Student Spotlight, Jeffrey L. Brown, Ed.D. Program
Jeffrey L. Brown is a candidate in the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program at UNE Online. The Ed.D. program is focused on educational leadership and prepares leaders to transform themselves, their organization, and their community through focused, flexible study.
In this post, Jeffrey talks to us about his experience at UNE, and how he feels that UNE has helped him learn new skills to be even more successful in his role as a Chief Information Officer.
Can you tell me a little about your background, and what motivated you to pursue your Ed.D.?
When I entered the healthcare space 20 years ago, healthcare was just beginning to undergo a real digital revolution. Through that digital revolution wave, I climbed up… Read more >> Tags: Ed.D | Ed.D. Spotlight | Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Student Spotlight
Infographic: Education Faculty by the Numbers
Faculty for the Graduate Programs in Education at UNE Online are integral to our students’ success. These tremendous professionals teach and mentor through a scholar-practitioner model because they see our students as their future peers. Calling on their experience as public school hiring managers, our instructors connect every lesson to professional situations and cultivate the skills they know are required for success.
Education faculty by the numbers
We’ve created this infographic as a way to visually represent some of the amazing credentials our faculty embody.
Click to download infographic
Praise for our education faculty
“Our scholar-practitioner model is incredibly powerful. As educators, we come to grips at some point that a lot of the theory we learn in our prep… Read more >> Tags: Education | faculty | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEd
Student Spotlight: Stephanie N. Marcotte, Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Stephanie Marcotte is a student in the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies here at the University of New England. She talks about her experience as an online student, how her educational leadership roles have developed throughout her time in the UNE Ed.D. program, and how her identity as a leader has changed throughout the program.
What are your current leadership roles?
Like many adjunct professors around the country, I work multiple jobs. While I believe in the establishment of full-time benefited teaching opportunities, I have learned a lot from wearing many hats. Currently, I am an adjunct professor of ESL within a credit-bearing community college academic ESL program, a teacher-trainer, a union… Read more >> Tags: Ed.D | Ed.D. Student Spotlight | Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Student Spotlight
Developing Teachers as Leaders
One of the main responsibilities of being an administrator in the K-12 education setting is to evaluate the performance of faculty and staff. Understanding the importance the role supervision and evaluation plays in the development of teacher leaders is vital to the culture of the school in which the practice is being utilized.
In the Graduate Programs in Education at the University of New England, students in the Transformative Leadership focus area, and specifically the Supervision and Evaluation course, are provided the opportunity to share some of the key takeaways they’ve learned from the process of evaluating their own colleagues.
Findings from Student Feedback
A central theme that surfaced from this student feedback is that communication is integral… Read more >> Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | learning theory
Educational Leadership Skills Can Make You an Agent of Change
There are many ways to improve yourself, your organization, or your community, but attaining a doctorate in education might be one of the most overlooked. Leadership is a valuable trait in any sector and the unique adaptability of a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) has been attracting the attention of educators, healthcare officials, public servants, and human resource professionals alike. We’ve seen transportation consultants advancing access to basic services in rural areas, principals looking to undercover alternative pathways to success for students, and a rising number of workforce developers looking to enact more effective training courses. What makes an Ed.D. attractive to a diverse group of students, and how does an Ed.D. enable students to make an impact on… Read more >> Tags: Ed.D | Education | Graduate Programs in Education
What Can You Do With an EdD?
The Doctor of Education (EdD) program at the University of New England’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies focuses on leadership development, problem-based inquiry, and organizational change. This cohort-based program prepares mid-career professionals to transform self, organization, and community through focused, flexible study. However, those considering a Doctorate in Education often ask us how this emphasis on transformation can benefit their careers. In short, “what can you do with an EdD”?
