Jacob Reid

Jacob Reid, PhD, is an associate professor in the Educational Leadership program at Columbia International University. He is passionate about helping doctoral students become thoughtful scholars, effective educational leaders, and faithful Christian practitioners who make a lasting impact in their schools, organizations, and communities. Whether students are refining a research question, navigating the complexities of the literature review, or completing their dissertation, Jacob enjoys walking alongside them as they transform pressing questions into meaningful research that addresses real challenges in education.

At CIU, Jacob teaches doctoral courses in educational leadership, research methods, and dissertation development. He believes every dissertation journey is unique, so he tailors his supervision to each student’s strengths, goals, and research interests. His greatest satisfaction comes from drawing out excellence in his students as they grow into confident researchers and scholar-practitioners. He has particular expertise in helping students develop a well-defined research problem, craft a meaningful purpose statement, and select the research methodology that best fits the questions they seek to answer. His goal is not simply to help students complete a dissertation but to prepare them to conduct research that serves others and contributes to meaningful change.

Jacob feels called to serve at the intersection of higher education and Christian mission. His passion for education and leadership has been shaped by years of teaching in higher education and international ministry. He served for twelve years in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, where he worked in higher education, evangelism, student discipleship, church planting, and theological education. Throughout his career, he has taught at eight colleges and universities internationally and in the United States, mentoring students from diverse cultures, educational systems, and ministry contexts. These experiences have given him a deep appreciation for cross-cultural learning and continue to shape the way he teaches and mentors students today.

Jacob and his wife, Abby, are both graduates of CIU. They speak conversational Russian and continue to value opportunities to engage with people from different cultures. Outside the classroom, Jacob enjoys spending time with Abby and their five children, following baseball (or better yet, playing it), and cheering on his kids at swim meets and tennis matches.