We are excited to announce that the official search process for the Morgridge Endowed Chair is expected to begin in fall 2026. The position description was developed collaboratively by NIU leaders, faculty, staff and community partners, reflecting a shared vision for strengthening our school–university–community partnership infrastructure beginning in summer 2027.
We look forward to engaging with candidates who are relationship-centered and deeply experienced in collaborative partnership work, bringing both strong academic credentials and meaningful lived experience in schools and communities.
Former Chairs
The LD and Ruth G. Morgridge Endowed Chair emphasizes innovation and advancement in teacher education, particularly in relation to the integration of technology into classroom practice.
Our most recent Morgridge Chair, Laura Hedin, Ph.D., recently retired after prioritizing building and sustaining relationships with area districts, hosting professional development workshops and conducting field-based research (e.g., co-teaching, inclusion and high-leverage practices). Foundational to these field-based activities was her desire to improve student outcomes through enhancement of teachers' effectiveness.
Morgridge Chair, Yanghee Kim, Ph.D., was an advocate for using advanced technology to innovate classrooms. She conducted research on the use of state-of-the-art technologies (pedagogical agents, humanoid robots and online learning) to support equitable and inclusive technology-based learning experiences.
The first two Morgridge Chairs, Donna Wiseman, Ph.D., and Sharon Smaldino, Ph.D., focused on building relationships with school districts and developing Partnership Projects aimed at infusing technology into K-12 and college classrooms.