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Professional highlights:
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Ph.D in Instructional Design and Technology, with an emphasis in Educational Psychology.
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Senior Consultant at Waveshift Consulting.
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14 years as a Professor and campus leader at Appalachian State, serving both the Media, Technology, and Learning Design and Higher Education program areas while also serving in administrative/leadership positions.
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Former Director of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning at Radford University.
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Past President and Distinguished Fellow of the International Society for Exploring Teaching and Learning.
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Outstanding Graduate Teaching award recipient, Reich College of Education, 2024-2025 (pictured)
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M.A. in English; B.A. (double major) English and Graphic Design.
For the past 20+ years, my professional experiences and pursuits have been solely focused one one thing: Learning. Whether it be facilitating one of the many courses I have taught, engaging professionals with talent development experiences, or leading organization-wide initiatives, my work is firmly grounded on the art and science of cultivating experiences that are inclusive, evidence-based, and relational. Some of the core beliefs and values that have shaped my scholarly pursuits and currently guide my practice are:
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Evidence-based instructional strategies. Instead of perpetuating neuro-myths such as learning styles and multi-tasking, we should implement strategies that are grounded in the research. Designing instruction based on cognitive load theory, providing opportunities to connect new information with prior knowledge, and ensuring active processing and meaning-making through retrieval practice, multi-modal engagement, and reflection provides opportunities for learners to be actively engaged in deep learning.
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Emotions matter. Designing environments that take into account the intricate relationship between emotions and cognition; that acknowledge the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the brain's ability to learn, and that recognize that emotions drive curiosity, creativity, and engagement enhance learning, engagement, and active processing.
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So do social connections. Capitalizing on our innate drive to connect with others, creating diverse communities that are relational, mutual supportive, and collaborative provides opportunities for learners to engage in empowering and meaningful meaning-making opportunities.
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Empathetic and agile design. Human-centered and agile design methods best provide opportunities for co-design and co-creation that, in turn, foster empowerment, buy-in, and participation at the course, group, or organizational level.
Grounded in these values and beliefs, I work hard to leverage innovative technologies and tools to create experiences for learners to engage with the process of change and the experiences that foster meaning-making, unlock human potential, and fuel social change..
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