Clay McCullough
Summary
Results-driven, detail-oriented community builder and education program director. Dedicated to creating experiences and opportunities that empower others to reach their full potential. Experienced in technical education management, curriculum development and implementation, student affairs administration, diversity and equity initiatives, and higher education strategic marketing but always looking for new learning opportunities.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director, Instructor Operations
General Assembly
10.2022 - 04.2024
- Led the largest team (40 full-time employees; 100+ temporary employees) within the organization through multiple strategic shifts and senior leadership changes, retaining 95% of full-time employees over a 2 year period
- Partnered closely with Product Managers, Instructional Designers, and Marketing/Sales colleagues to develop new courses focused on emerging technologies and market demands; developed new revenue streams while maintaining 50+ NPS year over year
- Facilitated a strategic shift in learning delivery philosophy to a blended learning model, allowing students to have more flexibility in their learning and reducing operational costs by 15%
- Developed a program that allows full-time instructors to contribute to curriculum development and functional product work when not actively teaching, resulting in 90% of non-teaching time utilized in other areas of the business and saving ~$100,000 annually on SME costs
- Coordinated the implementation of a new, centralized Learning Management System (LMS) and Student Information System (SIS), decreasing administrative time for the team and streamlining instructional staffing processes
Manager of Instruction
General Assembly
01.2022 - 10.2022
- Oversaw the end-to-end program management for all data-related courses in the US, executing 15-20 technical courses per quarter while retaining all full-time employees, maintaining 50+ NPS, and achieving a 5% increase in profit margins
- Partnered with Product Managers, Instructional Designers, and Marketing/Sales colleagues to develop and launch an Immersive Data Analytics course, meeting market demands and creating a new revenue stream for the organization (~$2.5M annually)
- Conceptualized and implemented a strategic hiring event to diversify the organization's instructor community, with 400+ attendees resulting in 200+ new instructor applications
- Led an effort to transition over 30 contracted instructors into full-time teaching positions with full benefits, leading to increased retention of the organization's most talented instructors
Senior Instructor Manager
General Assembly
06.2019 - 12.2021
- Recruited, hired, and onboarded 50+ promising industry professionals for instructional roles in software engineering, design, and data-related courses, achieving optimal profit margins, course quality, and graduation rates
- Created a center of excellence for New York-based instructors, focused on ongoing professional development, pedagogical techniques, and resource-sharing among experts; creating a culture centered around embracing a growth mindset
- Transitioned all in-person instruction to remote learning within two days with a focus on recreating community, maintaining seamless processes, and ensuring learning retention for 1,000+ students
- Developed a shared-staffing teaching model that allowed instructors to focus on their personal expertise, while reducing operational costs by 25%
Assistant Director of Student Activities
Baruch College
04.2017 - 06.2019
- Advised over 45 student organizations in optimizing event planning, budget allocation, contract negotiation, diversity initiatives, performance assessment, conflict resolution, and seamless officer transitions; fostering enhanced leadership skills and organizational effectiveness for student leaders
- Increased campus usage of MyBaruch, the university's online student engagement platform, by centralizing administrative processes for staff members and creating a one-stop-shop for students' co-curricular learning and campus events
- Chaired the university's LGBTQ+ History Month committee: developing new educational events, revitalizing hallmark pride events, and increasing participation by 50% over the previous years
- Developed and implemented enriching leadership trainings and weekend retreats, enabling students to reflect on their personal values and empowering them to be agents of social change
Marketing Assistant, Higher Education Strategy
Pearson
08.2016 - 04.2017
- Empowered higher education advocacy communities by leading employability curriculum development, mentoring initiatives, and providing strategic guidance for Pearson student programs, resulting in increased student engagement and enhanced career readiness outcomes.
- Enhanced administrative operations for the Higher Education Strategy and Student Advocacy team by streamlining reporting structures, fostering collaboration among 15+ marketing managers, and offering insights into higher education trends, resulting in more optimized workflows, improved team cohesion, and informed strategic decisions.
- Served as the pivotal link between campaigns, communications, and creative endeavors, managing coordination for projects, events, conference planning, social media initiatives, and public relations efforts; facilitated cohesive messaging, enhanced brand visibility, and amplified audience engagement across multiple platforms, driving measurable impact and fostering lasting connections with key stakeholders.
Program Coordinator, New Student & Family Programs
Belmont University
10.2014 - 08.2015
- Led strategic planning for student leadership training and orientation programs as the sole full-time staff member in the absence of a permanent Director or Assistant Dean of Students. Maintained operational continuity and ensured the successful execution of vital programs, fostering student leadership development and facilitating a smooth transition for incoming students.
- Launched a newly-modeled summer orientation program, consolidating resources among multiple campus stakeholders and successfully serving over 1,700 new students and their families
- Directed mass communication initiatives and managed the orientation registration process, collaborating closely with university stakeholders, optimizing the orientation experience for new students and facilitating their successful integration into university life.
Education
Master of Education - Higher Education Administration
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN05.2016
Bachelor of Business Administration - Business Management
Belmont University
Nashville, TN05.2014
Skills
- Collaborative Leadership
- Culture Transformation
- Team Management
- Policy Development
- Capacity Planning
- Strategic Planning
- Budget Management
- Contract and Vendor Management
- Operations Management
- Hiring and Retention
Timeline
Senior Director, Instructor Operations
General Assembly
10.2022 - 04.2024
Manager of Instruction
General Assembly
01.2022 - 10.2022
Senior Instructor Manager
General Assembly
06.2019 - 12.2021
Assistant Director of Student Activities
Baruch College
04.2017 - 06.2019
Marketing Assistant, Higher Education Strategy
Pearson
08.2016 - 04.2017
Program Coordinator, New Student & Family Programs
Belmont University
10.2014 - 08.2015
Master of Education - Higher Education Administration
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor of Business Administration - Business Management
Belmont University
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