David Thomas

Biography
David A. Thomas (Dave) is an experienced university teacher, management consultant, and business executive. His comprehensive and diverse background includes key leadership positions in the computer systems integration and software industries, and extensive experience managing people and projects, both domestically and internationally, across several industries.
As a successful entrepreneur, Dave founded and grew several successful businesses, including Monarch Productivity Group, a corporate training and management consulting firm specializing in the development of customized results-based project management and continuous improvement training programs, and Thomas Enterprises / Marina Mobile Estates, a real estate investment and development firm which he grew to over four million dollars in holdings. Dave “followed his bliss” (as Joseph Campbell would say) and “retired” into teaching at ASU full time in 1999.
In addition to a strong interdisciplinary background in business, Dave holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology as well as a Master of Business Administration Degree in corporate finance and investments, both from the University of Southern California. He also earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from the California State Polytechnic University. His primary areas of expertise center on key factors that affect human performance, including organizational psychology, adult learning and motivation, creative and critical thinking, project management and interdisciplinary team leadership, decision making, and problem-solving.
Dave received the President's Award for Innovation at ASU in 2016 - primarily for his work with developing OGL 375 Corporate Leadership: Starbucks - a course that any SCAP student may elect to take. David is also well known as a "builder" of course content and curriculum across several degree programs here at ASU. He has also developed several different kinds of study abroad opportunities for students and has spent 10 summers with ASU students in Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, the Czech Republic, and New Zealand for internship-based study abroad programs - and in the Baltics for cultural programming.
Fax
Education
- Ph.D. Educational Psychology, University of Southern California
- M.B.A. Corporate Finance and Investments, University of Southern California
- B.S. Engineering, California State Polytechnic University
Research Interests
Dave's primary areas of expertise and research interests center on key factors that affect human performance, including adult learning and motivational theories, creative and critical thinking, project management and interdisciplinary team leadership, decision making, and problem solving.
Courses
Summer 2022 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
OGL 350 | Diversity and Organizations |
OGL 365 | Organizational Contexts |
Spring 2022 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
IDS 201 | Intellectual Fusion |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
OGL 520 | Social Psychological Perspecti |
Fall 2021 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
IDS 201 | Intellectual Fusion |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
OGL 520 | Social Psychological Perspecti |
Summer 2021 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
OGL 520 | Social Psychological Perspecti |
Spring 2021 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
IDS 201 | Intellectual Fusion |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
OGL 520 | Social Psychological Perspecti |
Fall 2020 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
IDS 201 | Intellectual Fusion |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
OGL 520 | Social Psychological Perspecti |
Summer 2020 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
OGL 520 | Social Psychological Perspecti |
Spring 2020 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
IDS 201 | Intellectual Fusion |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
IDS 301 | Becoming Interdisciplinary |
IDS 315 | Integration: Social Contexts |
OGL 343 | Social Processes in Orgs |
LST 370 | Dimensions of Liberal Studies |
IDS 401 | Integration: Experiential |
OGL 481 | Org Leadership Pro-Seminar I |
OGL 482 | Org Leadership Pro-Seminar II |
OGL 484 | Internship |
OGL 520 | Social Psychological Perspecti |
Fall 2019 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
IDS 201 | Intellectual Fusion |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
IDS 301 | Becoming Interdisciplinary |
Summer 2019 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
BIS 302 | Interdisciplinary Inquiry |
OGL 350 | Diversity and Organizations |
BIS 360 | Organizational Contexts |
BIS 401 | Applied Interdisc Studies |
BIS 402 | Senior Seminar |
BIS 484 | Internship |
MKT 484 | Internship |
BIS 499 | Individualized Instruction |
TWC 598 | Special Topics |
Spring 2019 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
BIS 301 | Found of Interdisc Studies |
Fall 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
BIS 301 | Found of Interdisc Studies |
OGL 375 | Corporate Ldrshp - Starbucks |
OGL 481 | Org Leadership Pro-Seminar I |
OGL 482 | Org Leadership Pro-Seminar II |
Summer 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
BIS 360 | Organizational Contexts |
BIS 401 | Applied Interdisc Studies |
BIS 402 | Senior Seminar |
OGL 481 | Org Leadership Pro-Seminar I |
OGL 482 | Org Leadership Pro-Seminar II |
BIS 484 | Internship |
MKT 484 | Internship |
BIS 499 | Individualized Instruction |
Spring 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
OGL 375 | Corporate Ldrshp - Starbucks |
BIS 402 | Senior Seminar |
OGL 481 | Org Leadership Pro-Seminar I |
OGL 482 | Org Leadership Pro-Seminar II |
Fall 2017 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
OGL 220 | Behavioral Dynamics in Org |
BIS 301 | Found of Interdisc Studies |
OGL 375 | Corporate Ldrshp - Starbucks |
OGL 481 | Org Leadership Pro-Seminar I |
OGL 482 | Org Leadership Pro-Seminar II |
Honors/Awards
ASU President's Award for Innovation (for work associated with the Starbucks College Achievement Program)
Co-Curricular Programs (Arizona State University) Faculty Fellow
Wakonse (Arizona Chapter) Faculty Fellow
Industry Positions
David A. Thomas (Dave) is an experienced university teacher, management consultant, and business executive. His comprehensive and diverse background includes key leadership positions in the computer systems integration and software industries, and extensive experience managing people and projects, both domestically and internationally, across several industries.
As a successful entrepreneur, David founded and grew several successful businesses, including Monarch Productivity Group, a corporate training and management consulting firm specializing in the development of customized results-based project management and continuous improvement training programs, and Thomas Enterprises / Marina Mobile Estates, a real estate investment and development firm which he grew to over four million dollars in holdings. Dave “followed his bliss” (as Joseph Campbell would say) and “retired” into teaching full time in 1999.