Faces of NLU: Meet Tremayne Simpson
A higher education administrator and working father reflects on earning his doctoral degree at National Louis University (NLU) and focuses on "the future of education".
At NLU’s National College of Education (NCE), we know that the education field has changed a lot since we began training educators in 1886. Today, NCE’s research and professional development centers keep the University at the forefront of developments in the field of education while also supporting scholarship by our esteemed faculty. In addition, NCE partners with districts, universities, and state-wide organizations to regularly reassess and redesign our degree programs to make sure we’re preparing our students to tackle the most pressing educational challenges.
Dr. Tremayne Simpson, an NLU alumnus who graduated with his Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership in 2022, has his eye on the future of higher education. During his program, Dr. Simpson focused his research on online learning and learning technology. As Dr. Simpson puts it, “learning technology represents both the present and future of education.”
Now the Dean of Online Learning at a Chicago-area college, Dr. Simpson took some time to reflect on his journey to NLU and the impact his degree has had on his career.
When he was first considering coming back to graduate school, Dr. Simpson was looking for a doctorate program that could fit both his educational goals and his busy schedule as a seasoned professional and working father.
“I was looking for a doctoral program that would adhere to my needs as an active working practitioner in higher education,” Dr. Simpson says. “A colleague mentioned that I should consider National Louis University and I was instantly intrigued by the program summary on the institution’s website. After an information session with the program director, I was more than convinced that NLU would be the best learning environment for me … and it turned out to be an excellent decision!”
Working professionals like Dr. Simpson are perfect for NLU’s Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership program since program courses are offered in both 100% online and executive cohort formats. The executive cohort format combines online coursework with regular on-campus meetings with a group of peers who advance together through the program. Additionally, the entire program can be completed in less than three years.
Although he had been working in higher education for several years already, Dr. Simpson found that his doctorate program deepened his understanding of his field.
“My academic studies provided me with an enriched understanding of administrative best practices, grounded by research,” Dr. Simpson says. “In addition, I learned through my cohort peers’ experiences, which gave me a better understanding of the collective challenges that are found in all colleges and universities.”
Like many students returning to school after being in the working world, Dr. Simpson was hesitant to jump back into a university setting.
“My biggest challenge was returning to complete my doctorate 15 years after my last experience as a graduate student,” Dr. Simpson says. “In addition, I am a full-time employee, husband, and father. Obviously, there was a lot of trepidation and doubt when I began my program at NLU.”
“However,” Dr. Simpson continues, "I was comforted by the highly supportive NLU staff and faculty, who quickly converted my personal negativity…into convictions of confidence in my success.”
Dr. Simpson is enjoying his work as Dean of Online Learning even more since he graduated with his degree.
“In my role, I love having the opportunity to promote online teaching and learning at my institution and to guide and support the faculty and students in various modalities of education,” he says.
In addition to his full-time job and his responsibilities as a father, Dr. Simpson volunteers his time at a non-profit.
“I am an active board member for Doctoral Mom Incorporated, which is a non-profit organization that provides support and resources for mothers that are working on their doctorate degrees,” Dr. Simpson explains. “The organization provides doctoral student mothers with scholarships, professional/academic development, and mentoring resources. In my role, I use my doctoral experience to assist in the strategic planning of the organization and to support the members.”
Dr. Simpson encourages his fellow NLU students to take advantage of the University’s resources while in school – especially the supportive faculty, staff, and students.
“Make sure to leverage all of the great resources that are provided to NLU students. This includes the most important resource, which are ‘people resources,’” Dr. Simpson says. “I leaned heavily on the knowledge and experiences of my professors, which provided me with the guidance necessary to complete my research. In addition, my peer cohort group provided me with positive support, accountability, and consistently motivated me to push forward. I’m not sure that I could have completed my doctoral journey without them.”
Interested in our doctoral programs in education? You can also view all of NLU’s degree programs here. We also invite you to contact an Enrollment Specialist online or call (888) 658-8632 to discuss your personal and professional goals.
