Glenna Decker

Glenna began a career in instructional design in 1997, joining Grand Valley State University in 2001. As a Senior Instructional Design Specialist, she consults with faculty on the pedagogy of teaching online / hybrid courses. She began teaching undergraduate and graduate education courses in 1998, and has taught in online, hybrid, and traditional delivery formats. She is a Ph.D candidate at Western Michigan University in Education with an emphasis in Higher Education Leadership. Her M.Ed. is from Grand Valley State University in Educational Technology and she has earned additional course certificates in online and blended teaching. She specializes in developing a community of inquiry in online courses, student and instructor engagement, adult and post-traditional learners and andragogical teaching practice. In addition to receiving a Service Award to the GVSU College of Education and sharing an Administrative Professional Award for outstanding team collaboration, Glenna is most proud of being a recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Mentor award from the GVSU Graduate and Professional Student Association.

Glenna Decker headshot

Education and Experience

  • Ph.D. Candidate, Western Michigan University: Higher Education Leadership
  • M.Ed., Grand Valley State University: Educational Technology
  • B.S., Eastern Michigan University: Literature, Language, Communication and Theater Arts. Michigan Teacher Certification K-8 with ZA endorsement
  • Teaching experience in higher education at Aquinas College (1999 - 2003) and Grand Valley State University (2001 – 2017, beginning 2018, on temporary pause)
    • Approximately 16 unduplicated course preps
  • Certified as a Quality Matters Institutional Representative and in applying the Quality Matters rubric
  • Online Teaching Certification, Administrative Track, Sloan-C Institute (Sloan Consortium)
  • Several additional course certificates related to Online / Blended Learning
  • Course reviewer for Blackboard Exemplary Course Program
  • 2006 GVSU College of Education Service Award
  • 2008 GVSU Administrative Professional Outstanding Team Project award, with colleagues on Adult Learner Advocacy Team
  • 2009 recipient, Outstanding Faculty Mentor award from the GVSU Graduate and Professional Student Association
  • Numerous university wide service committees, including (among others)
    • Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center advisory committee (at-large member)
    • College of Education Adult and Higher Education curriculum committee
    • 2 Provost’s committees to address online education, 
    • Adult Learner Advocacy Team

Contact Information

Interests and Specialties

  • Quality in online and hybrid course development and delivery
  • Student and instructor engagement in the online environment
  • Developing a Community of Inquiry
  • Curriculum development and mapping
  • Adult and nontraditional learners experiences in returning to learning
  • Andragogic teaching practice
  • Faculty teaching identity development


Page last modified September 14, 2021