Don Finn, Ph.D.
Bio
Dr. Don Finn joined the Regent faculty in 2006. He served as the Dean of the School of Education from July 2015 to 2018, as well as director of the Postmaster’s program and chair of the Adult Education, Curriculum and Instruction, and Educational Technology concentrations. Specializing in Adult Education, he has been an educator for 35 years.
Dr. Finn earned his B.S. in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Sciences and his M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Adult Education from Radford University. He taught 7th through 12th grade social studies in Montgomery County, Virginia, and also taught in the county’s adult night high school program. In 1999, he accepted a position to provide statewide leadership at the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center, located at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). While at the VCU School of Education, he served as a collateral faculty member, grant and project coordinator, and instructor. He earned his Ph.D. in Adult Education and Organizational Learning from VCU in 2005.
Dr. Finn has become a nationally recognized and impactful adult education leader at both the state and national levels. He served as president of the Virginia Association for Adult & Continuing Education (VAACE), where he led efforts to expand the association’s national visibility and impact for adult educators and their learners across the commonwealth. Nationally, Dr. Finn served in various appointed and elected roles for the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE). Dr. Finn has served as a leader for the COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education, the association’s flagship publication since 2017, and has been the general editor since 2021. He represented the COABE Journal at the 2024 Adult Education Hall of Fame Conference, as part of the International Journal editors working group in Florence, Italy. Dr. Finn also serves as associate editor for the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (IJTLHE).
Dr. Finn has served on various Regent University committees, including chairing the University Curriculum and Instruction Review Committee (CIRC), serving as a faculty senator, and directing the School of Education Doctoral program and the Master of Curriculum & Instruction (M.Ed.) program.
Dr. Finn has received numerous honors and awards. In 2025, he was named the School of Education Outstanding Faculty Member, an honor also received in 2010. In 2023, he received the COABE Award for Excellence in Service to the Adult Education Field, and in 2022, he received the COABE President’s Award. Dr. Finn also received the 2014 VAACE President’s Award for outstanding service and the 2013 VAACE Outstanding Adult Education Leader Award.
Dr. Finn has authored and co-authored numerous articles and book chapters about effective instructional practices for adult learners, university professors, and other diverse learners.
Dr. Finn directs the following SOE programs:
- SOE Postmasters Program
Education Specialist in Educational Leadership,
Doctor of Education, and
PhD in Education
Credentials
Ph.D., Virginia Commonwealth University M.S.Ed., Radford University B.S.Ed., Radford University
Publications
Patterson, K., Brauch, J., Finn, D., Wallace, D., Anderson, J., & Hargett, D. (2025) The wisdom-ing of academia: A servant-leadership perspective. International Journal of Servant-Leadership 19(1), Article 22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.64749/2160-8172 & 2160-8164.1446
Finn, D.E., & Pratt, P. (2025, Fall). Strengthening Adult Education Through State Leadership and Strategic Partnerships COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education 14(2), 8-11.
Finn, D.E. (2025, Spring). Adult education is… COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education 14(1), 4-7.
Finn, D.E., & Kaiper-Marquez, A. (2024, Fall). Family literacy programs: The transforming power for adults, children, and communities. COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education 13(2), 3-8.
Finn, D. E. (2024). A phenomenological study of factors related to persistence in online doctoral programs: Preliminary findings. Enriching the Adult Learners' Experience in Higher Education: The Proceedings of the 48th Annual Conference of the Adult Higher Education Alliance (AHEA) 22-27. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED660755.pdf
Finn, D. E. (2024). Virtual meetings: Fostering self-determined learning to connect online doctoral students. Adult Learning, 35(3), 175–178. https://doi.org/10.1177/10451595241231002
Finn, D.E., & Grooms L.D. (2024). Factors related to persistence in online doctoral programs: A Regent University faculty research grant final report.
Grooms, L.D., & Finn. D.E. (2024). Beyond commencement: Measuring the impact of factors related to instilling the university’s motto and values into doctoral students. A funded Regent University Faculty Grant for 2024/2025.
Peterson, S., & Finn, D.E. (2024). Free and open source systems: Their value for engaging learners in online settings. Active Learning in Higher Education, 1. https://doi.org/10.1177/14697874241257883
Finn, D.E., (2024). Adult education improves learners’ lives! A report on COABE’s adult learner alumni study [White paper]. Coalition on Adult Basic Education. https://coabe.org/adult-education-alumni-study/
Abramowitz, J. & Finn, D.E., (2024, Spring). Advocacy: The best tool in your adult education toolbox. COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education 13(1), 3-6.
