Carr-Chellman Named Department Head of Learning and Performance Systems

by Joe Savrock (March 2010)

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Alison Carr-Chellman, professor of instructional systems, has been appointed head of the Department of Learning and Performance Systems (LPS) in the Penn State College of Education. Her three-year term begins July 1, 2010. Carr-Chellman succeeds Edgar Farmer in that capacity.

LPS encompasses three College of Education programs: Adult Education, Workforce Education and Development, and Instructional Systems.

“I am delighted to welcome Ali Carr-Chellman to the College’s administrative leadership team,” said David H. Monk, dean of the College of Education. “She is an accomplished teacher and researcher who is deeply committed to the mission of the College and her department. Her intelligence and energy are important assets that will facilitate continued success for the Department of Learning and Performance Systems.”

Carr-Chellman has been a Penn State faculty member since 1994. Her research interests center on educational reform, systems thinking, diffusion of innovations, and the global impacts of online learning. She studies the impact of technology on large systems of education, K–12, corporate and higher education. Carr-Chellman has published more than 100 articles and book chapters, as well as four books.

Her most recent book, Instructional Design for Teachers: Improving Classroom Practice (Routledge), is due to be released in August. It concerns itself with K–12 teachers and how to help them significantly improve lesson-planning processes. She recently co-edited the book Instructional-Design Theories and Models, Volume III: Building a Common Knowledge Base (Routledge) with Charles M. Reigeluth of Indiana University–Bloomington.

Carr-Chellman earned a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems and Technology from Indiana University; an M.S in Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation from Syracuse University; and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Syracuse.

“Adult education, workforce education and development, and instructional systems is increasingly a multidisciplinary set of programs connected to each other and throughout the College and the University,” said Carr-Chellman. “I am proud to be a member and to carry on the good work established by Dr. Farmer in the department. I look forward to working with the other department heads and leadership teams to further strengthen the College and the LPS Department.”