Magellan Learning Solutions is pleased to announce that Dr. Emily Heady has joined the company as its third partner and Chief Academic Officer. Magellan, which was formed in 2017 to meet the complex needs of clients in the online educational space, including content development and academic operational services, understands the weight of this pivotal addition to the team.
“Anyone that has ever worked with Emily realizes, in very short order, she is a superlative leader, gifted administrator, and problem solver. Her knowledge of the broad educational landscape, its pitfalls and opportunities are vast. She is collaborative, relational, ethical, and fun. I will speak for Aaron and myself and say she has been an inspiration and mentor to us both for many years. Emily joining as a partner is the result of many years of planning, growing, hoping, and dreaming. We could not be more excited.”, said Magellan Founder and CEO Wayne Patton.
Magellan Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer Aaron Traphagen added, “Emily is, without a doubt, one of the most well-rounded, knowledgeable, practical, and respected people I have had the pleasure of working with during my career. Emily’s addition as a partner and as Chief Academic Officer will substantially impact Magellan’s ability to support our partner institutions and our potential for growth as a company. I could not be more pleased to welcome Emily aboard and look forward to years of good work ahead.”
Roger Ott, Partner in the joint venture Vigeo-Magellan, had this to say, “It is a rare privilege when you come across those with real talents that stand out like Emily. She is the consummate professional with the ability to command a room and lead through the tensest situations with grace.”
Dr. Heady was born and raised in Southern Ohio. She earned a BA in Spanish and English at The Ohio State University and an MA and PhD in Victorian Literature at Indiana University.
At Liberty University, Emily served as a faculty member in English, founded the University’s writing program, and eventually oversaw both general education and the majority of the University’s undergraduate programs. At Longwood University, Emily served as the founding director of the University’s Office of Student Success, and she also led the University’s admissions team.
Emily has published and presented extensively in the fields of Victorian literature, higher education administration, student success, and online program development. She is also an experienced SACS-COC reviewer and QEP Director and Evaluator.
Emily is married to Chene, and they have two children and a small black dog. In her free time, Emily serves as a pianist at Compassion Church of the Nazarene in Lynchburg, VA, and she loves to cook.
“My own educational training was as traditional as it gets—residential flagships with D1 sports. Working closely with a great team of online educators, though, I came to appreciate all the ways learning can happen. I get most excited when I see an educational program firing on all cylinders—great content, ease of use, strong interaction, clear goals and assessments, and real-world outcomes. This is how people’s lives change, and this is how education makes the world a better place.”
Dr. Emily Heady