Magellan Learning Solutions

Listen to the full discussion on "Higher Ed as a Marketplace" on The Magellan Podcast.

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SVZe7F
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/49OmIm4

Tag: Emily Walker Heady

Magellan offers a full spectrum of online programs and course development services. Our team of experts can design and develop new educational materials, evaluate and redevelop existing courses, and act as your online learning and design department. We work with a variety of clients, including colleges and universities, corporate partners, professional organizations, and K-12 schools.

Our Learning and Development team is committed to developing high-quality, engaging, and outcomes-focused content based on research and best practices in online education. Our course development team includes project managers, subject matter experts, instructional designers, assistant instructional designers, and content editors. We also offer creative communication services to develop innovative resources such as videos, graphics, and infographics.

Take your online programs to the next level. Message us here or contact us at thinkmagellan.com to set up a free discovery meeting to learn how Magellan can partner with you to help your students succeed.

Meet Dr. Rachelle Andrews Mobley, Associate Vice President for Online Education at Magellan.

Dr. Rachelle Andrews-Mobley is passionate about the intersection of learning technologies, critical pedagogy, and sound instructional design. Her unique work experience spans K-12 education, higher education, and legislative government. Somewhat of a technology enthusiast, Dr. Rachelle embraces the opportunity technology brings to theory to simplify complex tasks. As a former math teacher, she enjoys tutoring students in algebra and trigonometry. She often says, “When students see the ‘light,’ it’s wonderful for the student and tutor.”

Dr. Rachelle believes critical thinking is one of the most essential teaching skills. Critical pedagogy supports critical thinking by encouraging students to be analytical about their reality – its achievements, contradictions, flaws, power structures, and successes. She believes critical analysis proceeds new information, inventions, and social progress. Dr. Antonia Darder wrote, “Knowledge is a living process-a living historical process that grows and transforms most freely and openly within an environment that is informed by dialogue.”

As a proponent of systematic methodology, Dr. Rachelle appreciates sound instructional design that provides a plan for curriculum and courses that afford students with the best possible learning experience and address the individual and unique needs of the online learner.

Dr. Andrews-Mobley was born into a family of educators and grew up in Berkeley, California. She felt a familial purpose and destiny to join her family in education. Her career has been divergent. After four years teaching math in a public high school and learning curriculum design, Dr. Rachelle began a 23-year career in the US House and Senate, teaching congressional staff and implementing the institution’s first LMS system. Shortly after retirement, Dr. Rachelle took on the challenge of Academic Operations in higher education.

Aside from being a lifelong learner, Dr. Rachelle enjoys reading, tropical beaches, and music. One of her favorite quotes from Maya Angelou, “when you learn, teach. When you get, give.” She believes the quote speaks to the essence of humanity, that what you have is not only for yourself but also for others.

In the fast-paced, competitive world of online education, the success of a program often relies on a seamless student enrollment experience. Magellan’s suite of services, from strategic marketing to a responsive online student call center, ensures this journey is not just efficient but exceptional. In the current landscape, a flawless enrollment process is crucial; any misstep risks losing prospective students to other options. Magellan is dedicated to crafting a compelling and streamlined experience, prioritizing every interaction from the initial inquiry to enrollment. With us, your program doesn’t just adapt; it excels, securing the allegiance of students before their first class even begins.

Take your online programs to the next level. Message us here or contact us at thinkmagellan.com to set up a free discovery meeting to learn how Magellan can partner with you to help your students succeed.

May 21, 2024, marked seven years since we established Magellan Learning Solutions. Our original vision of helping clients in the online educational space with marketing and student enrollment, content development, and academic operations has become a flourishing reality!

As we celebrate this anniversary, we would like to acknowledge the whole Magellan team. We have been able to bring on some very experienced and talented people. So, a big thank you for all you do! We would also like to acknowledge our clients and peers who have supported us over the years. Many of you have come back to us time and time again for additional services and projects. We will always strive to be good stewards of these relationships and push to make your goals a sustainable success. We have a lot of exciting things on the horizon.

The first six months of 2024 have been our most successful season to date not only in terms of growth but also in terms of the maturing of our internal and external systems and processes. As online education continues to thrive and capture a greater percentage of the education marketplace, our central mission is more crucial than ever, to help you and your organization thrive in the online space across the spectrum of essential service areas.

Here’s to the future!

Dr. Wayne Patton, CEO and Co-Founder, Magellan Learning Solutions

Listen to the full discussion on "Higher Ed as a Marketplace" on The Magellan Podcast.

