Following my conviction that hiring a learning designer is the single most impactful thing any university can do to advance teaching and learning, I’d like to feature as many of these searches as possible. Today, we hear from John McCormick, associate director of learning design at Brandeis University, about the multiple one-year learning design positions he is searching for.
Q: What is the university’s mandate behind this role? How does it help align with and advance the university’s strategic priorities?
A: Brandeis University’s investment in online programming, led by Brandeis Online, reflects a mandate to expand access, relevance and innovation. As one of the smallest R-1 research institutions in the United States, Brandeis is leveraging flexible delivery models to extend its mission and provide a world-class education to learners wherever they are. The university is launching new master’s degrees, certificates and microcredentials to meet the needs of professionals and lifelong learners while advancing its commitment to inclusivity and access for diverse, globally distributed students balancing work and family responsibilities.
This expansion aligns with Brandeis’s priorities to modernize the liberal arts for the 21st century, integrate career readiness and ethical grounding, and respond to societal and technological change. By expanding the Brandeis Online portfolio to broaden its offerings and reach, Brandeis is advancing innovation, institutional growth and long-term impact. In doing so, the university strengthens its institutional resilience and reaffirms its identity as a forward-looking institution, one that connects academic rigor with professional relevance and delivers education that is flexible, inclusive and future-ready.
Q: Where does the role sit within the university structure? How will the person in this role engage with other units and leaders across campus?
A: This role is part of the learning design and instructional technology team within the University Library, under my direction as the associate director of learning design. The team currently consists of six full-time staff dedicated to supporting high-quality online and hybrid learning experiences. The learning designers in this role will collaborate closely with Brandeis Online partners and faculty to design and enhance online programs and courses. As unionized positions, these roles include the rights and protections provided by the union. My team fosters a strong culture of collaboration and evidence-informed design, working closely with one another as well as with liaisons from Brandeis Online and the Rabb Graduate Professional School, with whom we have built a positive and productive partnership.
Q: What would success look like in one year? Three years? Beyond?
A: Success means the new learning designers have quickly become effective contributors, using their higher ed experience and a coaching model to support faculty and enhance online courses. They’ll help us establish a strong, collaborative team structure and adapt smoothly as we expand our design capacity. Flexibility and initiative will be key as we integrate new staff and refine our workflows.
Q: What kinds of future roles would someone who took this position be prepared for?
A: This is a one-year position aimed at experienced learning designers who want to make a strong institutional impact in a short period of time. It offers the opportunity to help shape the next phase of Brandeis’s online learning growth and to work across organizational boundaries on meaningful, high-profile projects. Whether they go on to leadership, strategy or advanced design roles, they’ll leave with expanded scope, deeper collaboration experience and a stronger sense of how to build and sustain online learning at the institutional level.
