Faculty/Staff Directory
Douglas Preyna
Part Time Instructor
Credentials: MSIT
| Office Hours: | By appointment only. |
| Locations: (Campus & Office) |
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| Biography: | Douglas J. Preyna is an IT and Quality Assurance leader with nearly three decades of experience delivering secure, scalable, and mission-critical software solutions across government and enterprise environments. He currently serves as a Section Chief for the United States Air Force at Robins Air Force Base, where he leads cross-functional teams responsible for enterprise system modernization, quality strategy, risk management, and data-driven decision support. His work emphasizes embedding quality throughout the software development lifecycle, aligning technology initiatives with mission and cybersecurity requirements, and improving organizational visibility through metrics and dashboards. Mr. Preyna is an adjunct professor at Middle Georgia State University, where he teaches upper-level coursework in Test-Driven Development, software quality assurance, and modern testing practices using Python and Django. His teaching approach blends theory with real-world application, preparing students to think critically about quality, automation, and risk in complex systems. He is passionate about mentoring students and helping them translate academic concepts into practical, workforce-ready skills. Throughout his career, Mr. Preyna has led QA transformations for large-scale modernization efforts, including federal platforms, SaaS products, and financial services systems. His professional background includes roles as a Test Architect, Test Lead, Director of Quality, Product Owner, and Strategic Consultant, where he has designed automation frameworks, implemented KPI-driven quality dashboards, and coached teams to adopt disciplined, agile quality practices. He is particularly interested in data quality, risk-based testing, and the role of metrics in improving software outcomes. Mr. Preyna holds a Master of Science in Information Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Middle Georgia State University, graduating with high academic distinction. He maintains multiple professional certifications, including Certified Scrum Master and ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity. His combined experience in industry leadership and higher education informs a teaching philosophy grounded in rigor, relevance, and continuous improvement. |
| Syllabi: | |
| Teaching and Research Interests: | Mr. Preyna’s teaching and research interests are grounded in software quality assurance, test-driven development, and the intersection of data quality and data-driven decision-making. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience in government and enterprise environments, he emphasizes the practical application of theory through hands-on labs, project-based learning, and real-world case studies that prepare students for modern technical roles. In the classroom, Mr. Preyna focuses on helping students develop disciplined, critical thinking skills related to testing, automation, requirements analysis, Agile methodologies, and risk-based quality practices. His instructional approach blends structured guidance with experiential learning, encouraging collaboration, curiosity, and accountability. He is particularly committed to mentoring students—especially non-traditional learners—by creating a supportive environment where questions, experimentation, and growth are encouraged. His teaching philosophy reflects a “pay it forward” mindset shaped by mentorship early in his career and by his academic journey at Middle Georgia State University. Mr. Preyna’s primary research interest centers on the impact of data quality on data-driven decision-making within complex organizational systems. He is currently researching how issues such as data accuracy, completeness, consistency, and timeliness influence analytics, operational effectiveness, and strategic outcomes in both public- and private-sector contexts. His broader research interests include data governance, quality metrics, risk management, and the use of measurement frameworks to improve software reliability and organizational performance. With a background that spans quality engineering, dashboard development, and executive-level reporting, Mr. Preyna is particularly interested in applied research that bridges academic theory and professional practice. His work aims to inform both educators and practitioners by demonstrating how sound data and quality practices directly affect decision quality, system trustworthiness, and mission success. |
| Courses: | CSCI 4365: Software Testing & Quality ITEC 4365: Test-Driven Development |
| Education: (All institutions attended and degrees or credentials earned) | Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) Middle Georgia State University, 2024 Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Middle Georgia State University, 2023 |
| Publications and Scholarships: (Last 5 Years) | Preyna, Douglas. “Colombian Immigration through the Darién Gap.” Knighted, Middle Georgia State University, 2023, www.mga.edu/arts-letters/docs/knighted-journal/Issue-6.pdf. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025. |
| Professional Affiliations: | National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS): Foundations of Leadership Certificate Scrum Alliance: Certified Scrum Master (CSM), 2025–2027 ISC2: Certified in Cybersecurity (CC), 2023–2026 |
| Awards and Honors: | Alpha Iota Mu, Middle Georgia State University, 2024 President's List Scholar, Middle Georgia State University, 2023 |
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