Paul is passionate about adult and extended education because he has lived it: His entire
postsecondary education career—as student, educator, and administrator—has involved
non-traditional education. Paul holds a special affinity for adult learners, as that
is how he got started in pursuing his own college education. Paul earned his bachelor’s
degree in management while on active duty with the U.S. Army at Ft. Benning, GA, attending
classes far away from his home institution, Troy University in Alabama. With a growing
young family, Paul went on to earn his MBA from the University of Rochester, and then
many years later again became an adult learner when he pursued a doctorate in higher
education leadership, while maintaining a full-time career in academia. Paul earned
an EdD from the University of Delaware, where he focused on adult education, and his
research interest pertained to online education. At all levels of Paul's postsecondary
education, he experienced the challenges, and benefits, of being an adult learner.
Paul's involvement with adult learners has been just as substantial as an educator.
As a full-time faculty member, and then as an administrator, Paul has taught in, developed,
and/or led working adult learner evening programs on campus, as well as non-traditional
programs at satellite locations away from the main campus, online, bachelor degree
completion programs at community colleges, worksite locations, at two military installations,
and non-credit community outreach programs.
Higher education is Paul's third career. He worked many years as a financial executive
at a major corporation, and, for over 25 years Paul has been an entrepreneur, owning
and operating a variety of small businesses in the retail sector.x