Bio
Professor, Author, Consultant...
"If you can describe your job," a Senior VP at Monster.com once said, "then your tenure in that position will likely be no longer than five more years."
Whether it is true or not, this quote offers great relief for anyone struggling to write a short bio for their Webpage. At last, it is no longer a crime to have a job that you can't describe on a 30 second elevator ride or illustrate on a cocktail napkin.
That being said, I will try not to tire you with endless details regarding my professional life, and instead offer you only the highlights of what, for me, has been an exhilarating and fruitful career to this point.
As an associate professor of educational technology at the George Washington University (GWU) in Washington DC, I have had a wide array of opportunities to teach, write, consult, and conduct research. With a background in instructional design, as well as additional formal training in change management, Web development, and program evaluation, I have designed and taught courses (both online and in the classroom) on the diverse topics of instructional design, distance education, e-learning, needs assessment, system analysis and design, computer literacy, and technology management. In recent years I have also had several valuable opportunities to work with the World Bank, including the chance to offer workshops for training professionals in Shanghai and Chongqing, China.
In 2005 I had the opportunity to be a visiting scholar (IPA) with the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF is a primary funding agency for foundational research in science, technology, and education. At the Foundation I managed instructional technology projects that developed initiatives related to learning management, distance learning, and instructional design for the NSF Academy.
I am an author of nine books and have been an author of more than 65 articles and chapters on the topics including strategic planning, distance education, needs assessment, return-on-investment analysis, and evaluation. The e-Learning Companion, now its third edition, has become the best-selling text on e-learning. Most recently I published the Handbook for Improving Performance in the Workplace - Volume 2 as a guide for selecting and implementing holistic systems of performance improvement activities. Previously I authored Performance By Design as a comprehensive framework for improving human and organizational performance through the systematic application of performance technologies. Currently two new books are in the works, the first on needs assessment tools and the second on a new approach to learning strategies for 21st Century college students, both to be published in 2010 or 2011 if all goes well.
As an active member of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) and the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), I keep involved with my professional community. I have served as a vice president of the Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (CREAD) and I am currently the chair of the Research and Science Professional Community for ISPI.
After receiving my doctoral degree in Instructional Systems Design from Florida State University (FSU), I was a member of the research faculty for the Office for Needs Assessment and Planning in the Learning Systems Institute at FSU. During that time I led and managed efforts on several research agendas, including the development of a costs-consequences analysis for Florida's work-force development programs, a quality management self-assessment for Florida's Department of Corrections, a return-on-investment study of the policy advice of Florida TaxWatch, and a needs and assets assessment for human services in Leon County, Florida. Additional projects that I managed while at FSU included the development of performance evaluation system for leadership training in the U.S. Navy, as well as the assessment, design, and development of technology-based facilitator training.
I was an assistant professor of instructional technology and distance education at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida after leaving FSU. During my tenure at NSU there were many opportunities to work with world-renown faculty in the fields of distance education, educational technology, instructional design, and management; opportunities that have guided my career and brought lasting friendships.
As you can see, as result of my curiosity and varied interests, I am unable to offer a 50 word description of my career to this point. Hopefully, though, if the earlier quote holds true, I will continue to have the same opportunities to write, consult, and teach in the many fields that are closely tied to instructional design, needs assessment, and distance education.