Rockhurst College of Arts & Sciences

Biography

Dr. Hedge earned her Ed.D. in Education and Leadership, with a focus on Higher Education, from Rockhurst University in 2024. Her career spans public, private for-profit, and private non-profit institutions, with a professional trajectory that includes roles as Instructional Designer, Curriculum Manager, and is currently the Director of eLearning and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) at Rockhurst.

Dr. Hedge brings to the department a globally informed, practice-rooted perspective shaped by diverse experiences across continents and learning environments. Her work in South Africa, where she led conservation education projects and in Ukraine, she served as a Peace Corps educator developing national curriculum and train-the-trainer programs, demonstrates her commitment to cross-cultural education and community impact. Her background also includes instructional leadership education, K-12 teacher preparation, and non-traditional student engagement.

Her research focuses on belonging, student persistence, affirmation-based practices, and EdTech enhanced learning spaces. These areas of inquiry are deeply tied to her professional interest in adult learning theory, inclusive pedagogy, and learner motivation. She combines this scholarship with hands-on expertise in instructional design, accreditation-aligned curriculum development, and teaching with emerging technologies.

At Rockhurst, Dr. Hedge will teach ED 8030: Curriculum Development and Instructional Design and ED 7040: Technology Leadership. Her approach emphasizes clarity, student agency, and connection, offering students not just a roadmap to academic success, but also the tools to continue learning beyond the classroom. Through her instructional leadership, she contributes to building an education culture that is rigorous, reflective, and grounded in real-world application.