University of North Texas 
Education
PhD, Virginia Tech, 1995
- Major: Curriculum and Instruction
- Degree Specialization: Instructional Design and Technology, Multimedia Design
MM, Appalachian State University, 1988
- Major: Music Education
- Degree Specialization: Clarinet Performance
BM, Appalachian State University, 1983
- Major: Music Education
- Degree Specialization: Clarinet Performance
Research Interests
- Online teaching and learning
- Virtual worlds for training and education
- Leadership in higher education
Biography
Dr. Marcus Childress is an Associate Graduate Faculty (AGF) Advisor/PhD Mentor for the Learning Technologies Ph.D. program at the University of North Texas. Childress is also the Founder and Owner of Course Jockey, a company dedicated to delivering quality professional development for professors, teachers, and aspiring instructional designers. Dr. Marcus Childress earned his Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology from Virginia Tech and his M.M. and B.M. degrees in Music from Appalachian State University. He began his teaching career as a high school band director (8 years) in the North Carolina public schools. Dr. Childress served on the faculty at Old Dominion University (VA), Emporia State University (KS), and Baker University (KS), where he developed a highly successful online Ed.D. program in Instructional Design and Performance Technology. Additionally, Dr. Childress served as Dean of the School of Education and Vice President for Academic Affairs/Chief Academic Officer.
Dr. Childress' research interests include online teaching and learning, using virtual worlds for training and education, and leadership in higher education. His research has been documented in publications such as Distance Education, Journal of Research on Computers in Education, International Journal of Educational Telecommunications, Globalized e-Learning Cultural Challenges, EDUCAUSE Quarterly, Academic Leadership Journal, and the Encyclopedia of Distance Learning, Teaching, Technologies, and Applications. He is co-editor of the AECT-Springer Online Major Reference Work, Learning, Design, and Technology: An International Compendium of Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, with J. Michael Spector and Barbara J. Lockee.
Dr. Childress' training experience includes consulting with the Intel Corporation (Senior Trainer, Intel Teach to the Future), the People's Bank of China Training Center, the Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center, and the United States Joint Training Analysis and Simulation Center. Dr. Childress has shared his expertise in the USA and across the globe, including Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, and the Czech Republic. He is a past president (2012-2013) of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), has served on AECT's executive committee and board of directors, and was the convention chair for the 2012 AECT International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.