Megan J. Hennessey
Ph.D, Director

Mr. Douglas McCarty
Instructional Systems Specialist

Mr. Michael McKim
Educational Support Specialist

Mr. Michael Tate
Educational Support Specialist

Ms. Meg Varney
Lead Writing Specialist

Megan J. Hennessey, Ph.D, Director

Dr. Megan J. Hennessey, Ph.D. is the Director of the Air University Teaching and Learning Center. In this role, Dr. Hennessey works to enhance student-centered teaching, sound curriculum design, and engaged learning through the promotion and scholarship of evidence-based instructional strategies and learning technology, and the developmental support of both students and faculty. Before coming to Air University, she held faculty and instructional systems designer positions at the U.S. Army War College, FBI Academy, National Geospatial-Intelligence College, and Marine Corps University.

Dr. Hennessey completed her doctoral dissertation on The Lived Faculty Development Experience of Active Duty Military Instructors and earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from George Mason University. She earned her master's degree in English from University College London, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in English and Religious Studies from Hollins University. She also holds a certificate in Leadership Studies from the Batten Leadership Institute. Her areas of expertise include the scholarship of teaching and learning, faculty development, and English language and literature. Most recently, she has published on the leadership development of women in college, relational learning environments, problem-based learning interventions, and implications for diversity, equity, and inclusion in professional military education.

Dr. Hennessey earned a direct commission as a Public Affairs Officer in the United States Navy in 2016.

Mr. Douglas McCarty, Instructional Systems Developer

Mr. Douglas McCarty, M.S., serves as an Instructional Systems Developer at the Air University Teaching and Learning Center with emphasis on Learning Technology research and adoption. In this role Mr. McCarty assists faculty, students, and staff to learn and integrate existing and emerging technologies into their teaching practices and learning environments. Mr. McCarty has served as a PME instructor, curriculum developer, instructional consultant, and institutional effectiveness representative at the Barnes Center for Enlisted Education. He also served as course director for a civilian professional development program and taught selected Officer Training School lessons at the Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development. He taught new instructor training courses at both Holm and Barnes Centers. Mr. McCarty holds a M.A. in Educational Technology Leadership from The George Washington University, and a B.S. in Corporate Training and Development from Wayland Baptist University. Mr. McCarty retired honorably from active duty in the United States Air Force after serving 21 years.

Mr. Michael McKim, Educational Support Specialist

Mr. Michael McKim serves as an Educational Support Specialist at the Air University Teaching and Learning Center with emphasis on Learning Technology research and adoption. In this role Mr. McKim assists faculty, students, and staff to learn and integrate existing and emerging technologies into their teaching practices and learning environments. Mr. McKim has served as a PME instructor, curriculum developer, instructional consultant, and digital exercise writer at Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College. He also taught electives and online research methods at the Air Force Historians' Course, the Air Force JAG school, and other Eaker and Lemay Center courses.  He created the first PC-based wargame at Air University (AU) and 24 more wargames and group exercises.  He created the first school website at AU.  He wrote the first strategic education technology plans for SOS, ACSC, and HQ AU.  He created the first AU nonresident studies wargames and electives. He also co-created the first AU-wide technology council. Mr. McKim holds an MS in Psychology from Auburn University, an MS in International Relations from Troy University, and a BS in Astronautical and Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University.  Mr. McKim retired honorably from the United States Air Force after serving 30 years as an officer.

Mr. Michael Tate, Educational Support Specialist

Mr. Mike Tate, MBA, serves as an Educational Support Specialist at the Air University Teaching & Learning Center (TLC). He is responsible for the TLC's outreach and communications within Air University as well as externally to academia and the local community. This includes implementation of TLC events, courses, and seminars to strengthen and enhance learning experiences, as well as promote relationship building amongst academic colleagues. He is a retired Air Force Navigator and served as an instructor/evaluator in several operational flying squadrons to include the Replacement Training Unit for the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). He served as Chief of Professional Journals at the Air Force Research Institute and Editor in Chief of the Air & Space Power Journal from 2011-2015.  Mr. Tate holds an MBA from Touro University, and a B.S. in Aerospace Administration from Middle Tennessee State University.

Ms. Meg Varney, Lead Writing Specialist

Ms. Meg Varney, M.A. is the Lead Writing Specialist in the Teaching and Learning Center, supporting student writing and writing instruction across Air University’s schools and centers. As part of this support, Ms. Varney oversees the writing tutoring team, conducts individual and group appointments, and plans programming for student learning and faculty development. Prior to AU, Ms. Varney taught composition and served as the Second Language Coordinator for the Writing & Speaking Center at Colgate University. She also spent four years in Japan at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University teaching English as a Foreign Language—including advanced writing courses—and training tutors in the Self-Access Learning Center. Ms. Varney holds an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Columbia International University and a B.A. in English – Writing from Purdue University. She is a veteran of the Army National Guard.