Robert A. Reiser

Associate Dean for Research

Distinguished Teaching Professor and

Robert M. Morgan Professor of Instructional Systems

 

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Dr. Robert A. Reiser is a Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at Florida State University (FSU). Prior to his retirement in December 2021, he served on the FSU faculty for 46 years, 34 years as a professor in the Instructional Systems program and 12 years as the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Education.

During the time Dr. Reiser served as the Associate Dean for Research, the amount of grant activity in the College tripled, both in terms of the number of grants held by College of Education faculty and the dollar value of those grants. Dr. Reiser has written several journal articles describing many of the strategies he and his staff employed that have contributed to the attainment of these positive results. The most recent article, published in 2020, can be found in Research Management Review.

In addition to serving as the Associate Dean for Research, Dr. Reiser’s administrative activities have included serving six years as the program leader of the FSU Instructional Systems program, and nine years as chairman of the FSU Department of Educational Research. During the time he served as department chair, Dr. Reiser received the highest faculty rating of any chairman in the university.

At the national level, Dr. Reiser’s service activities have included founding, and chairing for 25 years, the AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology) Division for Design and Development Awards Program. He also served for 20 years as an editorial board member of Educational Technology Research and Development, a premier research journal in the field of instructional design and technology. In recognition of his service efforts, the AECT Division of Design and Development has presented Dr. Reiser with its annual Presidential Award for Outstanding Service on four separate occasions. In addition, in 2018, Dr. Reiser received the Distinguished Service Award from AECT, presented for his career of providing outstanding service to the organization.

During his career, Dr. Reiser has written five books and more than 75 articles and book chapters in the field of instructional design and technology. His most recent book, Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology, the fourth edition of which was published in 2018, has received several outstanding book awards from major professional organizations, including the Association for Educational Communications and Technology and the International Society for Performance Improvement. A fifth edition is currently in development.

During the 46 years Dr. Reiser worked at Florida State, he received several university awards and recognitions, including being awarded a named professorship, receiving a Professorial Excellence Award, a Developing Scholar Award, and a University Teaching Award. In April 2000, Dr. Reiser received the University Distinguished Teacher Award, the highest teaching award at Florida State. Each year this award is given to one faculty member at Florida State who has, over his or her career, demonstrated a record of sustained teaching excellence. Dr. Reiser is the first member of the College of Education to have received this award.