Letter from the Dean
Welcome to the College of Education at Northern Illinois University. As a longtime faculty member in the College of Education, I am honored to serve as dean. I truly believe that the College of Education at NIU is the best place to learn, teach and work, and I can’t wait for you to experience all that the college has to offer.
The College of Education is a supportive community of people, opportunities and traditions. Chartered in 1895, Northern Illinois University first opened its doors in fall 1899 as the Northern Illinois State Normal School to prepare college-educated teachers. Today, the College of Education is proud of its network of 53,000 living alumni who have gone on to make a difference as teachers, administrators, specialists, counselors, researchers, professors and leaders in a variety of school, community, industrial and business settings.
Our college is comprised of six academic departments that offer eight undergraduate majors, 14 master’s programs, six doctoral programs, one educational specialist program and numerous certificates and endorsements. Most importantly, our award-winning faculty and caring and committed staff members are here to support you as you set and pursue your professional goals.
Guided by our Strategic Action Planning Framework, we promise an education that is student-centered, experiential, research-informed, inclusive, collaborative and innovative. These values support our mission “to prepare students to be leaders in their chosen professions through programs of study grounded in engaged learning experiences.”
I invite you to explore the College of Education and the many opportunities it offers. Just imagine where your NIU education will lead you!
My best,
Dean
