Jack and Patti Phillips Workplace Learning and Performance Institute | Contacts | Cyndi Gaudet, Ph.D.

Cyndi Gaudet, Ph.D.
Center Director and Associate Professor
Tel: 228.214.3344; Fax: 228.214.3343
cyndi.gaudet@usm.edu

Cyndi Gaudet serves as the Director of the Jack and Patti Phillips Workplace Learning and Performance Institute and Associate Professor/Coordinator for the Workforce Training and Development Degree Programs in the College of Science and Technology at The University of Southern Mississippi. Gaudet's professional efforts include developing and maintaining a competent workforce, determining the most appropriate academic preparation for training professionals (pre-service and in-service), and the impact of technology on learning and performance in the workplace. She has served as principal investigator for workforce training and development research projects, and is currently project lead for NASA’s National Workforce Education and Training Initiative (NWDETI) and the US Department of Labor Geospatial Technology Apprenticeship Program (GTAP). She has presented professional papers for regional, national, and international conferences, including the American Society for Training and Development, the American Society of Engineering Education, the Academy of Human Resource Development, the National Business Education Association, the American Society for Mechanical Engineers, the Urban Regional Information Systems Association, and the Association of American Geographers. Her research has been published in journals such as the HRD Quarterly, International Journal of Instructional Media, NABTE Review, URISA Journal, and the Delta Pi Epsilon Journal. Dr. Gaudet has been successful in helping individuals from diverse industries implement a systematic approach for delivering and measuring the impact of workforce development programs.

Dr. Gaudet founded the NASA-sponsored GeoSpatial Workforce Development Center, developed and implemented undergraduate and master’s degrees in Workforce Training and Development at USM, created a multimedia courseware authoring center to develop interactive instruction materials at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and created a training and development non-degree trainer certification program (designated as a Microsoft Authorized Train the Trainer course). Cyndi earned a Ph.D. from the Louisiana State University School of Human Resource Education and Workforce Development, and holds a B.S. and M.Ed. in Business Education from The University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Gaudet’s university teaching experience includes the University of Southern Mississippi, Louisiana State University, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Finally, Dr. Gaudet's experience includes working as an HRD consultant, as industrial administrative support in the petrochemical industry and as a free-lance court reporter.