Finn, D.E., & Escamilla, O.M., (2023, Fall). Professional development for adult practitioners: Considerations for effective practice. COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education 12(2), 3-6.
Finn, D.E., & Hempel, K. (2023, Spring) Student leadership: Empowerment for individuals and their communities. COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education 12(1), 3-4.
Finn, D.E. (2022, Fall) Adult Education’s Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic. COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education 11(2), 3-4.
Finn, D.E. (2022, Spring) Welcome to the learning differences edition of the COABE Journal. COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education 11(1), 3.
Finn, D.E. (2022, Spring) Online learning and universal design: Practical applications for reaching adult learners. COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education 11(1), 101-109.
Finn, D.E. (2021, Fall) Welcome to the technology and Adult Learning: Digital literacy for all edition of the COABE Journal. COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education 10(2), 3.
Bonney, S.M. & Finn, D.E. (2021, Fall) Rising to the occasion: COABE’s responses and ongoing work through the Covid-19 pandemic. COABE Journal: The Resource for Adult Education 10(2), 5-8.
Finn, D.E. (2021 Spring). Welcome to the workforce education: Part 2 critical impact edition of the COABE Journal. COABE Journal, The Resource for Adult Education 10(1), 3.
Finn, D.E. (2020-2021, Winter). Welcome to the racial equity and immigrant integration edition of the COABE Journal. COABE Journal, The Resource for Adult Education 9(2), 4.
Finn, D.E. (2020, Spring). Welcome to the workforce education: Part 1 celebrating innovations edition of the COABE Journal. COABE Journal, The Resource for Adult Education 9(1), 3.
Finn, D.E. (2019, Fall). Welcome to the leadership edition of the COABE Journal. COABE Journal, The Resource for Adult Education 8(2), 2.
Finn, D.E. (2019, Spring). Welcome to the prison literacy edition: The key that opens doors edition of the COABE Journal. COABE Journal, The Resource for Adult Education 8(1), 2.
Finn, D.E. (2018, Fall). Welcome to the career pathways edition of the COABE Journal. COABE Journal, The Resource for Adult Education 7(2), 3.
Finn, D.E., Getzel, E.E., Asselin, S.B., & Reilly, V. (2015). implementing universal design: Collaborations across the campus in S. Burgstahler (Ed.), Universal Design in Higher Education: From Principles to Practice (2nd Ed.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education.
Finn, D.E. (Spring, 2014) Adult learners need c.a.r.e. Texas Adult Education and Literacy Quarterly, 18 (2). Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning
Finn, D.E. (Winter, 2014) Adult ed 101: Understanding and applying the principles of andragogy. Texas Adult Education and Literacy Quarterly, 18 (1). Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning
Swezey, J.A. & Finn, D.E. (Winter 2013) Faculty perceptions of teacher professionalism in Christian schools The Journal of the International Christian Community for Teacher Education (ICCTE)
Finn D.E. (Fall, 2011) Principles of adult learning: An esl context. Journal of Adult Education Information Series, 40 (1). Mountain Plains Adult Education Association
Finn, D.E. (2011). The Law of Responsibility in A. Arroyo & H. Jordan (Eds.), The secret kingdom for educators (p.p. 145-155). New York: Pearson.
Swezey, J.A., Finn, D.E. (2010) A preliminary investigation of faculty perceptions of teacher professionalism in Christian schools. Private School Monitor, 31(3), 1-10.
Finn, D.E., Swezey, J.A., & Warren, D.P. (2010) An investigation of the perceived professional development needs of teachers and administrators in ps-12 Christian schools. Journal of Research on Christian Education 19, (1).
Finn, D.E., & Swezey, J.A. (2009, April) An investigation of the perceived professional development needs of teachers and administrators in k-12 Christian schools. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Diego, CA.
