Tedra Mewhirter

Associate Director of Online and Adult Learner Experience

Responsibilities

Tedra provides leadership for initiatives that enhance the online and adult learner experience, including student support services, enrollment and persistence tracking, engagement strategies, and virtual programming. She collaborates with academic colleges and university units to identify opportunities for intervention, develop targeted communications, streamline processes, and reduce barriers to strengthen student pathways and improve student success.

Background

Tedra is from Sterling, Illinois and has been a resident of DeKalb since 2017. She attended Northern Illinois University as a first-generation college student and was grateful to have access to resources on our campus. In her 15-plus years in higher education, she has had the opportunity to work with diverse popluations and help students to understand the college process from application to graduation. As an educator, she has worked with students to ease the transition to a new college and find their resources for success.

For leisure, Tedra enjoys spending time with her dog Ollie often hiking in Illinois when the weather permits – Matthiessen State Park is a little slice of beauty. She also enjoys crime documentaries, the NIU and Dekalb libraries and the endless books and spending time with her people.

Education

• M.A., Organizational Leadership: Training and Development, Lewis University, 2013
• B.A., Psychology, Northern Illinois University, 2005

Success Tip

Tedra's #1 tip is to find your people, the people who will support you and encourage you to meet your goals. You can find community in a variety of ways, including in the online forums. Engage with your classmates and surround yourself with people who want to see you win.