When Gretchen Thomas first came to the University of Georgia in 1990, she aimed to pursue geology before transitioning to education for middle grades.

“I switched my major so that I could instruct earth science to middle school students, which, strangely enough, I never ended up doing,” remarked Thomas, a senior lecturer in the Mary Frances Early College of Education.

This change was the initial step in numerous transitions that led her to her present role, where she teaches courses in educational technology to both Education students and non-education majors throughout the university.

A Triple Dawg holding bachelor’s and master’s qualifications in middle grades education, along with an educational specialist degree in instructional technology, Thomas’ background as a classroom educator and her involvement in teacher professional development laid the foundation for her current activities.

While serving as a middle school science educator in Oglethorpe County, she obtained her master’s and educational specialist degrees. After developing an interest in how educational technology aids teaching and learning, Thomas made another shift to become the technology coordinator in Rockdale County Schools. Soon after, an instructional role opened at UGA, where she has remained ever since.

“I was in the classroom, then I engaged in technology professional development in Rockdale, and my current position merges those two aspects,” Thomas noted. “It felt ideal for me.”

Now in her 23rd year of instructing at UGA, Thomas oversees the undergraduate certificate in Learning, Design, and Technology and collaborates with her professors-turned-colleagues in the Department of Workforce Education and Instructional Technology.

Thomas offers both face-to-face and asynchronous online classes on subjects including teaching and learning with technology and assistive learning tools. Some courses are mandated for education majors, while others are accessible to students across UGA to satisfy an elective or experiential learning requirement.

One course she offers provides experiential learning and service opportunities, mainly filled by non-education majors, where they manage the Makerspace at David C. Barrow Elementary School for students in first, third, and fifth grades. During this course, UGA facilitates maker activities twice a week for Barrow Elementary students, involving projects like finger knitting, coding robots, and pixel art.

“That’s always a delight, because I have all these individuals who don’t typically engage with children, and then they learn to do that, and they excel at it,” Thomas expressed.

Throughout her journey, Thomas emphasized that she feels fortunate to engage with UGA students and credited them for making her role extraordinary.

“In my 23 years, I’ve found that students are increasingly interested in others, more empathetic, and possess a greater ability to communicate with diverse individuals,” Thomas shared. “I mean, I am more than twice their age, and they are more likely to inquire ‘how was your weekend? I hope you’re well,’ before I can even ask.”

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