PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
In Spring 2016 , Forbes published the article, “Why 2020 is Shaping Up to be a Pivotal Year.” In it, the author states, ”The truth is that innovation is never a single event, but rather the confluence of efforts undertaken by many different people and organizations.” 1
letting the changes in higher education occur around us. We are leading those changes and addressing issues related to access and affordability. By adapting curriculum, effecting new models of learning and creating new programs, we are leading higher education to reimagine the way we can serve students. Fittingly, all of our work carries the objective that it can advance lives and adapt as higher education evolves and changes. I urge you to learn more about NLU’s innovation efforts. In
The confluence of efforts — one can just imagine the merging and weaving of ideas to address an issue, and building upon
thoughts and concepts to create something that others can then merge and build upon. Essentially what the author Greg Satell is telling us is that innovation is not just a song, but a symphony. Without a
this issue you will read about how the National College of Education (NCE) is leveraging partnerships with schools and districts in new ways; and how the College of Professional Studies and Advancement
musician, a songwriter has no one to play his melody, and without an instrument, the musician falls silent. The merging and unique combinations of these various talents is the source of power and inspiration.
(CPSA) is continually providing new learning opportunities for professionals. Learn about NLU launching a new undergraduate college in 2018 that builds upon the innovative strategies for student success
I believe this idea of a confluence of efforts is truly befitting of NLU. When Elizabeth Harrison founded this institution, she had the vision, but she did not stand alone in creating the first training school for kindergarten teachers. She had colleagues like Maria Kraus-Boelte, Rumah Crouse, and Edna Dean Baker by her side. If it were not for the combined efforts of these visionaries, we would not be going Boldly Into 2020 and Beyond today. I am heartened that we stay true to our roots and continue to innovate, transform, and, as the Gates Foundation dubbed us, be a “positive deviant.” We are not sitting idly by and
implemented in our Pathways program. I also encourage you to visit our NLU blog at blog.nl.edu. I suspect that once you read about all the work our alumni, faculty and staff are doing that you will see how innovation and positive transformation is as vital and contagious today as it was when we were founded in 1886. So as I look to the future, I am excited and confident that great things are on the horizon, and we will continue to pioneer new approaches to learning and impacting our communities on behalf of our students and all of you.
Best regards to all,
Nivine Megahed, Ph.D., President
We invite you to stay engaged between semi-annual issues of this magazine by visiting nl.edu/alumni .
1 Why 2020 is Shaping Up to be a Pivotal Year, by Greg Satell, Forbes, April 29, 2016.
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National Louis University VIEW | FALL 2017
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