A Diverse Student and Faculty Body Provides Opportunity
The EdD student body is the most diverse audience served by our graduate programs in education. In addition to K-12 education professionals, students in the EdD come from clinical backgrounds in healthcare settings, community colleges, and non-profit community groups and service… Read more >> Tags: Ed.D | Education | Graduate Programs in Education
Student Spotlight: Jessica Brousseau, CAGS AEL Program
Jessica Brousseau is a student in the UNE Online CAGS in Advanced Educational Leadership program. As a high school counselor, she enjoys learning from the diverse perspectives and experiences of her classmates, and she feels that she especially benefits from learning how her classmates in other states deal with common situations in different ways. We spoke with her recently about her experience of being a first time 100% online student and got her perspective on the program.
Can you tell me a bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your CAGS in Advanced Educational Leadership?
I work at a regional high school in Litchfield, Connecticut. This is my second year as a school counselor there, working with… Read more >> Tags: CAGS | CAGS AEL | CAGS Student Spotlight | Education Student Spotlight | Graduate Programs in Education
Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program
The Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program is a unique way of structuring classes where students begin on-ground in face-to-face classes to earn their Teacher Certification, and then they have the option of taking a few more classes online to earn their Master’s of Science in Education.
We spoke with Dr. Lane Clarke, Associate Professor of Education at the University of New England, about the program.
How is the Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program structured?
This Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program is a Teacher Certification plus a master’s program. Our students get the Teacher Certification courses from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), which are the courses that are required by the State of Maine to become certified as… Read more >> 
Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Master of Science in Education
UNE Online Among Top Online Programs in Graduate Education
UNE Online is thrilled to share that we’ve again been named one of the top Online Programs in Graduate Education by U.S. News and World Report in their 2018 Rankings. UNE Online also received high marks in the student engagement category, ranking in the top 15% of schools for student engagement. Big shout out to all of our faculty and staff!
U.S. News and World Report calculated the rankings based on the following five categories:
Student engagement (35 percent): Quality online graduate education programs grant aspiring teachers and educational administrators opportunities to readily interact with their instructors and classmates. In turn, instructors are not only accessible and responsive, but they are also tasked with helping to create an experience rewarding… Read more >> Tags: CAGS | Ed.D | Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Master of Science in Education | MSEd
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Lane Clarke, Education Program
Dr. Lane Clarke is an Associate Professor of Education at the University of New England on the Biddeford Campus. As the department chair, she teaches classes at the undergraduate level to pre-service teachers in literacy and global education.
Her research interests include online teaching, technology and literacy, and working with students who struggle with literacy. She has published three books: Educating Literacy Teachers Online: Tools, Techniques, and Transformations (Clarke & Watts-Taffe, 2013), The reading turn-around: A five-part framework for differentiated instruction (Jones, Clarke & Enriquez, 2009) and High-tech teaching success: A step by step guide to using innovative technology in your classroom (Clarke & Besnoy, 2009). In addition, she has articles published in journals such as The Reading Teacher, Journal… Read more >> Tags: Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | Ed.D | Education | Education Faculty Spotlight | Faculty Spotlight | Graduate Programs in Education
Alumni Spotlight: Rachael Flaxman, Education Program
Rachael Flaxman is an elementary school teacher in Maine and a student in our online MSEd program. We celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week by speaking with some of our students who have dedicated their professional lives to education.
Teachers make a profound impact on the lives they touch, so we want to honor some of these very special teachers who are also our students, and who are making a difference every single day in their classroom.
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in Education?
I was a little bit later coming to teaching. I didn’t start teaching until I was about 30. We lived in California… Read more >> Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Master of Science in Education Alumni | Master of Science in Education Spotlight | MSEd Student Spotlight | Student Spotlight
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Carol Marcotte – Education Program
Dr. Carol Marcotte is a long-time faculty member in the Graduate Programs in Education within the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Her primary specialty areas include literacy and educational leadership, and she helped a number of school supplies donated to St. Maarten.
In addition to having a background as a classroom teacher, she was also a principal for eight years. Her first role at University of New England was in 2001 as an adjunct faculty member.
Currently an Associate Lecturer in the Educational Department at UNE, Carol’s primary responsibility is to be a Concentration leader for the Certificates in Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) and MSEd: Educational Leadership programs at UNE Online.