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SVZe7F
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/49OmIm4

Tag: Wayne Patton

Listen to the full discussion on "Higher Ed as a Marketplace" on The Magellan Podcast.
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SVZe7F
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/49OmIm4

Tag: Aaron Traphagen

“Change is hard, even in the best of contexts and with the most deliberate and strategic of lead-in processes.
..
Change disrupts the boundaries that organizational culture draws around itself, as processes and policies, echoed again and again, contribute to a collective sense of selfhood and purpose. When an organization changes its “how,” that is, it also must ask questions about its “who,” “what,” and “why”—who are we, what do we do, and why?"
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Read the full white paper by Dr. Emily Heady at thinkmagellan.com/white-papers.

Meet Jamie Woods, Assistant Instructional Designer at Magellan.

Jamie holds a BS in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida and an MA in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Central Florida. She has worked in education for most of her career beginning with an After School Program in 2014, and has been a second-grade educator since 2016. She holds a Florida Professional Teaching Certificate in grades K-6 and ESE grades K-12 with ESOL, Gifted, and Reading endorsements.

Jamie lives in central Florida with her husband and three cats. She has been playing the flute since the fourth grade and currently plays with the Central Florida Sounds of Freedom and the Space Coast Flute Orchestra. She also enjoys spending time with her friends and family and going to Montreat, NC.

“As someone who’s been immersed in the world of education for as long as I can remember, my journey as an assistant instructional designer at Magellan feels like a natural extension of my passion. Every course I edit and meticulously build into the Learning Management Systems of various higher education institutions is a testament to my unwavering love for the transformative power of learning. It’s not just a job; it’s a calling, a chance to shape the educational landscape and empower future generations with knowledge and opportunity.”

Introducing Gena Southall, Faculty Mentor at Magellan.

Hailing from Farmville, Virginia, Gena Southall received both her B.A. in English, Secondary Education, and her M.A. in English Education and Writing from Longwood University. She earned her Ed. D. in Curriculum and Instruction, English Education from the University of Virginia.

Gena began her career as a high school English teacher in Central Virginia. She transitioned to higher education and spent 16 years at Longwood University. At Longwood, Gena taught K-12 English/language arts methods courses and eventually served as the Director of the Liberal Studies program and as Executive Director of Teacher Preparation for all teacher licensure programs. Gena spent seven summers as Chair of the English Academy for JMU’s Content Teaching Academy (CTA) and one year as CTA’s Interim Director.

Gena has been published in the Virginia English Journal, Literacy Research and Instruction, and The Journal of Reading Education. She has presented at NCTE, SITE, ALER, NRC, NFEC, and VATE. Gena received Longwood’s Waverly Cole Award for Undergraduate Mentorship, Maude Glenn Raiford Teaching Award, and a CHI Commendation, Longwood’s highest student body-initiated honor given to faculty or staff.

Gena and her husband Scott live in the beautiful Outer Banks, North Carolina. They enjoy watching sound side sunsets and listening to yacht rock.

“An educator’s premiere responsibility is to know their students, as a community and as individuals. It is through this intimate knowledge that curriculum can be designed and implemented to serve students “where they are.” Students experience a myriad of educators who tout many years’ experience in the classroom. Unfortunately, in many cases, that number is more accurately expressed as one year of experience recycled over and again. Each group of students should be taught differently, whether in the in-person or online learning space. I am thrilled to work with Magellan’s educational leaders, who believe faculty engagement, energy, and support are the cornerstone of student success and growth.“

Meet Nina Williams, Student Support Concierge at Magellan.

Nina comes to Magellan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Science and a diverse career portfolio. She began her career as Assistant Director of Marketing for an educational publishing company writing copy and creating campaigns. Since those early years, career highlights for Nina have been: managing markets for a food security social enterprise in Nashville that worked with local farmers to make fresh provisions available in metro food deserts, partnering with a naturopathic doctor to open a unique wellness studio focusing on disease prevention and holistic wellness and create an operations plan ready for franchising, and most recently collaborating with a healthcare staffing tech start-up company’s bold mission to “help people everywhere get care” by supporting clinicians in their dynamic careers.

With several years of remote leadership experience, Nina has mastered the art of cultivating relationships and delivering exceptional customer experiences in virtual environments. Her dedication to client satisfaction has remained unwavering across all her mission-driven roles.

As a devoted spouse, daughter, and sister to non-traditional students who all earned their bachelor’s and master’s degrees while juggling family, career, and community responsibilities, Nina is well-equipped to encourage and guide our growing community of online students. She is excited to bring her passion for impactful contribution and her vast experience serving people to support online students through Magellan Learning Solutions.

