Katie Thiry, PhD
Assistant Dean
Biography
Dr. Katie Thiry is the Assistant Dean for Organizational Studies within the Global College of Professional Advancement and a Professor at the University of Arizona Global Campus. Dr. Thiry is committed to transforming the higher education landscape and proactively acquires new tools and strategies to generate equitable outcomes for all students through extensive, continuous study and practice. She earned the “Ensuring Equitable Student Success in Higher Education” certification from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to deepen her understanding of student success.
Dr. Thiry is a founding board member for the Center for Women’s Leadership (CWL), established by the Global College of Professional Advancement to provide a community for networking and professional development. She also co-established the CWL Mentoring Program to support the Center's vision of a world in which all women are empowered as leaders.
She holds a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Training and Performance Improvement from Capella University; a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University; and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.
Dr. Thiry is a recognized expert in the human resources field, holding multiple industry credentials, including:
- SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
- Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential and Workplace Investigations Specialty Credential from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- SHRM People Manager Qualification (PMQ)
- Certified Performance Technologist (CPT) through the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI)
- Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI)
- Certified Professional in Learning & Performance (CPLP) by the Association for Talent Development (ATD)
Additionally, Dr. Thiry is a Certified Trainer for Leadership Development & Customer Service by the Miller Heiman Group and holds a Training Needs Assessment Certification from the University of St. Thomas.
With over 20 years of experience in human resources and training and development, Dr. Thiry has held corporate titles such as Manager of Human Capital Development, Training and Performance Improvement Consultant, and Senior Training Specialist. In these roles, she partnered with organizations to implement successful training initiatives that increased team performance and effectiveness; reviewed and evaluated courses and resources to address organizational needs; and designed, developed, and delivered customized training.
In a previous corporate role, Dr. Thiry oversaw the day-to-day operations of an enterprise-wide learning management system (LMS). It was in this technical capacity that she developed an increased appreciation for the use of technology to enhance learning experiences and workplace collaboration.