chair of the Maryland UDL Task Force, a role that led to the formal incorporation of UDL principles into state education regulations.
A pioneer in accessibility, Dr. DeCoste created the Universal Protocol for Accommodations in Reading (uPAR), an online tool that evaluates text-to-speech effectiveness and has significantly expanded student access to digital materials. She has authored a number of books and articles on assistive technology, and was the Vice Chair of the UDL-Implementation Research Network.
Sheldon H. Berman
Dr. Sheldon H. Berman is the Lead Superintendent for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) for AASA, The School Superintendents Association. In this role since 2021, Dr. Berman leads AASA’s SEL Cohort of school districts and provides strategic guidance and support to districts intent on deepening their SEL implementation. Dr. Berman joined AASA after 28 years serving as the superintendent in four districts—Hudson, MA; Jefferson County (Louisville), KY; Eugene, OR; and Andover, MA.
Dr. Berman has been the recipient of numerous awards for his work in education, and was a founder and president of Educators for Social Responsibility. He has dedicated his career to advancing education and community through cultural and civic education, social-emotional learning, instructional improvement, and UDL. Committed to supporting UDL implementation and research, Dr. Berman has served on CAST’s Board of Directors for nearly 20 years, and has been Chair of the Board since 2015.
Anya Evmenova
Dr. Anya Evmenova is an Associate Dean for Research and a professor in the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University (GMU), as well as Editor-in-Chief for the Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits journal. At GMU, Dr. Evmenova teaches undergraduate, master, and doctoral courses in technology integration, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and research methods. She has been honored by GMU with the Teaching Excellence Award (2016), Online Teaching Excellence Award (2018), and the John Toups Presidential Medal for Excellence in Teaching (2023) in recognition of her UDL-based instruction.
Her research interests focus on the design and implementation of assistive/instructional technology in inclusive educational settings and academic instruction for all learners aligned with UDL. Evmenova has raised more than $20 million in federal and state grants to support her research and development efforts. In 2025, she received CAST’s David Rose UDL Research Award, recognizing her contributions to technology-driven UDL practices that support diverse learners.
Michelle Ring-Hanson
Michelle Ring-Hanson is an educational leader and data specialist with decades of experience supporting school improvement and professional development. She is recognized for championing systemic UDL implementation across Wisconsin, advancing equity and access at the state level, Through her work around UDL, Michelle was presented the CESA Employee of the Year Award by the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance in 2020-2021. With 32 years experience as a professional educator in urban and suburban school settings and 22 years of leadership experience at the school, district, and regional levels, Ring-Hanson brings lived experiences to her commitment to UDL.
Ring-Hanson and JoAnn Miller were both UDL system coaches for the state of Wisconsin and are co-authors of The UDL Implementation Trials Mentor Toolkit. Along with JoAnn Miller, she was awarded the 2025 UDL Innovative Practice Award.
JoAnn Miller
JoAnn Miller is an independent consultant with expertise in strategy, coaching, and systemwide implementation. She is recognized for championing systemic UDL implementation across Wisconsin, advancing equity and access at the state level.
Miller and Michelle Ring-Hanson were both UDL system coaches for the state of Wisconsin and are co-authors of The UDL Implementation Trials Mentor Toolkit. Along with Michelle Ring-Hanson, she was a recipient of the 2025 UDL Innovative Practice Award.
Beth Stark
Beth Stark is a UDL consultant and strategist, recognized for advancing inclusive practices and accessibility through pedagogy and technology. As a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, Stark has a passion for designing learner-centered systems of support, inclusive learning engagements, and professional development experiences that amplify the expertise and compassion of fellow educators. Stark brings experience working with educators and learning leaders to reduce barriers, build strengths-based systems of support, and ignite inclusive inquiry for all learners. Along with Jérémie Rostan, she was awarded the 2025 Anne Meyer UDL Design Award.
Jérémie Rostan
Jérémie Rostan brings 15 years of experience in international education, instructional coaching, and leadership. He currently serves
as High School Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator at International School of Panama. He is known for designing LUDIA, a UDL-aligned platform that supports inclusive, flexible learning for all. Along with Beth Stark, he was awarded the 2025 Anne Meyer UDL Design Award.
Melanie Hobbs
Melanie Hobbs is a Senior Associate Director of Educational Issues at the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), where she leads and supports equity-centered policy and practice in PreK-12 education. With nearly four decades of dedication to education, including 18 years advancing educator voice and equity through her work at the AFT, and 20 years as a special educator, she is a firm believer in inclusive classrooms that honor the strengths, identities, and needs of all learners.
Melanie has extensive experience in designing and facilitating union-sponsored, peer-led professional learning for PreK-12 educators across the country, supporting schools and districts in building equitable learning environments where both students and educators can thrive. At the heart of her practice is a deep commitment to advancing educational justice through collaboration, research-informed pedagogy, and sustained support for educators on the ground.
Celebrate innovation in UDL
