Dr. Terry Carlson is a Management Information Systems and Cybersecurity instructor at Columbia College who teaches in the Online Program.
He previously taught at the College’s Redstone Arsenal location in Alabama.
Carlson has been a member of the CC faculty for more than 23 years. He is highly regarded for sharing his real-world experience and bringing the best out of his students.
Get to know Carlson in a Q&A with CC Connected below!
Tell us the story of how you first started teaching at Columbia College.
I decided to pursue teaching at the college level in the evenings, so I sent my résumé to Columbia College at Redstone Arsenal. Just two days later, Mary Morgan, the local Director, called to invite me for an interview. I was hired and began teaching within two to three weeks. For many years, I taught two classes per session in the classroom.
What are the highlights of your professional career outside of Columbia College?
My first was as a contractor for NASA, where I was asked to take over a failing project that our company was at risk of losing. Within a year, our team earned the prestigious NASA Administrator’s Award for Excellence. The product we delivered became widely used, and we received ongoing requests for additional content. This was a clear recognition of our team’s high-quality performance. Next, when I served as Chief Information Officer for the Army’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Aviation, which manages the largest air fleet in the world. Supporting more than 3,200 users, we introduced numerous innovations to the network, enabling the workforce to meet the demanding requirements of managing such a vast fleet. The third was being selected as a Senior Executive Service member in the Army’s CIO office, where I was dual-hatted as the Army Chief Data Officer and Director of the Army Architecture Integration Center. Working in the Pentagon was both humbling and profoundly educational.
How does your career experience influence the way you teach your students?
My view on what I want students to gain from my classes goes beyond simply understanding the material. First, I believe the process of doing the work required to succeed in school builds a strong work ethic, but directly translates to how they will perform in the workforce. A strong work ethic and a commitment to continuous learning are the two qualities I value most, both as an instructor and as a leader who hires employees. I often remind my son with a saying: “Doing the minimum never gets you the maximum.” I want my students to understand that submitting AI-generated answers or papers as their own work only cheats them out of truly learning the material. This not only hinders their ability to succeed in the workforce, but also prevents them from developing the work ethic that leads to promotions, raises and desirable job assignments. Over the years, I have hired several former students who demonstrated both a strong work ethic and a genuine desire to learn — qualities that set them apart and positioned them for success.
What do you take the most pride in with your teaching at Columbia College?
I take the greatest pride in hearing from students that they enjoyed the class or gained valuable insights from our sessions. Recently, a student emailed me to share that he had decided to pursue a career in cybersecurity after his interest was sparked in my class. He asked for guidance on certifications and ways to gain experience so he could be well-prepared for the job market. Messages like these affirm that I am on the right path and making a meaningful impact.
Why is teaching important to you?
It’s simple: In the workplace, a leader’s responsibility is to prepare others to step into our role when we leave. I believe this principle applies equally to faculty. We need to prepare our students to be valued contributors in the workforce.
Columbia College’s Adjunct Faculty Spotlight series celebrates our talented adjunct faculty members around the country who teach in the Online Program or at one of the college’s nationwide locations. If you would like to recommend an adjunct faculty member for a future spotlight, email Strategic Communications at pr@ccis.edu.
