Leading WGU’s School of Education into the Future
In July 2025, Western Governors University welcomed Dr. Jeff Borden as the new senior vice president and executive dean of the WGU School of Education. With a background rooted in communication, innovation and a passion for transforming learning, Borden is poised to help shape the next chapter of teacher preparation at WGU.
A self-described “son of a preacher,” Borden grew up in Lakewood, Colo., and attended one of the state’s early charter schools before graduating from Green Mountain High School, where he played football, basketball, and tennis – and thrived in band. Initially pursuing a music scholarship at the University of Northern Colorado, Borden planned to become a trumpet player and music educator.
Encouraged by his father to follow his gift for communication, Borden shifted majors and earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in human communication. As a graduate assistant, he discovered that many professors are never formally taught how to teach.
“That really started my journey of marrying communication and education,” Borden said. A pivotal moment came during a professional conference, where he saw leading communicators read papers behind podiums. “I just remember thinking, we’ve got to fix this. These are the people telling their students to do something else. That motivated me to see how I could make a difference.”
Over the years, Borden’s career evolved into leadership and innovation roles, including chief innovation officer at Saint Leo University. He immersed himself in “learning innovation,” focusing on applying research-backed strategies to elevate student success.
“In 2025, I look back at work we started 13 or 14 years ago, and I realize that AI is really the glue that can make it all happen,” Borden said. “The computational power and modeling that once took weeks or even months can now be done in seconds.”
His passion extends to tackling systemic challenges in education.
“The biggest problem in the learning equation is transference,” he explained, describing the false notion that students learn simply by having information shared. “That’s just not how the human brain works. The key for learning right now is working on transference – creating intentional experiences in which students are truly engaged.”
Borden’s enthusiasm for WGU stems from the university’s unique model.
“The decoupling of roles is such an influential change maker,” he said. “Knowing that an expert in assessment creates assessments, and an expert in pedagogy focuses on delivery – those things are game changers.”
As Executive Dean, Borden aims to build on WGU’s strengths while addressing urgent needs.
“We have to ask if we’re serving the needs of teachers in 2025 and beyond,” he said.
Borden also emphasizes intentional leadership.
“My hope is to bring relational leadership, data-driven decision-making, and an innovative framework,” he said. “I’ve written about these ideas for years, and I’m excited to help us innovate at a sustainable scale.”
Follow along with us here to learn more about Borden’s motivation and strategic focus for the School of Education.
What excites you most about WGU’s approach to teacher preparation?
Borden: The commitment to innovation. Investing tuition dollars back into better learning experiences is exactly what we should be doing. It means constantly asking, “Are we doing right by our students? Are there better ways for them to succeed?”
What is your vision for the School of Education?
Borden: Serving teachers’ needs in today’s landscape. There are shortages nationwide, driven by political, socioeconomic, and educational factors. We need to support, aid, and influence wherever we can. Scaling our impact is vital.
How do you see technology shaping teacher preparation in the next few years?
Borden: AI is the glue that connects so much of what we’ve been trying to do for years. The computational power and modeling now available mean that we can personalize learning at scale. If we wield it intentionally, AI can help replicate best practices and give teachers more time for meaningful engagement with students.
If you could share one piece of advice with future educators, what would it be?
Borden: Be intentional. Ask yourself why you’re using certain methods or assessments. If you don’t know the answer, find it. Intentionality leads to better outcomes for students.
