Northcentral University

School of Education Deborah Nelson, PhD With more than 20 years of experience in education, ten of those teaching graduate-level research courses and serving on dissertation committees, Dr. Deborah Nelson finds great satisfaction in helping students grow and develop to become independent researchers. Starting her career as a journalist, Dr. Nelson earned her MEd in School Psychology from Howard University and her PhD in School Psychology from the University of Maryland College Park. Currently, Dr. Nelson is an associate professor in NCU's School of Education, where she is a dissertation chair and teaches the Scholarly Literature Review and Prospectus courses. She has been with NCU for five years and enjoys working with doctoral students. "Their success is my success," she states. Dr. Nelson is proficient in a variety of research methods and designs, including quantitative research, qualitative research, mixed method designs and survey research. Dr. Nelson's advice to students working on their dissertation is to "set realistic goals, recognize the sacrifices involved in earning a doctoral degree and know they are temporary, reach out to your instructors when you get stuck, and surround yourself with family and friends who support you in reaching your goals." Department of Marriage and Family Sciences Elaine Willerton, PhD At first blush, a therapist and educator who doubles as a voice actor might seem like an unusual career combination. Having a soothing voice, however, is certainly an asset when Dr. Elaine Willerton counsels patients in her private practice in Ohio or helps NCU students on their path to graduation. Willerton earned a BS in human development and family studies from Abilene Christian University and a master's degree in the same subject from Texas Tech University before receiving her PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy from Purdue. In her own practice, Willerton specializes in medical family therapy and the use of play therapy when counseling families with young children. "Right now the world needs more marriage and family therapists. NCU's distance-based model of one-to-one education gives driven professionals the opportunity to join a growing field that is helping to make real change in communities," she said. School of Business Chris Agada, PhD, SHRM-CP Dr. Chris Agada is an associate professor in NCU's School of Business. He is both a practitioner and educator. His professional experience includes a combination of human resources, consulting, organizational development and talent acquisition leadership roles. He also has an established reputation in curriculum enhancement, instructional design, and the integration of technology into online courses. "I was attracted to NCU's unique one-to-one learning model," says Dr. Agada. "This allows students to get personalized, applicable knowledge from those who worked in the field, imparting their knowledge to the next wave of leaders. I am proud to be a part of this team." Dr. Agada holds a PhD in Organizational Management with a specialization in Human Resources Management. He also holds a Certification from the Society of Human Resources Management and has taught human resources management courses for almost a decade at a number of colleges and universities across the country. Department of Psychology Richard Remedios, PhD Dr. Richard Remedios is an international research scientist, author, consultant and professional speaker. His focus is on psychology, education and researching approaches to learning, studying and goal achievement in academia. He holds a BS in psychology from the University of Stirling (Stirling, Scotland), a post-graduate certification in education from Durham University, and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Stirling. Remedios has been featured in more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and presentations. "I very much enjoy knowing that the person I have taught leaves NCU with the ability to challenge information and assess evidence with the skills we have provided them. Ultimately, we are not just helping students pass their courses and degrees, we are furnishing the world with knowledgeable scholars who will hopefully impact policy and practice across a range of domains," he said. NCU PROFESSORS EMBRACE ONE-TO-ONE TEACHING THROUGH ENGAGEMENT CLASS SIZE OF 1 100% HOLD DOCTORAL DEGREES NEARLY 500 PROFESSORS 30

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