Nina lives in Utah with her husband and youngest daughter. She has 3 grown children pursuing their own dreams in Tennessee. In her personal time, she enjoys traveling the world, skiing, hiking, camping, being in nature, reading, spending time with family, and eating her husband’s tasty food.

“I experienced first-hand the difference an education can make in enhancing quality of life and providing exciting career opportunities. For people like my husband, mother, and sister, access to affordable quality education changes the entire trajectory of their lives, gives them agency to impact the world, and creates a legacy of learning for generations to come. I’m so proud to be a part of Magellan making this same dream a reality for students around the world.”

"Magellan is not a platform, an ed tech tool, or anything like that. 'Our platform is our people.' And that is it.

We have an in-house team and a huge network that simply knows how to do this work to a world-class level. We do it for you, with you, embedded with your team, your staff your faculty, and your campus culture, history, and vision. We are an experienced force multiplier across the spectrum of online services to help your institution be a viable player on the online marketplace. And when we are done with the mission, you will have an online program with systems, policies processes, and content that you will own."

Learn more about Magellan and our dedication to our clients in our full article: https://bit.ly/3VBXNy5

(Wayne Patton)

"Sometimes you go to a school and you have the administration and folks who have a sense of what we're selling, and then you have faculty who have a different sense of what we're doing and there's this disjointedness. You've got to be honest about that.

If what's important to us as an institution is that you leave with this kind of knowledge and this kind of awareness and abilities, then that has to be what we sell students."

Listen to the full discussion on our podcast, "Higher Ed as a Marketplace."
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SVZe7F
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/49OmIm4

Tag: Aaron Traphagen

Introducing Joy Wargo, Student Support Concierge at Magellan.

Joy grew up on a family farm in South Carolina. She attended Liberty University, earning an undergraduate degree in Business Management and an MBA with Leadership concentration. Joy is passionate about serving others. This is evidenced by over 20 combined years in hospitality, working in both the hotel industry and, most recently, at the welcome center for Liberty University.

In 2016, Joy began teaching college courses as an adjunct professor. This continues to enrich her professional career as she works with each new generation of learners. In her new role as Student Support Concierge at Magellan, Joy will use her career experience and skills to guide students in their degree completion plan and assist them along their journey towards graduation. Her love for people and her heart’s desire for them to succeed make her the ideal candidate for this role.

Joy is married to Todd, and they live in South Carolina. They have three grown children, one of whom is married. She enjoys learning, gardening, reading, puzzles, and traveling with her family.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

“It makes sense . . . for leaders at all levels to consider deeply the implications of the metaphors guiding their field of service. . . . It perhaps goes without saying that, should we determine to adopt a different language to describe the work of higher education, we might in turn find that we can more readily imagine new ways of accomplishing our missions.”
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Read the full white paper: https://bit.ly/47bFz9Y
Talking about Leadership: How the Words We Use Shape Our Workplace
Written by Emily Walker Heady

Introducing Olivia Lowrey, Assistant Instructional Designer at Magellan.

Olivia graduated from New College of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in economics and psychology. She has been passionate about research and science education since graduating and has engaged in a number of research and science education activities since, including participating in the authoring of multiple academic articles.

Olivia enjoys an eclectic array of activities, including playing ukulele, traveling to remote destinations, and prolifically reading half a book a week, the first half.

“As a Learning Support Specialist, I am proud to serve others by helping provide fun and creative tools that will enhance their learning experience. I deeply enjoy contributing in a way that feels productive and constructive.”

This piece from Inside Higher Ed summarizes some interesting findings about the ways that online teaching can promote student-centered (empathetic and differentiated) instruction.

How online teaching can promote empathy and student success (opinion) The approaches and tools that emerged during the pandemic could help lay the groundwork for a new driver of academic success, writes Lisa J. Anderson.

Meet Mckenzi Gregory, Instructional Designer at Magellan.

Mckenzi has been in the education field since 2019. She began as a teacher in the elementary school setting and has since moved into creative roles such as curriculum design and instructional design. She holds a BS in Elementary Education as well as an M.Ed. in Instructional Design.

Mckenzi lives in Virginia with her husband and dog, with a baby on the way. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and working on a variety of artistic projects at once.

“I have always had a love for learning and the passion to foster that same love in others. In the higher education field, I am able to help create courses that will help students reach their educational goals. I enjoy the more creative side of the education field and look forward to continuing to grow in my learning as well.”

