ROBERT PRIEST
Summary
Passionate higher education professional with over 25 years of international experience in higher and executive education, instructional design, curriculum development, and academic leadership. Proven record of leading complex cross-cultural academic initiatives and projects, scaling high-impact training and learning programs, and aligning educational strategy with market and stakeholder needs. Demonstrated success in leading large-scale student learning and success initiatives, faculty development, and curriculum design. Extensive experience in accreditation, instructional design, and consulting with both academic and corporate clients. Adept at driving revenue-generating educational initiatives and forming impactful partnerships that extend institutional reach.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of the Quality Enhancement Plan
AUSTIN PEAY STATE UNIVERSITY
Clarksville
09.2021 - Current
- Led development of Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), enhancing writing outcomes institution-wide for SACSCOC accreditation.
- Collaborated with SACSCOC accreditation team to align institutional evidence with accreditation standards.
- Successfully directed SACSCOC On-Site evaluation, receiving approval for QEP without revisions.
- Implemented and assessed evidence-based interventions to strengthen student writing competencies and self-regulation skills.
- Supervised diverse teams, including students, faculty, staff, and administrators in QEP development.
- Created comprehensive evaluation plans for measuring QEP impact on learning outcomes.
- Ensured university compliance with regional accreditation standards and government regulations.
- Managed budgets and resources effectively to support QEP success.
Training Developer and Trainer, Workforce Solutions
HENDERSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Henderson
07.2023 - 04.2024
- Developed safety and training language courses for Spanish-speaking factory workers at Nylene USA.
- Conducted on-site needs assessment to identify corporate requirements for tailored training programs.
- Taught English language skills focused on work-related and safety topics to enhance productivity.
- Created bespoke training programs addressing the specific needs of the organization.
Senior Instructional Designer
STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY
Stony Brook
08.2019 - 08.2022
- Spearheaded faculty transition to synchronous online teaching during COVID-19.
- Guided stakeholders in implementing evidence-based instructional design, including Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
- Facilitated workshops for faculty preparing to deliver online instruction.
- Collaborated with the program assessment team to collect, code, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data for program evaluation.
Senior Specialist Pedagogical Innovation and Effectiveness
ZAYED UNIVERSITY
Abu Dhabi
09.2016 - 07.2019
- Directed development of Innovative Teaching Program, accredited by the United Kingdom’s AdvanceHE.
- Spearheaded accreditation process for Innovative Teaching Program through the Higher Education Academy.
- Created Teaching Practice Framework to establish professional competency standards for faculty and students.
- Assessed the effectiveness of professional development programming on teaching practices.
Curriculum Supervisor, Academic Bridge Program
ZAYED UNIVERSITY
Abu Dhabi
01.2011 - 08.2013
- Oversaw implementation of Federal Mobile Learning Initiative and led content development projects.
- Collaborated with external stakeholders, including the Ministry of Higher Education and the UAE University.
- Participated in the UAE Federal Pedagogy Steering Committee to advise on mobile device pedagogy.
- Revised language curriculum to align with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Instructor/Level Coordinator
ZAYED UNIVERSITY
Abu Dhabi
08.2009 - 01.2011
- Developed and instructed twenty-week executive English course for Zayed University’s Institute for Community Engagement.
- Coordinated availability of all course materials for students and instructors prior to commencement.
- Clarified curriculum and assessment objectives for assigned teachers to ensure understanding.
- Facilitated discussions with colleagues and ABP Management Team to improve instructional effectiveness.
- Oversaw development and revision of common course exams to uphold academic standards.
- Monitored deadlines for assessments, final exam documents, and feedback submissions.
- Conducted norming sessions before exam marking to ensure evaluation consistency.
- Collaborated with counterpart on other campus to exchange ideas and strengthen partnerships.
English Language Instructor
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
Louisville
02.2008 - 05.2009
- Instructed international students in reading, writing, grammar, and note-taking for university readiness.
- Developed course syllabi and classroom materials to enhance curriculum effectiveness.
- Mentored part-time instructors to achieve curricular objectives and refine teaching strategies.
- Assessed English proficiency of non-native graduate teaching assistants to ensure instructional quality.
High School English Teacher
HENDERSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Henderson
08.2007 - 01.2008
- Taught regular and honors English classes to freshmen and sophomores
- Designed individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with learning disabilities
- Collaborated with other instructors to develop a plan (freshman initiative) to assist first-year students in transitioning successfully into the high school academic environment
English Language Instructor/Executive Education
ZAYED UNIVERSITY
Abu Dhabi
08.2001 - 07.2007
- Developed and taught curriculum for young police officers in Outreach Program for Abu Dhabi Police Department.