In the aftermath of several devastating hurricanes, Dr.… Read more >> Tags: CAGS | Faculty Spotlight | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEd
Alumni Spotlight: Lindsey Good, MSEd
This week, we are celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week by spotlighting of some of our students who have dedicated their professional lives to education. Teachers provide so much to their students and communities and have a profound impact on the lives they touch. We want to honor some of these very special teachers who are also our education program students, and who are making a difference every day in their classroom.
Lindsey Good is one of these teachers and a student in our MSEd program. She knows firsthand how impactful teachers are in the lives they touch. Lindsey’s high school English teacher made learning so relevant and engaging for her that it inspired Lindsey to dedicate her to career giving back… Read more >> Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Master of Science in Education | MSEd | Teacher Appreciation Week
Train Managers to Train
Increasingly, organizations are recognizing that workplace training and development are not only essential for retaining engaged and happy employees, but companies are also experiencing the positive impact that workplace training and development has on their bottom line.
Employee engagement
According to Forbes Magazine, employee engagement is defined as “the emotional commitment the employee has to the organization and its goals.”1
And engaged employees can have a profound impact on their business and business outcomes. In fact, engaged employees can positively affect business profitability and productivity in staggering numbers:
Highly engaged business units result in 21% greater profitability (Gallup)2
Highly engaged business units realize a 41% reduction in absenteeism and a 17% increase in productivity (Gallup)3
While at the same… Read more >> 
Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEd
Meet our Team: Colby Averill
Colby Averill is an enrollment counselor at UNE Online and has been with the team since 2014. Colby obtained both his Bachelor’s degree and MBA from Thomas College. While at Thomas College, Colby was a superstar baseball player and went on to coach during his time as an MBA student. Colby also served as a Student Ambassador while at Thomas College, acting as a liaison to the college for prospective students.
Transitioning to an enrollment counselor at UNE Online was a natural fit for Colby as he excels at connecting with prospective students, and enjoys guiding them through the challenging decision-making process. He’s also an exemplary team player and is always willing to lend a hand. Outside of his work… Read more >> Tags: Education | Education Spotlight | Enrollment | Graduate Programs in Education | Master of Science in Education | MSEd | Team Spotlight
Student Spotlight: Kylie Bragdon, Ed.D. Program
Recently, we spoke with UNE graduate Kylie Bragdon ’11, Ed.D. ’18 who is running for the Maine State House of Representatives in District 136 this coming November. Bragdon has an undergraduate degree in Mathematics from UNE and is currently working on her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) here at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. She’s studying the effect of K-12 education on the lobster industry in Maine.
Update July 23, 2019: Kylie Bragdon joined Maine Ocean School as executive director and serves as chair of the board of selectman in Winter Harbor.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Ed.D.?
I graduated from UNE in 2011 with my B.S. in… Read more >> Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Student Spotlight
New Education Legislation: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Education Legislation Through the Decades
In December of 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2002. This reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) attempted to address some of the issues that made No Child Left Behind a source of challenge and frustration for many school districts nationwide.
While the policies of federal education reform legislation have changed over the decades, one goal has remained constant: close the achievement gaps between poor and minority students and the more advantaged.
Elementary and Secondary Education Bill
In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Bill into law as part of the “War on Poverty”… Read more >> Tags: Education | Enrollment | Graduate Programs in Education
Meet Our Team: Greg Andrews
If you were to look up dedication in the UNE Online dictionary, you would find a picture of Greg Andrews. Greg’s commitment to his students is inspiring, and because of it, he’s become a household name to many of his students.
He’s also a native Mainer, and New England sports aficionado, affectionately naming his cat after the famed Red Sox alum Nomar Garciaparra and dubbing a Patriots win as part of his ideal Sunday afternoon.
At UNE Online students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We’d like to share a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day.
