Ronnie Godshalk leads innovative education and delivery initiatives that advance the development of high-quality educational solutions that utilize technology to meet the needs of learners worldwide.
As associate dean of learning systems in the College of Lifetime Learning, Veronica M. (Ronnie) Godshalk leads efforts to develop new programs while also overseeing learning design, technology infrastructure, compliance, and assessment for our courses, both online and distance and all delivery formats at Georgia Tech. As the first leadership appointment since the College of Lifetime Learning was established, she holds a critical leadership role for the Institute and innovative education and delivery for individuals across their lifetime.
After beginning her career in the private sector working for Hewlett Packard, Godshalk has spent over 20 years guiding higher education institutions to utilize technology to develop high-quality educational solutions that meet the needs of learners and the marketplace. Before joining Georgia Tech, Dr. Godshalk was associate chief academic officer at Penn State Great Valley’s School of Graduate Professional Studies. While there, she led the development of many new stackable graduate certificates, a digital credentialing system, and several +1 programs focused on encouraging degree completion to expand access to underserved communities while creating net new enrollments. She also orchestrated the development of Penn State’s first online MBA program offered through World Campus.
Godshalk holds a Ph.D. in organizational behavior and strategic management and a B.S. from Drexel University, along with an M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania.
TEACHING INTERESTS:
Dr. Godshalk teaches courses in management, leadership, strategy and online course management; and is the recipient of several Penn State’s teaching awards, including the Teaching & Learning with Technology Fellowship, and the A.L. Glenn Award for Faculty Teaching Innovation. She recently received a grant from the Georgia Tech Provost’s Fund for Excellence in Graduate Studies to build a Teaching Methods for Remote Courses curriculum to be offered to graduate students in 2026.
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Dr. Godshalk’s research interests include career management and mentoring, as well as online pedagogy. Research focuses on various outcomes associated with effects of mentoring on one’s career, its progression and personal growth. Regarding online pedagogy, her research focus involves effects of digital credentials on personal growth, enhancing education and workforce development, and experiences in large-scale learning environments.
RECENT SCHOLARLY OUTPUT:
Godshalk, V.M., & Sembrat, E. (2025). Building a college's digital credential taxonomy: Governance & organizational processes. Presentation to DLA2025 Distance Learning Administration Conference, Jekyll Island, GA, July 28.
Litzky, B.E., Godshalk, V.M., & McClean, T. (2024). After the ink dries: Body art disclosure decisions by white‐collar employees. Business and Society Review, 129(4), 505-527.
Stockkamp, M. & Godshalk, V.M. (2022). Mutual learning in peer mentoring: Effects on mentors and protégés. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 30(2), 164-183.
Godshalk, V.M. & Messatzzia, L. (2021). Digital badges in a post-COVID world. Academy of Business Research Journal, 3, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4026616.
Greenhaus, J.H., Callanan, G.A. & Godshalk, V.M. (2019). Career Management for Life. (5th Edition). New York, NY: Routledge Publications.
Godshalk, V.M. & Litzky, B.E. (2018). Challenge: Is it too much of a good thing? In G. Baugh & S.E. Sullivan (Eds.), Seeking Challenge in the Career, Research in Careers series, Vol. 4., (pp. 145-166). Charlotte, NC: Info Age Publishing.
Godshalk, V.M. (2018). Sustainable careers and IoPTS: May the Internet of People, Things and Services be too much of a good thing for career and human resource management? In C.A. Simmers & M. Anandarajan (Eds.), The Internet of People, Things and Services: Workplace Transformations, (pp. 44-65). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315182407.
Godshalk, V.M. & Fender, C.M. (2015). External and internal reasons for career plateauing: Relationships with work outcomes. Group & Organization Management, 40(4), 529-559.
deJanasz, S.C. & Godshalk, V.M. (2013). The role of e-mentoring in proteges’ learning advancement and satisfaction. Group & Organization Management, 38(6), 743-774.