Education professor receives first Reynolds Leadership Award

Florence Martin is the inaugural recipient of the Thomas L. Reynolds Leadership Award for excellence in graduate program administration.

She is a professor in Learning, Design and Technology, graduate program director of the Post-Master’s Certificate of University and College Teaching and program coordinator of the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Learning, Design and Technology.

Tom Reynolds, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School, stated, “Our graduate program directors comprise faculty who not only excel in teaching and advising but take responsibility for making graduate education grow and prosper in their program. This award gives us a way to highlight and acknowledge our very best leaders and their accomplishments.”

Martin’s achievements include the resurrection of Instructional Systems Technology programs that had declined in enrollment.

“Dr. Martin single-handedly revised our 100 percent online IST programs to be innovative, award-winning and thriving programs,” said Claudia Flowers, chair of the Educational Leadership program.

The Learning, Design and Technology (LDT) Graduate Certificate and M.Ed. and the University and College teaching Post-Master’s Certificate are distance education programs that can be completed 100 percent online, while the LDT concentration of the Ed.D. program is offered 50 percent online.

Martin also is credited with achieving Quality Matters certification for several online courses and two program-level certifications in the areas of program design and learner success. The Learning, Design and Technology program was recently recognized as Best Master’s in Teaching Program by OnlineMasters.com.

She joined UNC Charlotte faculty in 2014 as an associate professor and began directing the online Instructional Systems Technology (IST) graduate program. She served as the program director for the Graduate Certificate and M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Technology program from 2014-18.

“I serve as a GPD because I can make a difference in how our programs are structured and delivered, and I can make a difference in the lives of our graduate students,” said Martin.