What… Read more >> Tags: CAGS | Ed.D | Education | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEd | student support | Student Support Spotlight
Meet Our Team: Brendan Parsons
Brendan Parsons works as a Student Support specialist on our Graduate Programs in Education. Standing tall at 6’5” it’s safe to say Brendan is our tallest staff member. When Brendan isn’t helping his coworkers access items on top shelves, he’s assisting current and prospective students with everything from registration to transcript requests. Brendan’s cool, calm demeanor allows him to work well under pressure and the students he supports often praise him for being easy to talk to.
At UNE Online students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We like sharing a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day. … Read more >> Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | student support | Student Support Spotlight
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Vicki Rusbult, Ed.D. – Education Program
UNE Online Alumna Dr. Vicki Rusbult fulfilled a lifelong dream last May and graduated from the College of Graduate and Professional Studies with her Ed.D.
And it turns out that her dissertation wasn’t only interesting to her faculty advisor… The ‘National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Rural Transportation National Newsletter’ recently published a link to her full dissertation in their national newsletter.
We’re so thrilled for Dr. Rusbult and her impressive national exposure!
We spoke with Dr. Rusbult to talk about her professional career, and how her Ed.D. from UNE Online is opening doors and helping further her work. Here’s a little more about how she is putting her Ed.D. to good use:
What was your experience like, getting… Read more >> Tags: 12 Days of Online Learning | Alumni Spotlight | Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) | Ed.D | Ed.D. Alumni Spotlight | Ed.D. Spotlight | Ed.D. Student Spotlight | Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Student Spotlight
Meet Our Team: Jason Asdourian
As a Student Support Specialist for students enrolled in deadline-based programs, there’s no one who understands that time is of the essence better than Jason Asdourian.
As a former Civilian for the Army, Jason learned the value of time and prides himself on getting things done now, if not yesterday.
At UNE Online students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We’d like to share a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day.
What do you do at UNE Online?
I am a Student Support Specialist for our Graduate Programs in Education. I help our students throughout the entirety… Read more >> Tags: Graduate Programs in Education | student support | Student Support Spotlight
Meet Our Team: Lucas Good
Lucas Good is an Enrollment Counselor for our advanced degree programs in Education here at UNE Online.
Lucas not only studied elementary education, but is also a certified teacher. So if anyone knows what it’s like to be a teacher and apply to one of our Education programs, it’s Lucas. He also loves pizza, ice cream and the ocean.
At UNE Online students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We’d like to share a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day.
What do you do at UNE Online?
I’m an Enrollment Counselor here at UNE, and I work… Read more >> Tags: CAGS | Enrollment | enrollment counselor spotlight | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEd | PMC
ESSA: Changes in Certification for Special Ed Teachers
As noted in our previous blog New Education Legislation: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Every Student Succeeds Act reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. It was also noted in the blog post, that this new act would bring changes, and changes have already begun in the State of Maine.
On May 16th, the Maine Department of Education sent out a Priority Notice to inform Maine school administrators of amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) which deals primarily with special education.
The Priority Notice
Requirement 34 CFR Section 602(10)(B) mandated that a person employed as a special education teacher in elementary school, middle school, or secondary school must have obtained full certification as a … Read more >> Tags: Education | Enrollment | Graduate Programs in Education
2016 U.S. News and World Report Best Online Programs in Graduate Education
UNE Online is pleased to be chosen as one of the 2016 U.S. News and World Report Best Online Programs in Graduate Education.
“Our 2016 Best Colleges listing reflects UNE’s commitment to delivering an outstanding return on investment.”
– UNE President Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D.
The U.S. News and World Report ranking takes into account:
Total enrollment
Student engagement
Faculty credentials
Student services and technology
Admissions selectivity
Number of part-time and full-time faculty
Tenured or tenure-track faculty
Categories of study offered
Is degree earned entirely online
Student retention rates
Graduation rate
This recognition is a credit to UNE’s expert faculty, robust curriculum, and our successful graduates. Through the graduate programs in Education, UNE students acquire the knowledge and… Read more >> Tags: Education | Enrollment | Graduate Programs in Education