Andy Van Schaack

Andy Van Schaack is a professor at Vanderbilt University with appointments in the Peabody College of Education and the School of Engineering. He teaches courses in social science research methods, organizational psychology, judgment and analytic-reasoning, and technology forecasting. He founded and served as Chief Scientist for several technology companies in Silicon Valley, where he earned 15 patents for inventions related to adaptive learning systems and digital pen technologies.

 

Dr. Van Schaack has produced education and training programs for all levels of Navy accessions. At Recruit Training Command (the Navy’s only bootcamp), he developed and led the new instructor training course for the Warrior Toughness program. He also developed and led the new instructor training course for all Navy and Marine Corps officers transitioning from the fleet to serve as Naval ROTC instructors at universities across the United States. After the success of these programs, Dr. Van Schaack was tasked by the commander of Naval Education and Training Command to redesign the Navy Instructor Training Course (NITC)—a three-week training course required for all Navy personnel who will serve as instructors on shore or at sea.

 

In 2017, Dr. Van Schaack was the recipient of the Madison Sarratt Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, which is Vanderbilt University’s teacher-of-the-year award. In 2018 he was named an honorary midshipman by the Vanderbilt University Naval ROTC unit. Dr. Van Schaack holds a bachelor’s degree in instructional psychology and a doctorate in instructional technology from Utah State University.