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Jian Su



Learning Environments &
Educational Studies

Jian earned a PhD in education with the Learning Environments and Educational Studies program in 2016. She is originally from Wuhan in the Hubei province of the People’s Republic of China and currently lives in Knoxville, TN. We asked her to reflect on past experiences with EPC and discuss where she’s at now. Read her responses below.

Current Occupation

Instructional Design Specialist
Office of Information Technology (OIT)
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville, TN

As an instructional designer and developer, I work closely with faculty to create instructional materials, courses, and curricula within traditional and online learning environments. I also develop and deliver training and workshop sessions on instructional strategies and current technologies and software for students, staff, and faculty for both face-to-face and online teaching environments. In addition, I provide leadership for implementing strategies to incorporate emerging and OIT-supported technologies into teaching and learning.

Accomplishments since Graduating

Publications

  • Waugh, M., & Su, J. (2016). Student perceptions of a successful online collaborative learning community. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 14(1), 1-16.
  • Waugh, M., & Su, J. (2015). Online instructional program design: One size may not fit the needs of all. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 16(1), 1-10.
  • Waugh, M., & Su, J. (2014). Student persistence and attrition in an online M.S. program: Implications for program design. International Journal on E-Learning, 13(1), 101-121.
Accomplishments Earned as a Student

Travis Hawk Fellowship
– For outstanding academic credentials and success in academic journey; August 2011 – July 2012

Graduate Certificate in Evaluation, Statistics, & Measurement
– Certificate obtained in Fall 2013

Personal Interests

I am from China. I love traveling and back in the day was a college backpacker. I have lived in three continents across the world (Asia, Europe, and North America).

In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, reading, and music. Karaoke is one of my favorite things to do with friends. I also spend time at the gym, working out, a couple of times every week.

What do you think was the most rewarding/challenging about this program?

I greatly appreciate the guidance and support from my awesome advisor and mentor, Michael Waugh, my committee members, Barbara Thayer-Bacon, Schuyler Huck, and Blanche O’Bannon, and all of the great faculty members and colleagues in the department. This program taught me so much and fully prepared me for a successful career in the instructional design field.

What was the most memorable experience?

My most memorable experience during the program was the great feeling of belonging among my peers. I learned a lot through collaborating with different groups of peers. We shared conference trips and enjoyed stress-relief social gatherings together. It was such a valuable experience to have gone through the journey with a group of scholars bonding with one another.

What would you tell an incoming/current student in the program/department?

The programs in EPC have so much to offer. My advice is to set academic goals at the early stage and grab the wonderful opportunities for learning and professional growth along your journey in the program.

“Looking back, I feel fortunate to have made the right choice to have joined this wonderful program. I graduated with some most cherished memories in my life. Now, I am so happy to be back and become a proud member of the UT campus again.”


The Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling wants to congratulate the graduates from nine of our programs who earned their degrees during the spring 2016 semester.

To see photos of our recent graduates, please go to the “EPC Graduates” album on our EPC Facebook page.

Jeffrey Beard
PhD in Educational Psychology and Research – Adult Learning

Laura Healy Betz
MS in Counseling – School Counseling

Lindsay Jo Bock
MS in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Douglas Canfield
PhD in Education – Learning Environments and Educational Studies

John Creighton Cummins
PhD in Education – Learning Environments and Educational Studies

Jamie Cyphers
MS in Education – Instructional Technology

Natalie Ann Fabino
MS in Educational Psychology – Applied Educational Psychology

Christine R. Hannon
PhD in Counselor Education

Hui Huang
PhD in Education – Learning Environments and Educational Studies

Madelyn Jackson
MS in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Sara Jean-Philippe
MS in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Sara Elizabeth Keller
MS in Educational Psychology – Adult Education

Hannah Olivia Kincaid
MS in Counseling – School Counseling

Wenshu Li
PhD in Educational Psychology and Research – Evaluation, Statistics & Measurement

Patricia Randall Long
PhD in Educational Psychology and Research – Adult Learning

Alejandra Maria Morales
MS in Counseling – School Counseling

Nicole Elyce Mullinax
MS in Counseling – School Counseling

Christine Kay Patti
MS in Education – Instructional Technology

Glen Robert Roberts
MS in Educational Psychology – Adult Education

Anne Leslie Skutnik
MS in Education – Instructional Technology

Rebecca Campbell Smeltzer
PhD in Educational Psychology and Research – Adult Learning

Brian Kelleher Sohn
PhD in Education – Learning Environments and Educational Studies

Mary Frances Street
MS in Counseling – School Counseling

Jian Su
PhD in Education – Learning Environments and Educational Studies

Nancy Elaine Thacker
MS in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Duren J. Thompson
MS in Education – Instructional Technology

Angela Kathlene Trunzo
MS in Education – Instructional Technology

Madison Danielle Williams
MS in Counseling – School Counseling

Natalie Diane Yancey
MS in Counseling – School Counseling

*If you are one of the graduates listed above and would like to have your photo added to our EPC Graduates Facebook album, then please email your picture to Synthia Clark sclark41@utk.edu.

**If you were an Educational Psychology and Counseling student who graduated during this time frame, yet have unintentionally been omitted from this list, please send your name, degree, and major/concentration to Synthia Clark sclark41@utk.edu. We will add you to the list after receiving this information from you and confirming your graduation status.