Letter from the Dean

Welcome to the College of Education at Northern Illinois University.

As the new dean here, I am excited to join a team of students, faculty and staff who I am certain are uniquely positioned to lead our nation in understanding what makes thriving communities – and then doing the work to create and nurture those.

Thriving communities exist at the intersection of all dimensions of wellness across the lifespan: emotional, intellectual, environmental, social, spiritual, occupational and financial.

Grounding all of those are, of course, schools and educators.

Schools are incubators of curiosity, imagination, knowledge, skills, fitness, innovation and transformation. The teachers we prepare are on the front lines of building, equipping and empowering each next generation, and the administrators who graduate from our programs provide infrastructure and mentorship to yield those results.

Meanwhile, among our more than 55,000 living alumni are counselors, exercise scientists, researchers, instructional technology specialists, educational psychologists and the leaders of colleges and universities. Each plays a role in a thriving community. We're also working here to create partnerships with other institutions, strengthening our outreach, impact and network.

I know you'll find your place within our undergraduate majors, graduate degrees and continuing education certificates and endorsements. You'll also enjoy strong academic support for success, whether you're in person, online or an adult learner.

You'll also see in our faculty and staff, and especially in me, what it means to follow and practice a philosophy of critical compassion toward making the world a better place for all – and our mission "to prepare students for personal and professional success while equipping them to be leaders and advocates for social change" will support your journey to that noble goal.

Join us!

Mary E. Earick
Dean, NIU College of Education