Case Study: How to Forge a Career in Adult Education

Mary Zimnik’s journey into adult education at Emory University Continuing Education (ECE) showcases her fearless approach to learning, adapting, and improving. Starting with minimal experience, Mary proposed and developed 14 certificate programs, designed and taught 85 courses, and created 31 workshops over 20 years at two universities. Her innovative contributions include being the first faculty member at ECE to teach 100% online and pioneering groundbreaking instructional design. Mary's dedication has led to the success of thousands of graduates, establishing her as a subject matter expert in graphic design, web design and development, and digital marketing. Steven Bange, former program coordinator at ECE, praises Mary’s passion, professionalism, and personalized approach to teaching. Moreover, her exceptional work at Emory garnered attention from other institutions, leading to offers, including teaching at SMU.

Key Highlights

• Became a subject matter expert in three adult education disciplines.

• Broke new ground in continuing education e-learning.

• Celebrated the career successes of thousands of graduates.

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Click to read PDF Appendix >>> This full appendix includes detailed descriptions for the course, workshop, and program lists from Mary’s tenure at Emory.

Testimonial

“Mary is without a doubt the most professional and passionate teacher I have ever encountered. She not only has a talent and genuine love for teaching, she actually gets to know her students on a personal level so she can custom-tailor a lesson plan to them and their unique needs. She consistently thinks outside the box ... constantly tweaking lesson plans to incorporate the latest news, tips, or features ... This ultimately made the students more prepared for their career after leaving ECE.” — Steven Bange, Program Coordinator, Emory Continuing Education

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