About Shelley Payne

2024 Malcolm Knowles Award for Significant Lifelong Contributions to the Field of Self-Directed Learning

Dr. Shelley Payne has been engaged in SDL scholarship and service for over 14 years. As a valuable member of the SDL community, Dr. Payne has pushed the boundaries of traditional teaching and classroom instruction, by finding ways to continuously improve her teaching and structure of her courses to incorporate self-direction. She consistently advocates for and demonstrates a passion for self-directed learning and has implemented innovative models into her personal area of expertise.

Dr. Payne balances life as a physical therapist, research in her field of physical therapy and her research and practice in SDL. She continues to publish and pursue studies in both fields and has found ways to catalyze the two together in her leadership work at Otterbein University. She has been engaged in this work since before 2010, demonstrating longevity and commitment to SDL across her career trajectory.

Never one to become complacent in what she teaches, how she teaches it, and the value of SDL, she iterates and revises to improve learning outcomes, on an ongoing basis. She has used her administrative roles and burgeoning administrative/leadership at Otterbein University to facilitate change, elevate SDL, and build capacity for SDL in her department. Her clinical work in physical therapy expands her impact beyond her faculty role into her work in physical therapy.

Dr. Payne should be lauded for her “get it done” attitude and her willingness to take her brilliant ideas into action. She has been absolutely irreplaceable to the International Society for Self-Direction, Symposium logistics, membership outreach, and facilitation of organizational process. There has been no professional or personal challenge that has interfered with her engagement and commitment to the betterment of the International Society for Self-Directed Learning, much to her own expense.

Dr. Payne has been a valued member of the International Society for Self-Directed Learning. She graciously stepped into the Vice-President role, and became an officer, shortly after joining the board and has served for three years in this capacity. She remains actively engaged, and contributes more than can be communicated, to the Society, the Symposium and the field of SDL. Dr. Payne has served on the Symposium Planning committee since 2022 and been responsible for the Symposium program, supported the coordination with the hotel, maneuvered the ongoing technology support that is required for the Society, and delivered numerous presentations. She is the epitome of excellence in the promotion of self-directed learning and has made contributions to the scholarly field of SDL, our own Society, and to the practice of SDL.