Finn, D.E., & Klein, J.W. (2009). Universal design for transition and postsecondary education in C. Thoma, C., Bartholomew, & L. Scott (Eds.), Universal design for transition: A roadmap for planning and instruction (p.p. 125-137). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
Terpstra, J.E., Tamura, R., Finn, D.E., & Unger, D.D. (2009). Using technology to put it all together in C. Thoma, C., Bartholomew, & L. Scott (Eds.), Universal design for transition: A roadmap for planning and instruction (p.p. 175-201). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
Finn, D.E., Getzel, E.E., Asselin, S.B., & Reilly, V. (2008). Implementing universal design: Collaborations across the campus in S. Burgstahler & R. Cory (Eds.), Universal Design in Higher Education: From Principles to Practice (pp 255-265). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education.
Finn, D.E., Getzel, E.E., & McManus, S. (2008, August). Adapting the self-determined learning model of instruction for college students with disabilities. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals 31(2), 85-93.
Finn, D.E. (2008, Winter). Trouble retaining adults? Consider the team approach. Progress, 20(2), 13.
Finn, D.E. (2007, April 23). An introduction to universal design. eNews: An electronic publication of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Regent University, 7, 9.
Finn, D.E. (2007, Winter). Integrating assistive technology into the adult education classroom. Progress, 19(2), 6-7
Finn, D.E. (2006, Spring). Applying universal design principles to assessments. VCU Teaching: A publication from the Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Teaching Excellence, 6, 4.
Finn, D.E., & Thoma, C.A. (2006, January). What is a universal design approach to learning? The Professor's Assistant: An Informational Publication for University Instructors at Virginia Tech.
Getzel, E.E., & Finn, D.E. (2005). Training university faculty.In Wehman, P. H. & Getzel, E.E. (Eds.), Going to College (pp. 199-214). Baltimore: Brookes.
Finn, D. E., Reilly, V., & Asselin, S. (August, 2005). A collaborative model: Helping college faculty implement principles of universal design. Paper presented at the National Association of Higher Education & Disability national conference, Milwaukee, WI.
Finn, D.E. (2005, April). Measuring the effectiveness of online faculty development: Exploring factors related to the integration of universal design concepts by community college professors. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Finn, D.E. (2005, Spring). The findings of a pda study about the effectiveness of online faculty development. VCU Teaching, 5, 6-7.
Finn, D.E. (2004, Fall). Enhancing adult motivation to learn [Review of the book Enhancing adult motivation to learn: A comprehensive guide for teaching all adults]. Progress, 17(1), 15.
Finn, D.E. (2004, Fall). The VCU professional development academy model is being replicated in Virginia. VCU Teaching, 4, 3.
Finn, D.E. (2003, Fall). Universal design: An approach for reaching the greatest number of learners. Progress, 16(1),8-9.
Finn, D.E. (2003, Fall). Universal design for learning (UDL) provides opportunities for effectively reaching diverse learners. VCU Teaching, 1(2), 3.
Finn, D.E. (2000, August). Reasons practitioners use a state literacy resource center. Virginia Adult Education Research Network Practitioner Research Brief.
Affiliations
Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE):
- Past-President of the Board (2021-2023)
- President of the Board (2019-2021)
- President-Elect (2017-2019)
- Secretary to the Board (2015-2017)
- Region 2 Representative (2013-2015)
- Publications Chairman (2017-present)
- COABE Journal Editor (2021-present)
- COABE Research Committee (2021-present)
Virginia Association for Adult and Continuing Education (VAACE):
- President (2009-2012)
- Past President (2012-2013)
- Long-term Planning Chair (2012-2017)
- Conference Committee Chairman/Planning Team (2007-2017)
American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE)
- Commission for Professors of Adult Education (CPAE)
Association of Adult Literacy Professional Developers (AALPD)
Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) Center for Research in Adult Learning
- Steering Committee Member (2008-2013)
National College Transition Network (NCTN)
Virginia’s Higher Education Leadership Partners (VA HELP) (2002-2006)
Central Virginia College Quest Executive Planning Committee (2004-2006)
Awards
2024-2025 Professor of the Year, Regent University, School of Education
2023 Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) Award for Excellence in Service to the Adult Education Field
2022 President’s Award for Outstanding National Service presented by the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE)
2014 President’s Outstanding Service Award presented by the Virginia Association for Adult & Continuing Education (VAACE)
2013 Outstanding Adult Education Leadership Award presented by the Virginia Association for Adult & Continuing Education (VAACE)
2009-2010 Professor of the Year, Regent University, School of Education
2008 & 2009 Finalist; Higher Education Early Career Award, Commission of Professors of Adult Education (CPAE), a division of the American Association for Adult & Continuing Education (AAACE).