Leader in faculty development, curriculum design, educational assessment, and workforce training
Jonathan Cisco, Ph.D., is a recognized leader in faculty development, curriculum design, and educational assessment, with extensive experience in higher education, K-12 education, and workforce training. As Director of Educational Assessment at the University of Missouri and academic consultant, he has guided thousands of educators across disciplines in designing effective learning experiences, aligning curriculum with program outcomes, and implementing data-driven assessment strategies. Recognized by the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) for his work on impostor phenomenon in students, Cisco regularly delivers workshops at national and international conferences on faculty development, curriculum design, and assessment strategies. His contributions have earned him multiple awards for teaching and faculty development, and his work continues to shape institutional practices, helping universities and organizations improve teaching, learning, and assessment across sectors. Known for his personable and dynamic style, Cisco offers down-to-earth, practical training for educators in higher education, K–12, and workforce development.
Cisco is a sought-after consultant, known for his ability to demystify complex topics in teaching, learning, and assessment, and training with practical, evidence-based solutions. He has led large-scale faculty development and training initiatives at multiple institutions, focusing on practical, evidence-based strategies that improve teaching and learning outcomes. His approach emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration—whether engaging humanities faculty in curriculum mapping or helping STEM educators improve program assessment. His research on curricular alignment, faculty development, academic writing, and graduate student success has been published in Higher Education Research and Development, Teaching and Learning Inquiry, Literacy and Instruction, and the Journal of Further and Higher Education.
Cisco is the co-founder of The Grad Academy, a nationally recognized program that has helped thousands of graduate students build essential academic skills to complete their degrees. The Grad Academy equips students to overcome impostor phenomenon, strengthen their academic reading and writing skills, and refine their research processes for completing theses and dissertations. Universities and departments partner with Cisco to improve graduate student success, retention, and degree completion. He also leads workshops on alternative career pathways for graduate students and academics seeking to transition into industry.
In addition to his work in higher education, Cisco leads Teaching Mastery, an empirically based workshop that equips subject-matter experts with the tools to design effective workforce training programs. His training focuses on aligning outcomes and assessments, creating real-world learning activities, and building shared vocabularies for industry-specific instruction.
