Her Story
About Joan
Joan Reynolds Magee, M.Ed., CIS, MMOS, is an experienced educator and instructional designer whose career in adult education spans more than 15 years. With a foundation in computer science, she has built a professional path centered on helping adult learners gain confidence and practical skills in technology and career development. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in creating engaging, supportive, and accessible learning environments that empower students to overcome barriers and achieve meaningful personal and professional growth.
Her career began in the healthcare sector, where she worked for a medical company training staff on Microsoft applications and providing Medicare-related training for providers in wound care centers and hospitals. As her passion for teaching grew, she transitioned into adult education with Denver Public Schools, an experience that inspired her to pursue a Master of Education in Adult Education from Regis University. She later joined New Horizons Computer Learning Centers in Denver, where she became one of their top instructors, teaching Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and helping approximately half of her students earn Microsoft certifications. During this time, she also earned her own Microsoft Expert certifications, along with Adobe certifications, and expanded her instructional experience to include ESL education, including a year teaching in Costa Rica.
Currently, Joan serves as an adjunct professor at Colorado Technical University, where she teaches academic and career planning courses and facilitates VA-required on-campus lectures for students receiving educational benefits. She continues to maintain a strong passion for teaching computer applications and remains active in both instructional and consulting work. Beyond her professional roles, she serves on the board of Advanced Service Dogs, supporting service dog training for military personnel and service professionals, and has also volunteered with Point Man International Ministries, assisting veterans coping with PTSD. Her work reflects a continued commitment to education, service, and community impact.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Joan
01What do you attribute your success to?
I really attribute my success to caring deeply about my students and making sure they can be successful in my class. I want them to be able to talk, to communicate, and do all those things, so I focus on making it really a safe place where they can make mistakes. I really do try and work with each student individually if needed. Especially with adults, some of them are really intimidated because either they didn't do very well in school, or it's been so long sometimes that they are very intimidated, so I try and make it to where they don't feel as intimidated in class. I believe the biggest thing is trying to relate to the students, especially because adult students have different motivations when it comes to why they're going to school. I try to relate most of what I'm teaching to how it relates back to something going on in their life, whether professionally or personally, because they have to be able to relate to it to keep them motivated and to keep them going.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The biggest advice I would give to someone starting off in this profession would be to try and relate to the students, especially because adult students have different motivations when it comes to why they're going to school. Try to relate most of what you are teaching to how it relates back to something going on in their life, whether professionally or personally. It could be a lot of different things, but they have to be able to relate to it to keep them motivated and to keep them going. Even now, when I'm doing my VA lectures, I work with students at all different levels, and a lot of students, especially when they're going back to school, get frustrated when they have to take classes that they don't feel like are directly related to their field. That's where I do try and do my best to relate how it can help them in different fields and why it is important for them to learn certain things.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges we're facing right now is with everything going on with AI. We're kind of working on it through CTU, because we want the students to be able to use AI, but we're trying to make sure that they're using it in an ethical way and not using it to do their whole papers. Part of what I do is show them other ways, even with ChatGPT and Adobe AI Assist, and how you can use it ethically to help you, but it's not doing the work for you. Probably one of the biggest challenges is making students understand that, yes, you can use it for some things, but you shouldn't be using it to complete your whole assignment.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In addition to teaching, service has remained a central part of who I am. I currently serve on the board of Advanced Service Dogs, an organization dedicated to training service dogs for military personnel and individuals serving in demanding fields. I have also supported veterans through work with Point Man Ministries, where my husband and I helped provide outreach and support for those struggling with PTSD. Supporting veterans has deeply shaped my understanding of perseverance, healing, and the importance of compassionate leadership.
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