Cortney Martin

Coordinator, Pedagogical Practice

Cortney Martin brings an engineering background to the work of CIDER. Her PhD is in Human Factors Engineering and Ergonomics (Virginia Tech ISE, 2007), a branch of engineering that applies methods of psychology and engineering to interface and system designs. She taught in the Department of Engineering Education then was tapped to teach in, and later coordinate, the interdisciplinary Earth Sustainability (ES) series, a University Exemplary Program. The four-semester, classroom learning community-based course offered an alternate approach to liberal education. It fostered independent learning and meaning making by addressing complex societal issues.

She co-developed and taught a new course based on classroom learning community principals for the College of Engineering, ESM/ME 4194 Sustainable Energy Solutions for a Global Society. In addition, she serves as the co-PI for the Y Wind & Solar project, which brought together faculty, students, and local professionals and businesses to develop a grid-interactive solar and wind powered public demonstration site.

Cortney is the Chair of CIDER's Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy, held each February at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. This event brings together faculty, administrators, and graduate students to showcase the best pedagogical research and practice in higher education today. She coordinates the faculty award programs, faculty study groups, and works with the formative instructional evaluation team. Cortney is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and a reviewer for Pearson Education's Interactive Science series.

Off-campus, Cortney enjoys her family and two active young sons who have a wide range of interests including Karate, cello, and swimming. Before sunup she is often found pounding the pavement or heading to the pool as she trains as a runner and triathlete.

111 Hillcrest Hall (0453), Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-6823  |  cider@vt.edu