Today, we conclude our 5 part podcast series on "How to Talk About Higher Education" with a conversation about "Higher Education as a Marketplace."

Colleges cannot escape the fact that they are businesses: they offer a “product” that they need to “sell” to consumers. Of course, education and students are not “products” and “consumers” in the same way that people shopping at the grocery store are! So what’s at stake in embracing or questioning the idea that higher education is a marketplace?
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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SVZe7F
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/49OmIm4

Tag: Aaron Traphagen, Emily Walker Heady, Wayne Patton

Introducing Neziah Daugherty, Financial Aid Coordinator at Magellan.

Neziah’s passion for education began in 2017, as she started her entry-level career as an Assistant Teacher for a private, non-profit institution in Tampa, Florida. In her role, Neziah assisted with curriculum, lesson planning, record keeping, and documentation. Also, at the time, Neziah worked closely with Administrators on school-wide improvements regarding school structure and development.

In 2020, Neziah began to focus her efforts at the University level, specifically specializing in Federal Financial Aid. She has undergone extensive training in many Financial Aid areas, including Federal Student Loans and Grants, State Grants and Scholarships, Federal Procedures, regulations, and protocols and much more. Neziah acquired her knowledge working alongside two post-secondary universities while training with federal student loan servicer, Edfinancial Services, over the span of three years.

Neziah is excited to continue using her expertise in the Financial Aid field for her new position as The Financial Aid Coordinator for Magellan.

Currently, Neziah resides in her hometown of Lexington, Kentucky. Moving back home has allowed her to reconnect with her friends and family and to assist her parents, especially her mother, who is blind, with day-to-day tasks.

In her free time, she enjoys weekend road trips, walking her dog, fictional writing and listening to true crime podcasts.

“Education is what brings us together as a community, as a population, and as a culture. It allows individuals from all walks of life to gain knowledge and experience in a plethora of different areas. Deciding to attend a school or university can be a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be a scary one. I decided to specialize in Financial Aid, because it can be very difficult and stressful for people who are starting out. Not everyone knows what opportunities are available for them. People should make the best decision for themselves regarding their finances, their future and their education, and I hope to use all of my skills to continue to be a helpful guide and great resource.”

Is your institution preparing for the enrollment cliffs? Ensure your online program is poised to thrive amidst changing demographics and discover how attracting adult learners can be a strategic advantage in navigating the evolving landscape of higher education.

If you want to take your online programs to the next level, think Magellan. We can help.

Colleges Were Already Bracing for an ‘Enrollment Cliff.’ Now There Might Be a Second One. The Census had once forecast the contingent of 18-year-olds rebounding in the middle of the next decade. Its latest projections show the population shrinking further.

Meet Mary Hubbard, Associate Director of Instructional Design at Magellan.

Mary earned an M.A. in English in 2014. She has been teaching on the college level since 2012, in both university and community college settings. Mary’s professional experience also includes technical writing, marketing, ESL education, and corporate communications, operations and training. Mary has been formally recognized for excellence in academic research and for her exceptional classroom and online instruction. Mary is passionate about helping learners overcome barriers to academic success and nurturing their curiosity and resilience.

Mary has lived in northwest Indiana, upstate South Carolina, and central Virginia, and she’s currently located in Columbus, Ohio. She and her husband are active in their local board gaming community. Mary enjoys collecting houseplants, doing crossword puzzles, reading (especially nonfiction books), and exploring local coffee roasters. She also likes to take fitness classes, work in her vegetable garden, and participate in trivia competitions.

“What we have loved, others will love, and we will teach them how.” (William Wordsworth)

Mary believes that when educators and designers model a love for learning, students are more likely to share that love. She enjoys finding creative ways to inspire enthusiasm for any subject matter through instructional design.

Magellan Learning Solutions is seeking an Associate Vice President for Online Education in the Central Virginia/Tidewater Region.

As AVP, you will work with the Magellan team to stand up client institutions’ online operations in essential areas such as Marketing and Enrollment, Student-Related Services, Course Design and Training, and Administration. The AVP serves as the primary liaison between Magellan and client institutions and manages the project’s implementation. If you are fueled by a passion for academic excellence, online program management, and strategic planning within a growing company, we invite you to apply.

https://thinkmagellan.bamboohr.com/careers/24?source=aWQ9MjM%3D

Say hello to Leslie Simmons, Operations Assistant at Magellan.

Leslie began her career in Operations, with responsibilities in Commercial Property and Facilities Management, Inventory Control, and Accounting. Later, after receiving a Lean Six Sigma certification, she gained valuable experience in Human Resources and Continuous Improvement. She spent time as a Corporate Operations Trainer, opening new facilities and facilitating a large corporate acquisition’s operational conversion.

