For more than 25 years, Dr. David M. Dees has explored one enduring question: What is quality teaching? His journey in higher education has spanned classrooms, studios, and even radio booths—beginning with a B.S. in Communications and an M.A. in Theatre from the University of Kentucky, and continuing through diverse experiences as a college football coach, rock-and-roll disc jockey, and theatre instructor.
After earning his Ph.D. in Cultural Foundations of Education from Kent State University, Dr. Dees turned his focus toward the aesthetic dimensions of teaching and learning, the workings of the human brain, and the ways rural and Appalachian culture shape learning in higher education. A proud “hillbilly” from Kentucky, he brings authenticity and passion to his work—bridging scholarship, creativity, and personal experience to better understand how culture influences education.
Dr. Dees’s dedication to teaching has been recognized through multiple student-nominated honors, including Kent State University’s Outstanding Teaching Award and Gannon University’s Teacher of the Year. Yet, he continues his lifelong pursuit of understanding what makes great teaching truly great.
Education
- Ph.D., Cultural Foundations of Education – Kent State University
- M.A., Theatre – University of Kentucky
- B.S., Communications – University of Kentucky
Areas of Expertise
- Rural and Appalachian education
- The aesthetic dimensions of teaching and learning
- Cognitive processes in education
- Cultural influences on learning in higher education
