As I approach fifteen years at Northern Illinois University (NIU), I’ve accepted a new opportunity to become the university’s first Executive Director of Extended Learning and Chief Online Learning Officer. As I pause to look back on my path to this point, I’m reminded of what a fantastic journey I’ve had and I’m filled with excitement for what lies ahead.
I joined NIU in 2004 as Online Technologies Coordinator with the Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, where I was responsible for developing and offering in-depth training programs and consultations on teaching with technology and online teaching.
Just prior to joining NIU I had completed an online Master’s Degree in Education in Curriculum and Instruction and it was through that experience that I fell in love with online education. As I finished that program, I was asked by a mentor of mine who was interested in launching some undergraduate certificate programs online to share my experiences and help his institution, University of Valley Forge, take the first steps toward developing their online program offerings.