Zek Valkyrie, Ph.D.

Zek Valkyrie is a Teaching Professor in the Sociology Department at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

Zek is known for teaching via storytelling, as well as creating assessment structures in courses using game mechanics, which borrow largely from the role-playing game (RPG) genre. For such efforts, UCCS has awarded Zek with multiple teaching awards, including the Innovations in Teaching with Technology Award, the LAS Outstanding Instructor Award, and the campus-wide Outstanding Instructor Award. When not focused on teaching, Zek spends time serving as a year-round reviewer for the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Outside of work, Zek enjoys writing fiction and playing video games, including some modern favorites such as Octopath Traveler, recent Persona titles, the Xenoblade series, and various other RPGs. Additionally, Zek revels in replaying the classic RPGs from the fourth, fifth, and sixth console generations and has been active in Final Fantasy 14 since the launch of v1 (circa 2010).

Finally, Zek is also an open-heart surgery warrior (or zombie), having undergone mitral valve replacement in 2021. The knowledge of needing to further extend life through future open-heart surgeries has reshaped Zek’s framing of time, meaning, and purpose.

• Ph.D. University of Colorado, Boulder, Sociology
• M.A. University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Sociology
• B.A. University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Sociology and Psychology

• Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1110) - fall, spring, summer semesters
• Social Research Methods (SOC 3070) - fall and spring semesters

• Dukes-Hall Award, Sociology Department, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 2021.
• Mayor’s Young Leaders Award – Finalist – Innovations in Education, City of Colorado Springs, 2020.
• Letters, Arts, and Sciences Student-Faculty Research/Creative Works/Community Service Award, 2017-2018, with Gwen Chambers for “Regretting Parenthood.”
• Letters, Arts, and Sciences Outstanding Teaching Full-Time Instructor Award, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 2017.
• Outstanding Instructor Award, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 2016.
• Western Social Science Association President-Elect's New Scholar Award, 2015.
• Innovations in Teaching with Technology Award, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 2014.
• Graduate Instructor of the Year Award, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2011.

• Year-Round Reviewer for the Institutional Review Board, 2015-present.
• Dean’s Instructor Review Committee, 2015-2021, Chair, 2016-2020.
• Co-Director of the Ungraduated Program in Sociology, 2015-2021.
• Director of the Sociology Online Program, 2020-2021.