Ellen Beattie, PhD
Faculty
Biography
Dr. Ellen N. Beattie is an educational leader, researcher, and innovator who believes that learning should spark joy as much as it sparks insight. Her work bridges neuroscience, positive psychology, and online learning to transform how students engage, thrive, and find meaning in digital spaces.
As an Assistant Professor in the Ph.D. in Education program at the University of Arizona Global Campus, Dr. Beattie designs transformative doctoral experiences that blend science and soul, supporting emerging scholar-practitioners to lead with curiosity, courage, and compassion.
A former Director of Literacy and Chief of Adult Instructional Services, she has spent her career championing access and equity across educational systems. In 2020, her commitment to inclusive innovation earned her the Online Learning Consortium’s Leadership in Equity and Inclusion Award.
A self-proclaimed research enthusiast, Dr. Beattie’s teaching and scholarship integrate cognitive and behavioral neuroscience with positive academic leadership and the science of well-being to advance how educators and institutions cultivate success. A frequent presenter and author on positive education, play, and innovation in online pedagogy, her recent book chapter, “From Burnout to Brilliance: How Positive Psychology and Play Redefine Academic Culture,” invites educators to explore how joy, play, and well-being can transform academic life. Through her teaching and writing, she inspires others to view research not as a task, but as a living, joyful practice of curiosity and purpose.
Recent publications
Beattie, E. N. (2025). From burnout to brilliance: How positive psychology and play redefine academic culture. In R. Dhakal, K. Heske, and B. Davis (Eds.), Fostering Educational Culture for Student Success (pp. 117-162). http://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-6960-0.ch004
Beattie, E. N. (2024). Beyond the screen: Cultivating joy, creativity, and well-being in online learning environments. In L. Doyle and T. Tarbutton (Eds.), Best Practices and Strategies for Online Instructors: Insights From Higher Education Online Faculty (pp. 1-40). http://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-4407-1.ch001
Beattie, E. N. (2023). Maximizing learner engagement and minimizing transactional distance with positive psychology interventions. In J. Robinson (Ed.), Becoming and Supporting Online Adjunct Faculty in a Gig Economy (pp. 120-145). http://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-7776-2.ch007
Beattie, E. N. (2022). The power of the positive: Enhancing online student engagement for adult literacy learners. Adult Literacy Education: The International Journal of Literacy, Language, and Numeracy, 4(1), 20¬–35. http://doi.org/10.35847/ebeattie.4.1.2