Dr. Suzanne Becking

Professor

MS in Instructional Technology (Program Coordinator) 

Where did you grow up?  

I grew up in Jackson, Michigan, and attended Parkside High School (which is currently a junior high school).  

What did you study at college and why? 

I started my college career at Western Michigan University in Computer Programming, but quickly realized it did not hold my interest. My roommates were in Education, and I grew interested in what they were doing, so I changed my major to Elementary Education with minors in Music and History. I completed my Student Teaching semester, but did not teach at that time. After that semester, I joined the staff of a student Christian organization and spent 12 years working with college students in the area of life skills. One of my assignments took me to Florence, Italy, which was a life-changing experience in relationships, in confidence, and in personal growth. I returned to the U.S. and worked for a few years on campuses in Michigan, was married, had a daughter, and worked at several universities as an Instructional Technologist. 

My PhD was in Education Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), specializing in Leadership and Higher Education. I was an Instructional Designer at the UNL, working with instructors in the Educational Administration Department. I remember a conversation with a Chemistry Education Professor who, in a short conversation, mapped out my master’s and doctoral degree program for me. That stuck in my mind, and I began a master’s degree in Educational Technology in 2005. I was ready to be done at that point, but again, both my husband and some of the faculty I was supporting told me to “keep going”. At some point, I realized that I “couldn’t NOT keep going.” I completed that program in two and a half years and began looking for teaching opportunities. 

Why did you decide to pursue teaching in higher education as a career?

I applied for approximately 30 positions in instructional technology and/or design and found the FHSU position early in that process. It was for a tenure-track position in the Department of Advanced Education Programs, which was fully online, with the promise of the Instructional Technology program coming soon after. My first semesters, Fall 2011 and Spring 2012, were spent teaching core courses for the Master of Science in Education, such as Educational Research and Educational Leadership, which supported multiple programs, including Reading, Special Education, Educational Administration, and others. However, I had been hired because of my experience with instructional technology and design. In my second year here, I became the co-coordinator for the MIT and began creating courses and teaching in that area. In the Spring semester of 2015, we began the Instructional Design program as a Master of Professional Studies. 

Was there or is there anyone in your life that inspires/inspired you? 

My husband has been my greatest source of inspiration, serving as an unwavering supporter throughout both my academic journey and my professional career at FHSU. Additionally, I have been fortunate to receive encouragement and guidance from two faculty members at different universities who have fostered my growth as an educator. Among them, Dr. Marilyn Grady from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has been a mentor and friend, guiding me through my doctoral studies and motivating me to pursue a career in teaching. She continues to inspire and challenge me to this day.

Do you have any resources to share?

My Google Scholar Page:  Google Scholar  

Is there any other information you want online learners to know? 

There are several initiatives in which I have been involved that have both challenged and encouraged my growth. One was the result of a challenge that I wrote about in a White Paper in 2014: 

In December 2012, the President of Fort Hays State University attended a meeting with faculty and staff from the Department of Advanced Education Programs. During the meeting, he asked an important question, ”What are you doing for Kansans?”  The question became a challenge for a few faculty and staff, and has helped guide the direction of a team to provide professional development support for teachers on integrating technology, helping them bring their classrooms into the 21st Century. We had been heading in a good direction, but the President’s question gave us the impetus to keep going and to develop a more succinct plan to provide support for schools.  The team consisted of six faculty and staff with the Google Educator and Trainer Certification. The initiative, initially supported by the department, reached more than 94% of schools in the state and involved technology integration for classrooms, leading many schools to “go Google”. 

I love teaching online. I appreciate the relationships that can be developed even from a distance and the depth of those relationships. I love seeing the mindset shifts in students as they work together in classes to learn and grow in their professional roles. 

A note from a student about Dr. Suzanne Becking: She is a great professor! I am glad to have had her as a professor this and past semesters. Not only does she lead from a servant-centered heart, but a student-centered one as well. She provides helpful feedback in assignments, notices potential in students and provides opportunities to help them reach their goals. 

Dr. Perry Harrison

by OSGA Senator Amber Shapland, FHSU Online Student, English Major

For students in the English Department at Fort Hays State University, Dr. Perry Harrison is a familiar and trusted presence —both as a professor and as an academic advisor. His path to higher education, however, began far from campus, in a small town that shaped both his values and his approach to teaching.

Dr. Harrison grew up in Gilmer, Texas, a close-knit community of just over 4,000 people in Northeast Texas. From an early age, he knew he wanted to be a writer, a calling that led him to study English with a minor in Creative Writing in college. He intentionally chose a university that emphasized creative writing, believing it would help him develop his voice and nurture his long-term goals. While his career has taken several unexpected turns along the way, Dr. Harrison credits this academic foundation as central to his professional journey.

As the first person in his family to attend graduate school, Dr. Harrison experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating higher education without a roadmap. Those experiences ultimately influenced his decision to become the English Graduate Advisor. “I struggled as a student with acclimating to the world of higher education,” he explains. By stepping into an advising role, he hoped to help students find answers to the same questions he once faced, ensuring they feel supported rather than overwhelmed.

When asked about inspiration, Dr. Harrison points to one of his undergraduate professors, Dr. Steven Moore. More than simply teaching course material, Moore demonstrated the importance of helping students grow as whole people—intellectually, creatively, and personally. That philosophy continues to guide Dr. Harrison’s own approach in the classroom and beyond, shaping how he connects with students and mentors them throughout their academic careers.

For online learners in particular, Dr. Harrison emphasizes the importance of taking full advantage of university resources. He highlights the Tebo Memorial Library website as an invaluable tool, noting FHSU’s strong digital holdings. For students studying at a distance, exploring scholarly resources and reading deeply in areas of interest can be one of the most rewarding and productive ways to engage with their education.

Looking ahead to the new semester, Dr. Harrison has set goals both for himself and his students. Personally, he hopes to strike a better balance between his creative writing and academic work—two pursuits he often approaches with intense focus, sometimes at the expense of the other. For his online students, he has ambitious hopes as well. While many have already taken impressive steps by attending academic conferences, he would love to see more online learners publish articles or book reviews and make their voices heard in scholarly spaces.

Above all, Dr. Harrison wants online students to understand that their education does not end with a degree. “Online learning and lifelong learning go hand in hand,” he says. The habits students develop during their time at FHSU—discipline, curiosity, and self-motivation—will continue to serve them throughout their lives.

Through his teaching, advising, and mentorship, Dr. Perry Harrison exemplifies a commitment not only to academic excellence, but to student growth that extends far beyond the classroom.