- Created educational materials for Abu Dhabi Ministry of Education courses.
- Instructed all levels of English in Academic Bridge Program.
- Coordinated various levels of English classes to enhance instructional quality.
- Designed inclusive classes for both male and female students in Outreach Program.
- Facilitated English summer camp for elementary and high school students.
- Taught linguistics course for College of Education, emphasizing critical analysis skills.
- Conducted freshman writing class within Colloquy framework to improve writing proficiency.
English Language Instructor
WONKWANG UNIVERSITY
Iksan
01.1997 - 01.1998
- Taught academic English to Korean students, enhancing language proficiency and critical thinking skills.
- Designed comprehensive course syllabi tailored to student needs and learning objectives.
- Assisted in developing standardized assessments to measure student progress accurately.
- Crafted engaging classroom materials to support diverse learning styles.
Education
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN05.2026
Graduate Certificate - International Faculty Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Leadership
University of British Columbia
British Columbia, Canada01.2015
Master of Arts (MA) - Applied Linguistics
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY01.2001
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - English
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY01.1994
Skills
- Learning Strategy & Program Design
- Instructional Design (UDL, hybrid/online, outcomes-based)
- Leadership Development & Professional Skills Training
- Workforce Development & Performance Consulting
- Learning Impact Measurement & Evaluation
- Change Management & Stakeholder Engagement
- Accreditation & Compliance (SACSCOC, AdvanceHE)
- Learning Technology: LMS (Blackboard)
- eLearning facilitation
- Curriculum Architecture & Competency Frameworks
- Budgeting
- Resource Management & Vendor Collaboration
- Cross-Cultural Communication & Global Programs
- AI in Learning Policy & Strategy
- Executive & Professional Education Development
- Strategic Planning & Executive Education
- International Higher Education Leadership
- Curriculum Innovation & Instructional Design
- Business Development & Stakeholder Engagement
- Accreditation (SACSCOC, CAA, AdvanceHE)
- Program Assessment & Data-Driven Planning
- Cross-Cultural Communication & Community Outreach
- Faculty Development & Institutional Transformation
Publications
- Implementing Mobile Learning Devices into Tertiary Classrooms: A UAE Case Study, Priest, T., Schoepp, K., 2015, The International Handbook of E-learning volume 2
- A research agenda for the UAE iPad Initiative, Gitsaki, C., Robby, M. A., Priest, T., Hamdan, K., Ben-Chabane, Y., 2013, Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives
References
Available upon request
Media Mentions
- UAE Universities Design Their Own iPad Apps for Students, The National, 2013, https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/technology/uae-universities-design-their-own-ipad-apps-for-students-1.294622
- U.A.E Moves Toward Paperless Classrooms, New York Times, 2012, https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/world/middleeast/29iht-educlede29.html
Presentations
- Using Critical Self-Reflection to Catalyze Inclusive Pedagogy, Hernandez, C., 10/20, SUNY 2020 Faculty Development Conference
- Developing Theories of Change to Improve of Educational Development Initiatives, 10/17, POD Network Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada
Timeline
Training Developer and Trainer, Workforce Solutions
HENDERSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
07.2023 - 04.2024
Director of the Quality Enhancement Plan
AUSTIN PEAY STATE UNIVERSITY
09.2021 - Current
Senior Instructional Designer
STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY
08.2019 - 08.2022
Senior Specialist Pedagogical Innovation and Effectiveness
ZAYED UNIVERSITY
09.2016 - 07.2019
Curriculum Supervisor, Academic Bridge Program
ZAYED UNIVERSITY
01.2011 - 08.2013
Instructor/Level Coordinator
ZAYED UNIVERSITY
08.2009 - 01.2011
English Language Instructor
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
02.2008 - 05.2009
High School English Teacher
HENDERSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
08.2007 - 01.2008
English Language Instructor/Executive Education
ZAYED UNIVERSITY
08.2001 - 07.2007
English Language Instructor
WONKWANG UNIVERSITY
01.1997 - 01.1998
Doctor of Education - Educational Leadership
Austin Peay State University
Graduate Certificate - International Faculty Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Leadership
University of British Columbia
Master of Arts (MA) - Applied Linguistics
University of Louisville
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - English
University of Louisville
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