Dawn Papuga Bunja
Education Consultant
- Baltimore, MD
- +14124143296
- dawn.bunja@gmail.com
Dawn has 25+ years of experience in national and international education, curriculum design, training, education management, product development, and creative problem-solving. Also recognized for talents in strategic development, portfolio analysis, risk & QA assessment, team development, and operational vision. Converts strategic plans into tactical reality by bridging academic and business mindsets. Initiates successful processes to produce new products with maximum revenue and minimum risk.
Consulted with 100+ universities and organizations in 30+ countries on entering and expanding digital teaching and learning (DTL) and training efforts. Areas of focus:
University of Alabama
M.A. English (Early Modern Literature)
Hudson Strode Program in Renaissance
Renaissance Literature and Theory
University of Pittsburgh
B.A. English
Minors in Psychology and Theater
Certificate in Medieval and Renaissance Literature
Carnegie Mellon University
B.S. Psychology
Criminal and Abnormal Psychology
Transferred to change field
Associate Editor
2023 - Present
Higher Learning Research Communications
Assistant Poetry Editor
2000-03
Black Warrior Review
Assistant Editor
2000-01
Mythosphere
Advisory Boards
Adjacent Markets Higher Education & Ed Tech Advisory Board Member
Adjunct Faculty / Faculty / Curriculum Committees
2000 - 2009
Duquesne University
Point Park University
University of Alabama,
University of Pittsburgh
Institute for Reading Development
International Academy of Design and Technology
Currently leading Arcadia, an education consulting agency specializing in Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL), as the Owner and Principal Education Consultant. My consultation focus is on Digital Teaching and Learning Strategy (including university online strategy, academic program portfolio strategy, competitive program differentiation, quality improvement, audience expansion, etc.) and Instructional Design and Development (including discipline, program, course, media, user experience, and content design). I collaborate with academic institutions and corporate and non-profit partners worldwide to create modern learning experiences across various digital platforms and modalities (e.g., hybrid, blended, fully online, and face-to-face). My expertise extends to comprehensive involvement across the education lifecycle, including strategic planning, competitive analysis, strategic partnership identification, market research, curriculum design, course and media development, ghostwriting, student readiness training, faculty training, retention strategy, program/course revision, and quality assurance.
Recent Consultation Highlights:
Primary Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) strategy consultant for Laureate universities and institutions in the Asia Pacific region. Ongoing strategic consultation on executing Digital Teaching and Learning growth strategies, building development teams, staffing, faculty training and development, process design and optimization, portfolio analysis, student support, technological infrastructure needs, space optimization, program selection, academic partnership opportunities, and long-range online, hybrid, and blended learning growth.
Consultation highlights:
Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) strategy consultant for 37 universities in 15 countries across Asia, Middle East, Africa (AMEA), and Europe. Strategic Consultation with universities on Digital Teaching and Learning.
Managed academic curriculum and professional training development, instructional design, and product quality team of 80+ employees serving global portfolio of institutions. Implemented team structure, growth, and process changes to meet forecast and evolving partner needs.
Designed program portfolio and oversaw the development of curriculum for 2014 launch of Torrens University Australia, the first new university granted approval in over 20 years, including developing the university design, strategy for portfolio development, quality assurance, and support for accreditation through TEQSA.
Managed the development and implementation of Laureate Quality Standards, processes, and practices for product development.
Managed team of Directors and their teams for the Human Services, Public Policy, and Administration and Health Sciences verticals.
Provided educated recommendations to university stakeholders for product line expansion and product/program growth in an international marketplace; Assessed current products, designs, and outcomes to determine optimal opportunities for increased student satisfaction and product quality. Implemented staff training and development to increase efficiency and quality.
Worked with diverse business and academic stakeholders to develop new programs, upgraded programs, and revised programs that reflect business and academic goals. Consulted on new program strategies.
Managed the development, updating, and maintenance of an extensive portfolio of 48 degree programs offered by multiple domestic and international universities across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree levels.
Collaborated with Director of Program Design in program development; Gained consensus around implementing new technologies, web-based applications, social media tools, and other non-standard digital resources in classrooms.
Implemented HSPPA employee development/training program for process, conventions, and Laureate standards; Developed training manuals and materials to onboard new developers and to provide professional skill development for existing staff in writing, curriculum design, pedagogy, andragogy, outcomes-based education principles, and media design.
Created Quality Assurance process and training to assess quality and consistency of courses developed in HSPPA vertical and to provide quantitative data for analysis, and feedback on skill development.
Responsible for course design and development for higher education courses across discipline areas; Implemented adult learning theories, instructional design principles, and online and distance learning principles to construct style and content suited to target audiences.
Facilitated course design and development sessions with diverse stakeholders (SMEs, academic partners, media producers, and instructional designers) to generate course content, assessments, resources, and media to support student learning, outcomes, and professional standards.