NCU First Kappa Delta Pi Online Chapter

Northcentral University invited to form first “virtual chapter” of Kappa Delta Pi, the Education Honor Society.

Prescott, Arizona—May 24, 2007 — Northcentral University (www.ncu.edu), an innovator in 100% online higher education, is pleased to announce that Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education, has welcomed NCU as its first “virtual chapter.”

“This chapter is the first one in Kappa Delta Pi’s 97-year history at an exclusively online university,” noted KDP executive director Faye Snodgrass. “The new online chapter will provide Northcentral’s best and brightest students in education access to the recognition and professional resources that KDP offers in traditional collegiate settings,” she added.

Kappa Delta Pi is the only all-discipline honor society for educators that provides support throughout ones’ career in education. Membership in KDP is by invitation only and eligibility is limited to outstanding students and professionals in the field.

That Northcentral University is the first fully online school invited to form a KDP chapter is a genuine honor and a credit to the quality of NCU’s people and programs. Dr. Claudia Santin, President of NCU, applauds the School of Education for this achievement, because of its "meaningfulness to education Learners."

Kappa Delta Pi is a recognition and professional development organization of 60,000 members belonging to 500 chapters located in each of the United States and in more than 90 countries. Its programs, publications, and activities help people become leaders in their schools and in their profession. The NCU organization will be the Alpha Delta Epsilon chapter of Kappa Delta Pi. Formal Installation is slated for June 15, 2007.

Membership in KDP is justifiably a point of pride for any educational institution and it is especially gratifying that NCU is the first 100% online university to be so honored. Dr. Santin views the new KDP chapter as a positive and appropriate development. "NCU is a community of Learners and scholars,” she explains. “The KDP mission coalesces perfectly with that of NCU."

The School of Education, under the leadership of Dr. Kathryn Hollywood, is the youngest of NCU’s three main academic divisions—having been established in December 2004—but already has almost 1400 Learners enrolled in its three graduate degree programs: master of education (M.Ed.), doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) and doctor of education (Ed.D.). In addition, NCU’s School of Education has recently entered into a partnership with Rio Salado College, in Maricopa County, Arizona, to offer a bachelor’s degree completion program for Learners who are co-enrolled at both schools.

“KDP’s recognition of NCU’s role in education is a cause for celebration,” added Dr. Santin. “The entire University and School of Education community of Learners applauds the appointment of the following individuals as Alpha Delta Epilson’s Charter Leadership Team.”

Dr J. Troy Robinson (NCU Mentor), Counselor
Dr. Kelley Zagaiski (NCU Mentor), Assistant Counselor
Michael O’Byrne (Ph.D. Learner—Teacher Leadership), President
Danielle Munoz (Ph.D. Learner—Special Education), Vice President
Rob Lively (Doctoral Learner—Organizational Leadership), Secretary
Anne Taylor (Doctoral Learner—Leadership Education), Treasurer
Iris Borghese (Doctoral Learner— Training & Development), Historian
Dr. Donna Graham (NCU Mentor), Membership Committee
Dr. Heather MacDaniel (NCU Mentor), Program Committee

Alpha Delta Epsilon’s Installation on June 15 is scheduled to coincide with NCU’s 2007 Commencement ceremonies. The Installation will consist of a reading of KDP’s formal recognition of the NCU Chapter followed by the installation of the chapter’s officers and founding members. The national office of Kappa Delta Pi will be represented by Brian Rothenberger of the National Executive Council.