A group of students interact with each other

Vanguard University of Southern California

Our Purpose

We develop and encourage people, maximize digital and physical places for learning and research, and foster impactful pedagogy. We are committed to nurturing personal and organizational excellence and improvement, pursuing educational effectiveness, and advancing data-informed decision-making—all to equip Vanguard for the future.

People

One of Vanguard’s greatest strengths is our community, which is comprised of incredible people. We encourage others and find ways to celebrate success and foster kindness at Vanguard. We invest our time and talents in those things that will help faculty and academic staff flourish.

Places

Whether it is leading the O. Cope Budge Library, maximizing existing learning spaces, or envisioning future classrooms, we use human design principles and approaches, collaboration, and creativity to be good stewards of digital and physical spaces and places.

Pedagogy

We cultivate teaching excellence in ourselves and in others by offering various programs and coaching throughout the academic year. We contribute to course build quality and consistency by partnering with academic leaders in the college and schools, and growing our collective capacity and skills for flexible and hybrid courses.

Students gather in graduation regalia
A young man with a podcast microphone
Students gather outside the library

What We Do

Workshops + Events

We host a variety of workshops and events year-round, both on campus and online. These initiatives are developed in collaboration with the Faculty Development Committee, the Assessment Committee, and other task forces and committees.

Teaching, Learning + Assessment Resources

Our resources section includes videos, guides, articles, and links to support your journey toward teaching excellence. It helps expand our collective capabilities for culturally-responsive teaching and leveraging technology to enhance learning.

Course Design Coaching

Our team collaborates with coaches within the Schools and College at Vanguard to develop high-quality, flexible courses that deepen student learning. We offer support in course planning, design, and assessment.

Professional Development Funding

We provide funding opportunities for faculty and staff to pursue professional development. This includes attending conferences, workshops, and courses that enhance their teaching and research skills.

Academic Technology + Learning Spaces

We enhance teaching and learning through the integration of various academic technologies and the development of learning spaces and places. These resources support active learning and improve student engagement.

Program Review

We conduct thorough program reviews to ensure academic programs meet high standards of quality and effectiveness. This process includes evaluating curriculum, teaching practices, and student outcomes.

Who We Are

Dr. Ludmila Praslova

Director of Educational Effectiveness

Professor of Psychology

Ludmila N. Praslova, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology and Director of Graduate Program in Organizational Psychology at Vanguard University.  Her Ph.D. is from the University of Akron in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.  Her areas of expertise include organizational effectiveness, survey research, organizational culture assessment and change, intercultural relations, and training and curriculum development. In addition, she has extensive experience in Higher Education assessment and accreditation, and program development and evaluation.  As an Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO), Dr. Praslova provided leadership in institutional self-studies, the preparation of well-received accreditation reports and campus visits, and facilitated successful substantive change processes.

Dr. David Rhoads

Director of Teaching Excellence + Digital Pedagogy

David Rhoads has been teaching in the areas of leadership and educational technology for the last seven years. He enjoys helping faculty do what they do best by equipping them with solutions and best practices for their classroom. David has extensive experience in the area of online pedagogy and program development, non-traditional enrollment and support, instructional design, and educational technology. David’s background, prior to working in Higher Education, included teaching at the High School level as well as 12 years of youth and young adult ministry. David is passionate about helping faculty maximize face to face and online learning opportunities so their students can gain the most benefit from their instruction. He believes that our goal as educators should be to facilitate learning is such a way that encourages and equips students to be passionate life-long learners.

    Dr. Bonni Stachowiak

    Dean of Teaching + Learning

    Professor of Business + Management

    Dr. Bonni Stachowiak has been teaching in a higher education context for 20+ years. She’s also the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast. Since its start in 2014, her podcast has become an essential resource for faculty and academic leaders around the world. Currently, Dr. Stachowiak serves as the Dean of Teaching and Learning at Vanguard University and is also a Professor of Business and Management. For Bonni, teaching and learning aren’t just job titles—they're her passion and a big part of what gives her life meaning and purpose.

    We’ve got a very particular set of skills.

    We are writers, thinkers, teachers, learners, storytellers, technologists, questioners, readers, planners, contributors to the flourishing and joy of others, and people made in the image of God.

    Where We Are

    Smith Hall

    The offices are located upstairs in Smith Hall, along with the Studios. These offices provide essential support for academic leadership and innovative teaching practices at Vanguard University.

    A bronze statue of a lion roaring
    A room with tables and chairs and whiteboards full of light and warm wood and bright teal accents
    a pair of hands cradling a cup of coffee with a heart design in the foam
    A set of chairs in the studio space
    View the Campus map

    On any given day, any of us may be found across varied contexts, on and off campus. We strive to foster effective virtual team dynamics, continuously experimenting with innovative collaboration methods. By leveraging each other’s strengths and maintaining strong communication, we ensure seamless teamwork regardless of physical distance. Our commitment to adaptability and mutual support enhances our collective productivity and success.

    Message from the INTERIM DIRECTOR, Faculty Development

    It doesn’t take long to realize that Vanguard is a special place. The sense of God’s presence and the welcoming posture of those called to work here is palpable. It is vital that this unique “Vanguard Vibe” defines the student experience at every corner of the campus, but particularly during each moment they spend in classrooms, spaces they may expect to be intimidating. Our aim, instead, is to turn the challenge of learning into a life-giving passion.

    Of course, cutting-edge content and robust academic standards are vital at Vanguard, as they are for any institution of higher education. At Vanguard, however, reasonable rigor is coupled with teaching & learning approaches that make the pursuit of better knowing, competent doing, and virtuous being accessible, engaging, enriching, and personally relevant. What happens in our classrooms should leave students eager for more.

    Furthermore, our Christian identity leads us to promise our students a distinct educational journey. This is a promise we must pledge to keep. While students will learn the core content expected in any university program, Vanguard emphasizes academic faith integration. Guided by the Spirit of Truth (John 14, 15, 16), we endeavor to facilitate transformational learning experiences. We believe that the intellectual discipleship that takes place in classrooms (lived out by our faculty, in gratitude for the holistic formation programming presented by our colleagues in Student Development) will make a profound impact on all who are open to it. We believe both our Christian students and those from other backgrounds will find deep, lasting value in the faith-based education offered here.

    The Office of Faculty Excellence exists to equip and resource faculty at every stage of their professional journey, helping them design courses and facilitate learning that supports a hospitable, engaging, forward-looking, Christ-centered learning experience. We hope you’ll engage in the resources designed with you, the faculty of Vanguard, in mind. Please reach out if there is anything we can do to support your journey as a Christian higher educator.

    ~ Paul