Exterior of Greenfield Building

David Brightsman

David Brightsman David Brightsman Education Dean, College of Professional Studies Email: david.brightsman@wlc.edu Phone: 414.443.8739

David Brightsman

Education

  • B. Music, Lawrence University - Appleton, WI
  • M.S., University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
  • Ph.D. in Urban Education, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Background

I have been blessed to serve in a variety of teaching settings across the span of my career, beginning as a middle school band director in Watertown, WI, and ultimately begin called to Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2002. In 2010 I was asked to serve as the founding Dean of the College of Professional Studies. As dean, I serve as the chief academic officer responsible for administrative oversight, resource allocation and management, the delivery of instructional programs, scholarly activity and service, advancement and fundraising, and as liaison with the senior administration and the college community. In addition to these administrative duties, I continue to serve as a faculty member in the School of Teacher Education, teaching primarily in the graduate program.

Research Interests

  • Middle Level Education
  • High Performance Instruction
  • Urban Education
  • Intersection of Vocation and Leadership in Undergraduate Education
  • Adult Learning and Professional Development

Teaching

Current

  • EDU 523 - Nature and Needs of Early Adolescence
  • EDU 616 - Introduction to Adult Learning
  • EDU 635 - Professional Development and the Learning Community
  • EDU 692 - Education Research Design

Previous

  • Education in a Diverse Society
  • Instructional and Classroom Management Strategies
  • Instructional Strategies: Middle School
  • Content Area Literacy

Scholarly Works

Select Presentations

July 2019. “Engaging Student Feedback for Guidance: A Pilot Study Using CoursEval for Formative Feedback.” Elevate 2019, Baltimore, Maryland.

March 2017. “Christian Faith Perspectives on Vocation.” Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) Pre-Conference Workshop, Charlotte, North Carolina

March 2015. “Institutional Reflection: The Impetus for Engaging Undergraduate Students in Intentional and Sustained Vocational Conversations.” Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) Conference, St. Louis, Missouri.

March 2013. “The Evolution of the First-Year Experience Course: Understanding One’s Vocation.” Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Professional Memberships

  • American Conference of Academic Deans
  • Association of American Colleges and Universities
  • American Education Research Association
  • Association for General and Liberal Studies
  • Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education