NCU School of Education awards first degrees

Prescott, Arizona—March 20, 2006 — Northcentral University is pleased to announce the first degrees awarded through its School of Education. Thomas Jama and Amy Peterson have both completed the requirements for the Doctor of Education degree.

NCU was founded in 1996, but did not begin offering degrees in Education until 2004. Currently there are 458 Learners enrolled in School of Education degree programs. Thomas Jama and Amy Peterson have distinguished themselves as Learners and earned a place in NCU history by being the first to earn degrees through NCUs School of Education. Both started the program well prepared and, by devoting themselves wholeheartedly, were able to complete the doctoral and dissertation work in very good time.

Dr. Jama has had 18 years experience in a broad variety of positions within the Ohio public schools system since he got his first college degreea B.S. in Education at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. Before coming to NCU, he also studied at Nova Southeastern and at Ashland University, where he earned a Masters in Education Administration. Jama is married and has two sons, ages 14 and 16, and lives in Elyria, Ohio, where he is the principal at Northwood Junior High School.

Dr. Peterson also had two degrees when she enrolled at NCUa B.A. in English, Psychology and Secondary Education, from Olivet College (Michigan) and, from City University in Seattle, a Master of Education degree in Curriculum Development and Instruction with a special emphasis in Online Learning. She has been putting her education to use for the past six years, teaching in the General Education Department of Baker College, a Michigan-based school with an online program.

Wanting to stay competitive, Peterson returned to school and has now earned her Ed.D. She lives in Corpus Christi, Tex. with her son Nickolas, 10, and her husband, a pilot for Homeland security.

Dr. Jama and Dr. Peterson strongly advocate distance learning in general and NCU in particular. Indeed, both have served as Ambassadors for the university.

I feel very strongly in the value of online education and work every day to make it better for my students and the college I teach for, says Peterson. I feel very fortunate to affect the lives of my students in a positive, encouraging way every day and am thankful that NCU gave me the same through mentor and administrative support.

Jama expresses similar sentiments. I cannot say enough about NCU and the doctorate program, which allowed me to finish this degree while still being a father, husband, and building principal, he writes. The support and communication provided by the university staff was truly outstanding. I would like to give a special thanks to my two main mentors, Dr. Pellegrini and Dr. McDaniel, for being fantastic educators throughout the program.

The Ed.D. program at NCU provided a rigorous set of classes culminating with a dissertation. These challenging classes gave me the opportunity to grow professionally. The dissertation provided the opportunity to explore a problem and collect data within the school district that I am employed. I have recommended NCU to fellow colleagues and highly recommend the university to all learners.

The staff and Faculty Mentors at NCU are proud to have outstanding Learners of the caliber of Dr. Jama and Dr. Peterson and congratulate them on their achievements.