Professor
This course was definitely one that kept me on my toes. I first want to say thank you for being such an amazing professor. Even something as small as the little comments you would leave on my essays kept me going on days that seemed overwhelming. I have never had a professor that made it so obvious that he cared for each and every one of his students. Your job is to inspire young minds not to be bound by society, and you have gone above and beyond that expectation. I hope that you are a teacher for my final liberal studies course."
-Arizona State University student, 2021.
Bio
Rob Wilson teaches with Arizona State University’s Faculty of Leadership & Integrative Studies (FLIS), an innovative American community of faculty and staff who provide an extraordinary education to an extraordinarily diverse and inclusive international student body. FLIS currently serves more than 6,000 students in sixteen graduate and undergraduate programs on three Phoenix Valley campuses, online, with partners throughout Arizona, and in programs throughout the world. They collaborate with community colleges, government, non-profit and private organizations to extend educational opportunities to everyone everywhere.
ASU recruited Professor Wilson in 2015 to craft and teach a course for Master of Liberal Studies (MLSt) students called The Research Process. He taught that course for three years in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS), then adapted it to also suit the needs of a new Veteran Studies certificate. When MLSt moved colleges from CLAS to the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (CISA), Professor Wilson joined CISA’s Faculty of Leadership and Integrative Studies, the nation's largest and most innovative interdisciplinary studies program.
The Faculty of Leadership & Integrative Studies offers a rich array of faculty-led study abroad programs, taking students to work in Guatemalan medical clinics, study Maya indigenous leadership in Belize, prepare for the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, intern with professional organizations in Beijing, Prague, Vietnam, New Zealand and Dublin, and enjoy other adventures in Spain, Cuba, the Baltics, Peru and Bolivia. They offer more Continuing and Professional Education courses than any other unit at ASU—more than 100 courses—including non-credit certificates in project management, agile project management and leadership skills.
Professor Wilson has a bachelor's degree in theatre from ASU, and a master's degree in information resources from University of Arizona. He grew up on the Jersey Shore and came to the Valley of the Sun in the 80's to try out for ASU baseball. After graduation, he spent a two-year adventure in Poland with the Peace Corps. While overseas Professor Wilson helped develop an after school center for under-privileged children; wrote a successful grant proposal to the US Congress to create a computer lab; and chartered an official Little League Baseball program in that same village with the Polish equivalent of The Little Rascals. When not teaching or at the library you may find him mountain biking, cooking and/or listening to eclectic music.
ASU recruited Professor Wilson in 2015 to craft and teach a course for Master of Liberal Studies (MLSt) students called The Research Process. He taught that course for three years in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS), then adapted it to also suit the needs of a new Veteran Studies certificate. When MLSt moved colleges from CLAS to the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (CISA), Professor Wilson joined CISA’s Faculty of Leadership and Integrative Studies, the nation's largest and most innovative interdisciplinary studies program.
The Faculty of Leadership & Integrative Studies offers a rich array of faculty-led study abroad programs, taking students to work in Guatemalan medical clinics, study Maya indigenous leadership in Belize, prepare for the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, intern with professional organizations in Beijing, Prague, Vietnam, New Zealand and Dublin, and enjoy other adventures in Spain, Cuba, the Baltics, Peru and Bolivia. They offer more Continuing and Professional Education courses than any other unit at ASU—more than 100 courses—including non-credit certificates in project management, agile project management and leadership skills.
Professor Wilson has a bachelor's degree in theatre from ASU, and a master's degree in information resources from University of Arizona. He grew up on the Jersey Shore and came to the Valley of the Sun in the 80's to try out for ASU baseball. After graduation, he spent a two-year adventure in Poland with the Peace Corps. While overseas Professor Wilson helped develop an after school center for under-privileged children; wrote a successful grant proposal to the US Congress to create a computer lab; and chartered an official Little League Baseball program in that same village with the Polish equivalent of The Little Rascals. When not teaching or at the library you may find him mountain biking, cooking and/or listening to eclectic music.
I've taken a good amount of classes at ASU, and I have to admit this is one of my favorite classes I've ever been involved with. From the unique assignments, and interesting articles, [it] provided me with a new outlook on online education... Thank you again Professor Wilson."
-Arizona State University student, 2022.
Teaching Philosophy
What we believe influences the way we teach.
My first teaching job was as an adult education computer instructor. I remember showing students how to create, name, and arrange folders; and how to move and arrange files within folders. Some appeared confused as to the point of these tasks. I told them to arrange their workspaces in ways that make it intuitive for them to find their assets. “Create your workspace to flow.” It was that moment when I saw their eyes light up with the realization that computers exist to work for us -and not the other way around. From there I landed a job as a community college librarian, where instructors would bring their classes to the library to learn information literacy, research, information management, and bibliographic skills. I remembered how confusing it was to be in their shoes; to not understand how to navigate the academic and information multiverses. I felt the same anxiety again, only this time vicariously through these college students. I wanted to put them at ease; to help them cope -and I had the knowledge, power, and responsibility to do so. “Everything is easy,” I told them, “when you know how to do it.” In the winter of 2015/2016 I was recruited by ASU to join the Master of Liberal Studies program as a faculty associate. They hired me to create a course from scratch -and then teach it. It would become 505: The Research Process; a course that broke the thesis paper into units, then analyzed best practices for optimizing each one. Some of the students were returning to school after decades to further their careers with master’s degrees. They were out of step with academia. To help them build confidence, I put academia into a relatable context. “No matter which course I’m teaching,” I said, “I begin the same way. I tell my students to learn the vocabulary. It’s just like starting a job in a new field, location or company. Everyone’s using jargon you’re unfamiliar with. It’s not that you can’t do the job – You can! But you have to learn the vocabulary first.” These moments contributed to a legacy of trust. I believe in giving students space to explore, experiment, and experience. I value connections with students that make the learning experience meaningful. I believe in finishing what you start. I value empowerment. And I believe we can only optimize our work when we feel empowered to do so. Dr. Wilson, thank you for all your positive input and encouragement. I know that I am a better person because of this course... I have learned so much in this class and I can't believe I have made it here... I have taken the constructive criticism from assignments and applied them in my management style in my current [DoD] position. This class has actually helped me obtain the fair pay that I deserve. I took advantage of what I learned in the Human Resource Frame and Political Frame and negotiated equal pay on my job!" University Courses Taught
Publications
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Professor Wilson!
I need to express my deepest gratitude to you. I’ve struggled with the online class format for years and this is my first time seeing a semester here at ASU through to the end. It’s been nothing short of absolutely rewarding and it elates me that you found value in my work enough to give me an A for the class! I feel so encouraged now considering this has definitely been the most difficult class I’ve taken, and I have an AA in Japanese! Thank you so unbelievably much. Going forward, I’m going to work towards my degree with you in mind and when I go to Tempe for graduation, I hope to meet you!
Many many many thanks,"
-Arizona State University student, 2021
Images
Your class has been one of the most challenging classes I've had, but with that, it has also been the most rewarding. I've developed my ability to think liberally and interdisciplinarily, so I have to thank you for that. You're doing amazing work, and your feedback is something that I've always looked forward to. It certainly helped me carry on through this class."
-Arizona State University student, 2021
Videos
...And accompanying article from the video above.
Having fun at the annual faculty retreat below...
I just wanted to write you an email and tell you that I really enjoyed your class. You are a great professor and gave me constructive criticism and you emailed me back right away. I really enjoyed you being my professor and taking your class. Thank you for a great educational experience."
-Arizona State University student, 2021.