O.R. Killian

O.R. is a Graduate Assistant for the Professional Development program within the University of Arizona Graduate College, where he supports graduate student and postdoctoral scholar professional development initiatives with a focus on instructional design and program evaluation. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and an M.A. in Philosophy at the University of Arizona.

His research explores how higher education can become more engaging and purposeful by helping students understand the intent behind assignments and learning activities and connect those experiences to personal growth, professional development, and lifelong fulfillment. He is particularly interested in designing learning environments that foster curiosity, enjoyment, and intrinsic motivation while making the knowledge, skills, and experiences students develop more visible to themselves and future employers. His work bridges educational psychology and philosophy to investigate how institutions can cultivate learning that is personally meaningful, professionally relevant, and intrinsically rewarding.