Wytheville Community College (WCC) recently recognized Kelli Musick, WCC Associate Professor of Administrative Support Technology (AST), with the 2020 WCC Improvement of Instruction Award.

Musick joined the faculty at WCC as an Adjunct in 2000, later becoming a full-time faculty member and AST Program Head in 2012. A 1991 alumni of WCC, Musick holds an associate’s degree in Office Systems Technology from WCC, a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University, and a master’s degree in Education-Teaching and Learning with Technology from Ashford University. Musick also completed her Master Online Certification through WCC4ME, offered as a part of the professional development plan of WCC’s quality enhancement plan.

Musick was recognized because of her unique approach to online education in AST programs at WCC. One such class that Musick has developed is the AST Capstone course that provides an online simulated experience for students to hone their newly learned skills before graduation. The capstone course provides opportunities for students to apply their knowledge to real world scenarios to demonstrate understanding of concepts covered during their previous courses.

As a part of Musick’s work at WCC, she also worked to establish WCC’s Health Information Management and Medical Coding classes as part of the American Academy of Professional Coders. This distinction of WCC coding courses provides students with an opportunity to prepare for Certified Professional Coder exam with free practice tests and curriculum that prepares them for successfully earning their certification.

The WCC Improvement of Instruction Award was established to recognize notable contributions to the improvement of instruction at WCC by a full-time employee who holds faculty rank or who works as an instructional assistant. An endowment created by Dr. and Mrs. Len O’Hara funds the award; Dr. O’Hara served as WCC Dean of Instruction during the 1980s.

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