Culture
A Day in the Life: Curriculum Development Director Andre Payne-Singleton
This story is a part of our “A Day in the Life” series that highlights the career journeys of 2U employees across the world. While many of our features showcase 2Utes during heritage months, this article celebrates one of our 2020 No Back Row Award winners—an employee recognized for embracing one of 2U’s nine Guiding Principles. Andre Payne-Singleton was one of two 2Utes selected as the winners of the Be Candid, Honest, and Open award.
In the vibrant and ever-changing world of higher education, was he ready to trade a cozy life on campus for a dynamic new role in the online world?
In February 2019, Andre Payne-Singleton was faced with a choice. For over 12 years, he had served in a variety of positions at several private universities and community colleges in the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, California. Having begun his higher education career as a recruitment and outreach specialist, he had consistently progressed through different roles as an assistant director of admissions, a graduate placement director, a director of student activities and campus life, and an associate dean of educational success.
When he moved on to become a dean of enrollment services, Andre was only in the position for a brief eight months. He enjoyed the work of serving students and the community in the role but felt something was missing. That’s when 2U changed everything.
Read on to learn about Andre’s journey at 2U so far and what being a No Back Row Award winner means to him.
Why did you join 2U? What is it about the company that sparked your interest?
The only reason I knew about 2U was because of my good friend Kelli Hernandez. We talked about the company a lot when she first became a 2Ute. Out of curiosity, I started following 2U on social media and was amazed by the company’s nine Guiding Principles and the number of university partners. On my birthday, Kelli and I ran into each other, and she mentioned this director of curriculum development position and recommended I apply. She claimed 2U is an awesome place to work—and she was right!
How would you describe your role at 2U?
As a curriculum development director, I have both an external- and internal-facing role. Externally, I work with various university partners to ensure the ongoing health and success of their programs. I oversee their curricular lifecycles and help inform priorities for course revisions, product enhancements, and evaluations of new course offerings, all while monitoring assignments of faculty designers. Internally, I assist by influencing best practices, mentoring teammates, supporting the leads in onboarding, improving processes, and driving strategic initiatives.
What do you find most rewarding and challenging about your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is the fact that I still get to fulfill my “why” even though I am not working in traditional higher education. I get to collaborate with a diverse group of people to unify stakeholders and enhance the student experience.
Given I’m a former student affairs administrator, the most challenging part of my job is that I no longer interact directly with students on a day-to-day basis. But my “why” comes full circle when I get to actually see the impact of the work and collaboration first-hand—not just through admissions and retention data.
Out of everything you’ve done at 2U so far, what gives you the most pride?
To date, I am most proud of leading the Training & Professional Development Working Group within our Curriculum Development team. I truly enjoy opportunities to teach, reflect, and strategize with my colleagues to enhance and elevate our group.
2U recently announced its 2020 No Back Row Award winners, all of whom were recognized for their commitment to one of the company’s nine Guiding Principles. What does this honor mean to you?
To be honest, it's a huge honor to be recognized by my colleagues and the company. It was a total shock, and I am still at a loss for words. I couldn’t have been happier with the decision to join 2U. I haven’t looked back once—and as they say, I've been “drinking the Kool-Aid” ever since!
In your own words, how would you describe the guiding principle you epitomize: Be Candid, Honest, and Open?
To me, the ability to be candid, honest, and open is more of a personal characteristic, but it has also served me well as a professional. My perspective on this principle is how I manage the internal and external relationships I encounter daily. People who work directly with me know that I enjoy inclusivity and the opportunity to expand the group to as many people who can benefit from what we’re doing.
I’m open about my desire to plan and strategize, but I also lean on the experts to learn how a task or project can be done most efficiently. Some teammates may think of me as “Mr. Positivity and Sunshine,” but ultimately they know I'm here to get things done in the most productive way. All that to say, if I wasn’t candid, honest, and open, I just wouldn't be me!