Ted J. Christensen

e-Learning Consultant 

Ted Christensen is currently active as an eLearning consultant offering skills and abilities gained during 35+ years of experience in the field. He is also serving as the Dean of Instruction for Learning Technologies at Mesa Community College where he is developing the school’s online program and services.  He retired from the position of Associate Executive Director of the Arizona Board of Regents where he was responsible for the creation of the Arizona Regents University (ARU), a cooperative partnership program between the three state universities. Under the direction of Mr. Christensen, Arizona Regents University, now known as Arizona Universities Network (www.azun.net), offered higher education opportunities from the three state universities (Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University, and the University of Arizona) to students throughout Arizona and beyond.  In the years Mr. Christensen was responsible for ARU, participation grew to over 40,000 students and 1,800 courses. Mr. Christensen was responsible for the distribution of over $2 million per year in grant funds to be used as seed funding to encourage development in areas supporting workforce development needs within Arizona.

Mr. Christensen is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader and innovator in developing distance and mediated learning programs for adult learners, including the creation of innovative cooperative and partnership relationships between academe and the corporate world.  Previous positions include Vice President for Program Development at GW Solutions, Assistant Vice President for GW Television at George Washington University, Manager of Telecommunication Services at the University of Wyoming, Station Manager of KAET-TV, the PBS station at Arizona State University, Executive Television Producer for the Government of American Samoa, and Director of Closed Circuit Television and Program Manager for PBS television and NPR radio stations at Utah State University.   

Ted Christensen is active as a leader and a member of many national and international adult learning organizations and associations.  He currently serves as an executive board member of the National University Telecommunications Network (NUTN), and the Greater Arizona eLearning Association (GAZeL).  He is a board member of The Education Coalition and served as a board member of the Instructional Telecommunications Council (ITC), the National ITFS Association (NIA), the Global University Alliance (GUA), and the International Internet Learning Association (IILA), and the Global Alliance for Transnational Education (GATE).  In receiving the prestigious J.O. Grantham Leadership Award and the Nofflet Williams Service Award from NUTN, Mr. Christensen was recognized for his national leadership and continuing service to the distance learning industry.  

Known for championing the possibilities and potentials of technology and education, Ted Christensen’s professional highlights include producing and directing PBS network television productions, successfully managing a major market PBS television station, designing, installing and operating a complex university video, voice and data distribution system, and being one of the initial founders of the Global University Alliance, one of the few successful educational partnerships that is continuing today as a successful, for-profit corporation.  

Mr. Christensen offers experience as a television and on-line instructor, a media producer, a media production facility manager, an academic administrator, and as an information technology professional. This extensive background has allowed him to be successful in creating partnerships and collaborations between institutions and private organizations, and identifying the people and the technologies that compliment each other, resulting in new services and new learning products for adults. Mr. Christensen has a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Communications/Speech from Utah State University.