After twenty years in Operations, Leslie returned to school to fulfill a lifelong dream. She earned her BA in Elementary Education with ESOL Endorsement from Florida Gulf Coast University, where she graduated summa cm laude. Later, she added Certified Economics Educator to her Virginia licensure. Her specialty was Exceptional Student Education, teaching gifted students and those requiring Intensive Reading. As a Clinical Educator, she hosted student interns and mentored first-year teachers.

Joining the Operations Team at MLS takes advantage of Leslie’s professional experience, passions, and strengths.

“The team at MLS is growing by leaps and bounds. Providing the ‘behind the scenes’ support the team needs is critical, as is understanding the culture of education. I am excited to be a part of the structure that will allow them to focus on providing amazing customer service to our clients and producing superior online content.”

With their three children grown, Leslie and her husband built their eventual retirement home with a spectacular view of the Blue Ridge mountains. Culture studies, gardening, music, and travel, especially to the Canadian Rockies, help her recharge her batteries. Her home life is dominated by fulfilling the whims of an exceedingly beautiful but needy feral feline named George.

Attracting non-traditional-age students will be a key strategy in offsetting the enrollment cliff. These working adult students will desire high-quality online programs anchored to excellent processes.

Colleges turn to older students to stem enrollment crisis Story at a glance Colleges and universities are appealing to older students to helpmitigate an upcoming “enrollment cliff.”  Enrollment in institutions of higher learning among traditional-age…

Language about the “institution” of higher education is unavoidable—so much so that individual campuses refer to themselves as such. But what does this mean? What’s at stake in a campus thinking of itself in these terms?

Higher Ed as an Institution, Episode 4 of our podcast series, "How to Talk About Higher Education," is live today on The Magellan Podcast.
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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3weshMe
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3SYthwT

Tag: Aaron Traphagen, Emily Walker Heady, Wayne Patton

"If [systems are] done right, we’re learning faculty really like this because it improves the faculty experience, and now the lane has been opened up for the student to learn. Instead of doing all these technological hat tricks to do that piece of online, they're really freed up to just teach, and student engagement goes up, and they really can do this more soft science part of online teaching which is often missing."

Listen to the full discussion on our podcast, "Higher Ed as a Machine."

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/49hobRs
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/48T6SGQ

Tag: Wayne Patton

Meet Nathaniel Horner, Instructional Designer at Magellan.

Early on in life, Nathanial Horner was filled with a love of education and learning. He had a desire to learn as much as possible as his inquisitive mind never ceased to sleep. Once he reached college, Nathanial was greeted with courses in a variety of subjects that continued to capture his attention and interest, even after he homed in on his passion for Biblical Studies. In 2018, he graduated with a bachelor’s in biblical studies from Calvary Chapel Bible College.

After graduating from college, Nathanial was invited back to participate in the Online Learning Program as the Coordinator. Through my several years in the coordinator position, he was able to glean the much important, often overlooked online learning education. His heart grew for all students from a variety of walks of life who all had one desire – to obtain their degree online. Connecting with those students and understanding the need for proper online learning courses grew his desire to see the online learning world flourish.

Nathanial, his wife, and his son recently made the move from California to find their new home in San Antonio, Texas. With his family, he loves to explore, drink and make amazing coffee, play a variety of sports, and read all kinds of books.

“I have worked in higher education, because I have a desire to see students grow in their love for learning, especially in an online format. Through course design, I can be a part of increasing the standard at which the online learning courses should be presented. I am passionate about helping give students the highest quality education they can receive no matter the circumstances of life.”

"On any given day, guiding metaphors capture important realities about how higher ed functions as well as about how a leader who wants to be effective might approach their task. Yet these differing terminologies also compete with one another, creating different demands, value statements, and expectations.
..
It makes sense, then, for leaders at all levels to consider deeply the implications of the metaphors guiding their field of service."
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Read the full white paper: https://bit.ly/47bFz9Y
Talking about Leadership: How the Words We Use Shape Our Workplace
Written by Emily Walker Heady

"You've got to, when you build a system, make sure that you've got somebody who's got the know-how and the time to work through what the machine's telling you in an effective fashion. Because if all you've got is a machine, then suddenly people start getting treated like raw goods rather than like learners."

Listen to the full discussion on our podcast, "Higher Ed as a Machine."

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/49hobRs
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/48T6SGQ

Tag: Emily Walker Heady